March 14 in Favor of Dialogue with Opposition
Former President Amin Gemayel said the ruling March 14 alliance is in favor of dialogue with the Hizbullah-led opposition provided that round table talks would lead to the election of a President.
“We agreed that we all want dialogue, provided that this dialogue is effective and lead to the election of a president for the republic,” Gemayel said in remarks published by the daily An Nahar on Sunday.
His comments came after talks with MP Saad Hariri in Bikfaya late Saturday.
“We don’t want dialogue about issues like the shape up of a new government structure,” Gemayel added.
“MP (Walid) Jumblat, just like us, we are not going to enter into dialogue blindfolded,” Gemayel said. “He (Jumblat) too wants guarantees.”
Asked if he expected dialogue anytime soon, Gemayel said: “It seems that things have not yet matured, and the opposition has not yet received a green light from abroad to settle issues.”
Before meeting Gemayel, Hariri met Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Maarab.
His meeting with Geagea followed talks with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki on Saturday.
Hariri said he was “optimistic concerning the election of a president on May 13.
Hariri also said he was in favor of a dialogue with the opposition.
“No one is against dialogue,” Hariri said in response to a question on whether he supports Berri’s call for dialogue.
“But if this dialogue is to take place, a president should be elected regardless of the outcome,” Hariri stressed.
“If we participate in a dialogue it will be to elect a president,” he stressed.
Druze leader Walid Jumblat had said that dialogue was the only solution to Lebanon’s political crisis.
Lebanon is facing its worst political crisis since the end of its 1975-1990 civil war, with the feuding factions unable to agree on a compromise to elect a replacement to pro-Syrian former president Emile Lahoud, who stepped down in November at the end of his mandate.
March 14 and the opposition remain at loggerheads despite efforts by the Arab League and international mediators to solve the crisis.
