Berri Says Lebanon Should Hold onto 'Arab Consensus,' Advises Politicians to Stop 'Chattering'

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that a cabinet session, which is set to be held on Monday, is necessary to underline Lebanon's foreign policy, advising politicians to stop “chattering” about a Saudi decision to halt deals worth $4 billion aimed at equipping and supporting the Lebanese army.

The cabinet session “is necessary to underline Lebanon's foreign policy,” which is based on the dissociation policy and on backing Arab consensus on joint Arab issues, Berri told his visitors in Ain el-Tineh.

Asked about the Saudi aid suspension, Berri, whose remarks were published in al-Joumhouria daily on Monday, expressed surprise at what he termed “the chatter.”

The speaker warned that the tension resulting from the reactions of Lebanese politicians to the Saudi move leads to strife.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam called for the extraordinary cabinet session after Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi resigned from the government to protest Hizbullah’s “domination.”

Rifi also held Hizbullah responsible for straining Lebanon’s relations with Riyadh, which on Friday announced the decision to halt the $4 billion-worth deals in retaliation to Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil's rejection to support Saudi resolutions against Iran during two meetings of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers.

Berri told his visitors that on every occasion, Iran stresses that it is keen on establishing good relations with Saudi Arabia.

“The Iranian leadership swiftly condemned the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran,” said Berri.

“Is Lebanon stronger than Iran” so that each politician acts according to his own interest? asked the speaker.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are longtime rivals. Relations took a turn for the worse at the start of the year, when Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite cleric and protesters stormed Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. That prompted Riyadh to cut diplomatic relations with Tehran.

Berri stressed the importance of preserving the best of ties between Lebanon and Arab countries, mainly Saudi Arabia.

Resolving the problem that arose after the Saudi decision “is for the sake of Lebanon,” he said.

G.K.

D.A.