Berri’s Role in Mediation between Miqati, Aoun Not Clear Yet

Speaker Nabih Berri is not likely to make any mediation attempts between Premier Najib Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun before the PM’s visit to Paris next week.

Al-Liwaa daily on Saturday quoted a Berri visitor as saying that a solution to the dispute between the two sides is not imminent.

The speaker’s sources said however that mediations could be launched next week to reach some kind of a political understanding between the bickering sides.

Miqati suspended cabinet sessions last Wednesday after ministers loyal to Aoun argued with him for naming candidates reserved for Christians in posts linked to the premiership.

The premier said in remarks published in An Nahar newspaper that cabinet sessions won’t resume unless the ministers make a pledge to engage in productive government work.

Both sides have been accusing each other of causing the cabinet deadlock.