According to French diplomatic sources, French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive in Beirut early next week for a visit of up to three days. This visit represents a renewed push to urge Lebanese leaders to elect a president before the United States elections on November 5. Furthermore, “Lebanon should not wait for the outcome of the US elections. Swift action is needed to resolve this issue, as it will have a positive impact on the situation in Lebanon.”
Le Drian is set to arrive in Lebanon with the backing of the Quintet – comprising the US, France, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Quintet has underscored that while it remains concerned about Lebanon, it cannot replace Lebanese efforts or offer solutions to the presidential deadlock. Instead, these countries have pledged to intensify efforts to bridge gaps among Lebanese factions, relying on domestic initiatives related to resolving this issue. Coordination among the Quintet members has been underway, starting with a meeting between Le Drian and Saudi Royal Court adviser Nizar al-Aloula. This was followed by a phone call with US envoy Amos Hochstein, during which they discussed the Lebanese presidential election and the developments in southern Lebanon amidst the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.
Moreover, Quintet members, through their ambassadors in Beirut, outlined their coordinated efforts to address the situation in Lebanon and the wider region. Each ambassador detailed their country’s contributions, revealing a shared goal: electing a president in Lebanon, ending the conflict on the southern front, as well as halting the war in Gaza. Some ambassadors provided in-depth insights into these efforts, with the Egyptian and Qatari ambassadors particularly emphasizing their initiatives to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. This, they suggested, could also facilitate a ceasefire in Lebanon and expedite the presidential election process.
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