BEIRUT: Future Movement leader and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said his landmark meeting with head of the rival Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun earlier this week was a positive development that came after more than a year of dialogue.
“The fact that this encounter took place is a positive matter, and our dialogue with him started more than a year ago,” Hariri told the new board of the Press Federation Awni al-Kaaki who visited him at his residence in Beirut’s central district Friday.
“We hope that upbeat dialogue will continue, and we encourage all factions to conduct such dialogue as it is the only means to achieve aspired solutions,” Hariri said, according to remarks released by his media office.
Hariri hosted a dinner Wednesday for Aoun, who is also an MP, during which they said they discussed the political situation in Lebanon and regional developments.
Stressing that electing a new president is a top priority, Hariri said his Future Movement will seek to open the way for the election as soon as possible through relations with Aoun and ongoing dialogue with Hezbollah and the Amal movement.
Hariri hailed the Army's fight against terrorism, underlining, however, that such a bid won’t be complete and effective without a new head of state.
He also said that two separate Saudi grants of $3 billion and $1 billion to equip and train the Lebanese Army were on the right track.
The Free Patriotic Movement launched dialogue with the Future Movement last year.
During their dinner Wednesday, Hariri stressed to Aoun that he had no issues with his presidential candidacy, but that an agreement with Christian leaders, particularly Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, was necessary.
Geagea is the presidential candidate of the Future-led March 14 coalition.
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