French Envoy in Shuttle Diplomacy over Lebanon's Presidential Crisis

The French foreign ministry's director for North Africa and the Middle East affairs is expected to travel to Riyadh, Tehran and the Vatican in an attempt to resolve the Lebanese presidential deadlock, pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said Jean-François Girault will travel to Saudi Arabia on January 5. He is then scheduled to make a trip to Iran and later head to the Vatican for talks with top officials on Lebanon's presidential crisis.

It quoted highly-informed French sources as saying that “there is a chance to end the deadlock because Iranian officials have shown some leniency on the issue.”

Arab diplomatic sources also said the Vatican has expressed regret that Lebanon’s Christian politicians are responsible for the vacuum at Baabda Palace.

The Vatican accused them of hindering the role of Christians in Lebanon and the region as a result of their differences.

The country's top Christian post has been vacant since President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May.

Girault, who visited Beirut earlier this month and held talks with Lebanon’s top leaders and rival politicians, said Paris was ready to facilitate an agreement on the election of a successor to Suleiman.

The main reason behind the vacuum at Baabda Palace is the rivalry between Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea.

Both have announced their candidacies for the post, causing a lack of quorum at the parliament.

Asharq al-Awsat quoted sources as saying that the rivals could meet during the holidays to discuss several controversial issues, including the presidential deadlock.

Both Aoun and Geagea have announced during interviews their willingness to hold talks.

G.K.

H.K.