The Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, received by the Mufti of the Republic, Abdel Latif Derian, on Aug. 29, 2024, in Beirut. (Credit: NNA)
Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, said Thursday that it is crucial to "bring the Lebanese presidential election back to the forefront," in a statement made after a meeting with the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian.
Moussa emphasized that he and sheikh Derian agreed on "the importance of acting swiftly to unblock the presidential election, as the challenges facing Lebanon and the region are significant. Therefore, the country must address its internal issues to be able to face them."
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, with ongoing internal political disputes preventing the election of a new head of state.
Moussa also noted that the members of the quintet — the ambassadors of the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar — who have been working for months to resolve disputes and facilitate the election of a president, "continue to give this issue the necessary attention."
While tensions in southern Lebanon have overshadowed the presidential election, "the coming period should see renewed activity on this front," he said, urging all Lebanese parties to "join this movement."
Patriarch Rai: “Sustained” Efforts Needed to Elect a President
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai also spoke on Thursday about the "sustained efforts" needed to elect a head of state.
Rai, who was touring the Deir al-Ahmar region in northern Bekaa, expressed a desire "for the war to end, for a new president to be elected, and for the situation to stabilize."
"Our greatest hope is for the country to return to normal life," he said.
