Riachi Says Aoun and Geagea to Continue Presidential Race despite Talks
Lebanese Forces official Melhem Riachi stressed on Wednesday that the party didn't ask Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun to withdraw his candidacy to resolve the presidential stalemate.
“The LF didn't urge Aoun to withdraw his candidacy just as (LF leader Samir) Geagea will not back down from the presidential run,” Riachi said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.
The official pointed out that the expected meeting between Geagea and Aoun will crown the preparatory talks held in Rabieh with the FPM chief and MP Ibrahim Kanaan.
“The timing of the meeting is linked to reaching a breakthrough regarding points of contention thus making dialogue more productive,” Riachi said.
The LF official described Aoun's latest stances as “positive.”
Aoun on Sunday expressed optimism that the LF would vote for him in the presidential race, noting that the two parties will tackle the issue of the rights of Christians before moving to discuss the presidential void.
The rivalry between Aoun and Geagea has left the Baabda Palace vacant. Lebanon has been without a head of state since President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May.
Sources told the newspaper that the aim behind the dialogue between the two leaders is to break the ice and reach a joint conviction regarding several controversial issues.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported later that Riachi, Kanaan and Aoun met on Tuesday evening to continue preparations for the talks between the two Christian leaders.
“Another meeting will be held in the upcoming few days... the dialogue between the two officials is not far,” sources told the radio station.
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