Berri responds to Kouchner accusation of constraint

Source: NowLebanon, 09-04-2008
"After a quarter-century of friendship, it is inevitable that one should betray the other," said Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday in response to comments recently made by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Kouchner questioned why Berri's recent efforts to relaunch inter-Lebanese dialogue should not take place in parliament, adding that the closure of parliament was an indication of Berri's constraint in taking action on his own.
Berri remarked that Kouchner could have asked French Chargé D'Affaires André Parrain why the speaker did not request a stop in France on his recent tour.
The Lebanese speaker added that Parrain assured him of France's "respect" for his call to dialogue.