US, Spain support Doha agreement, Germany wants swift presidential election

Source: Compiled by Hizbollah.tv, 22-05-2008
The United States welcomed Wednesday's accord between Lebanese leaders as a positive step, a State Department official said.
"That this agreement has been reached in Doha is really a welcome development," David Welch, deputy secretary for Near Eastern affairs, told reporters here.
"It is a necessary and positive step toward accomplishing what the Arab League's initiative on Lebanon was designed to do," electing a president of Lebanon, forming a new government and revising the electoral law, he said.
The agreement, announced after days of tense talks in Doha, will see the election of a president for Lebanon within days and the creation of a unity government in which the National Lebanese Opposition will have the power of veto.
Lebanese deputies will gather on Sunday to elect Army Commander General Michel Suleiman president following the deal, Mohammad Shatah, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, announced on Wednesday.
Spain also welcomed the "important" agreement clinched in Doha aimed at ending an 18-month crisis in Lebanon that came close to civil war, saying it paved the way for peace in the country.
"The government of Spain sends its warmest congratulations to the Lebanese political forces for the agreement reached in Doha to elect the consensus candidate, General Michel Suleiman, as president," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Spain, which along with France and Italy, contributed to the mediation efforts, trusts that the Lebanese people will be able to take advantage of the opportunities opened up by this important agreement and by the peace prospects that are opening up in the Middle East," it added.
The agreement foresees the election within days of Suleiman as president and the creation of a unity government in which the opposition has a veto.
It also bans any resort to weapons in pursuit of political aims and includes an agreement on a new electoral law.
Meanwhile, Germany called for the swift election of a new Lebanese president as it welcomed the Doha deal aimed at ending the country's crisis that came close to civil war.
Wednesday's accord between Lebanese leaders clears "the way for an end to the political crisis," foreign ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger told a news conference.
"We hope to see quickly the election of (Army Commander Michel) Suleiman to the post of president and the putting in place of a new government," as well as the swift disarmament of militia in the country, Jaeger said.
The agreement foresees the election within days of Suleiman as president and the creation of a unity government in which the opposition has a veto. It also bans any resort to weapons in pursuit of political aims and includes an agreement on a new electoral law.