House Speaker, Nabih Berri, welcomed, at his Ain-el-Tineh residence on Wednesday, a delegation from the World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU), headed by the Union’s global President Abbas Fawaz, including the head of the Union’s Ivory Coast office Haidar Salman, members of the office’s new administrative body, and figures from the Lebanese community in Ivory Coast.
Speaker Berri stressed before the delegation, ‘Lebanon, the role and message, through its expatriates, is an empire on which the sun never sets. It needs, both at home and in the expatriate world, to strengthen a culture of moderation, which requires its pioneers and believers to have more courage to adhere to it in the face of extremism, which has begun to invade the world in a hideous, dangerous and offensive manner, one of its ugly facets being what recently happened at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.’
He said: “What happened in that scene is not only an insult to Christians, but also an insult to Christianity and Islam alike.’
Ber
ri Berri also assured the expatriates that he will not accept any financial and banking reform if it does not include a guarantee to return the deposits of the Lebanese in full, sooner or later, including the deposits of the expatriates.
Regarding the current situation in the region in light of Israel’s continued aggression against Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, Speaker Berri said: “What is happening threatens the entire region, but despite its seriousness, we are not afraid for Lebanon and its future. Lebanon’s guarantee is unity, then unity, then unity among its citizens at home and abroad, and also through adherence to the elements of Lebanon’s strength and its legitimate rights to defend its land, sovereignty and wealth by all available means stipulated by international laws and charters.”
Berri also stressed Lebanon’s committment to the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, saying Israel has set a record in violating this resolution with more than 33,000 violations.
On the other hand, Speaker Berri met i
n Ain El-Tineh, with Deputy House Speaker Elias Bou Saab, with whom he reviewed the current situation, political and field developments as well as legislative affairs.
On emerging, Bou Saab relayed Speaker Berri’s keenness to find a solution as soon as possible to elect a president for the republic.
Speaker Berri also met with former Minister Ghazi Aridi, with whom he discussed the latest political and field developments.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
