Mikati meets al-Rahi before traveling to Vatican

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday urged those who consider cabinet meetings as illegitimate to go ahead and elect a president.

Mikati's statement came after a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, during which they discussed the Taif Agreement, the presidential file and Mikati's visit to the Vatican.

The meeting also discussed the caretaker cabinet sessions. "I have explained to al-Rahi the necessity of these meetings, and he was understanding," Mikati said, calling the parties who consider these meeting as "illegitimate" to "go ahead and elect a president."

Before his meeting with al-Rahi, Mikati said that with the Patriarch's blessings, "Lebanon's spring has become imminent."

"Patriarch al-Rahi has described the recent escalating sectarian talks as a political hysteria," Mikati said, stressing that pluralism is healthy for Lebanon, and lauding the Taif Agreement that "protects pluralism" and "preserves Lebanon and everyone."

Mikati and al-Rahi will re-meet after he returns from the Vatican.