Karami meets with Junbulat on elections

Concerning the notable detente between the pro Lebanese government and the opposition forces, the leader of the Lebanese socialist progressive opposition party Walid Junblat and the designated Lebanese prime Minister Omar Karami discussed the date and means of holding the next elections in Lebanon.

Junblat called to making the elections according to the Taif agreement of 1989, where governorates ( the greater circle) are the basis for the voting operations.

The Druze leader considered that most of the demands of the Lebanese opposition have been achieved since the withdrawal of the Syrian forces and the formation of an international investigation committee. He expressed his hope not to mix the elections, which are an internal matter, in other external agendas.

For his part, Karami expected the formation of the government shortly, and described his meeting with Junblat as the beginning of a good dialogue with the opposition, but he did not promise to change the elections law which brings together currently between the system of the governorates and the relative representation list system, leaving this matter for the parliament.

Karami was also careful to ensure rejection of any foreign intervention in the Lebanese elections.

Meantime, the UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen concluded his visit to Beirut which lasted for three days during which he met with senior Lebanese officials and opposition members.

Larsen called for normal relations between Syria and Lebanon through diplomatic representation, admitting the special relations between the two states. He stressed the need of holding the Lebanese elections in its due date warning against the consequences of postponing the elections for its effect on Lebanon's unity and national stability.