Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that no positive progress has been made to stop the Israeli war on Lebanon, a reference to American officials “who say they support an end to the war, but do nothing to do so.”
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he added that Hezbollah’s tasking him to hold political negotiations “is nothing new and doesn’t change anything.”
Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem had said on Monday that Berri has been tasked with the negotiations.
“I was in charge of political negotiations during the 2006 war and I am doing the same thing today,” he went on to say, while dismissing claims that he had rejected such a mission.
The speaker noted that with Hezbollah officials being targeted by Israel, he has gained a greater responsibility in the negotiations.
Moreover, he said that Lebanon is still committed to the principles that were approved during his meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.
On international stances on ceasefire efforts, he remarked: “The French and the British are still with us.”
“As for the Americans, they say they are with us, but do nothing to stop the aggression,” stressed Berri.
He added that attention will be shifted to the United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday and whether it will issue anything related to Lebanon. The conflict will definitely be on the table, he stated.
The meeting will indicate which path the political course is taking, he explained.
Meanwhile, Mikati said Arab and international efforts were still ongoing to stop the Israeli attack on Lebanon, but “Israel remains intransigent and is forging ahead to claim what it believes are victories and gains.”
In a statement from his office, Mikati dismissed concerns that diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have ceased, stressing: “We continue to hold the necessary contacts.”
“Lebanon’s Arab and international friends are also exerting pressure to reach a ceasefire so that the main political steps can be discussed, most notably the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and forcing Israel to abide by it,” he added.
