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.”

Prime Minister Najib Miqati said Monday it is wrong to bet on the outcome of the Syrian crisis to make political gains after several Lebanese men were killed as they were trying to infiltrate Syria.

“The essence of the government's policy of staying at a distance (from the Syrian crisis) was aimed at keeping Lebanon away from regional conflicts and safeguarding it against external threats,” Miqati told As Safir newspaper.

March 14 opposition alliance lawmakers have decided to attend the meeting of a parliamentary subcommittee studying electoral draft-laws but they will continue to boycott all other legislative activity, media reports said Monday.

An Nahar newspaper said that the decision to end the boycott of the committee came following negotiations between Speaker Nabih Berri and his deputy, MP Farid Makari, “to facilitate the discussions on a new electoral law that guarantees the widest representation possible of all Lebanese.”

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.

Several March 14 coalition MPs warned Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday against a call for a meeting of joint parliamentary committees to discuss an electoral draft-law, saying such a move would be a “dangerous precedent” in the absence of the opposition.

Following a meeting held by opposition heads of parliamentary committees, rapporteurs and members of parliament's bureau at MP Butros Harb's residence, a statement said that the boycott of March 14 MPs of all parliamentary activity “was forced by the government over its own failure in governing the country.”

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.

Speaker Nabih Berri questioned on Wednesday the recent political debates over the extension of the term of the current parliament.

His visitors quoted as saying: “Attention should instead be focused on the resumption of parliament meetings.”

Speaker Nabih Berri said Wednesday that parliament is an authority by itself and can decide on the extension of its term if the need arises the same way the president has the right to use his authorities.

Berri made the remark to As Safir newspaper, a day after President Michel Suleiman said he would not sign any decree that calls for the extension of parliament's mandate unless a new draft-law is being prepared.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan expressed fear on Tuesday over the negative repercussions that the developments in the region have on the situation on Lebanon.

“We will not allow anyone to destabilize Lebanon,” Sargsyan said during a lunch banquet held in his honor in Ain el-Tineh.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan praised on Saturday the efforts exerted by his counterpart Michel Suleiman locally and in the Middle East to boost peace and stability, stressing that Lebanon's security is linked to the situation in the region.

“Lebanon will advance,” Sargsyan told reporters in a joint press conference with Suleiman at the Baabda Palace.