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

by **Admin** Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:19 pm

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.