Berri: First Dialogue Round Positive as for Taef Accord and Presidential Election

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that he had received “positive feedback” from the interlocutors at the dialogue session a day earlier in Ain el-Tineh, mainly their adherence to the Taef accord, An Nahar daily reported.

“The dialogue session was very positive. Although there are differences and political divisions between the interlocutors, but I sensed more seriousness (in how they addressed various files) than any of the previous sessions,” said Berri to his visitors.

“In the past I used to hear them bicker over many issues, but they avoided that in the first dialogue session,” he added.

The Speaker pointed out that “discussions have emphasized on two major issues that garnered the approval of all. First, is the adherence to the Taef accord and thwarting all calls for a constituent assembly, and second is the need to elect a president.”

“Wednesday's dialogue session will focus on agreeing on a new electoral system. If the intentions were serious and the discussions positive, we can agree on a new law within five days, “ Berri stated.

Berri had stressed earlier that “there is no alternative” to the 1989 Taef Accord that ended the civil war while ruling out the possibility of holding a so-called constituent assembly in the foreseeable future.

The first round of three consecutive dialogue sessions was held on Tuesday in the presence of heads of the parliamentary blocs, except for MP Michel Aoun who was represented by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and head of al-Mustaqbal Movement ex-PM Saad Hariri who was represented by MP Fouad Saniora.

Berri inaugurated the session by “reiterating the need to agree on a package deal that begins with the election of a president.”