Ban: Lebanon on Brink of “Abyss”
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned political leaders Friday that Lebanon stood on the brink of an “abyss” if they failed to put their differences aside to elect a new president by a November 23 deadline.
“The world is looking at Lebanon. This is a critical time for the future of this great country. If the responsibilities are not shouldered, there might be a move to the brink of an abyss,” the U.N. chief said at the end of his talks with members of the ruling March 14 coalition and the Hizbullah-led opposition.
“This is the time for all Lebanese leaders to put their national interest above personal and sectarian interests,” Ban told a news conference at the airport before his departure.
“I expect and I”m confident that all of my Lebanese friends will conduct this important political process in a democratic and non-violent manner,” he said.
The U.N. chief also met Nasrallah Sfeir, the influential spiritual leader of the Christian Maronite community, during his 24-hour visit that began late Thursday.
Prime Minister Fouad Saniora”s government and the opposition, which is backed by Syria and Iran, have been engaged in a bitter power struggle over who should be chosen to replace the current Damascus-backed head of state Emile Lahoud, whose term expires November 24.
Sfeir on Friday submitted to both sides a list of potential candidates in hope they could agree on one or several
names ahead of a crucial vote in parliament next Wednesday.
The crisis is Lebanon”s worst since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war and there are fears the conflict will lead
to two rival governments, as was the case at the end of the war.
Three special parliament sessions to elect a successor to Lahoud have already been postponed because of the deadlock and there are fears that a last-chance vote on November 21 could meet the same fate.
Saad Hariri, head of the majority bloc in parliament, told AFP Friday he believed there could be a “breakthrough” at any moment and that he was confident the election would take place by the constitutional deadline.
“It could happen at any time, we”re good to go,” Hariri said. “We don”t seek a presidential void and we want to elect a president.”
He added that French efforts to end the crisis had broad support with only Damascus and its local allies voicing opposition.
“The attacks on the French initiative are coming from one source — Syria and its tools,” he said.
France, Lebanon”s former colonial power, has spearheaded diplomatic efforts for the vote to take place with Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner convincing Sfeir earlier this week to draw up a list of candidates whose names could then be put to both the majority and the opposition.
Apart from Kouchner and the UN chief, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D”Alema was expected in Beirut late on Friday to join the diplomatic efforts.
Kouchner is also due to return next week — for his sixth visit in as many months — to ensure the vote goes through.
Saniora”s cabinet has been paralyzed since the opposition withdrew its six ministers in November last year in a bid to gain more representation in government.
Picture: Patriarch Sfeir meets with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at Bkirki on November 16, 2007. (Dalati & Nohra)