Berri, Miqati Say Personal Ties Not Affected by Political Differences

Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Miqati stressed on Friday that their ties remain strong despite their differences on the government’s performance.

“There is no personal problem with Miqati. Our relations are good,” Berri told As Safir newspaper.

He said that his criticism of the prime minister came after the procrastination of the government in resolving several issues including putting on the agenda of the cabinet a draft-law on setting Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Miqati also told the daily that his ties with the speaker are based on “respect and amicability.”

“We agree on organizing political differences if there are any and on separating political cases from personal issues,” the prime minister said.

He also stressed that any difference with Berri “no matter how big would not spoil the friendship between us.”

The conciliatory tone of both officials came after they traded criticism for the second day on Thursday after Berri accused the government of not exerting strong efforts to resolve the country’s turmoil and criticized Miqati for “not wanting to govern.”

The cabinet is not providing the necessary “treatment for the illness that is threatening it,” the speaker, who is also Amal movement chief, said.

But Miqati responded by saying the country’s political forces have the willingness to end the security incidents as soon as they erupt and prevent their aggravation.

He added: “Had there been a real intention by some parties to ignite strife, then the last (incidents) in Lebanon in the past months” would have already set the country on fire.