Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed his absolute rejection of any tampering with the Taif Agreement, stating, "We lived and died until we accomplished this agreement, and I say to anyone who wants to change it, it is better for them to sit down and be reasonable." During his meeting with head of the Journalists Syndicate Joseph Kaseef and Syndicate members, Berri indicated that some calls to change the system place Lebanon at risk of dire consequences.
He asked, "Have we implemented the Taif Agreement to call for its change? Let us implement this agreement in all its articles, particularly the reformative ones, especially administrative decentralization and the election law outside sectarian constraints, and the establishment of a Senate."
Regarding the presidential file, Berri reiterated that there is no alternative but to agree and engage in dialogue, noting that internationalization, with all due respect to Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi, requires internal consensus, "Internal dialogue is a choice that must not be neglected by all parties."
Berri stated he is awaiting the return of the French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian to act accordingly regarding dialogue, its location, format, and timing, or to set a date for a new session to elect a president.
In response to a question about the crisis of the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Kaseef conveyed Berri's remark: "There is a principle in every country that necessities permit what is forbidden, and there is a constitutional text that talks about the narrow meaning of business continuation; this does not mean in any way descending into a vacuum."
Speaker Berri mentioned that caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has chosen a different stance, saying: "Although I maintain my position on implementing the constitution in the narrow sense of business continuity, I will respect what the Prime Minister announced in this regard, concerning no appointments or extensions."
On recent developments in the south regarding the tents and Israel's annexation of the northern part of the Ghajar village, Berri emphasized that the tents are on Lebanese land. The international community must obligate Israel to implement Resolution 1701 and withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar village, the Shebaa Farms, and the Kfarshouba Hills, especially point B1.
In another context, the Speaker of Parliament received the head of the UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon, Major General Aroldo Latharo, accompanied by the political advisor and Deputy Commander Irv Leacock, where they discussed the general situation within the UNIFIL’s operational area, particularly following the Israeli escalation of violations against Lebanese sovereignty in the regions of Ghajar and the Shebaa Farms.
