Hugo Shorter Says It's Time to Hold Presidential Elections
British Ambassador Designate Hugo Shorter held the Lebanese responsible for the country's political crisis, saying they should resort to voting to elect a president.
“There are currently two candidates who have high credibility and huge support from the political parties,” Shorter told As Safir newspaper in an interview published on Thursday.
“I think it's time to hold the elections. This is democracy. It means resorting to voting without anticipating the results,” he said.
“The Lebanese are responsible for what's going on in their country,” the diplomat told As Safir.
“Had they wanted a president they would have elected him. Of course there are regional interests but the Lebanese are in charge of the polls,” he said, adding “there is no reason to postpone the elections.”
The two main candidates in the presidential race are Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun and Marada Movement chief lawmaker Suleiman Franjieh.
A third candidate, MP Henri Helou, is from Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat's Democratic Gathering bloc.
The differences between the rival parties have left Baabda Palace vacant since the end of President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May 2014.
Asked about British support for Syrian refugees, Shorter said the UK will invest at least an extra $1.8 billion in international aid to support Syria and the region
The pledge was made last week when high-level representatives from 70 countries, including Prime Minister Tammam Salam, and international organizations gathered in London for the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference to debate backing for the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis.
Shorter confirmed that the Syrian refugees in Lebanon will return home as soon as it is safe to do so.
“There is no intention to naturalize the displaced outside Syria,” he stressed.
“We are preparing them to return to their country … by providing them with education and the necessary technical skills,” he said.
There are fears that the international community would encourage the displaced Syrians to remain in the host countries, such as Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan after world leaders approved at the conference to improve education opportunities for the refugees and to create short-term jobs to help them survive in the overburdened Middle Eastern states.
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