“If some [parties] show flexibility in discussing the policy statement, we will be more flexible to help facilitate its approval,” Berri was quoted as saying by lawmakers attending his weekly meeting with MPs at his Ain al-Tineh residence.

“But at the same time we stress that our stance on the resistance is a matter of principle. It is a fixed stance rather than a tactic. It [the right to resistance] continues to be approved by international conventions.”

Although Prime Minister Tammam Salam was finally able to form his national unity government last month, the ministerial committee he chairs has held eight sessions and has still not agreed on the government’s policy statement. It has until March 16 to accomplish its task, when the 30-day period to approve a policy statement will expire.

March 14 members of the committee demand that the issue of resistance be placed under state authority, thus denying Hezbollah the right to use its arms at will against any Israeli attack as has happened in the past. Hezbollah resistance group and its March 8 allies reject this demand.

Hezbollah and Berri, who leads the Amal Movement, have vowed not to budge on the inclusion of the resistance clause in the Cabinet’s policy statement. The committee is scheduled to meet again Friday.

“Unfortunately, what Israel has done and continues to do in terms of violations of and aggression against Lebanon is not drawing enough attention, despite the fact that these violations occur almost daily and target [Lebanon’s] land, sea and airspace,” Berri was quoted as saying.

Berri also touched on the internal and external challenges confronting the new government, particularly what he called Israel’s threat to Lebanon’s maritime oil resources.

“We will not give in even one drop of our oil resources and we will work on benefiting from this wealth with all our strength,” Berri said, according to MPs attending the meeting.

“Defending our land, sovereignty and wealth requires us to adhere to our ... strength, with the right to resistance and our Army in the forefront,” Berri added.

For his part, Zafer Nasser, secretary of the Progressive Socialist Party, said an agreement over the policy statement could still be achieved.

Nasser added that the PSP would carry on with its efforts to facilitate the process.

NJF/NJF