Berri denies mediation between Jumblat and the Syrian leadership

The speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri has denied to have made a mediation to bridge relations between the chairman of the Socialist Progressive Party Walid Jumblat and the Syrian leadership which informed him that he is persona non- grata in entering the Syrian territories as an official.

In an exclusive statement to the London- based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily issued on Monday Berri said: " I have tried to ease down the atmospheres when the chairman of the intelligence department in the Syrian forces working in Lebanon lt. Gen. Ghazi Kanaan on Tuesday ( last Tuesday) that the Syrian officials are not welcoming Jumblat into the Syrian territories."

Berri continued " I told him ( Kanaan) I will bring him ( Jumblat) to Damascus in my private car, but Kanaan explained to me that he is informing me about this decision of the Syrian leadership in my capacity as the speaker of the Lebanese parliament. A matter which indicates that Jumblat can enter Syria like any ordinary citizen, rather in his parliamentary status which avails him special facilities on the borders."

Berri added that he recommended the Lebanese minister of information Ghazi al-Aridi, who consulted him ( al-Aridi consulted Berri) over an invitation from his Syrian counterpart Adnan Omran to wait for a time before he goes to Damascus.