Berri Suggests Roadmap that Includes Dialogue Retreat on Cabinet Formation, Policy Statement
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday suggested holding a five-day dialogue retreat to discuss pending issues in the country.
“I suggest to President Michel Suleiman setting a roadmap that would get the country out of the current crisis and it includes holding a five-day dialogue retreat that would discuss the formation of the cabinet and its policy statement ,” Berri said in a televised speech he gave in the 35th memory of the disappearance of the spiritual leader Moussa al-Sadr.
A rally was supposed to take place marking al-Sadr's disappearance but due to the instability in the country, organizers from Berri's AMAL Movement announced postponing the annual event.
Revered by Lebanon's Shiites as a key spiritual and political guide, Sadr vanished in 1978 amid mysterious circumstances and was last seen in Libya where he was invited by slain leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Berri elaborated: “The dialogue sessions will be held with the participation of premier-designate Tammam Salam and the roadmap would also include supporting the army with additional 5,000 members, saving (the northern city of) Tripoli and the Bekaa from the spread of weapons and disassociating Lebanon from the Syrian crisis.”
Berri's suggestion also mentioned dialogue on the adoption of a new electoral law, reaching consensus over a national defense strategy and solutions to the current economic problems in the country.
“The only way to get out of the current crisis is dialogue and to those who are waiting for a sign from regional powers or to see how things will develop in neighboring countries, we tell them that Lebanon is no longer a priority.”
The speaker accused Israel of being behind the recent bombings and rocket launching that took place in the country.
“Israeli fingerprints are behind these happenings,” Berri said. “These cells are Israeli cells, no matter what were they labeled.”
On August 23, two powerful blasts rocked the northern city of Tripoli, killing 45 people and wounding over 800 others.
These attacks came eight days after 27 people were killed and around 300 wounded in a car bombing that rocked the Beirut southern suburb of Ruwais, a Hizbullah bastion.
The AMAL Movement leader lamented the “collapse of the Arab order,” considering that the Jewish nation is trying to impose its conditions on a settlement with Palestinians.
“We stress on the importance of denouncing our conflicts and instead supporting the Palestinian people in obtaining their rights. Our battle should be against Israel.”
Berri compared the current crisis in Syria to the Palestinian Nakba, urging disassociating Lebanese and all foreign factors from the neighboring country's crisis.
“We warn that Lebanon will be exposed to the dangers resulting from the Syrian crisis,” he pointed out.
"Lebanon will be the most affected by a war waged on Syria."
“Israel is the only beneficiary and we call on all Syrians, whether opponents or supporters of the regime to accept participating in the Geneva II talks.”
Berri also stated his rejection of the “all arms on the border.”
“Except for the military institution and the resistance's arms, all other weapons on the border are rejected," he said.
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31 August 2013, 18:13
Berri: We call on Syrians, whether supporters or opponents of Assad to reach a consensus that leads to peace and stability.
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31 August 2013, 18:13
Berri: What is required is trust in the Saudi-Iranian relationships.
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31 August 2013, 18:12
Berri: The solution for the Syrian crisis can only be achieved through negotiations. The use of force will lead nowhere and Israel is the only beneficiary in this case.
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31 August 2013, 18:12
Berri: What is taking place is not a game but real regional and international efforts that will draw us back to divisions.
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31 August 2013, 18:11
Berri: Lebanon will be the most affected by a war waged on Syria.
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31 August 2013, 17:59
Berri on Syria: We call for disassociating all Lebanese and foreign factors from the Syrian crisis.
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31 August 2013, 17:58
Berri: We reject the spread of all weapons along the border, except for the military institution and the resistance's arms .
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31 August 2013, 17:58
Berri: Defense is not particular to a certain sect.
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31 August 2013, 17:56
Berri: Some factions think that war is over and that he resistance must surrender its weaponry.
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31 August 2013, 17:55
Berri: We respect international resolutions and we took part in drafting some of them.
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31 August 2013, 17:52
Berri: National dialogue sessions should be open-ended until we reach solutions for current crises.
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31 August 2013, 17:52
Berri: We call for discussing the economic crisis, the electoral law and a national defense strategy.
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31 August 2013, 17:51
Berri: We suggest a roadmap to get us out of the current situation and it includes immediately taking part in a five-day dialogue sessions, in which PM-designate Salam must participate. In dialogue we would discuss the cabinet's Policy Statement and supporting the army and controlling the border with Syria amid the spread of weapons.
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31 August 2013, 17:50
Berri: The only savior in the country is dialogue. We invite all factions to start a dialogue. We cannot wait for a clue from a foreign party as Lebanon is not a priority in international matters.
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31 August 2013, 17:49
Berri: I believe Israel is involved in the bombings and in the launching of rockets towards Lebanese regions, especially after the resistance has unveiled the presence of spy cells.
