Berri rules out Israeli war, urges '7 to 10 days' of dialogue

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has ruled out a broad Israeli war on Lebanon while stressing the need to “stop the genocidal war that Israel is waging on the Palestinian people.”

In an interview with the Milan-based Avvenire newspaper, which is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, Berri added that “Lebanon does not need new agreements to restore calm and stability in the (southern) border area,” noting that “there is a resolution issued by the U.N. Security Council carrying the number 1701 and Lebanon is committed to all its stipulations.”

“The international community must press Israel to halt its violation of the terms of this resolution,” the Speaker said.

As for the presidential vacuum crisis, Berri said: “Give me 10 days of dialogue among all parliamentary blocs and take a finalization of this juncture.”

“Dialogue among the blocs would be aimed at reaching an agreement on one, two, three or four candidates within seven to 10 days, in order to go to parliament’s hall and finalize the election with a parliamentary, constitutional and national quorum,” the Speaker added.