Hariri, Gemayel Meet in Paris: Priority is for Presidential Elections

Kataeb Party Leader Amin Gemayel stressed that coordination is ongoing with his party's key March 14 ally al-Mustaqbal Movement, revealing that priority at this stage is to safeguard Lebanon from the repercussions of the dramatic developments in the region.

“I agreed with head of al-Mustaqbal movement MP Saad Hariri on the importance of staging the presidential elections swiftly,” Gemayel told al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Tuesday.

Hariri and Gemayel met in the French capital Paris last week and tackled the latest local and regional developments.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the tenure of Michel Suleiman ended.

The majority of the March 8 alliance's MPs have been causing a lack of quorum in sessions aimed at electing a president, leaving the country without a head of state.

“The meeting was an opportunity to confirm the ongoing alliance between us,” Gemayel noted, considering that the coalition is based on openness and the national principles that have long gathered the March 14 camp.

An Nahar newspaper described the meeting between Gemayel and Hariri as “very important.”

“The meeting fortified the ties between the two parties.”

The Christian leader expressed surprise at media reports saying that his meeting with Hariri also gathered the Progressive Socialist Party Leader Walid Jumblat.

“We live in one country. Why would I meet with him in Paris,” Gemayel wondered.

Jumblat denied on Friday that his visit to Paris, which coincided with that of Gemayel, was to hold a tripartite meeting with Hariri.

“They are fabricated reports... He is visiting Paris on a private trip and has no political meetings on his agenda,” PSP's press office said in a statement.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper also reported that Gemayel held a telephone conversation on Monday night with Prime Minister Tammam Salam to congratulate him on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

The two officials reportedly tackled the latest security and political developments.

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