Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Mikati urges political forces to back speaker Berri’s presidential election initiative

NEW YORK — While participating in the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati emphasized the need for all political forces in Lebanon to heed the call to engage in dialogue extended by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nabih Berri in an effort to expedite the presidential election process. Mikati also urged the five-party committee on Lebanon to endorse and support this initiative.

Mikati expressed his concern that Christian political factions are, in part, responsible for the delays in enacting the necessary reforms mandated by the international community and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He revealed that his government has crafted draft reform laws and submitted them to the House of Representatives. However, Christian political forces have thus far been unwilling to convene and deliberate on these legislative measures.

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Mikati further stressed the critical importance of Lebanon’s political class convening to conduct a comprehensive analysis and undertake the requisite measures to fully implement the Taif Agreement, a pivotal framework agreement that has been instrumental in shaping Lebanon’s political landscape.