MP Makari: Berri’s initiative is aimed at reducing international pressure on Syria

 

Deputy Parliament Speaker MP Farid Makari said that the aim of Speaker Nabih Berri’s dialogue is to ask the world and the Arab community to reduce pressure on Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad over his role in the presidential-election crisis in Lebanon, as long as the Lebanese are undergoing dialogue.

 

“Dialogue on this issue was over when March 14 agreed on the candidacy of Army Commander General Michel Sleiman,” Makari told Al-Hayat daily.

 

Makari called for a national dialogue under the direction of MP Michel Murr “because he is a Christian leader and has announced his disagreement with MP Michel Aoun and is not a member of the March 14 forces.”

Makari also reiterated his call on majority MPs to elect a president and announced his readiness to preside over an election session.

 

Makari noted the possibility of electing a president using the simple-majority quorum. “Yet the decision has not been made.”

 

“I have been receiving phone calls from Christian opposition MPs, which is proof that a president could be elected by more than a simple majority. This requires a big political decision, but pro-Syrian factions might use it as a justification to set Lebanon on fire to protect the Syrian regime from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” Makari added.