Report: Berri, Bassil Reach Understanding on 2 Controversial Issues

Speaker Nabih Berri reached an understanding with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil to resolve two controversial files that had been a point of contention between him and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, a report said Wednesday.

Berri and Bassil, who is Aoun's son-in-law and a top FPM official, held talks on Tuesday in Ain el-Tineh for more than 90 minutes.

As Safir daily quoted informed sources as saying that the two officials discussed solutions to the controversy on oil exploration and the Lebanese nationality for expatriates.

Berri and Bassil had common viewpoints on the demarcation of the southern territorial waters and the designation of blocks to start oil exploration.

The speaker has been spearheading a campaign since late last year to revive the exploration file after accusing Israel of “stealing” Lebanon's offshore gas.

According to As Safir's sources, Berri and Bassil reached an understanding to “avoid procrastination and not to waste more opportunities so that to preserve Lebanon's oil resources from Israeli greed.”

They also agreed that oil exploration would have a positive impact on all of the country's factions, said the sources.

There have been disagreements among the country's different factions over the designation of blocks open for bidding and the terms of a draft exploration agreement.

Tuesday's discussions in Ain el-Tineh also focused on a draft-law on allowing expatriates to regain their nationality.

According to the sources, the two officials agreed that the draft-law concerns both Christians and Muslims.

They said the speaker expressed understanding to the Change and Reform proposal and promised Bassil to put the draft-law on the “legislative track.”

G.K.

H.K.