Report: Easing Tensions, Israeli Threats to be Tackled in Baabda Meeting

President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri will hold their first meeting in two months since their row over a seniority decree in the Presence of Prime Minister Saad Hariri in a bid to “ease tensions” and address Israel's threats about Lebanon's oil and security, media reports said on Tuesday.

Al-Joumhouria daily said the meeting at Baabda Presidential Palace will begin “bilaterally” before noon between Aoun and Berri. Hariri's arrival may be delayed due to his commitment to sponsoring a celebration launching the new vision strategy for OGERO.

Some have described the meeting as an opportunity to ease tensions mainly between Aoun and Berri following a spat over a decree promoting a number of officers and the “derogatory” remarks made by Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil about Berri.

The atmospheres suggests positive intentions to distance the country from negativity and ease tensions with a sense of responsibility following the angry street reactions against the backdrop of Bassil's remarks which almost threw the country off balance, added the daily.

The daily quoted unnamed sources closely following up on the issue who said that talks will mainly focus on Israel's security threats and the latest remarks made by its defense minister about Lebanon's Block 9 oil field.