Solana who is on a visit to Beirut, said he was so happy to be back in Lebanon and reiterated his full support for the legitimate government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
Solana who also met Lebanon's speaker Nabih Berri told reporters after their meeting:
'We support the Arab plan to end the Lebanese political stalemate'
Solana said he sincerely hopes that Lebanon will have a president before the scheduled Arab summit in Damascus, Syria, and stressed the European Union backing for the Arab initiative which is being brokered by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.
Solana noted that he will be visiting Cairo tomorrow to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Moussa, pointing out that the EU wants the Syrians to cooperate as much as possible adding "they are not cooperating." A visit to Syria was not on his schedule for this trip.
He reiterated the only plan to save Lebanon was that of the Arab League and ruled out European countries having any new plan to end the crisis in Lebanon.
Arab League chief has so far failed to break the impasse which has forced the presidential election to be postponed 15 times since September.
Moussa is trying to broker an Arab three point plan to end the crises
Asked by a reporter if he thought Lebanon was heading towards civil war, especially after reports that the US warship USS Cole was nearing the Lebanese coast, Solana said: 'I do not think there is such danger - but Lebanon has to have a president before the Arab summit.'
Reports in Beirut said Tuesday a new round of phone discussions between Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa and Berri raised 'new ideas to settle the Lebanese crises and could lead to an agreement before the next presidential election session scheduled for March 11.'
Berri told the daily as-Safir he was 'still betting on the Arab initiative,' disclosing that there are 'new ideas which we are working on to reach a consensus solution,' without elaborating.
'The discussions showed an Arab willingness to listen to both opposition and ruling coalition points of view, away from tense atmosphere in Beirut,' the daily said.