Berri Confident Cabinet Will Resolve Crisis

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that he isn’t worried about the fate of the cabinet, stressing that the Lebanese should resolve the crisis on their own by taking responsibility and without depending on any foreign assistance.

“The outside is busy” trying to resolve other issues, Berri told As Safir newspaper.

He reiterated that he is exerting all efforts to help overcome the crisis obstructing the cabinet’s work.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati had threatened to resign if the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon wasn’t approved by the cabinet.

Lebanon is obligated to pay a 49 percent share of the STL’s funds.

Asked if he expects a settlement between the cabinet members before Wednesday’s scheduled session, Berri said: “We’re working on it.”

He said that he supports Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun’s demands concerning the importance of improving the government’s functions.

However, Berri said: “We should take into consideration that resolving (problems) happens one step at a time.”

“We should first focus on ensuring the cabinet’s continuation, so it moves to deal with the vital issues,” he added.

Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc’s ministers stressed on Saturday that their participation in the cabinet depends on several. Among them are efforts by the cabinet to make appointments at the Higher Judicial Council, resolving the wage dispute for employees and implementing several development projects in the electricity and water sectors.