News reports said that Bkirki has requested Monday US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltam tells his administration in Washington not to cover the half-plus-one formula to elect a president. Quoting a senior diplomatic source, the elnashra.com news site said that the Maronite Church will only accept the two-thirds quorum for presidential vote. Bkirki hosts Monday a new round of talks between members of the Maronite quartet representing Loyalty and opposition Maronites. According to media reports, talks could go beyond the characteristics of the next president. The reports added that the committee would meet on daily basis, or even two times a day, to finalize the required conception for a new president, by week's end.

- Broaden the scope of dialogue among the various parties and consider this meeting as an introduction to other meetings to be held amongst all Christian and Lebanese leaders so that the logic of understanding would prevail over the logic of confrontations.
General Aoun, for his part, hoped the meeting with Gemayel would reassure the Lebanese and lead to agreement on the presidential election.

Lebanese media report had said that MP martyr Antoine Ghanem, also a Phalange Party member, was working on establishing reconciliation between his party and Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement. However, Ghanem's assassination froze the whole process.

Bkirki Only Accepts Two-Thirds Quorum for Presidential Vote
The An Nahar daily on Monday, citing Phalange Party sources, said the Gemayel-Aoun talks were bound to reflect positively on the Christian status. It said the two-hour talks were also aimed at facilitating the Bkirki initiative and the committee that was formed to follow-upon meetings held by the Maronite Church in an effort to reach consensus on a presidential candidate.

"We all know that the coming days and weeks are decisive. We are on a cross road and this necessitates an increase in communication and dialogue among us. My meeting with Speaker Berri was to express support his initiative as well as Bkirki's initiative," Gemayel said. The former President also said that the names of presidential candidates were not on the agenda.

Aoun ? Gemayel Meeting
On Sunday evening, a surprise meeting was held between rival Christian leaders, Gemayel and General Michel Aoun, at the house of a "common friend" east of Beirut. The meeting which Gemayel described as "very constructive" centered on bringing viewpoints closer as the presidential election is drawing near and a consensus candidate is yet to be agreed on. The two leaders issued a statement stressing their commitment to solve outstanding issues in a political framework. The statement, read by Gemayel, also stressed the need to:
- Provide a positive atmosphere based on consensus and respect for the constitution.