United Nations Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka held a round of consultations with political, religious and economic stakeholders in Lebanon ahead of next week’s briefing to the Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 1701.

In a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Special Coordinator underlined the priority of electing a new President of the Republic to end the vacuum since 31 October and the urgency of implementing reforms, particularly those required for an agreement with the IMF. She also discussed with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri Parliament’s crucial role in expediting the election of a new President and in moving forward on reforms.

The Special Coordinator also met with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros El-Rahi for an exchange of views on the importance of avoiding a prolonged vacuum in the presidential seat, which is reserved for the Maronite community, and on how people were coping with the impact of a multitude of crises in Lebanon.  The Special Coordinator also consulted with a group of pro-reform economists on the measures Lebanon should take to address the country’s protracted socio-economic crisis.