Meanwhile, France was to serve a strongly-worded, warning-style message to Syria noting that normalization talks between Paris and Damascus can only start after the election of a new Lebanese president in line with the nation's constitution and following a halt in terror attacks against majority figures in Lebanon, the daily newspaper an-Nahar reported.
The publication also noted that the Christian committee, meeting under the auspices of Marnoite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, has agreed that all MPs should attend the presidential elections session, which puts an end to the traditional dispute on quorum, be it two thirds of legislators or just simple majority.
However, committee members have not reached agreement on the authority to which its recommendations would be referred, the daily reported.
It said representatives of the March 14 majority want the recommendations referred to Patriarch Sfeir, while opposition representatives want them referred to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Parliamentary Majority leader Saad Hariri who are involved in talks to agree on a consensus presidential candidate.
Referring the recommendations to Berri-Hariri, the report noted, puts them under possible veto by Berri, who represents the Hezbollah-led opposition in the talks.
Hezbollah has noted that it backs consensus among Christians on a presidential candidate conditional to nationwide consensus, leaving the door open to veto by the pro-Syrian opposition.
In a dispatch from Paris, an-Nahar's correspondent quoted a ranking French diplomat as saying ambassador jean-Claude Cousseran would be dispatched by the foreign minister to Damascus to relay a message to Syrian officials.
The message, according to the report, would stress that "dialogue between Paris and Damascus is not possible before the election of a new president for Lebanon within the constitutional schedule and in line with the constitution and before a halt in terror."
"Accomplishing this target peacefully opens the horizon to normalization dialogue between the two sides," the message adds.
Cousseran, an-Nahar reported, could meet Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Sharaa during his Damascus visit, that is expected to take place on Saturday.
The meeting would be a "test of intentions" and its outcome would be decisive in deciding whether foreign ministers of the two states could hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of a conference on Iraq that would be hosted by Turkey at a later date.
A spokesman for the French presidential office also stressed Friday that Paris and Washington have a common strategy in Lebanon, which is facilitating presidential elections along the lines of consensus on a candidate and within the framework of democratic practices.
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman on Friday dealt a blow to President Emile Lahoud's alleged hope of remaining in office after his extended term expires on Nov. 24.
Washington would not deal with Lahoud after Nov. 24, the U.S. ambassador stressed in a statement.
Meanwhile, MP Michel Murr told LBC Friday evening that Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun does not enjoy enough parliamentary backing to win a presidential vote.
"He knows that if he goes to parliament he cannot win," Murr said of Aoun.
By Nov. 11, one day before the date set by Berri for Parliament to elect a president, "we will tell him (Aoun) that vacuum (in the presidential office) is not an option," Murr added.
"I say that we will not accept vacuum, we will not ruin the country if consensus was not reached on him (Aoun)," Murr added.
"I'll support any candidate accepted by Berri, Hariri and Bkirki," Murr added.
Sources: Naharnet
