Le Drian 'visited Qatar and KSA', will carry 'new proposals' to Lebanon

French Special Presidential Envoy for Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive in Beirut Tuesday evening on an official visit that will last until Friday, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Monday.

“He will meet with a number of state officials and parliamentary bloc chiefs in a bid to revive dialogue over his previous proposals regarding the presidential juncture,” the daily said.

“Le Drian is confident that the answers he had received to the questions that he had raised with MPs in mid-August are still valid for discussion,” sources told the newspaper.

Quoting informed sources, al-Binaa newspaper meanwhile said that Le Drian has visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia prior to his expected visit to Lebanon and that is in “constant contact” with the Americans and Egyptians for consultations over the crisis in Lebanon.

The sources added that the French official will likely carry new proposals to Lebanon after his consultations with the capitals of the five-nation group on Lebanon.

“He will discuss them with the political leaders with the aim of revitalizing the presidential election file and ending vacuum as soon as possible,” the sources said.