By Ibrahim Khazen
CAIRO (AA) - The Egyptian foreign minister held discussions Saturday with his Lebanese and French counterparts on developments in Syria and Lebanon, ahead of a parliamentary session that hopes to end the two-year presidential vacuum in Beirut, according to a statement.
The talks came in two telephone calls between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
Abdelatty and Bou Habib discussed "the latest developments on the Lebanese front in light of the upcoming Lebanese Parliament session on Jan. 9 to elect a new president," said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
Abdelatty emphasized "the importance of intensive efforts with all national stakeholders to achieve a purely Lebanese consensus to end the presidential vacancy without any foreign interference."
Since the term of former President Michel Aoun ended in October 2022, the Lebanese parliament has failed to elect a president in 13 sessions over two years, with the latest on June 14, 2023, deepening the political crisis. It marked the sixth presidential vacancy in Lebanon's modern history.
The Egyptian and Lebanese ministers also exchanged views on the political and security developments in Syria.
The statement highlighted "the importance of supporting the will of the Syrian people, preserving the resources of the Syrian state, its unity, and territorial integrity, and ensuring that the political transition in Syria is purely Syrian-owned without external impositions."
In a separate statement, the ministry reported another call between Abdelatty and Barrot, in which they discussed ways to strengthen relations and exchanged views on regional issues.
Abdelatty stressed "the need to intensify efforts aimed at reaching a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and enhancing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the area."
The call also addressed developments in Somalia, with Abdelatty emphasizing "the importance of respecting Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity."
Additionally, Abdelatty outlined Egypt's stance on developments in Syria, reaffirming Egypt's support for the Syrian people and the need for an inclusive political transition that preserves the stability and unity of the Syrian state.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala