Hariri Visits Berri But No Progress in Cabinet Crisis
PM-designate Saad Hariri held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh Thursday night but media reports said the meeting made no progress in the efforts aimed at solving the cabinet crisis.
Sources close to Berri had told An Nahar before the meeting took place that "it was time to form the cabinet." However, Beirut dailies said nothing came up from the talks that lasted for around 3 hours.
An Nahar quoted the premier-designate as saying that the meeting was "good." Hariri and Berri circles told As Safir the atmosphere was positive and things were heading in the right direction. However, they said there are some obstacles that should be overcome through continued consultations.
Berri, according to the daily, told his visitors that nothing could push him to withdraw his decision not to make public statements on the cabinet formation.
About his visit to Qatar and the UAE, Berri said Doha agreed to fund several water projects in Lebanon, including building dams and lakes. He also told As Safir that UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan expressed sympathy with Lebanon and the Lebanese living there.
The speaker added that the issue of deportation of Lebanese from the UAE has been closed and its positive results would appear gradually.