Kataeb Party chief Samy Gemayel met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh on Thursday, heading a delegation that included party MPs Nadim Gemayel, Salim Sayegh and Elias Hankach.

“After meeting President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, we met with Speaker Nabih Berri to consult with him, exchange views on solutions, and explore ways to facilitate the rebuilding of the State,” Gemayel told reporters after the talks.

Gemayel said the Kataeb Party has two main priorities: moving Lebanon from “a state of lawlessness to a state of law,” and restoring full sovereignty across the country by ensuring all weapons are handed over to the State, regardless of which group holds them.

“No weapon should exist outside the authority of the army,” he said. “There is clear agreement on this point; even Speaker Berri confirmed it in Parliament when he told me he supports restricting weapons to the State.”

Gemayel stressed that the Kataeb is seeking to open a new page “built on equality, under the Constitution and the rule of law.” This, he said, can only be achieved through genuine partnership among all Lebanese communities.

“We categorically reject any marginalization of the Shiite community,” he added. “For us, it is essential that Shiites are full partners in building a new Lebanon. This is a red line for us.”

Invoking the late President-elect Bachir Gemayel, he said: “We have a symbol, Bashir, whose slogan was 10,452 square kilometers, meaning the unity of Lebanon. We are responsible for every Lebanese on this land, because we are MPs of the nation. It is our duty to protect all Lebanese and ensure that everyone is a partner in building tomorrow’s Lebanon.”

Gemayel criticized the recent campaign targeting the Maronite Patriarch over his statements on arms control, denouncing the recurring accusations of treason leveled against anyone who opposes Hezbollah’s weapons.

“We extended our hand to open a new page, but instead we hear accusations of treason, most recently against our Patriarch. We strongly condemn this rhetoric, which is unacceptable and undermines all efforts at dialogue and solutions, including initiatives Speaker Berri himself is trying to advance in search of common ground.”

He warned that “escalatory rhetoric destroys the efforts of moderates who are working for a smooth transition. We call for an end to such language, and for commitment to the authority of the State, the cabinet, the president's inaugural speech, and the ceasefire agreement, which all affirm the building of a State based on law and equality.”

Gemayel insisted that the Kataeb is not seeking confrontation.

“We are not interested in clashes or tensions with anyone. Those who try to provoke conflict only aim to block the peaceful, gradual transition toward state-building. Our priority is national unity, which requires us to adopt a positive approach and resist attempts to escalate.”

He noted that while Berri’s position on key issues is well known, the Speaker is making an effort to avoid inflaming tensions.

“That moderation within the Shiite community is necessary, and we are meeting him halfway despite major differences with Amal on many files,” he said.

Looking ahead, Gemayel emphasized the importance of holding parliamentary elections on schedule, stressing the need to grant expatriates the right to vote for all 128 parliamentary seats.

“Speaker Berri has a major role to play in this regard,” he said. “Despite our many disagreements, he rejects any confrontation with the State and the army.”