Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said that Hezbollah's decision, mandating him to participate in political negotiations to halt the Israeli war on Lebanon, “is not new” and “does not change anything” in the current situation.
In an interview with the Arabic-language daily Asharq al-Awsat, Berri stressed that the delegation mentioned by Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem “is not new and does not change anything.” “During the 2006 war, I was in charge of political negotiations, and today I'm doing the same thing,” he declared, denying rumors that he had “refused the mandate.” He noted that Hezbollah was now in a situation that “hinders the mobility of its leaders,” which “therefore increases the responsibility” weighing on his shoulders.
Berri confirmed that there had been no positive progress on a possible ceasefire, maintaining that the Americans “say they are for the cessation of hostilities, but do nothing to achieve it,” praising instead the French and British efforts. In addition, he stated that he was counting on the next session of the Security Council on Thursday, “because the (Lebanese) dossier will be present there,” adding that this session “will be an indicator of the course of the political effort.”
He also noted that the Lebanese position still adheres to the constants agreed upon during his meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Druze leader Walid Joumblatt.
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