Report: FPM-LF Exchange Messages on Lebanon Stability, Taef

Messages exchanged between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces included issues linked to stability in Lebanon and the flaws in the implementation of the Taef Accord, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

LF leader Samir Geagea revealed during a press conference on Wednesday that both sides have exchanged the messages ahead of his expected talks with his rival, FPM chief MP Michel Aoun.

Geagea, a presidential candidate, spoke after MPs failed in a new round of elections to find a successor to President Michel Suleiman, whose term ended in May.

The MPs of the Change and Reform bloc of Aoun - also a candidate - and the majority of the lawmakers in the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance have boycotted the electoral sessions, causing a lack of quorum.

An Nahar said that the FPM-LF messages included replies to the fears expressed by each party on the fate of the state, stability, the flaws in the implementation of the Taef Agreement in constitutional institutions and the representation of Christians.

Other issues tackled by the two sides included the repercussions of the Syrian civil war on Lebanon and the proliferation of illegitimate weapons, said the newspaper.

According to An Nahar, Change and Reform MP Ibrahim Kanaan and LF official Melhem Riachi, who are setting the stage for the talks between Aoun and Geagea, have briefed the two officials on the content of the messages.

Kanaan told the daily that the next few days could witness a positive development on their joint working paper.

He refused to give further details.

But sources expected the Aoun-Geagea dialogue to take place mid next week.

G.K.

H.K.