The ambassadors of the quintet countries during a meeting at the French Embassy in Beirut on February 20, 2024. Photo embassy of France in Lebanon.
BEIRUT — Ambassadors from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, known as The Group of Five, and involved in trying to help Lebanon in its political deadlock, met on Tuesday at the French Embassy in Beirut "to reaffirm their determination to facilitate and encourage the election of a president," according to a statement shared by the French Embassy.
The ambassadors also reviewed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region in their discussion about what possible steps could be taken, the statement says.
The quintet became involved in the Lebanese presidential issue following the prolonged vacancy at the head of state when Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022. Since then, twelve parliamentary electoral sessions, the last of which was held in June 2023, have tried and failed to elect a new president.
In this context, the international community is attempting to establish political stability in Lebanon through the reconstitution of power, including the election of a President of the Republic and the formation of a government.
In early February, the Group of Five met with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who declared that he agreed with them that the presidential election should be "a purely Lebanese affair," with no international interference.
The diplomats also insisted on the need to separate the presidential issue from military developments in southern Lebanon and Gaza.
The Lebanese opposition is backing Jihad Azour, former Finance Minister, as a candidate for Lebanese president. The opposition converged with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM, Aounist), against the candidacy of Sleiman Frangieh, leader of the Marada Movement, who is supported by the Shi'ite tandem Amal-Hezbollah.