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Report: Vatican Initiative to Secure Election of President in Late September

The Vatican is seeking to find a solution to Lebanon's presidential crisis and it is preparing a “major” initiative to help the country elect a president in late September, a media report said on Sunday.

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Suleiman Reiterates Insistence on Baabda Declaration, Slams Those Seeking 'Constituent Assembly'

Former President Michel Suleiman on Thursday stressed keenness on the Baabda Declaration that he brokered in 2012, as he criticized Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun's latest presidential proposals.

“The Taef Accord ended the wars of others on Lebanon's soil and the Baabda Declaration was aimed at preventing war among the Lebanese on the soil of others,” said Suleiman in a televised speech marking one year since the presidential vacuum started.

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Lebanon's International Support Group Mulling to Meet in Beirut

The International Support Group for Lebanon is preparing for a new meeting in Beirut, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Thursday.

The report said that high-level contacts are currently underway to hold a meeting, which is expected to focus on the importance of ending the presidential stalemate as a key solution for various dangers and crises confronting Lebanon.

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Vatican Shies Away from Presidential Deadlock as Girault Continues Initiative

Director of the department of the Middle East and North Africa at the French Foreign Ministry Jean-François Girault visited last week the Vatican to discuss the presidential crisis in Lebanon, As Safir newspaper reported on Saturday.

Girault reportedly met with the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura Archbishop Dominique Mamberti , who informed him that the Vatican has no veto on any Lebanese presidential candidate.

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Activists, Bar Association March to Baabda Palace on Independence Day

Students, lawyers and activists marched on Saturday towards the Presidential Palace in Mount Lebanon's Baabda region to reject the cancellation of the country's Independence Day celebrations.

The rally was organized by the Joy of Giving Association (Farah al-Ata), Private and Public Schools, the Lebanese Bar Association and the Civil Society.

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Delay in Presidential Poll to Postpone Parliamentary Elections to 2015

Vacancy at the helm of the country's top Christian post is expected to remain until the end of the Summer, prompting the parliamentary elections to be postponed until 2015.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Thursday, Lebanon will enter on August 20 a deadline to agree on a new electoral law ahead of the November elections but priority at the time would be for electing a new head of state.

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Suleiman to Continue as 'Political Reference': I Am Liberated From Extension Hurdle

President Michel Suleiman expressed content on Saturday to leave the presidential palace as his term approaches its end amid controversy of extension, and affirmed that he will continue his political work as a “political reference.”

“I am relaxed and happy because I will be leaving the presidential palace. I liberated myself from what is called the extension and renewal of my term, and filling in the post in case of vacuum as some are suggesting,” Suleiman told al-Liwaa daily.

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Suleiman to Head Last Two Cabinet Sessions before End of Term

Outgoing President Michel Suleiman will chair on Friday a cabinet session that will tackle a new package of appointments after positive signs loomed on filling the vacant administrative posts.

The session, which will be held at the Baabda Palace at 4:00 pm, will tackle 61 articles on its agenda, local newspapers reported on Thursday.

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Gemayel Meets Suleiman as Part of Kataeb Initiative to End Presidential Deadlock

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel held talks on Tuesday with outgoing President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace.

He left the Baabda Palace without making any statement.

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Legal Measure Allows Suleiman to Rule as Acting President

President Michel Suleiman is mulling a legal measure to exercise his authorities as acting head of state if MPs failed to elect a new president by May 25, reports said Monday.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, Suleiman asked Shadi Karam, one of his advisers, to draft a clause that would allow him to stay in power.

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