Berri Rejects 'Isolation,' Welcomes 'Positive Signals' from al-Mustaqbal

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated his rejection to isolate Hizbullah or any other party from the new government, confirming that efforts are underway to form an all-embracing cabinet.

In remarks to An Nahar daily published on Wednesday, Berri said: “I welcome anything except for the isolation of any party.”

“Any attempt to isolate Hizbullah or any other side … is rejected,” he said. “Experience has shown that no one can isolate the other in Lebanon.”

Berri said there were strong efforts to form a consensual cabinet that includes all parties.

Al-Joumhouria daily also quoted the speaker as saying that a meeting held between President Michel Suleiman, his advisor Caretaker Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Hussein Khalil, the Hizbullah leader's aide was “good.”

“We hope the efforts exerted to form a cabinet based on the 8-8-8 formula would not be undermined,” Berri said.

Local newspapers said Wednesday Suleiman had a positive reaction to a proposal made by the two envoys to give the March 8 and 14 alliances and centrists 8 ministers each.

But the president refused to be committed to their suggestion not to sign a decree on a neutral cabinet, which they call a fait accompli government.

The speaker, who is also the head of the Amal movement, shrugged off criticism that he was serving Hizbullah.

“I am ready to serve everyone to salvage Lebanon,” he said.

Berri welcomed what he called some positive signals from al-Mustaqbal movement officials that they would not “isolate” any side.

“This is something good and could be built on,” he said.