Berri: Best Response to Zionist Threats is Expediting Drilling Law

The Chairman of Parliament Nabih Berri has declared that the best response to Zionist threats concerning the latter's use of force to protect the natural gas reserves it discovered in the Mediterranean Sea is by expediting the drilling law and signing contracts.

Berri stressed his keenness on following up on the issue.

The leading parliamentarian told Assafir daily that the issue is not one of tagging one another, but rather of Lebanon's higher interests.

Berri told the daily he understands why some oppose him in cancelling political sectarianism, but that he doesn't understand why they oppose him in canceling the national debt.

"The commercial amounts of oil and gas in the territorial waters allow Lebanon not only to be self sufficient, but also to have fiscal wealth to fix the deficit and repay debts," Berri told Assafir.

Berri stressed he will head the general assembly of the parliament on Monday, stressing that in case the quorum was lost yet again, he would continue to call for assemblies till the matter is resolved.

Berri stressed the absence of a race or competition on the subject, saying that it is the parliament's duty to stimulate the government into expediting the accomplishment of projects.

Berri stressed that his call for the adjournment of the parliamentary committees is due to the delay by the consecutive governments of premiers Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri.