The Kingdom lent its backing on Thursday to a power-sharing plan for Lebanon, saying it hoped it would happen within weeks.
The proposal tabled by Sunni politician Saad Al-Hariri would see him return to Lebanon as prime minister, and make Maronite Christian politician Suleiman Franjieh president.
The plan could revive government institutions paralyzed by political rivalries that have been exacerbated by the war in neighboring Syria. Lebanon has been without a president for 18 months.
“God willing we will see … this vacuum filled thanks to good efforts in Lebanon” around the end of this year, said Ali Awad Asiri, the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon.
“We bless this initiative, and we are keen to see this presidential vacuum filled,” he said. He was speaking in a televised news conference after meeting officials of one of Lebanon’s main Christian parties, the Kataeb.
Speaking in France after a meeting with President Francois Hollande, Hariri said there was “great hope” of ending the paralysis that arose from the failure of rival politicians to agree on who should fill the presidency.
Asked whether the Franjieh proposal was still valid, Hariri said: “There are discussions under way and the climate is positive, God willing, and the coming days will show Lebanon to be in very good shape.”
Franjieh said late on Wednesday his candidacy was not yet official but he was waiting for Hariri to formally endorse it.
“We have an historical opportunity. Whoever has another (plan) for Lebanon, they should present it, but if we miss this chance today, I fear we will go into a worse phase than we’re in,” Lebanon’s National News Agency quoted him as saying.
Reuters
