'Don't Try Us,' Berri Warns Over Libya's Participation in Summit
The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri’s opposition to Libya’s participation in the upcoming Arab Economic and Social Development summit should not be underestimated, according to remarks relayed by his visitors published Saturday by local daily Al Joumhouria.
Berri and his Amal Movement are opposed to Lebanon having ties with Libya over the 1978 disappearance of Amal founder Imam Musa Sadr and his companions during an official visit to the country.
“No one should joke with us regarding the issue of Imam Musa Sadr, which has always been a fundamental issue and our top priority,” Berri reportedly told visitors at his Ain al-Tineh residence, underscoring that the current Libyan regime has not coordinated to provide answers on the disappearance.
“We have always been clear. We are not against the Libyan people, but against the regime that committed this crime,” he said.
“I am being accused of trying to have a 'political February 6' - let them accuse me,” the speaker said, referring to the Feb. 6, 1984 uprising against the Lebanese Army led by Amal and other political groups, which led to the army’s division and the ousting of Christian members to the eastern side of the capital.
“For this issue, we are willing to have a political and non-political February 6, so they should not try us,” Berri added.
Tensions flared Friday between Berri’s office and the Arab Economic and Social Development summit committee - formed jointly by the Baabda presidential palace and the Arab League’s Secretariat General - regarding the participation of Libya and Syria in the summit, which is set to be held in Beirut on Jan. 19-20.
The summit’s office said in a statement that Berri had informed committee members of his approval of Libya’s invitation to the summit.
But Berri’s office later issued a statement dismissing as “fabricated” and “baseless” the information released by the summit’s media office.
On Wednesday, Berri had called for the summit to be postponed over Libya’s invitation and the absence of a fully functioning government, leading to a row with President Michel Aoun after the president said the summit would be held on time, regardless of the government formation.
Berri is also calling for Syria's participation in the conference, an issue that has divided Lebanese political leaders.
However, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Houssam Zaki reiterated Saturday that the summit will be held on time, in remarks to Russia’s Sputnik news, saying Syria would not be participating.
Zaki, who arrived in Beirut Friday to oversee the summit's preparations, said Syria’s possible attendance at an Arab League summit scheduled to be held in Tunisia in March was also not up for discussion.
“The League has no plans to discuss Syria’s invitation to the Tunisian summit during the economic summit in Lebanon, to which Syria was not invited as well,” Zaki told Sputnik.
Syria’s membership in the Arab League has been frozen since 2011, after the outbreak of the civil war.
Zaki told reporters Friday upon his arrival at Rafik Hariri International Airport that “The Arab League has nothing to do with internal political polarization. The League is concerned with the convening of the summit. We are here to make arrangements with Lebanese authorities to convene it. The summit will be held on time, God willing.”
BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri’s opposition to Libya’s participation in the upcoming Arab Economic and Social Development summit should not be underestimated, according to remarks relayed by his visitors published Saturday by local daily Al Joumhouria.
Berri and his Amal Movement are opposed to Lebanon having ties with Libya over the 1978 disappearance of Amal founder Imam Musa Sadr and his companions during an official visit to the country.
“No one should joke with us regarding the issue of Imam Musa Sadr, which has always been a fundamental issue and our top priority,” Berri reportedly told visitors at his Ain al-Tineh residence, underscoring that the current Libyan regime has not coordinated to provide answers on the disappearance.
“We have always been clear. We are not against the Libyan people, but against the regime that committed this crime,” he said.
“I am being accused of trying to have a 'political February 6' - let them accuse me,” the speaker said, referring to the Feb. 6, 1984 uprising against the Lebanese Army led by Amal and other political groups, which led to the army’s division and the ousting of Christian members to the eastern side of the capital.
“For this issue, we are willing to have a political and non-political February 6, so they should not try us,” Berri added.
Tensions flared Friday between Berri’s office and the Arab Economic and Social Development summit committee - formed jointly by the Baabda presidential palace and the Arab League’s Secretariat General - regarding the participation of Libya and Syria in the summit, which is set to be held in Beirut on Jan. 19-20.
The summit’s office said in a statement that Berri had informed committee members of his approval of Libya’s invitation to the summit.
But Berri’s office later issued a statement dismissing as “fabricated” and “baseless” the information released by the summit’s media office.
On Wednesday, Berri had called for the summit to be postponed over Libya’s invitation and the absence of a fully functioning government, leading to a row with President Michel Aoun after the president said the summit would be held on time, regardless of the government formation.
Berri is also calling for Syria's participation in the conference, an issue that has divided Lebanese political leaders.
However, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Houssam Zaki reiterated Saturday that the summit will be held on time, in remarks to Russia’s Sputnik news, saying Syria would not be participating.
Zaki, who arrived in Beirut Friday to oversee the summit's preparations, said Syria’s possible attendance at an Arab League summit scheduled to be held in Tunisia in March was also not up for discussion.
“The League has no plans to discuss Syria’s invitation to the Tunisian summit during the economic summit in Lebanon, to which Syria was not invited as well,” Zaki told Sputnik.
Syria’s membership in the Arab League has been frozen since 2011, after the outbreak of the civil war.
Zaki told reporters Friday upon his arrival at Rafik Hariri International Airport that “The Arab League has nothing to do with internal political polarization. The League is concerned with the convening of the summit. We are here to make arrangements with Lebanese authorities to convene it. The summit will be held on time, God willing.”
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