War of Words Erupts between Berri and Geagea over National Dialogue
A war of words erupted on Wednesday between speaker Nabih Berri and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea over the latter's proposal that Berri reduces the number of participant in the all-party talks.
“I have have carefully read your perusal as for the composition of the dialogue (members) which I have a lot to say about, but I won't because I don't like to go into a controversy with you,” said Geagea via Twitter.
“I wish you luck with this composition, and I hope that you will reap the first results in the next eleven years,” said Geagea ironically.
Earlier, As Safir daily said on Wednesday that Berri had emphasized in an interview that he will not call for the resumption of the all-party talks until he “senses the members' seriousness” in addressing issues, as he lashed out at Geaega's suggestion to reduce the number of participating members.
Berri revealed that many political parties and figures including Hizbullah, ex-Presidents Michel Suleiman and Amin Gemayel have urged him to resume the all-party talks which he said will only do when he senses “seriousness” as for the dialogue members, the daily said.
“I will not call for the resumption of dialogue until I sense the seriousness of its parties in addressing the agenda in a way that allows us to reach practical results. We had enough of verbal harangue. It is time to move from words into deeds,” Berri was quoted as saying.
On a suggestion put forward by Geagea to reduce the dialogue members into five or six “to be more productive” where the LF chief expressed willingness to participate in that case, Berri replied with raised eyebrows: “This proposal is strange because it does not adhere to the nature of Lebanese reality. It is impossible to reduce the political and sectarian components into only five or six.”
He added: “I did not rely on mood or discretion in the selection of those invited for dialogue, but I rather relied on one common standard related to the size of their representation in the parliament. Tampering with the equation involves a dangerous game and reflects a tendency to monopolize representation and contempt for others.”
“How can we apply Geagea's theory in light of the Lebanese mosaic? In any dialogue, can we do without any of these forces: Hizbullah, Free Patriotic Movement, Mustaqbal, Tammam Salam, Najib Miqati, Walid Jumblat, Talal Arsaln, Michel el-Murr and others who represent their communities at the partisan level?” asked Berri.
He continued: “I want to ask Samir Geagea: Who will represent the Christians according to the small structure he proposes? Is it the Lebanese Forces, the FPM or the Kataeb? If it was him who will partake in the dialogue, is it possible to exclude any of the others?”
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