Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (right) meets the head of Arab League Ahmad Aboul Ghait on Dec. 22, 2022, in Beirut. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Ghait on Thursday said after meeting in Beirut with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati that the key to overcoming the crisis in Lebanon is "firstly electing a president."
In a press conference at the Grand Serail, Aboul Ghait was quoted by the state-run National News Agency as saying that "Lebanon is going through a very difficult and complicated political and economic situations" but that "overcoming this is possible and the means are available."
"The politicians and the economists are demanded to make efforts as fast as possible to get Lebanon out of this difficult situation," Aboul Ghait continued. "I trust the wisdom of the politicians and the efficiency and the ability of the economists to get the country out of this crisis … the key should be firstly electing a president," he said.
For his part, Mikati said that he "apreciates the continuous support by Aboul Ghaith for Lebanon and the efforts that the Arab League is deploying to strengthen the Arab-Arab relationship and the Arab-Lebanese one in particular."
Mikati also praised comments made by Aboul Ghait during an economic and business forum that took place earlier Thursday at which the Arab League head said that Lebanon "cannot endure a long political vacuum."
An Arab League initiative?
Aboul Ghait also met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain al-Tineh. Following the meeting, the Arab League head said Berri explained to him "the processes and the effort that he personally deployed to get out of this crisis."
"Discussions focused on the election of a president," Aboul Ghait continued, repeating that this election is the key to a solution to the crisis. However, the head of the Arab League, when asked if the organization had a specific initiative for Lebanon, replied, "There are many options, but I cannot talk about anything specific at this moment."
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended on Oct. 31. It is also without a fully empowered government, since Mikati's cabinet assumed caretaker status in May following parliamentary elections. This political deadlock comes atop of a yearslong unprecedented economic crisis. Parliament has so far met 10 times to elect a president without success.
On Dec. 16, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders Jim Risch (Republican) and Bob Menendez (Democrat) addressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, calling for accountability measures on all Lebanese officials who are obstructing the functioning of institutions and the implementation of laws. The senators also demanded sanctions to be imposed against them, as well as against those found to be involved in corruption.
On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called on Lebanese politicians to act to allow "the rapid election" of a new president in Lebanon.
The same day, the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari, met with Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai at Bkirki. For weeks now, Rai has been insisting on the need to organize an international conference, under the leadership of the UN, to deal with the socioeconomic and political crises in Lebanon.
