The Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri, expressed hope that "all political forces and parliamentary blocs will respond to the initiative he launched on the 45th anniversary of the disappearance of Imam Sayyed Musa al-Sadr." He pointed out that "despite the voices opposing dialogue, the reasons and justifications for this rejection are entirely unconvincing and can only be interpreted in one way: no one in Lebanon wants to elect a President of the Republic."
In an interview with the Iranian newspaper "Al-Vefagh," he noted that "the majority of blocs view the initiative positively and welcome it," adding, "I reiterate that we are waiting for a national conscience awakening among some arrogant individuals, but frankly, we will not wait for them indefinitely. We will act accordingly and will not despair; we all believe that Lebanon will ultimately achieve this entitlement sooner rather than later."
Berri emphasized that "the current parliamentary reality does not give any party the ability to unilaterally resolve this issue; it cannot be accomplished except through dialogue and consensus. Any other discourse is nonsense and prolongs the vacuum of the most important constitutional position."
He considered that "the agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as significant as it is on multiple levels—particularly politically, economically, and security-wise for both countries—is equally important for all countries in the region. This agreement, if all its clauses are implemented—and they must be—leaves us no choice as countries and peoples in the region but to work honestly to implement and succeed in it. It will positively change the face of the region on various levels, especially in terms of progress and stability."
He noted that "Iran and Saudi Arabia are central countries in the geography and demographics of the region; they are the cornerstones of its future. The agreement and convergence between them is the norm, while the disagreement and differences that existed and have passed are the exception."
