Speaker Nabih Berri praised the resumption of cabinet sessions in the wake of the ongoing dispute over the government decision-making mechanism, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Saturday.

He told the daily: “It is time to resume legislative sessions.”

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq criticized on Thursday the rivals over the lack of responsibility concerning the presidential elections, praising Lebanon's ability to withstand the turmoil in the region under the tenure of the “best” Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

“Our rivals are insisting to push forward their presidential candidate to reach Baabda Palace, according to the formula: either our candidate or no one,” Mashnouq said in an interview with As Safir newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri warned on Wednesday against plans to fragment the region, including Lebanon.

He said during his weekly meeting with lawmakers at his Ain el-Tineh residence: “Lebanon is like the atom. If it is split, then it will explode, as will the region around it.”

Speaker Nabih Berri has hailed the Lebanese army on its latest operation against militants on the outskirts of a northeastern town, describing it as one of the best militaries in the region.

“The preemptive operation that was carried out by the Lebanese army last week on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek is an important achievement,” Berri told his visitors.

Speaker Nabih Berri has expected the cabinet to resume its sessions this week with the same controversial decision-making mechanism which he and Prime Minister Tammam Salam reject.

Berri told his visitors over the weekend that Salam could call for a session this week despite his failure to convince the rival ministers from amending the mechanism to activate the government's work.

The Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah are scheduled to hold on Monday the eighth round of their dialogue that was kicked off between them in December, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

Speaker Nabih Berri's sources told the daily that the talks will focus on the presidential elections “and how to help facilitate consensus over it in a manner that would fortify constitutional institutions.”

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.

Speaker Nabih Berri lauded on Sunday a meeting held with al-Mustaqbal Movement chief Saad Hariri, describing talks as “fruitful.”

“We discussed endeavors to safeguard the country and the election of a new head of state,” Berri said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri held a banquet Friday evening in honor of al-Mustaqbal chief Saad Hariri where several local issues were discussed.

The meeting between the two political leaders took place at Berri's residence in Ain al-Tineh in the presence of Hariri's adviser Nader Hariri and Berri's political aide Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.

Speaker Nabih Berri criticized certain parties for claiming that they back the implementation of the Constitution on the cabinet mechanism yet they don't act accordingly.

“Why does this stance does not match with the facts on the ground?” Berri wondered in remarks published in As Safir daily on Friday.