A consultative ministerial meeting chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati was held at the Maronite Patriarchate’s summer residence in Diman on Tuesday, with the participation of 15 Ministers, namely Youssef Khalil, Firas al-Abiad, Issam Charafeddine, Abbas Halabi, Najla Riachy, Johnny Corm, George Kallas, Mohammad Mourtada, Amin Salam, Ziad Makary, Mostafa Bayram, Bassam Mawlawi, Abbas Hajj Hassan, Ali Hamieh and Georges Bouchikian.

"The idea of this meeting came spontaneously," said Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Rahi at the beginning of the meeting.

"This is not a session for the Council of Ministers, but rather a spontaneous consultative meeting to discuss the overall general affairs," he added.

"The first time the French presidential envoy (Jean-Yves) Le Drian visited me, I told him that what you hear does not express the truth. We are a parliamentary democratic republic and there are two presidential candidates. Let the MPs assume their duty and vote; either a president is elected or not. And in light of the results, a dialogue should be held and an agreement over a third candidate should be reached," he noted.

"Unfortunately, the country is heading towards chaos, and the state is struggling," he pointed out.

"Our meeting today is free and fraternal, and what should be said will be said," he underlined.

For his part, Mikati said the meeting aims to discuss "affairs that unite the Lebanese," such as the respect of the Lebanese formula and pluralism.

"This is why we wanted to hold this meeting. We wonder at some interpretations of this meeting and the fact that some have considered it a coup against Taif Agreement," he said.

"We are ready to be a bridge between all the Lebanese and to engage in a dialogue over all the issues," he added.

"The country would not recover if we did not act within the framework of dialogue and rapprochement," he went on saying.

"We are ready for rapprochement and for being a bridge of dialogue and fraternity between all the Lebanese," he stressed.