'Still living in Halat era': Berri accuses Geagea of seeking federalism

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he was flexible and responsive to the Quintet's requests as he was asked to replace a presidential "dialogue" initiative with "consultations."

"Consultations, communication, meeting, and talks are all synonyms for dialogue," Berri told French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and the five ambassadors of Qatar, France, Egypt, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

Berri told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Monday, that the role of parliament and its speaker are uncompromisable. "These are institutional rules," Berri said, adding that any consultations must be held in parliament and chaired by its Speaker, whoever the Speaker is. "This is not a personal power for me to give it up but a power granted by the post."

Berri added that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea who is refusing to go to a dialogue chaired by Berri is still living in the "Halat airport era." "He wants federalism and he doesn't want a president to be elected," he charged.