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Cairo: Arab foreign ministers' call for an emergency meeting for a swift consensus on electing Army Chief Michel Sulaiman as Lebanon's president is a practical step to end the country's crisis, said Egyptian political analysts.
"I think the important step would not have been taken without understanding from Syria, which wields influence in Lebanon," said Emad Jad of Al Ahram Centre for Political Studies.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mua'alem said yesterday as he left the meeting in Cairo that his country "supports whatever enhances Lebanon's security".
During their talks the Arab foreign ministers agreed on a compromise plan to end the Lebanese deadlock over reaching a consensus on choosing a president. The Arab officials urged all factions in Lebanon to "reach an immediate agreement on forming a national unity government" in conformity to the constitution.
"It is clear that the Syrians are willing to cooperate after recent Western criticism, particularly from the United States," Jad told Gulf News. "Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria showed unmistakable coordination during the meeting, a matter which gives an encouraging signal about Arab course of action."
Lebanon has been without a president since Emile Lahoud ended his term on November 24, 2007. The Lebanese parliament has delayed the new president's election for 11 times until January 12.
"The fact that all Arab countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria who are the region's heavyweights, crafted and agreed on the plan, provides a necessary regional support for resolving the Lebanese crisis," Abdullah Al Senawi, editor of the opposition Al Arabi newspaper, said.
'Encouraging'
"Though the meeting yielded nothing new about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the move on Lebanon is encouraging," he told Gulf News. "The formula is a face-saver for all the Lebanese factions."
Expressing "extreme satisfaction" with the outcome of the meeting, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Gaith urged the Lebanese politicians to "have a positive outlook" on the plan. "The Egyptian call for the meeting achieved its aim, which is to create an Arab consensus," he told reporters on Saturday.
Efforts: Saudi push
Saudi Arabia said there is contact with Lebanese officials in a bid to find a settlement to the political crisis there.
"We don't claim that we have resolved its problem, but we are in touch with Lebanon through our ambassador there. We wish the people will resort to rationality and understanding and work for appointing the country's President," Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz told reporters in Riyadh on Saturday evening after patronising the annual King Faisal International Prize ceremony.
- Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
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