Hariri Holds Talks in Turkey with Erdogan, Yildirim



Hariri Holds Talks in Turkey with Erdogan, Yildirim

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri held talks Thursday in Ankara with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, his office said.

“During the two meetings, ex-PM Hariri reiterated his solidarity with Turkey, its people and its democracy in the face of the failed coup attempt as well as in the face of the terrorist attacks it is witnessing,” the office said.

The conferees also discussed “the developments in the region, especially as to the Syrian crisis and means to protect Lebanon from its dangerous repercussions,” Hariri's office added.

They also discussed “the ongoing efforts to put an end to the vacuum of the Lebanese presidency, which is the gateway for regularizing the work of the State and confronting the growing economic and social challenges,” the office said.

During the talks, Erdogan asked Hariri to stay in Turkey to take part on Friday in the inauguration of Istanbul's Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and the state-sponsored dinner banquet that will follow the opening ceremony.

Hariri will also hold meetings with other Turkish figures.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.

Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

Hariri's move prompted Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to endorse the nomination of Aoun, his long-time Christian rival.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.


 














Copyright 2007 mideast-times.com