Suleiman Initiative Soon to End Saniora-Berri Bickering
President Michel Suleiman might soon step in to bring together Premier Fouad Saniora and Speaker Nabih Berri whose dispute has taken on a personal tone.
An Nahar daily on Monday quoted sources as saying Suleiman”s efforts to solve the Saniora-Berri bickering over the Council of the South issue might come up with positive results before Thursday”s cabinet session.
The Council of the South budget crisis has taken on a personal tone, particularly since Berri has held on to his demand for allocating LL 60 billion to the Council, a request rejected by Saniora.
The sources said a ministerial committee which hasn”t seen light yet has 24-48 hours to achieve results before Suleiman interferes and makes attempts to bring together Berri and Saniora.
The idea of the ministerial committee aimed at closing the gap between minority and majority ministers was discussed during previous cabinet sessions.
The sources told An Nahar that next Wednesday is an opportunity to hold the tripartite meeting. Berri usually visits Baabda Palace each Wednesday although he didn”t meet the president last week to inform him about the last legislative session.
A member of the ministerial committee stressed to the newspaper the need to maintain calm in order for the committee to achieve the desired results.
The daily An Nahar on Sunday quoted ministerial sources as saying that the latest war of words between Berri and Saniora budget was a clear indication that the crisis has "entered a new, uncomfortable phase for mediations."
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Monday quoted ministerial and legislative sources as saying the problem between Berri and Saniora had no solution unless there was a "political miracle that would push both sides to the minimum level of forced coexistence."