Berri announces reactivation of parliamentary committees

Source: Nowlebanon, 25-4-2008
Speaker Nabih Berri announced that the parliament would witness the "intensive activity of parliamentary committees" starting next week. "There is a very big possibility that a meeting of joint parliamentary committees will be convened," he added.
In response to pro-government deputies' comments on the futility of council meetings in the absence of a general parliamentary session, Berri asked who had told the pro-government blocs that he would not call for a general meeting.
In an interview with the Lebanese daily As-Safir, Berri reiterated his unwavering belief in dialogue as the sole means to finding a solution to the political stalemate. The speaker called on the ruling alliance to move towards dialogue to ensure the success of ongoing endeavors to pull Lebanon out of the crisis.
Berri praised Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblatt's efforts, which the speaker said revealed Jumblatt's conviction that there was no way to resolve the crisis outside dialogue.
He also emphasized the need for all parties to declare their intentions and agree on shares in future governments and the electoral law.
Speaker Berri said he would not rule out the possibility of a transitional government, which would take responsibility for the next elections as scheduled by the constitution.