France urges Lebanon to elect new president within constitutional limit
► Visiting French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna on Friday urged Lebanese leaders to elect a new president for the republic to strengthen Lebanon’s position in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Beirut – “The international community, as a whole, is looking forward to the completion of the process of electing a new president, as a political vacuum after the end of President Michel Aoun’s term may weaken Lebanon’s position in the negotiation process to resolve its crises and address the necessary files,” said Colonna.
CATHERINE COLONNA, French Foreign Affairs Minister
“Lebanon is suffering from an unprecedented economic crisis, and the crisis will continue if Lebanese leaders do not act immediately. What I have said in Paris in September, I want to say again in Lebanon today, acting is very necessary and it is possible. In the current context, it is costly and also dangerous to impose on the Lebanese another political crisis that has repercussions; a new parliament has been elected in Lebanon
within the constitutional deadlines, and the same must happen regarding the election of the president of the republic; and the danger and challenges are to avoid any presidential vacuum after the end of the term of the current president.”
Colonna, who arrived on Thursday in Lebanon on an official visit, made these remarks during her meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace to discuss bilateral ties between the two countries.
Colonna said the Lebanese must elect a president who can lead the country and cooperate with international players to ensure stability and prosperity in Lebanon.
CATHERINE COLONNA, French Foreign Affairs Minister
“This position is clear and I will simply convey it to you. It is a position we share with all the friends of Lebanon in Europe and elsewhere. The choice of the next Lebanese president is up to the Lebanese alone, and it is up to them to choose their president, a president who can lead the Lebanese people and work with regional and international players to overcome the current crisis to ensure stability and prosperity, the security and safety of Lebanon.”
Colonna also praised the agreement to demarcate maritime border between Lebanon and Israel, saying it is “a historic agreement.”
For his part, president Aoun, whose term ends on Oct. 31, said he is working to achieve the presidential election and form a new cabinet.
“It is essential to agree on a new president for the republic who will assume his duties and ensure the continuation of state institutions work and the fight against corruption,” he added.
Colonna also met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who asked the French official to assist Lebanon in securing a safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.
Xinhua News Agency
