By NNN-KUNA
Beirut : Lebanon’s national dialogue has been postponed awaiting the return of Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Feb 24.
Last Feb 8, Moussa arrived in Beirut for a two-day visit aimed at encouraging relevant parties to accept the Arab initiative to appoint Army Commander General Michel Suleiman as president.
Since the visit, debate between those factions has become more heated and further complications have arisen. Such things might play a great role in extending the current presidential void.
As the sitting dedicated to electing the new president will take place on Feb 26, Moussa’s return two days before such an event plays a role in boosting optimism regarding choosing a head of state and establishing a national unity cabinet in accordance with constitutional guidelines.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Lebanese diplomatic sources said Moussa’s efforts in coordination with some Arab nations might play a role in expediting the settlement of Lebanon’s dilemma through establishing overall political equality and absolute reconciliation.
They noted that recent arguments between majority and opposition blocs were simply a reflection of deep rooted disputes which led to security challenges that were put to rest by the Lebanese army.
The majority bloc, they added, will not hinder any settlement efforts and will try its best to overcome all objections to the Arab initiative.
The current intimacy between Damascus and Riyadh should have a positive effect on developments in Lebanon, they said.
On the third anniversary of Rafiq Al-Hairi’s assassination, Saad Al-Hairi called for electing Suleiman as soon as possible and willingness to cooperate with opposition that will respond to this call by next week, they explained.
If both sides continue the same amount of verbal animosity, Lebanon’s dilemma will simply expand and the session dedicated to electing a new president will be postponed until March, said the sources.
They noted that the opposition should show more flexibility to finalize the Arab initiative’s steps of electing a president and establishing a unified cabinet.
If Moussa fails in his mission, the majority will launch a number of steps to expedite Sleiman’s election as president, they added.
March 14 majority blocs have been insisting that they have the right to elect a president through a 50 percent plus 1 majority, which is 68 or more out of 128.