Edde: I expect a long presidential vacuum, leading to confrontation

Ulusoy: We must help Lebanon return the displaced Syrians to their country

NNA - Head of the "Lebanese Peace Party", Attorney Roger Edde, and his spouse, Alice, received Tuesday at their residence in Edde, Jbeil, Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Baris Ulusoy, with talks touching on the general situation in the region and its repercussions on Lebanon, in addition to bilateral relations between the two countries.

Following the meeting, Edde stressed "Turkey's role towards Lebanon's future and stability, and the importance of preserving Lebanese lands," noting that "Turkey is an economic, food and tourist factor, a country that started a long time ago with privatization of airports, electricity and transportation..."

He highlighted "the importance of cooperation between Lebanon and Turkey at the economic, food and strategic levels, especially being a neighboring country to Lebanon and essential and influential in the region, and has good relations with the West through the Atlantic Alliance, in addition to its restored relations with the Arab world, and deals with crises that concern Lebanon."

Responding to a question, Edde ruled out a “speedy formation of a new cabinet and the election of a new president at the constitutional deadlines," noting that "PM Najib Mikati has no interest in accepting the conditions set by President Michel Aoun," expecting "a long-term presidential vacuum, leading to confrontation."

For his part, the Turkish ambassador stated that "the priority for Turkey is stability in Lebanon and the start of the required reforms, in order to rebuild the Lebanese economy."

He emphasized his country's “insistence on the need for respecting constitutional deadlines in a democratic manner, especially in terms of speeding up the formation of the government and electing a new president on time, similar to what occurred with the parliamentary elections.”

The Turkish diplomat also stressed “the need to work on reforming the political and economic system in Lebanon.”

In response to a question, Ulusoy affirmed that "it is in Turkey's interest that the displaced Syrians in Lebanon return to their country," noting that "there is joint cooperation to pressure and work in this direction, and the priority is to help Lebanon in this regard, particularly since its problem with Syria in this issue is similar to that of Turkey, so we must work to help Lebanon return the displaced Syrians to their country."

==========R.Sh.