Berri wants swift election of president who can talk to Syria, Arab countries

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Wednesday that Parliament's doors are not closed to legislative and electoral sessions.

"We hope that a president will be elected as soon as possible, which can only happen when parliamentary blocs show a sincere will to reach an agreement and overcome obstacles," Berri added.

The Speaker said the president must be committed to the Taif agreement, to implementing administrative decentralization, to the independence of the judiciary and to the fight against corruption.

"He must be capable of restoring trust between Lebanon and the Arab countries, to build dialogue with Syria in order to resolve the refugees' crisis and to accomplish the Syrian-Lebanese border demarcation," Berri said, adding that the president must believe that Israel is an enemy.