BERRI SAYS DIALOGUE, COMPROMISE KEY TO MAINTAINING STABILITY
The Daily Star
Oct 6 2011
Lebanon
BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Thursday that the security
situation in Lebanon will remain stable as there is an overwhelming
faith in dialogue and compromise in the country.
"Despite some tensions here and there, Lebanon is currently witnessing
security and economic stability."
As he ended his official visit to Armenia, the Lebanese community in
Yerevan hosted a banquet in honor of Berri Thursday, shortly before
the Speaker departed for Beirut.
Speaking before a group of Lebanese expatriates and businessmen in
Armenia, Berri reiterated that the most important issue in the Middle
East would remain the Arab-Israeli conflict.
"The most important development is the Palestinian one, which is the
central issue in the Middle East and it is not possible to undermine
its importance," said Berri, adding that the conflict would only be
solved when Israel halts its violations and its occupation of the
Palestinian territories.
According to Berri, the Palestinian struggle will not end with the
recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations. "The issue
won't end when there is recognition of a Palestinian state ... this is
something that has not happened yet and will not happen," said Berri
in reference to last month's Palestinian bid for full U.N. membership.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted a formal request to U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council is expected
to vote on the issue in the coming weeks.
Commenting on other developments in the region, Berri warned against
any foreign plots to steer developments in neighboring Syria, where
President Bashar Assad is cracking down on a popular uprising against
his rule, which the U.N. said Thursday has now claimed 2,900 lives.
"We warn of the dangers that would result from such plots to control
the natural resources of the Arab people through targeting its regimes
and creating further divisions," Berri added.
He also called on the president of the Lebanese community in Armenia,
Ziad Atallah, to work in fostering economic and trade relations
between the two countries.
From: A. Papazian
The Daily Star
Oct 6 2011
Lebanon
BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Thursday that the security
situation in Lebanon will remain stable as there is an overwhelming
faith in dialogue and compromise in the country.
"Despite some tensions here and there, Lebanon is currently witnessing
security and economic stability."
As he ended his official visit to Armenia, the Lebanese community in
Yerevan hosted a banquet in honor of Berri Thursday, shortly before
the Speaker departed for Beirut.
Speaking before a group of Lebanese expatriates and businessmen in
Armenia, Berri reiterated that the most important issue in the Middle
East would remain the Arab-Israeli conflict.
"The most important development is the Palestinian one, which is the
central issue in the Middle East and it is not possible to undermine
its importance," said Berri, adding that the conflict would only be
solved when Israel halts its violations and its occupation of the
Palestinian territories.
According to Berri, the Palestinian struggle will not end with the
recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations. "The issue
won't end when there is recognition of a Palestinian state ... this is
something that has not happened yet and will not happen," said Berri
in reference to last month's Palestinian bid for full U.N. membership.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted a formal request to U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council is expected
to vote on the issue in the coming weeks.
Commenting on other developments in the region, Berri warned against
any foreign plots to steer developments in neighboring Syria, where
President Bashar Assad is cracking down on a popular uprising against
his rule, which the U.N. said Thursday has now claimed 2,900 lives.
"We warn of the dangers that would result from such plots to control
the natural resources of the Arab people through targeting its regimes
and creating further divisions," Berri added.
He also called on the president of the Lebanese community in Armenia,
Ziad Atallah, to work in fostering economic and trade relations
between the two countries.
From: A. Papazian