Berri, Mikati: relationship unruffled by recent spat

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he has no personal issue with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and that his criticism is directed at the government’s performance. “There is no personal problem with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the relationship is actually good,” Berri told As-Safir. “I had some remarks on the performance of the government and [the fact] that it was not following up on some issues as required,” he added. Reports of a rift between the two officials surfaced after Berri accused Mikati of not wishing to govern anymore given the circumstances in the country. In remarks published last week, Berri said the prime minister "does not want to govern, because when he formed the government, he -- like us -- did not know that Syria would witness [an uprising],” Berri said. He added that in his case, he remains in politics because he is sure of his “political calculations.” Mikati responded, saying he would continue to shoulder his responsibilities until an extraordinary government is formed. “Never before did I accept to respond to opponents, so how will I respond to a friend and a brother – Mr. Berri,” Mikati said in remarks published Wednesday by the state-run National News Agency. During his interview with As-Safir, Berri criticized the government for not placing the draft law aimed at administering Lebanon’s Special Economic Zone on the Cabinet’s agenda in its next two sessions, one of which is scheduled for end August and other for September. Mikati also spoke to the local daily and said his relationship with Berri “is governed by love, respect and friendship,” adding he is in agreement with the speaker on how to confront political disputes that might arise. “Any dispute with Berri, regardless of its magnitude, does not ruin the friendship between us,” he said. From DailyStar