Berri Has Great Hopes on Dialogue, Says Presidential Crisis Linked to 'Remote Control'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri expected the dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal to salvage Lebanon in the absence of a head of state despite his concern that the presidential deadlock needs a solution from abroad.
“The dialogue salvages (the country) from vacuum amid the lack of signs that it would end soon,” Berri's visitors quoted him as saying.
The speaker stressed that the latest speeches made by al-Mustaqbal movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri and Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah are evidence that dialogue will not be shaken.
“The dialogue's train has moved and is still moving,” said Berri, who also heads AMAL Movement.
His remarks were published in al-Mustaqbal daily on Tuesday.
The talks between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal officials, which started under Berri's sponsorship in Ain el-Tineh in December, aim to defuse tension and discuss the vacuum at Baabda Palace.
“Although the (presidential) crisis is linked to a remote control (decision) from abroad, the different Lebanese factions can contribute to limiting the tension so that Lebanon does not slide to a situation that is worse than now,” said Berri.
Lebanon has been without a head of state since President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May.
“The Lebanese got the chance to elect a president without foreign interference, but they later lost it,” Berri lamented, expressing "sadness" on the situation.
The speaker said that a solution to the crisis seems far-fetched and reiterated his warning from the vacuum's dangers.
According to his visitors, the speaker's priorities are in addition to the dialogue, the situation in southern Lebanon and the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.
The shantytown that lies near the southern city of Sidon is “full of landmines,” said Berri, according to the visitors.
Many wanted terrorists have reportedly taken refuge in the camp.
G.K.
H.K.
17 February 2015, 07:58
86
“The Lebanese got the chance to elect a president without foreign interference, but they later lost it,” Berri lamented, expressing "sadness" on the situation.
- They later lost it? No, YOU threw away the chance from the very beginning. Sorry, I mean your allies threw away the chance, as you attended the parliamentary sessions to elect a president loooooooooool
17 February 2015, 08:31
87
@nickjames... this evil man interprets the constitution the way he wants. There was a quorum in the first session and accordingly it is now deemed that only a simple majority is necessary to achieve quorum and elect a president. Why did he not declare at the end of the first session that a an immediate second round would follow and that a new president can be elected by the simple majority rule?
17 February 2015, 12:11
93
I am the_roar: I am a regular poster on naharnet. I have 20 fake accounts and I live on this forum 24/7. I make fake accounts and insult people when I have no argument or debate. I am a Shia who pretends not to speak Arabic and claims to live in Australia. I know every street in Lebanon and every MP's name despite my claim that I am 3rd generation Australian and having never been to Lebanon. I tell people I don't post on weekends to give them the impression I have a life. I lie and lie and lie and think people believe me. I also post as @wolf, @lebpatriot , @my2cents, among others.
17 February 2015, 16:07
01
Every time I see this man in the news, I get a better understanding why Lebanon's Shia majority turns to Hezbullah for its protection, and why the greatest threat to Lebanon's majority is from its own government via its Article 24. When it is illegal to be a Shia, the only approved Shia is an anti-Shia.
18 February 2015, 10:37
00
The only people responsible are us Lebanese who stand silent in front of this masquerade. How can we even accept to hear our own politicians admit that the decision to elect a Lebanese president lies outside the country? Have we become so pathetic? Time for a referendum! Give back power to the people!
