Berri Urges Kuwait to Play Role in Amending Iranian-Saudi Ties

Speaker Nabih Berri revealed on Tuesday that he urged Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah to mediate between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia to end the political rift, pointing out that explosions in Lebanon aim at creating sectarian tension between its citizens.

“I called on all Gulf countries, in particular, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia,” Berri said in comments to the Kuwaiti al-Rai television.

The speaker, who kicked off a tour over the weekend beginning with Kuwait and will include the Islamic Republic of Iran, Germany and Albania, considered that the Arab world “needs political support,” warning of the “decisive developments in the region.”

Berri stressed that any rapprochement between Iran and the Gulf, in particular Saudi Arabia, would have a positive impact on Lebanon and war-torn Syria.

Kuwait is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council led by oil powerhouse Saudi Arabia, which has long viewed Iran as a regional rival.

Iran is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, while Saudi Arabia backs the Sunni-led rebellion.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited four Gulf states in December, skipping Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and called for opening a new page in relations with the Sunni-ruled bloc.

The speaker, who called on Gulf states to lift a travel ban to Lebanon, told the Kuwaiti television that he “can't guarantee the safety of tourists,” pointing out that protests and road closure happens in any country whether in the Middle East or Europe.

“The travel ban doesn't benefit Lebanon nor the Arabs... And Kuwaitis are not committing to their country's decision,” the head of AMAL movement said.

On the bombings that are targeting Hizbullah strongholds to press the party to withdraw its fighters from neighboring Syria, Berri said that the aim of the blasts is to “incite sedition in Lebanon in an attempt to create chaos in the country.”

Hizbullah has dispatched fighters to battle alongside the Syrian regime against rebels seeking the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

The conflict, pitting a Sunni-dominated rebel movement against Assad, has raised sectarian tensions in Lebanon and Lebanese Sunni fighters have also been killed while fighting alongside Syrian rebels.

Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Assad, while the March 14 camp voices its support for the popular revolt.

Asked about Prime Minister Tammam Salam's Cabinet, Berri said that the government was formed to oversee the upcoming presidential elections in May.

He stressed that the presidential elections should be carried out within the constitutional deadlines to prevent vacuum in state posts.

President Michel Suleiman’s tenure ends in May 2014, but the constitutional period to elect a new head of state begins on March 25, two months prior to the expiration of Suleiman’s mandate.