Ambassadors of Quintet to Meet Lebanese Officials to Discuss Proposal to End Presidential Impasse

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari meets with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi on Friday. (NNA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari meets with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi on Friday. (NNA)
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Ambassadors of Quintet to Meet Lebanese Officials to Discuss Proposal to End Presidential Impasse

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari meets with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi on Friday. (NNA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari meets with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi on Friday. (NNA)

The ambassadors of the Quintet on Lebanon are continuing their efforts to reach a breakthrough in the presidential impasse in the country.

The envoys met at Saudi Ambassador to Beirut Waleed al-Bukhari's residence on Thursday and are expected to hold talks with several Lebanese officials next week to discuss their proposal on ending the deadlock.

The quintet is formed of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, France and the United States.

The envoys are scheduled to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri next week. Sources from his parliamentary bloc said he was open to cooperating with the Quintet.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was awaiting what they have prepared over the presidency.

The envoys will not name candidates, but “standards and the outline for the election of the next president, who enjoys the support of the people.”

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Aoun ended in October 2022. Bickering between political blocs has thwarted an agreement on his successor.

On Friday, Bukhari met with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi for talks on national and regional affairs.

Bukhari described the visit as a protocol one, adding that he briefed Absi on the Quintet’s latest efforts to help end the presidential impasse.

For his part, Absi hailed the bilateral relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and their peoples. He also praised the Kingdom’s efforts in Lebanon on all levels, reported the National News Agency.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa said the Quintet wants to facilitate issues in Lebanon and “help as much as it can”.

“The election of a president is not just a goal, but a step that would be followed up with others,” he said during a dinner banquet thrown in his honor by MP Neemat Frem.

He stressed that Egypt has a “clear and sustainable commitment towards the Lebanese people.”

“We have a joint interest for both Lebanon and Egypt to be strong. This ensures the success of both countries,” he added.

The meetings held by the Quintet ambassadors are a precursor to the arrival of French presidential envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian, who will also discuss the presidential vacuum with political powers.

As it stands, Hezbollah and its allies are still committed to the election of Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh as president. The opposition still supports the run of former minister Jihad Azour. It is hoping that the Quintet would eventually pave the way for an agreement on a third candidate.



Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
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Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)

The Lebanese government has approved funding to recruit 1,500 new military personnel in the Lebanese Army as part of an initiative to increase military presence along the southern border, amid Israel’s ongoing hostilities.
The funds will be provided to the Ministry of Defense as an advance, a decision highlighted by the Minister of Information for its political and international significance, particularly in relation to implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the caretaker government emphasized that continued and escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon amount to crimes against humanity. He stated that a primary pathway to a resolution involves halting hostilities against the country, fully implementing Resolution 1701, and electing a new president to restore institutional order, stability, and initiate reconstruction.

Mikati condemned what he described as an international failure to stop Israel’s actions against Lebanon, which include attacks on towns and villages, civilian deaths, and strikes against medical and relief personnel.
“We condemn and hold the international community responsible for the continuation of Israel’s genocidal war on Lebanon, its destruction of towns and villages, killing of civilians, assassination of army personnel, and targeting of medical teams, civil defense, relief teams, and journalists.
“Additionally, the attacks on UNIFIL, which represents international legitimacy, make targeting UNIFIL an assault on the international community and the Security Council. This destruction continues to affect hospitals, schools, and educational centers,” stated Mikati.
On the international front, Mikati highlighted the solidarity shown by world figures, referring to his discussions with leaders like Jordan’s King Abdullah, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Prime Minister. This was further demonstrated during the Paris Conference in Support of Lebanon -late on October- he underlined, specifically thanking France for its humanitarian efforts and military support.
But he added: “But unfortunately, Israel is blatantly disregarding all international efforts to achieve a ceasefire.”
The prime minister reiterated Lebanon’s stance on safeguarding its dignity and sovereignty across air, sea, and land, pledging to confront any Israeli violations.
Following the cabinet meeting, Minister of Information Ziad Makari assured that funds to recruit 1,500 additional soldiers are available and that the government encountered no issues regarding this allocation.
Nasser Yassin, the government’s Emergency Committee coordinator, announced that the cabinet approved fuel allocations for 541 shelters in mountainous regions over 300 meters in altitude to ensure winter heating. Yassin also detailed efforts concerning the people displaced as the result of the Israeli hostilities in Lebanon.
He highlighted that there are 44,000 families in 1,138 shelters and an additional 147,000 families housed within communities.