Arab League chief Amr Moussa said on Thursday he was hopeful he could clinch a deal between feuding Lebanese parties to end the political crisis which has left the country with no president since November. "I'm not desperate. To the contrary, I see an opportunity and my discussions will necessarily lead to something (positive)," Moussa told reporters on the second day of talks in Beirut to push through an Arab plan to end the crisis.
He said he would submit an end of mission report to the Arab foreign ministers, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and EU's foreign affairs chief Javier Solana. Moussa met Thursday before noon with Army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman, Lebanon's Grand Mufti sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani and Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir before heading for a meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun.
"We are dealing with a very delicate and crucial situation," Moussa said after meeting Aoun. According to him, Aoun explained his stance after "listening attentively."
At noon, Moussa went for a meeting with former President Amin Gemayel. Moussa said that "I see there is a chance" that today's meetings will end with good results. He reiterated that the Arab plan calls for the "immediate" election of Suleiman, while a national unity government is be established in accordance with constitutional norms.
He also repeated that the Arab initiative is "crystal-clear" and needs no explanation.
