Shoukry Meets Officials: Egypt Ready to Help Lebanon overcome Presidential Impasse
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed on Tuesday that his country will provide the needed ground to help Lebanon overcome its political crisis, as he assured that Egypt only seeks stability and peace in the world and region.
“We will provide the needed ground to help Lebanon out of its political crisis,” Shoukry said.
His comments came after separate meetings he held with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam and his Lebanese counterpart Jebran Bassil.
He reiterated his country's keenness for constant contacts with all Lebanese factions.
“We are keen on continuous communication with all the Lebanese factions. Our goal is stability and peace in the world and the region,” said the diplomat after meeting Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.
After meeting Bassil, he said: “We look forward to closer bilateral ties in all areas between Egypt and Lebanon. We must meet the challenges facing the Arab nation through boosting joint action between our countries.”
“We feel with Lebanon and what it's enduring as a result of the presidential vacuum. Egypt is ready to provide any support that contributes to reaching a solution,” said Shoukry.
The Minister arrived in Beirut late Monday and was scheduled to hold meetings with several officials in an attempt to help Lebanon overcome the impasse of electing a head of state.
Media reports had said that observers pin hopes on the Egyptian minister's visit as they anticipate that it could help overcome the presidential election impasse.
Earlier, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Badreddine Zayed had stressed after a meeting with Foreign Minster Jebran Bassil that Shoukry will propose “new ideas” regarding Lebanon's presidential crisis during his visit to the country.
He had stressed that “Egypt is keen to offer all support to Lebanon in the current period and we all understand the challenges that the region is going through and how critical is the regional situation. This is the reason behind Egypt's keenness on the current Egyptian-Lebanese interaction.”