Source: nowlebanon.com, 15-09-2008

Delegations from the PSP and Hizbullah met with Minister of Youth and Sports Talal Arslan in Khaldeh on Monday to discuss reconciliation in the wake of last week's assassination of Arslan's colleague Saleh Aridi.

After the meeting Arslan said he would remain loyal to the memory of Aridi, who, Arslan said, had "helped accelerate the reconciliation in Mount Lebanon." Arslan said that the reconciliation between the PSP and Hizbullah was "the first serious initiative that will lead to further communication between both parties."

He said he hoped that reconciliation between the PSP and Hizbullah led to reconciliation "throughout Lebanon that replaces the country's divisions with unity."

However, he added that the meeting would "not replace the national dialogue, because it has its own agenda and already defined the issues to be discussed."

Earlier today, Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun met with Minister Talal Arslan in Rabieh on Monday to discuss reconciliation and ways to bring stability to Lebanon.

Arslan said that to help the reconciliation process and remain loyal to the memory of Saleh Aridi, he was acting as a mediator between the Progressive Socialist Party and Hizbullah. Arslan said that his alliance with Aoun and Hizbullah would remain the same.

He said that Aoun had welcomed reconciliation throughout Lebanon, and added that he supported Aoun's speeches in favor of preserving national unity and the Resistance.

"I am ready to do anything that helps reconcile different parties," he said.

Arslan called for expanding the agenda of national dialogue, but refused to comment on the issue of increasing the number of participants in the dialogue.

Aoun, for his part, said the meeting was a basic step toward reaching stability in Mount Lebanon.

He said hoped that the people of Lebanon would embrace reconciliation throughout the country.