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France urges dialogue among Lebanese parties to ease stalemate

Xinhua, July 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault urged Tuesday all Lebanese parties to engage in dialogue to "find a solution" to the political stalemate the country has been going through.

Ayrault said that Lebanon must overcome the crisis to confront the economic, security and social challenges, including the Syrian refugee crisis.

He made the remarks following his meeting with Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam on the second day of his official visit to the country.

"This is a call for everyone to shoulder their responsibilities in order to find a solution through dialogue," he added.

The French minister had voiced the same call on Monday evening during a dinner banquet in honor of the presidential candidates and heads of the political parties.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 25th, 2014 when the tenure of former President Michel Suleiman ended and the parliament failed to elect an incumbent due to the sharp political division among the Iranian and Syrian backed March 8 camp and the Saudi and western backed March 14 camp.

After talks with Salam, Ayrault said he will soon resume his international contacts "so that we cooperate for the sake of finding a solution for Lebanon."

Ayrault's arrived in Lebanon on Monday and inspected his country's battalion working within the frame of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and held talks with al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri.

Ayrault also met on Monday with leaders of some political parties, including Free Patriotic Movement, Marada Movement and Lebanese Forces.

He is scheduled to meet Tuesday with the head of Hezbollah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Mohammed Raad. Endit