Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri called for greater Arab cooperation to resolve the general state of instability in the region on Monday, putting particular focus on Lebanon's crumbling relations with Syria. Berri also called for a separation of executive and legislative powers within the Arab Parliament, as he urged Arab leaders to help the newly formed pan-Arab body develop its own authoritative entity. "We need to give the Arab Parliament a chance to monitor and give consultations in the hopes that it develops into a serious power entity that will help complete the Arab authority system," Berri, the leader of the Lebanese Shiite Amal Movement, told al-Ahram Newspaper during his visit to Cairo as the head of the new Arab Parliament.The newly formed Arab Parliament is set to convene for the first time in Cairo on Tuesday, in the latest effort by the Arab League to revitalize its position in the region. According to the League, its main goal is to "discuss issues related to the strengthening of common Arab action and offer recommendations for that purpose."
"It is about time that we as Arabs coordinate between each other as there is great instability throughout the whole Middle East, including Lebanon," Berri said, referring to the latest assassinations and bombings that shook Lebanon and rekindled tensions between Lebanon and Syria, which is being accused of being behind the assassinations. "Syria can't rule Lebanon from Syria and Lebanon can't make judgments against Syria; it is for the benefit of them both to have a balanced dialogue between each other," said Berri, stressing peaceful relations between Lebanon and Syria will become crucial given the permanent Arab Parliament will eventually be based in Damascus.
The international body's creation, approved by the Arab Summit in Algiers last March, is part of an effort to modernize the institutions and improve the image of the largely toothless Arab League, and will become a fully fledged elected legislature modelled on Europe's Strasbourg-based assembly.