BEIRUT, May 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Sunday expressed hopes that the vacuum in Lebanon's presidency would not be long and a new president could be elected as soon as possible, according to the press office of former Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.
The UN chief voiced his "readiness to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations of the International Support Group meeting" and the subsequent conference. He also said he will "exert all efforts necessary" to ensure support to the Lebanese army at the Rome meeting slated for mid-June.
During the last UN General Assembly in New York last September, the "International Support Group for Lebanon" pledged to back Lebanon's economy, support the Lebanese armed forces and establish a special fund to help the Lebanese government face the crisis caused by the influx of Syrian refugees to the country.
Earlier Saudi Arabia announced a subsequent aid of three billion U.S. dollars to equip the Lebanese army with advanced French weaponry.
Suleiman's term ended on Sunday and the Lebanese parliament has failed to elect a new president after five consecutive sessions.
In the latest session on Thursday only 73 members were present in the 128-member parliament, failing to reach the required two- thirds quorum.
Lebanon's constitution stipulates that the president should be a Christian Maronite and elected by two thirds of the 128-member parliament in the first round of voting, and by simple majority in the further rounds.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑） |