Berri Reiterates Call for Dialogue during ‘Critical’ Stage

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated on Friday the call for dialogue between the Lebanese foes during the “critical” stage that the country and the region are passing through.

“The developments in Lebanon and the region require all the parties to join the national dialogue and this is what I informed (al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad) Saniora,” Berri told An Nahar newspaper.

He said that the timing is “critical,” and the developments require the Lebanese to participate in all-party talks.

Berri noted that he informed Saniora to discuss the issue with his allies.

“I’ve told him in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Miqati, that he can inform me later on about his answer,” he stated.

Berri told the daily that he will ask President Michel Suleiman to intervene and “put more effort to push this issue forward.”

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported that the speaker will head Friday to Baabda to meet with Suleiman and discuss the issue.

Asked about the conditions set by the March 14-led opposition to resume the national dialogue, Berri told An Nahar: “Dialogue can’t go on by imposing conditions, and there are no taboos concerning the issues to be discussed.”