Jumblat Says he Agrees with Berri on Dialogue, Rejects Boycott

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat MP said Tuesday he agreed with Speaker Nabih Berri on the need for national dialogue to resolve the country's political crisis.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) after meeting with a delegation from Berri's parliamentary bloc at his residence in Clemenceau, Jumblat said he agreed with Berri on “the concept of dialogue,” adding he “insisted on it.”

Development and Liberation MPs visited Jumblat as part of their tour on top officials and parliamentary blocs to brief them on Berri's so-called roadmap on the national dialogue and the new government.

Jumblat, who is the head of the National Struggle Front bloc, told VDL: “No matter what the circumstances are, dialogue is much better than boycott.”

The MPs of Berri's bloc met last week with President Michel Suleiman, Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati and Premier-designate Tammam Salam.

On Monday, they held talks with al-Mustaqbal bloc representatives led by MP Fouad Saniora and Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun.

Berri's initiative lies in calling for a five-day dialogue between the rival March 8 and March 14 camps at Baabda Palace under Suleiman and with the participation of Salam.

His proposal also calls for discussing the form and policy statement of the future cabinet, reviving talks on a new electoral law, supporting the military to deal with arms proliferated in several regions, in addition to addressing a national defense strategy, a reference to Hizbullah's arms.