Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri voiced rejection to any kind of clashes between Lebanese citizens and UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon.
In remarks published by Al-Jomhouriyah Newspaper on Friday, Speaker Berri said the UNIFIL movements on the ground must be coordinated with the Lebanese Army and the international forces must be accompanied by the national army.
“However, if this doesn’t happen sometimes, overreaction should be avoided,” he said, as quoted by the paper.
In this context, Speaker Berri stressed the “need to address any misunderstanding calmly and wisely,” noting that the “UNIFIL was subjected to several Israeli attacks during the latest war on Lebanon.”
“We know that the Israeli enemy does not want it to remain in south Lebanon, and that is enough for us to stand with it.”
The Lebanese speaker affirmed that reconstruction is a top priority.
“It should be a priority for the government,” he explained, adding that he “counts on the Council of the South playing a key role in monitoring the reconstruction efforts and accelerating its stages.”
Speaker Berri stressed, meanwhile that Lebanon has “fully adhered to the ceasefire agreement regarding dismantling weapons south of the Litani River.”
On the other hand, he pointed to the importance of the municipal elections held in south Lebanon last week in defiance of the difficult circumstances resulting from the Israeli aggression.
He noted that the elected municipalities will have to play an effective role in the reconstruction project when it will be launched.
Asked about the relation with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker Berri said that the premier’s tone sets the tone.
“He brings the heat, we’ll match it; he stays cool, so will we.”
Source: Lebanese Newspapers (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)
