Riachi Says 'Atmosphere Positive', Meets Berri as Khalil Meets Hariri

Caretaker Information Minister Melhem Riachi held talks Thursday with Speaker Nabih Berri over the new government, in the presence of caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.

Khalil arrived at the Center House after the meeting for talks with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.

Riachi confirmed to reporters that the “atmosphere is positive” as he arrived in Ain el-Tineh for talks with Berri.

“We discussed the Cabinet formation process and the sizes reflected by the results of the parliamentary elections,” Riachi announced after the meeting.

“The LF will not offer concessions but rather utmost facilitations in order to help PM-designate Saad Hariri in forming a government that can revitalize the country,” the minister added.

“The obstacle is not in our court and we have offered more than we can bear. We are not the ones forming the government in order to be able to say whether it will be formed soon or not,” he went on to say, in response to a reporter's question.