There is a conspiracy to incite strife in Arab world, Berri says

Speaker Nabih Berri headed on Wednesday to Cyprus on an official visit during which he is scheduled to meet with the Cypriot president, speaker, ministers of foreign affairs and industry as well as high-ranking Cypriot officials.

Talks between Berri and his Cypriot counterpart will discuss bilateral ties and means to boost cooperation and will focus on the oil drilling issue and the maritime borders.

Berri had earlier told reporters that “there is a conspiracy to incite strife in the Arab world,” adding that “Arabism is threatened and Arabs are in need of a law that eliminates sectarianism.”

The speaker highlighted the importance that Lebanon remains the country of dialogue among citizens, pointing out attempts to turn Beirut into a city of interreligious dialogue.

“Lebanon cannot influence regional events but can be influenced by them, thus emerged the view of self-distancing,” he said. Asked about the Syrian situation, Berri wondered if any country of the world, the Arab world in particular, has ever made a political initiative to resolve the Syrian crisis.

Asked about possible means to fortify Lebanon against the events in Syria, Berri said that Lebanon is adopting a reasonable and wise approach [self-distancing] which serves the interests of Arabs in general, Syrians and Lebanese in particular.