Berri Says he is Trying to Give Reconciliation a Chance
Speaker Nabih Berri has said that he urged Prime Minister Tammam Salam to procrastinate in calling for a cabinet session to “give a chance for reconciliation” among the bickering parties.
Berri's press office said Thursday that he telephoned Salam asking him to wait before inviting the government to convene to give a chance to consultations after Free Patriotic Movement, Hizbullah, Marada Movement and Tashnag party ministers boycotted the session.
Despite the boycott, the cabinet took important decisions, including the payment of the salaries of civil servants and the authorizing to the finance ministry to issue Eurobonds.
In remarks to al-Mustaqbal newspaper published on Friday, Berri described the decisions as “necessary.”
He said, however, that the cabinet deadlock should not continue. “We have an opportunity and perhaps through dialogue and consultations we could reach a solution.”
Berri also told his visitors that the absence of the six ministers from the session was not “negative,” saying “essential items” were approved.
The speaker also said that efforts are underway to sign the 70 decrees.
Berri, who heads the Amal Movement that is allied with Hizbullah, confirmed to al-Mustaqbal a report that he is planning to call the rival politicians for all-party talks similar to the dialogue that he had launched in 2006.
“I haven't yet taken a final decision in that regard because the success of (the dialogue) requires consultations,” he told the daily.
G.K.
D.A.
28 August 2015, 08:22
01
Some are destroying the country. What reconciliation can they want???
28 August 2015, 08:33
01
As long as these crisis leaders are in power and the sectarian system exists there is no hope for this country. The population has an opportunity to stand behind the young people who started "You stink" initiative; otherwise these crisis managers supported by religious leaders, will keep creating crisis by divide and rule policy to justify their existence.
28 August 2015, 13:47
01
Although you have many valid points, there shouldn't be vacuum filled by Wakeem, Wahaab, Nahas likes if the old communist crazy people. It should be from nuetral non political (don't tell me Baroud) have one thing on their mind, Lebanese people in All Of Lebanon.
28 August 2015, 16:08
01
Mr. Berri, I believe you can read Arabic, read the writing on the wall, it says, OUT, Degages, and this means you, your M8 alliance and the M14 alliance that opposes you. Mr. Berri, it's been one week, one week in which Lebanon has changed a lot, a week that has confirmed that people like you have become truly obsolete. Go home, we want no violence, but peace, we want no witch hunting but don't push the button too hard either. Now, you and your likes, go home, zip it up and stay well away.
