Berri, Bassil exchange 'positive' messages on dialogue

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil have communicated through a parliamentary mediator close to the FPM leader, political sources said.

Berri has repeatedly called for dialogue over the stalled presidential vote, stressing that it is the only way to break the deadlock that has persisted since the end of Michel Aoun’s term in October 2022.

“The two sides exchanged messages over the dialogue that Berri has called for,” the sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.

“Berri stressed to Bassil the need to participate in dialogue and accept the principle of discussion,” the sources said.

“Bassil is dealing in a positive way and has become more responsive to the idea of dialogue on the condition that open-ended electoral sessions be held,” the sources added.

Other political sources meanwhile told the daily that “this explains the positive spirit in which Bassil talked yesterday about dialogue and discussions.”

“He was tacitly referring to the open communication channel with Ain el-Tineh,” the sources added.