NNA - House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Monday met at his Ain Al-Tineh residence with Head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, who visited him with an accompanying delegation from the "Strong Lebanon" parliamentary bloc. 

On emerging, the FPM leader said that the visit aimed at handing Speaker Berri a copy of the Free Patriotic Movement’s paper on presidential priorities. 

“I reckon no one believes that it is possible to reach the aspired outcome, and to avoid vacuum, without dialogue,” Bassil said, expressing delight at what he described as Berri’s “understanding, positivity, and readiness” to hold dialogue.

“I think that Speaker Berri has a major role to play on this level,” Bassil added. 

“Political differences can’t be abolished, and everyone is entitled to his own position. We are governed, under our system, by consensus. (…) There should be minimum consensus that secures two-thirds, ensures quorum, and garners 65 votes,” Bassil explained. 

“God willing, we will reach the aspired outcome,” Bassil added, calling on all concerned sides to exert utmost efforts to help reach an agreement over a new Lebanese President. 

The House Speaker separately had an audience with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari, with whom he discussed the latest local developments. 

Berri also welcomed the newly appointed Brazilian Ambassador to Lebanon, Hermano Telles Ribeiro, who paid him a protocol visit upon assuming his diplomatic mission in Lebanon. 

Talks between the pair reportedly touched on the country’s general situation, as well as on bilateral relations between Lebanon and Brazil. 

Berri then welcomed the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, with whom he discussed the country’s general situation. 

==============R.H.