Hizbullah and Mustaqbal Call for Creating 'Appropriate Atmosphere for Work of Institutions'

Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement agreed Monday that the country's political forces must try and create an “appropriate atmosphere” for the proper functioning of state institutions.

“The conferees discussed the current developments and situations in the country,” said a joint statement issued by the two parties after their 13th dialogue session in Ain al-Tineh.

“They stressed the need to continue dialogue, follow up on the implementation of the security plans and create the appropriate atmosphere for the work of constitutional institutions,” the terse statement added.

The two parties appear determined to continue their dialogue sessions although a war of words has recently flared between them over Syria, Yemen and the presidential crisis.

They have declared that the talks' main objective is defusing Sunni-Shiite sectarian tensions.

Speaker Nabih Berri, who is sponsoring the dialogue at his Ain al-Tineh residence, has reassured that the verbal feud between the rival parties would not have an impact on their talks.

In remarks to several local dailies published on Monday, the speaker revealed that the round of dialogue would focus on the paralysis of the executive and legislative branches.

“It is true that the talks did not make major achievements in the past two sessions, but they are necessary to protect the security situation,” he told the newspapers.

Lebanon has been witnessing a vacuum at Baabda Palace since the term of president Michel Suleiman ended in May last year. The presidential deadlock has caused a paralysis at the parliament, which is not able to convene over lack of quorum to elect a head of state or legislate, and a cabinet paralysis.

The talks between al-Mustaqbal and Hizbullah had kicked off in December.

Y.R.