Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri confirmed that “Lebanon is still committed to what was agreed upon with the US mediator Amos Hochstein regarding a path that ends with a ceasefire with Israel and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701.”
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, he strongly rejected “linking the ceasefire to the presidential election process,” stating, “No one has the right to interfere in the matter of electing a President, as it is a sovereign issue. While we welcome any assistance, we refuse any interventions or attempts to impose conditions.”
“We have informed the French Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lebanese position, which is committed to the call from ten countries urging for an immediate ceasefire and the implementation of Resolution 1701 based on the terms agreed upon with Hochstein.”
While affirming “the alignment of the position of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and his support for what was issued earlier today,” he clarified, in response to a question, that “communication with Hezbollah is ongoing, and the group is not far from this direction.”
“This initiative that I previously proposed was agreed upon in detail with Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah’s late Secretary General), and this agreement is still in effect.”
