Berri says relations with neighbor Syria a must, amid enmity with Israel

Lebanon has no alternative but to engage with Syria, according to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally. Berri stated that cooperation with Israel is impossible, leaving Lebanon with "no choice but the sea" if it refuses to deal with Syria. His remarks followed a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shaibani, the first such encounter.

Shaibani also met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. During his meeting with Aoun, Shaibani conveyed that Damascus has no intention of intervening militarily in Lebanon, despite pressure from the United States to do so. Berri noted that Shaibani expressed full solidarity with Lebanon and its people, indicating no hostile attitude towards Hezbollah. Instead, Berri sensed a willingness from Syria to communicate with Hezbollah if mutual interests aligned.

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Lebanon cannot cooperate with Israel, and if it refuses to deal with Syria, the Lebanese will be left with no choice but the sea.

Berri stressed the importance of future relations with Syria being conducted on a "peer-to-peer" basis. He advocated for mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs as the foundation for these interactions. The comments highlight Lebanon's complex regional diplomatic landscape, balancing its strained relationship with Israel against the necessity of engaging with its powerful neighbor, Syria.

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peer-to-peer