Berry.

BEIRUT — Lebanese Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri is known for his skills in finding solutions and settlements during tough political times, which made his post a focal point in Lebanese politics.

Berri keeps the communication lines open with his opponents without compromising his convictions, creating a balance between his official post as the Speaker and partisan stand as the head of the Amal Movement.

In an interview with The Arab American News, Berri said the return of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri will contribute to civil peace in Lebanon, especially that Hariri says he will battle extremism and back the moderate voices of reason. Hariri had been out of the country for more than three years because of security worries. Hariri is the head of the Future Movement, which is a part of the Western-backed 14 March alliance. The Amal Movement is from the rival Syrian-backed 8 March bloc.

“The return of Hariri will redirect the decision-making process in the Future Movement to the center. I’d rather deal with Hariri than his deputies,” said Berri. “I hope we can cooperate to resolve the ongoing issues.”

Berri said the Lebanese army succeeded in quelling extremist groups in the eastern town of Arsal, thus protecting the country. He noted that the majority of Arsal residents stood with the army, which was the best response to the attempts to hijack the town and turn it against the state.

Clashes erupted between the Lebanese Army and Islamist militants linked to the Syrian rebels in the border town of Arsal last week after armed men attacked and kidnapped 42 members of the Lebanese security forces in response to the arrest of a man accused of terrorism. 

An interim agreement allowed the militants to leave the town along with 39 hostages. 

“To know the importance of what the army has achieved, we have to note the strategic location of Arsal,” he said. “It has a 74 km (46 mile) border with Syria. After Homs and many towns in the Qalamoun Mountains were recaptured by the Syrian army, the barren lands of Arsal became a safe haven for the militants. The town became of vital importance to them. What makes matter more sensitive is the large numbers of Syrian refugees in the town.”

Berri stressed the need to address the refugee issue, “which could lead major security threats.” Lebanon has more than 1 million registered Syrian refugees. He said it is possible for some refugees to return to safe areas inside their home countries. “But that requires cooperation between the Lebanese and Syrian governments through the diplomatic channels,” he said.

The speaker of the parliament said arming the Lebanese army with modern equipment is important for the country’s security needs. Saudi Arabia had awarded the army $3 billion. Berri said the Saudi grant is being held up because France, which was supposed to supply the army with weapons has halted the process. 

“I fear that the Israeli veto is behind the French stand,” he said, in response to the arrest of a man accused of terrorism. 

Lebanon has been without a president since the end of Michel Suliiman’s term on May 25. The president is elected by a simple majority in the parliament, but a 2/3 quorum is needed for the election session to be constitutional. The president must be Maronite Christian.

Berri said electing a president requires that Christians agree among themselves on how to approach the elections because 85 percent of Muslim members of parliament attend the elections sessions. 

He said the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States are progressing, “but the U.S. needs to convince the Europeans.”

Berri concluded the interview by highlighting the successes of Lebanese people in the diaspora. He said many people from his southern hometown of Tebnin have immigrated to Michigan, where they became a thriving community.