Parliament Session Postponed Until Last Minute
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11/20/2007
House Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to postpone for a fourth time a vote by MPs to elect a president amid last-ditch efforts for political rivals to strike a deal by a Friday deadline, just hours before the mandate of current head of state Emile Lahoud expires.
Several officials contacted by AFP said 'Everything indicates that Berri and majority leader Saad Hariri will agree to postpone the session to Friday to allow for negotiations to continue on a consensus candidate.' MP Hariri is currently in Russia where he meets this afternoon with President Vladimir Putin. Hariri started his meetings in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Discussions focused on the latest developments regarding the presidential election. Following the meeting, Lavrov expressed his hope that stability will reins in Lebanon and described his talks with Hariri as constructive. The Russia Foreign Minister meanwhile hailed Hariri's efforts in solving the Lebanese crisis. He reiterated Moscow's support to the Lebanese. For his part, the head of the Future Bloc said Lebanon was passing through a crucial phase in its history. Hariri added that at this moment in time, Russia is playing an important role in the region. Asked about his deputy Alexander Soltanov's visit to Syria and its relation to the Lebanese crisis, Lavrov said that Soltanov's visit comes in the framework of assisting in the Lebanese crisis. He however stressed that the messages transmitted to the Syrian leadership will not be disclosed. The Deputy Foreign Minister arrived yesterday to Damascus and meets with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad today. |
