Deputy Walid Baacri from Ain al-Tineh confirmed that "dialogue will take place, followed by sessions to elect a president for the republic." After meeting with the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, at the head of a delegation from the National Moderation Bloc, he pointed out that "the visit had a primary agenda, concerning the Qulayaat Airport, which is a significant issue for us as residents of Akkar, as Northerners, and as Lebanese, and it also serves the citizens of the country as a whole. His Excellency informed us that he will be one of the first supporters of this project, and he will support it in the Council of Ministers."
He added, "We also discussed with His Excellency the matter of dialogue and stances, regarding objections and support. We have supported dialogue since day one when the discussions about it began, not because this team supports or that team rejects dialogue. We are not aligned with the right or the left except in one case: with those who care for the nation and seek to elect a president for the republic. We will stand by them, and the objections arising from a sovereignty principle are commendable. We hope that dialogue will take place under the dome of Parliament and not somewhere else."
Baacri noted that "immediately following the dialogue, sessions for electing a president for the republic will commence. This matter has been a priority for President Berri, ensuring that the parliament will not close until the white smoke rises. We no longer have the luxury of time, and there is no room for delay; the disintegration of the state is escalating daily, and there is a decline observed every day on the ground."
He continued, "The session with His Excellency was good. We left feeling somewhat relieved that there is goodwill, hoping that we can achieve results, and hopefully those who are obstructing will stop their procrastination, so we can join hands and elect a president for the republic."
In response to a question about whether they sensed from President Berri that he is proceeding with dialogue with those present, Baacri replied: "About 80% shows an intention to continue the dialogue, but President Berri will conduct certain contacts, seemingly with the Christian parties that hold their positions. In this context, things are 'moving,' but they are not finalized yet, and hopefully matters will 'resolve' and we will have another president by the end of this month."
Berri also received the new EU Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Wolf, and her accompanying delegation in a protocol visit to mark the start of her new duties. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss the general situation and political developments. Later in the afternoon, the Speaker of the Parliament met with the Mayor of Beirut, Abdullah Dweih, to discuss the conditions of the capital and developmental issues.
