Berri Vows to Stop Collapse of Hizbullah-Mustaqbal Dialogue

Speaker Nabih Berri has said he holds onto the dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement despite the latest exchange of accusations between the two parties' officials.

Al-Liwaa daily on Tuesday quoted sources close to Berri as saying that the eight round of talks would be held under his sponsorship in Ain el-Tineh on Wednesday unless it was delayed for some reason.

The sources said that Berri will not allow the dialogue to collapse despite the tension that emerged between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal.

Over the weekend, Hizbullah officials Hashem Safieddine and MP Mohammed Raad lashed out at the March 14 alliance's formation of a National Council.

Their criticism came in reaction to the coalition’s announcement of a political blueprint and the formation of the Council on the 10th anniversary of its founding.

The blueprint warned that the Lebanese state institutions would no longer exist over Hizbullah’s role in Syria.

The party has sent its fighters to the neighboring country to help troops loyal to President Bashar Assad against rebels seeking to topple him.

The blueprint also accused Hizbullah-backer Tehran of inciting Sunni-Shiite conflict to serve its interests.

Despite the tension, the dialogue seemed to be on track.

Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal officials have been meeting in Ain el-Tineh since December to defuse sectarian hostility linked to the war in Syria.

They are now discussing a joint national strategy to combat terrorism and the presidential deadlock.

G.K.

H.K.