NNA - House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Wednesday received at the Second Presidency in Ain El-Tineh, the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Papal Ambassador to Lebanon, Monsignor Paolo Borgia, and Speaker Berri’s Media Advisor Ali Hamdan.
Discussions reportedly touched on the general situation and political developments, especially the presidential election dossier.
After the meeting, in response to media representatives’ questions, Cardinal Parolin said: “The dialogue with Speaker Berri was good. We talked about the situation in Lebanon and the potential solutions. It is not unlikely to find solutions, but it is not my task, but rather the task of the politicians to work for that. We also conveyed to the House Speaker the desire of His Holiness the Pope to elect a President of the Republic as soon as possible.”
In response to a question whether the situation in Lebanon is complex and whether the causes of the crisis are internal or external, Cardinal Parolin said: “Perhaps because they are political challenges and perhaps because there are several parties and multiple political viewpoints. Yes, there are internal dimensions to the crisis as well as external dimensions, but the solution begins from here and in Lebanon.”
In response to another question whether the problem is Christian related, Cardinal Parolin said: “The problem is everyone’s responsibility, and of course Christians have a responsibility, especially in the issue of electing the president, but they are certainly not alone. There are other groups and parties in society who must all bear responsibility.”
Speaker Berri later received in Ain El-Tineh, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, in the presence of Ambassador Abdul Rahman al-Solh.
Discussions reportedly touched on the current developments in Lebanon and the broad region.
After the meeting, Ambassador Zaki said: “Today I was pleased to meet Speaker Nabih Berri at the beginning of the visit to Lebanon, which will last for two days. We were supposed to be present before that as a result of the conditions in Lebanon, as the Arab League is accustomed to keeping pace with the Lebanese situation in all its details, but of course, in light of many circumstances, including regional ones, we may have stopped this follow-up and visits for several months.”
He added: “Now we have resumed it, sensing the extent of the tense regional situation and the negative repercussions it could reflect on Lebanon. Of course, in Lebanon there are several political issues and problems, at the forefront of which is the issue of the presidential vacuum, which is disrupting many files, matters, and work in the Lebanese state.”
He continued: “Of course the dialogue with everyone focuses on this issue and the situation in the south as a result of the ongoing war and how to reach an end to this situation, as well as how to solve the issue of the presidential vacuum. In this context, the visit and meetings take place with various Lebanese political parties and heads of blocs. God willing, at the end of the visit, we will be able to reach a more positive conclusion regarding these two basic topics.”
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