Naharnet Newsdesk - Hariri, Aoun Overcome Misunderstandings, Narrow Gap

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Hariri, Aoun Overcome Misunderstandings, Narrow Gap
Two rounds of behind closed doors talks in Paris between parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement Chairman Michel Aoun have narrowed the gap separating their viewpoints and achieved progress in overcoming misunderstandings, but did not tackle presidential candidates.
A statement released by Hariri's press office said a third meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

The meetings were arranged in Paris to "avoid media pressure and security risks in Beirut," the statement explained.

It said the talks were characterized by "a high spirit of responsibility regarding the serious circumstances encountered by Lebanon at the political, security and economic levels."

The talks, the statement added, "tackled at length the major issues projected in Lebanon, mainly whatever is related to setting up the free, independent and democratic state as well as facilitating presidential elections in line with the constitution and without foreign intervention."

It noted that "progress has been achieved in bringing viewpoints closer and overcoming lots of misunderstandings that marked the pervious era."

The talks were held amidst apparent close follow up by the United States and France.

Circles close to Hariri said the meetings with Aoun do not aim at reaching a parcel understanding on Lebanon's new president and premier, according to the daily as-Safir.

The Hariri circles also stressed that the talks aim at providing the Bkirki initiative with additional momentum, so that choosing a new president would be a Christian privilege in the first place.

A similar trend was outlined by MP Wael Abu Faour after delivering a message from Druze leader Walid Jumblat to Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki Wednesday.

Abu Faour stressed that Bkirki is "the source" of the march to elect a new head of state that should climax in Parliament.

Prior to the Hariri-Aoun talks, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch met the Lebanese parliamentary majority leader and discussed "international and Arab efforts to facilitate the presidential elections."

French envoy jean-Claude Cousseran also held separate meetings with Hariri and Aoun prior to the talks between the Lebanese leaders that are being held in Paris due to security concerns, according to statements issued by both officials.

Welch also held talks with Cousseran and other French officials.

Meanwhile, U.S. Under Secretary of State for political affairs Nicholas Burns told the Hariri-sponsored Moustaqbal TV that Washington and Paris closely cooperate their policies on Lebanon and that their common view point is that "we don't want to see a return of Syria's influence" to Beirut.

The meeting in Paris followed charges by Hariri during a visit to Cairo that Syrian President Bashar Assad's brother-in-law and Chief of Syrian intelligence Assef Shawkat was planning to assassinate him and Premier Fouad Saniora, a Charge challenged by Damascus.

Fears are running high in Beirut that the standoff between the pro- and anti-Syrian camps could lead to two rival governments, a grim reminder of the end of Lebanon's civil war when two administrations battled it out.

Hariri arrived in Paris late Tuesday after winding up talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Husni Mubarak that aimed at facilitating the election of a new president for Lebanon.

Aoun arrived in Paris earlier on Tuesday. He was accompanied by MP Ghassan Mkhaiber of the Reform and Change Bloc.

Hariri said his talks with Mubarak focused on the presidential vote and "the interference of certain states to prevent the holding of these elections."

Hariri said Mubarak stressed that meddling in Lebanese issues particularly that of the presidential election, is "forbidden."

"Any meddling in this regard, be it in the presidential election or manipulation of Lebanon's stability, is considered a violation of Egypt's security and interference in Arab affairs," Hariri quoted Mubarak as telling him.

Beirut, 31 Oct 07, 09:32


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