Berri Has Great Hopes on Dialogue, Says Presidential Crisis Linked to 'Remote Control'
Speaker Nabih Berri expected the dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal to salvage Lebanon in the absence of a head of state despite his concern that the presidential deadlock needs a solution from abroad.
“The dialogue salvages (the country) from vacuum amid the lack of signs that it would end soon,” Berri's visitors quoted him as saying.
The speaker stressed that the latest speeches made by al-Mustaqbal movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri and Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah are evidence that dialogue will not be shaken.
“The dialogue's train has moved and is still moving,” said Berri, who also heads AMAL Movement.
His remarks were published in al-Mustaqbal daily on Tuesday.
The talks between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal officials, which started under Berri's sponsorship in Ain el-Tineh in December, aim to defuse tension and discuss the vacuum at Baabda Palace.
“Although the (presidential) crisis is linked to a remote control (decision) from abroad, the different Lebanese factions can contribute to limiting the tension so that Lebanon does not slide to a situation that is worse than now,” said Berri.
Lebanon has been without a head of state since President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May.
“The Lebanese got the chance to elect a president without foreign interference, but they later lost it,” Berri lamented, expressing "sadness" on the situation.
The speaker said that a solution to the crisis seems far-fetched and reiterated his warning from the vacuum's dangers.
According to his visitors, the speaker's priorities are in addition to the dialogue, the situation in southern Lebanon and the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.
The shantytown that lies near the southern city of Sidon is “full of landmines,” said Berri, according to the visitors.
Many wanted terrorists have reportedly taken refuge in the camp.
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