By Xinhua
Beirut : Visiting Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema on Saturday held a series of meetings with both Lebanon’s ruling coalition and the opposition in a “last minute” effort to reach a compromise ahead of a Nov. 23 deadline to elect the country’s new president.
D’Alema, who arrived here on Friday night, conferred Saturday with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Fouad Seniora, Christian Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir and some other politicians.
Although it goes without saying that the major issue on the agenda of the meetings is the presidential election, local press here said that D’Alema is here to join the diplomatic efforts to chose consensus candidates for Lebanon’s upcoming presidential election after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
UN chief Ban concluded his two-day visit to Lebanon on Friday. Before leaving Beirut, he described his meetings with Lebanese rival leaders as very “successful” and “constructive,” urging them to elect a new president on time and without foreign interference.
He said that any new president should be committed to the implementation of the related UN resolutions, calling on the new president to be selected “with the broadest possible support.”
“If the presidential election does not occurred, that may lead to dangerous and unexpected consequences,” Ban warned.
Earlier this week, France also sent its Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to Beirut with the mission of breaking the deadlock threatening Lebanon’s presidential election in parliament due to be held next Wednesday.
Kouchner reiterated Tuesday France’s support for holding a presidential election in Lebanon within the constitutional period, saying this would end the current political crisis.
He also hoped to return to Lebanon next week — for his sixth visit in as many months — to ensure the vote goes through.
Lebanon’s presidential election has been postponed for three times till Nov. 21 to give the majority coalition and the opposition more time to break a deadlock over a compromise candidate to succeed current President Emile Lahoud, whose term runs out on Nov. 24.
Lebanese ruling coalition and the opposition have been separated by a wide chasm since six of the latter’s ministers resigned from Seniora’s government last November.
The forecast presidential event has caused widespread concern among the Lebanese, fearing further disarrays and possible eruption of violence.