Salam Backs 'Any Rapprochement', Says Priority Must be for Electing President

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Prime Minister Tammam Salam declared Friday his support for “any rapprochement” between the country's political forces, while stressing that the priority must be the election of a new president.

“We back any rapprochement or openness between political forces and we stress that the top priority in any discussion or settlement proposal must be for the election of a president,” Salam said in a speech at the opening of the Beirut International Arab Book Fair at BIEL.

Hailing the “national consensus” that followed the deadly bombings in Bourj al-Barajneh, the premier said “it reflected a high level of wisdom and responsibility from the political leaders.”

“We see a possibility to capitalize on these stances in order to find the means to exit the current political crisis,” he added.

“The national dialogue that is being sponsored by Speaker Nabih Berri and the bilateral talks between political forces are the best approach for finding agreements that can end the political deadlock and the paralysis of the legislative and executive authorities,” Salam went on to say.

His remarks come amid a flurry of political consultations among Lebanese political forces.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri held a series of talks in recent days with Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh, Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat and Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel.

The Franjieh-Hariri meeting has sparked intense speculation that they agreed to the nomination of the Marada chief as president.

Hariri has also held talks in Riyadh with several officials of his Mustaqbal movement and Kataeb has launched consultations with the country's Christian parties.

The country has been without a president since the end of Michel Suleiman's term in May 2014 due to political bickering and electoral rivalry.

Y.R.