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31 August 2013, 17:47
Berri: There is an absence of political responsibility and absence of responsible official stances regarding Israel's continuous violations of the Lebanese airspace.
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31 August 2013, 17:45
Berri: We thought that Lebanon has surpassed its ordeal and that any crisis was dealt with through national dialogue that was launched at the parliament.
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31 August 2013, 17:45
Berri: The Taef Accord was reached thanks to our resilience that enabled Lebanon to defeat Israel.
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31 August 2013, 17:44
Berri on Lebanon: Some factions consider themselves to be the representatives of the state.
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31 August 2013, 17:42
Berri to the Libyan revolutionaries: This case will not be over and freedom should distinguish you from the former regime. Lebanon is still waiting for clear answers through questioning the criminals of the former regime.
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31 August 2013, 17:40
Berri: We want a Lebanese-Libyan solution. We want to form a committee that sets the rules for mutual relationships between the two countries.
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31 August 2013, 17:39
Berri: There are common interests between several figures and that's why facts were not revealed.
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31 August 2013, 17:39
Berri: We are having doubts over the involvement of international bodies in this case.
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31 August 2013, 17:36
Berri: We were surprised by the hesitation of Libyan authorities to investigate al-Sadr's case. We are still waiting to know the conclusion reached by Libyan authorities and judicial system.
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31 August 2013, 17:36
Berri: Everything that was said on the fate of al-Sadr is not true and all reports that tried to misrepresent the efforts made to release him are false.
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31 August 2013, 17:35
Barri: We stress that AMAL Movement was supportive of the Libyan revolution since the first day of its eruption and even after the regime collapsed and its leader were detained, its secrets have not yet been released.
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31 August 2013, 17:33
Speaker Nabih Berri: I am speaking to you after the tragic events in Tripoli and Dahieh.
31 August 2013, 18:03
75
living in denial.
no way to give a cover to this terrorist Iranian militia.
31 August 2013, 19:22
43
right on Geha
He is in complete denial of the reality.
How can he possibly remain the speaker of our parliament is beyond me
31 August 2013, 19:24
36
yes banima3roof
HA among others namely salafists etc gangs who do not respect the Lebanese law and have weapons be it in Saida or Tripoli or Beirut-. Poor Lebanon
31 August 2013, 19:26
25
@banima3roof This is not Ghareeb this is delusional his thinking is way off. Poor lebanon
31 August 2013, 19:30
44
Is this guy for real? Can anyone say a more meaningless speech? But then again, it is Berri the king of thieves...
31 August 2013, 20:08
32
Berri: We reject the spread of all weapons along the border, except for the military institution and the resistance's arms... now isn't that nice, your resistance is nothing more then a terrorist Iranian militia who use their arms to protect Assad and oppress Lebanon.
31 August 2013, 20:13
43
announce your resignation and then we have a way to move forward--i understand you've been ignored lately, and frankly, we've been happy.
and seriously, no one other than you cares about the sadr disappearance--it's done and now he's found. now ask about the thousands of people that syria has caused to vanish and push that regime for the return of the bodies to their families so they can at least get some closure.
01 September 2013, 01:18
12
Today, no Christian, Shiite, Sunni or Durzie, "need" a spiritual leader or pay homage to a past one to solve our deadly political and social problems. Faith belongs in the privacy of our homes and Houses of God and not in public display to be idolized. I rather have us believe in something that we disagree on instead of blindly accepting an unknown. And this is when the process of rational thinking starts to happen. Also, any road map, Google map, must not include the present players who have placed us in the present predicaments. Today, Lebanon needs "caretakers" and not morally corrupted and degraded politicians.
01 September 2013, 05:38
33
Do you enjoy zawaj el mot3a that much to the extent that you have a blind eye on: the Militia that does not pay Electricity, use the Lebanese Government infrastructure to build its own network, undermine the disassociation policy that they signed in Baabda, Kidnap zionists and provoke that evil to destroy our Country along with 2500 dead. Goes to Syria with the Lebanese citizens by the orders of Iran and not Lebanon to take part of something they signed that they would not do.
01 September 2013, 08:18
13
well said justice
every one who was involved in civil war has done a hell of mistakes
Taef should be the full stop and new line to start new paragraph
.unfortunately Hezb is still acting like Gangs outside the Law
Berri is a shadow of the Gang leader
he just wants the weapon with "Resistance" and Army
No... Just with ARMY ya isteizzz
01 September 2013, 13:46
00
The reality is that Hizb and other parties draw upon poor, uneducated people who have few prospects in life. These people don't know any better, do not have other options other than believing the garbage that these so-called religious/political leaders invent. I bet many would leave Hizb or other unconstructive political parties/military organizations if they were offered a decent job somewhere and a good education. What is shameful is that people like Berri who are wealthy and educated still exploit their own people.
