Berri Says to Endorse Any Christian Agreement on Presidential Election

Speaker Nabih Berri announced Monday that he is encouraging dialogue between Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, noting that he would endorse any agreement they might reach over the stalled presidential vote.

“We had a chance to Lebanonize the presidential election, especially as the foreign forces were preoccupied with their problems,” Berri told a delegation from the council of the Lebanese Press Syndicate that visited him in Ain al-Tineh.

The Baabda Palace has been vacant since president Michel Suleiman's six-year tenure ended in May last year. Political disputes and electoral rivalry have so far prevented parliamentary quorum in 19 electoral sessions.

Observers believe that the ongoing dialogue that got underway between the LF and the FPM and between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement might pave the way for ending the presidential crisis.

“Thank God there is dialogue nowadays between General Aoun and Dr. Geagea, and yesterday I said that I would 'proceed like a bulldozer' with any agreement that might be reached among Christians,” Berri added.

Asked whether a Aoun-Geagea agreement would lead to the election of a new president, the speaker said: “Yes, I believe that foreign influence could have a 100% effect or a 0% effect. If the Lebanese agree among each other, the first scenario becomes implausible and would have zero impact.”

However, he added that help from friendly countries would be needed should the two Christian leaders fail to strike an agreement.

Berri also revealed that the presidential issue consumed “ninety percent” of his recent meeting with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri.

Separately, Berri told the delegation that he has recently warned foreign officials that “any Israeli attack on our rights in the issue of oil and gas would spark a war.”

Y.R.