Berri: National Dialogue Table in Real Danger!

Local Editor, 19-04-2010

Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri warned on Monday that the fate of the national dialogue table would be in real danger if its members continued to leak information in a selective and deformed way to the media.

In an interview with Lebanese daily As-Safir, Berri denied an argument had developed during last Thursday's all-party talks at Baabda Palace when he presented his study. "All were ears," he stressed.

The Speaker said he had decided to circulate excerpts of his speech to the media "in light of the misleading information that had been leaked."

He also said that he did not inform reporters of what was discussed at the session "because President Michel Sleiman urged the committee members not to leak any information to the media."

"However, I was surprised the next day by media leaks that deformed my presentations and pointed to the fact that actually didn't happen," he said. "That's why I decided to circulate excerpts of my speech so that my point of view can be clear and certain."

The speaker went on to say that his decision was also to send a clear message to the national dialogue committee members with regard to the defense strategy. "I also wanted to send a clear message to some parties at the negotiating table that national dialogue on a defense strategy would be in real danger if media leaks continue," Berri warned.

"I will inform all those whom it may concern that if this act continues in this way there would be no point to carry on dialogue," Berri concluded.