Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Miqati stressed on Friday that their ties remain strong despite their differences on the government’s performance.

“There is no personal problem with Miqati. Our relations are good,” Berri told As Safir newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Miqati traded criticism for the second day on Thursday after the head of the Amal movement accused the government of not exerting strong efforts to resolve the country’s turmoil.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, Berri wondered how the cabinet postponed its session till the end of the month amid the deadly gunbattles in the northern city of Tripoli and the series of kidnappings of Syrian and Turkish nationals last week.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Wednesday the importance of all concerned factions to support the army in its duties to maintain stability in Lebanon in light of the clashes in the northern city of Tripoli and the series of kidnappings that started last week.

His visitors quoted him as saying: “No political party can consider itself not responsible for the recent developments or their repercussions.”

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed anger on Wednesday over the chaotic situation in Lebanon, stressing that the airport road is a “red line,” local newspapers reported.

“The hand of whoever blocks the airport road will be cut,” Berri told As Safir newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri lamented on Tuesday the current state of affairs in Lebanon, slamming the “kidnappings, sniper activity, blocking of roads, and clan military wings.”

He asked in a statement: “Where is the role of the political authorities and parties regarding the latest developments?”

Sources close to Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said the minister returned from Ankara with “great optimism” that he would reveal soon on the fate of 11 Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria since May.

The sources told An Nahar daily published Sunday that a visit by Charbel and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim to Turkey was “fruitful.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday to take the necessary initiatives to guarantee the safe release of the two abducted Turkish nationals in Lebanon.

“He demanded Berri to press the release of the two Turkish nationals,” diplomatic sources told Anatolia news agency.

Speaker Nabih Berri received on Saturday a message from French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on the case of the 11 kidnapped Lebanese pilgrims.

He informed the speaker that the 11 pilgrims are alive and doing well.

Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Friday held talks in Ain al-Tineh on the current situations and developments.

The meeting comes after Berri’s absence from the national dialogue session on Thursday. Berri’s office said in a statement that he would not attend the session over its “location and the circumstances” that accompanied the holding of the all-party talks.

A national dialogue session was held at Beiteddine palace on Thursday during which the conferees agreed to “form a delegation comprising members of the dialogue committee with the aim of contacting the influential countries in a bid to secure the safe release of the Lebanese abductees” in Syria.

The delegation would also “stress keenness on the brotherly ties with those countries,” according to the closing statement of the dialogue session.