Speaker Nabih Berri emphasized on Monday that Lebanon and Cyprus have no problems over the offshore oil and gas wealth in the Mediterranean.

He said after holding talks with visiting Cypriot Speaker Yiannakis Omirou: “I hope that tenders would be issued before the end of the year to begin oil and gas exploration.”

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader Fouad Saniora told President Michel Suleiman that it would be useless to sit at the dialogue table in the presence of a government that gives cover to the suspects in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination, An Nahar daily reported on Sunday.

“What's the point of (engaging in) dialogue in the presence of a government that covers up suspects in ex-PM Rafik Hariri's murder and the assassination attempt of MP Butros Harb,” An Nahar quoted Saniora as telling Suleiman during a meeting they held at Baabda Palace on Saturday.

Michel Barnier, a member of the European Commission, who is responsible for internal market and services, stressed on Saturday that Lebanon is passing through a delicate situation.

“Lebanon is in need for the solidarity of the French people... And the European Union,” Barnier said after holding talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail.

Cypriot Speaker Yiannakis Omirou is expected to arrive in Beirut on Monday to meet with senior officials for talks on enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries, the state-run National News Agency said on Saturday.

Talks will also highlight ways to develop parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, NNA added.

President Michel Suleiman repeated on Saturday his call on political powers to return to the national dialogue.

He also demanded the adoption of a “modern parliamentary electoral law that reflects the spirit of the constitution.”

President Michel Suleiman is scheduled to travel to Greece on December 6 and 7 on an official visit where he will met with his counterpart Karolos Papoulias, reported al-Liwaa newspaper on Saturday.

It said that the talks are set to focus on the petroleum file due to Greece's relations with Cyprus, its located on the Mediterranean, and connection to the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea renewed on Friday his rejection of the resumption of the national dialogue, hailing President Michel Suleiman's ongoing consultations with various political powers.

He said during a press conference: “We urge Suleiman to maintain his bilateral consultations as a substitute for dialogue.”

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc praised on Thursday President Michel Suleiman's efforts in defending national causes, noting his postponement of the national dialogue session to January 7.

It said after its weekly meeting: “We support productive dialogue that protects Lebanon and its interests against regional developments and impending challenges.”

March 14 opposition alliance lawmakers are set to meet in the next few days to discuss ways to counter rapporteurs from the March 8 majority coalition who are presiding parliamentary committee meetings, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

The opposition boycotted all parliamentary activity in the aftermath of the Oct. 19 assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch chief Wissam al-Hasan after it blamed the government for the killing, and called for its resignation.

March 14 opposition officials warned on Thursday that the coalition will continue to boycott the national dialogue as long as Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government is still in power.

A high-ranking al-Mustaqbal movement official told As Safir newspaper that the opposition's stance hasn't changed.