Local Editor, 5-1-2010

Speaker Nabih Berri warned against arguing the disarmament of Hizbullah during national dialogue.
Berri said to the daily As-Safir "Wrong he who believes the defense strategy is for disarmament," stressing that Lebanon will not provide "Israel" with a pretext to attack it. "However, if "Israel" acts according to its criminal nature and attacks us, then we will confront it with all our strength."

Berri exposed that he will inform former US presidential candidate John McCain, who is set to top a delegation visiting Lebanon soon, that the Resistance in Lebanon was envisaged to defend [the country's] sovereignty and dignity.

He expressed openness to any defensive strategy that calls for "cooperation and integration among the army, the people and the resistance."

Commenting on [UN] Resolution 1559, Berri stressed that he is hiding "a surprise for all those who deem that this resolution is still alive, and I will reveal it when the time comes."

In a related development, Speaker Nabih Berri's press office denied on Tuesday recent reports that Berri and President Michel Sleiman were in difference regarding the cabinet's upcoming administrative appointments.

The office deemed the reports "unfounded."