Local Editor

March 8 senior officials held a meeting at the residence of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun in Rabieh. The meeting was attended by Hizbullah delegation consisting of Hizbullah Secretayr General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's Political aide, Haj Hussein Khalil, and Head of Hizbullah's Liaison and Coordination Unit Wafiq Safa.

The meeting also included Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh, former Minister Youssef Saade, Tashnag Party MP Hagop Pakradounian and caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil.

According to al-Ahed news sources, the conferees tackled both the parliamentary elections and the nomination of a new Prime Minister.
Although no statement or declarations emerged from the two-hour meeting, high-level sources described its atmosphere as "excellent and comfortable."
"The Orthodox gathering electoral proposal, parliamentary consultations, and the call for a Parliament's General Assembly were also present in the discussions," the sources revealed.

They further highlighted that "the conferees agreed to consult with House Speaker Nabih Berri on the findings of the meeting, and will continue to discuss the name of the coming premier before the parliamentary consultations."

"There are no problems between Berri and Aoun as some people claimed," they assured, and noted that "as soon as Berri heals from his surgery, a meeting will be held in the presence of both Berri and Bassil."

Meanwhile, Northern sources in the majority confirmed that "the atmosphere of the Rabieh meeting was excellent... and very positive."
"We will continue these meetings in the coming days with Speaker Nabih Berri and all March 8 to reach a common position concerning the electoral law and PM's name."

In this context, the sources affirmed that there are several names on the table, and there is no veto on anyone including caretaker PM Najib Mikati.
"The meetings came also to clarify any confusion between Berri and Aoun, and there is no problem at this level as Minister Bassil will attend any meeting with Speaker Berri," they added.

Source: al-Ahed news, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org