Report: Berri, Hariri Discussed Hizbullah-Mustaqbal Dialogue

Speaker Nabih Berri has discussed with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri the talks between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal representatives, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Monday.

The daily said that Berri's short meeting with Hariri was held in Riyadh over the weekend when the speaker extended his condolences on the death of Saudi King Abdullah.

The speaker did not rule out that discussions between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal would continue to focus on the security situation in the country and the efforts exerted to reduce sectarian tension.

According to al-Joumhouria, Berri expressed his stance during a meeting with several officials who visited him on Sunday.

Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal officials are expected to hold on Monday the fourth round of talks in Ain el-Tineh under Berri's sponsorship.

Al-Joumhouria expected the dialogue session to be “exceptional” given the deadly Israeli attack on a Hizbullah convoy in Syria on January 18, and the possible retaliation to it, in addition to a speech that the party leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, is expected to make next Friday.

The fourth round could also be exceptional over the resumption of battles between the Lebanese army and terrorists on the border with Syria, the daily said.

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