STORY: Egypt fully supports Lebanon in ending presidential vacuum: FM
SHOOTING TIME: recent footage
DATELINE: Jan. 9, 2025
LENGTH: 00:00:47
LOCATION: Cairo
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry

STORYLINE:

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty voiced Egypt's "full support" for Lebanon to elect a new president and end its two-year presidential vacuum.

Abdelatty made the remarks during phone talks on Wednesday with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. The conversation comes just one day after Berri called for a general session to be held Thursday to elect a president for Lebanon.

The minister emphasized the need to reach a purely Lebanese consensus that is free from foreign dictates. Abdelatty called for the election of a president "capable of leading Lebanon to face internal and regional challenges and risks."

"Egypt will continue to provide all forms of support to Lebanon," Abdelatty reiterated.

For his part, Berri expressed his appreciation for Egypt's constant political and humanitarian support for Lebanon, especially at such a critical stage and under difficult circumstances.

Due to bitter political division, the Lebanese parliament has failed to elect a leader in the 12 presidential election sessions held following the end of former President Michel Aoun's term in late October 2022.

A caretaker administration has been governing Lebanon amid the presidential vacuum.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo.
(XHTV)