March 14 Insists on Unconditional Presidential Election, Berri Awaits Response

Naharnet

April 30, 2008

The March 14 alliance has linked a return to the dialogue table to the unconditional election of a president and commissioned MP Saad Hariri to discuss with Speaker Nabih Berri ways that ensure a new head of state is chosen on May 13. Meanwhile, Berri said in a statement he is waiting for a response from the majority and upon agreement "we shift from dialogue to electing a president."

The ruling coalition’s official announcement to Berri’s call for dialogue under his auspices came Monday night after a meeting held in Qoreitem and attended by former President Amin Gemayel, Hariri, Druze leader Walid Jumblat, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and other prominent March 14 cabinet ministers, legislators and politicians.

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Setting the Record Straight

Determined to Reach a Common Objective

“We knew at the outset that the task would be difficult. We acknowledged that publicly and privately. We knew this would be a road with many bumps— and there have been many bumps—and that continues to this day. But we are not deterred. We are, to the contrary, determined more than ever to proceed to realize the common objective, which we all share, of a Middle East that is at peace with security and prosperity for the people of Israel, for Palestinians, and for all the people in the region. We will continue our efforts in that regard, undeterred and undaunted by the difficulties, the complexities or the bumps in the road.”—George Mitchell, special envoy for Middle East peace, remarks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, September 29, 2010

Middle East Analysis

Don’t Panic. Yet —Issandr El Amrani (The Arabist)
The Islamists vs. The Markets: Egypt’s Election Analyzed —Haroon Moghul (Religion Dispatches)
What the Libya Intervention Achieved —Marc Lynch (Foreign Policy)

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