NNA – House Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday received at the second presidency headquarters in Ain al-Tineh, a delegation from the Council of Lebanese Executives in Saudi Arabia, chaired by Council Chairman Rabih Al-Amin

The delegation presented to Speaker Berri its vision, work programs and demands, including the safeguarding of the rights of expatriate depositors and the participation of the Lebanese Diaspora in the legislative elections, based on the principle that every Lebanese, wherever he may be, has the right to vote for 128 deputies.

Speaker Berri stressed to the delegation "the importance for Lebanon to strengthen its relations with all brotherly Arab countries."

Berri added: "The Lebanese Diaspora, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and in the African continent, is a source of wealth for Lebanon. We are today more than ever called upon to work to establish atmospheres of cooperation, build better relations, and strengthening bridges of trust with these countries that have supported Lebanon throughout different periods and have shown willingness to contribute to the reconstruction of Lebanon and help it rise again."

Regarding the rights of depositors, particularly those of expatriates, Speaker Berri stated: "Since the beginning of this crisis, I have said that deposits are sacred, and today I reaffirm that there is nothing that the political forces, particularly the 128 deputies, agree on more than the issue of the right of depositors to recover all of their deposits."

On the right of expatriates to participate in voting for the 128 deputies, Speaker Berri stressed the importance of the parliamentary election law taking into account the right of the Lebanese diaspora to be a partner in choosing the 128 members of parliament.

 Separately, Speaker Berri met in Ain El-Tineh, with Acting Governor of the Central Bank, Wassim Mansouri, with whom he discussed the general situation, especially the financial and economic ones.

Additionally, Speaker Berri received Lebanon’s Army Commander, General Rodolphe Haykal, who came on  a protocol visit upon assuming the command of the Lebanese army. The pair reportedly discussed the general situation, particularly the security and field developments.

=============== L.Y