Following a round of meetings between the ambassadors of the Quintet countries and Lebanese political groups, the Quintet Committee issued a statement asserting that "after more than 18 months of presidential vacancy in Lebanon, the ambassadors of Egypt, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United States reaffirm the critical situation facing the Lebanese people and the difficult-to-reverse repercussions on Lebanon's economy and social stability due to the delay in necessary reforms." The statement emphasized that "Lebanon cannot wait another month; it needs and deserves a president who unites the country, prioritizes the welfare of its citizens, and forms a broad and inclusive coalition to restore political stability and implement essential economic reforms. Additionally, electing a president is crucial for ensuring Lebanon's effective participation in regional discussions and for future diplomatic agreements regarding Lebanon's southern borders."
It added: "Over the past month, the ambassadors of the Quintet countries concluded their meetings with major Lebanese political factions to discuss the ongoing presidential vacancy. The discussions demonstrated that these factions agree on the urgent need to elect a president of the republic and are willing to engage in a continuous effort to achieve this outcome, with some prepared to finalize this by the end of May 2024." Consequently, the ambassadors believe that limited duration consultations among the political factions are necessary to end the current political stalemate. These consultations should aim solely at identifying a broadly agreed-upon candidate or a short list of presidential candidates, and as soon as these consultations conclude, the deputies will proceed to an open electoral session in parliament with multiple rounds until a new president is elected. The Quintet ambassadors urge Lebanese deputies to proceed with consultations and fulfill their constitutional responsibility to elect a president of the republic.
The ambassadors reiterated their unified position in supporting the government and people of Lebanon, as articulated in the Doha statement issued last July. The Quintet ambassadors affirm their commitment to respecting Lebanon's sovereignty and constitution and continue their sincere and neutral efforts to help Lebanon emerge from its current crises and restore its political and economic recovery. The Quintet ambassadors are ready to witness and facilitate the proposed political consultations alongside ongoing efforts and initiatives by all Lebanese parties and stakeholders, including the National Moderation Bloc.
