Berri: Hariri’s Response to my Call for Dialogue is Not Negative

Speaker Nabih Berri noted that all sides in Lebanon are aware of the dangers“being imposed on the country,” saying that all powers should work together for the sake of Lebanon, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He told the daily that former Premier Saad Hariri’s reply to his call to resume the national dialogue “is not negative.”

“I encourage anyone who calls for the resumption of the dialogue under the sponsorship of the president because it is the primary method to instill calm among the people,” he continued.

Hariri had stated on Thursday that he welcomes the “principle of dialogue and the call for dialogue”, adding however that his allies “were not the ones who initially withdrew from the talks” that were launched in sping 2006.

“We demand that it be resumed on the rules that we agreed upon,” he remarked.

The March 14 camp has repeatedly said that it would resume the dialogue on condition that Hizbullah’s arms be the only topic of discussion.

On Wednesday, Berri had held talks with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri on calling all sides to dialogue in light of the recent clashes in the northern city of Tripoli.

The speaker told An Nahar: “My recent call for dialogue did not mean restricting the talks to Tripoli, but it is a priority for us today.”

Hariri had refused transforming the national dialogue to one strictly limited to the clashes in the northern city, saying that ending the city’s crisis entails halting the funding of armed groups, which are affiliated with various political powers.

The speaker urged all sides to approach dialogue with openness and an awareness of the dangers facing Lebanon, said An Nahar.