Berri Says Hizbullah-Mustaqbal Dialogue Does Not Sidestep Any Party

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that any possible agreement between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement would take into consideration the interest of the nation.

“The statement that we issued after the first round of talks (between the two parties) was very clear and very accurate,” local dailies on Monday quoted Berri as telling his visitors.

“Its words were chosen carefully in the sense that any agreement reached between the parties of the dialogue would take into consideration all sides and the interest of the nation,” said Berri.

The second round of dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal is scheduled to be held in Ain el-Tineh on Monday to discuss ways to limit Sunni-Shiite tension.

The representatives of the two parties will assess the results of the first meeting that was held between them under Berri's auspices last month.

The second round of talks is also expected to focus on the consolidation of measures aimed at reducing tension, which is mainly linked to the civil war in neighboring Syria.

Berri denied that the talks would lead to the formation of a four-party alliance that includes Hizbullah, al-Mustaqbal, his Amal movement and MP Walid Jumblat’s Progressive Socialist Party.

Involved sources ruled out a major breakthrough on controversial issues, which from the start have not been placed on the agenda.

Al-Mustaqbal movement sources also said that a decision on such major issues, mainly Hizbullah's involvement in the war in neighboring Syria, is directly linked to Iran.

“That's why it cannot be discussed and no progress could be made on it,” they said.

Hizbullah has sent its fighters to Syria to back Syrian President Bashar Assad against the rebels seeking to topple him. Al-Mustaqbal supports the rebels.

Berri told his visitors that possible talks between Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea are a natural reaction to the Sunni-Shiite dialogue.

Aoun and Geagea – both presidential candidates - are yet to meet.

The agenda of the talks between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal includes the presidential deadlock. But it was not clear when the representatives will discuss the crisis.

Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May.