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Berri also joined the National Unity government as minister of state for South Lebanon and reconstruction under [[List of Prime Ministers of Lebanon|Prime Minister]] [[Rashid Karami]] in May 1984.<ref name=owen84>{{cite journal|last=Owen|first=Roger|title=The Lebanese Crisis: Fragmentation or Reconciliation?|journal=Third World Quarterly|date=October 1984|volume=6|issue=4|pages=934–949|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/3991803|accessdate=11 March 2013|doi=10.1080/01436598408419807}}</ref> He also served as the minister of housing and co-operatives.<ref name="Nabih1">{{cite news|title=Nabih Berry Biography|url=http://lp.gov.lb/admin/uploads/files/CV%20President%20Berry%20En.pdf|work=lp.gov.lb }}</ref>
 
===Mossad payroll allegations===
According to former [[Mossad]] agent [[Victor Ostrovsky]], in his book [[By Way of Deception]], the Mossad "was deeply involved with several other warring Lebanese families, paying for information, passing it between groups, even paying the gangs and some Palestinians in the refugee camps for intelligence and services. Besides Gemayel, both the Jumblatt and Berri families were on the Mossad payroll.<ref>Ostrovsky, Victor (1990). ''By Way of Deception: The Making and Unmaking of a Mossad Officer'', p. 316</ref>
 
==Later political career==
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* 16 May 1992 to 31 October 1992: Minister of state in the government of [[Rachid Solh]].<ref name="user"/>
 
Due to strong Syrian backing and to Berri's proximity to Syrian officials in Lebanon, he was reported to have the biggest influence in the Lebanese government formed after the [[Taif Accord]].<ref name=shad>{{cite journal|last=Haddad|first=Simon|title=Cultural diversity and sectarian attitudes in postwar Lebanon|journal=Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies|date=April 2002|volume=28|issue=2|pages=291–306|url=http://ipac.kacst.edu.sa/eDoc/2006/159617_1.pdf|accessdate=3 July 2012|doi=10.1080/13691830220124341}}</ref>
In May 2014, Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed that "power-sharing between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon would not change under any circumstance saying he was speaking on behalf of Shiites, Sunnis and Druze".<ref name=Nabih0>{{cite news|title=No change in power-sharing formula in Lebanon|author=Kechichian, Joseph A. |date= 6 May 2014|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/region/lebanon/no-change-in-power-sharing-formula-in-lebanon-1.1328924 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/May-06/255491-leaders-praise-sleiman-at-final-dialogue-session.ashx#axzz32uZF3lWO Leaders praise Sleiman at final Dialogue session]. Dailystar.com.lb. 6 May 2014.</ref>▼
 
Berri headed the list of "Liberation" in the parliamentary elections that took place in southern Lebanon on 6 September 1992, which was won in full. The other lists he headed were "Liberation and Development" in the parliamentary elections on 8 September 1996, which was won in full. Since 1992 he chairs the Liberation and Development parliamentary bloc.<ref>[http://lp.gov.lb/admin/uploads/files/CV%20President%20Berry%20En.pdf Official Lebanese parliament website]. (PDF) . Retrieved on 5 August 2014.</ref>
He was elected Speaker of the parliament of Lebanon for the first time on 20 October 1992 ''(105 votes out of 124 votes)''.<ref name=users>{{cite web|title=Nabih Berri Facts|url=http://www.yourdictionary.com/nabih-berri#6|publisher=YourDictionary, Under Syria's Influence part}}</ref> He was re-elected for a second time on 22 October 1996 ''(122 votes out of 126 votes)''. He was elected to the same post three more times on 17 October 2000 unanimously ''(124 votes out of 126 votes)'', on 28 June 2005 ''(90 votes out of 126 votes)''<ref name=mallat>{{cite book|last=Mallat|first=Chibli|title=Lebanon's Cedar Revolution An essay on non-violence and justice|publisher=Mallat|page=122|url=http://mallat.com/books/Appendix1%20and%202.pdf}}</ref> and on 25 June 2009 ''(90 votes out of 127 votes)''<ref name=Nabih>{{cite news|title=Nabih Berry Biography|url=http://www.nabihberry.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A9/}}</ref>▼
 
In 1996Berri is was involved in corruption allegations regarding about a 1996 coastal motorway in southern Lebanon. The contract for the motorway was won by a firm run by Berri's wife, Randa Assi, and was Lebanese said government to officials be admitted that it was overpriced by over hundreds three of hundred millions million of US dollars.<ref>Johnson, Michael (2001). ''[http://books.google.com.lb/books?id=Zydtz0dDntQC&pg=PA236&dq=nabih+berri+corrupt&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZxUgUfzVJqLy4QSK8oGQCw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=nabih%20berri%20corrupt&f=false All Honorable Men: The Social Origins Of War In Lebanon]'', p.236</ref><ref>Schwerna, Tobias (2010). ''[http://books.google.fr/books?id=9O6aZGPkqoUC&pg=PA128&dq=berri+nabih+solidere&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UCkiUbXWD4io0QWK64GwDA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=berri&f=false Lebanon: A Model of Consociational Conflict]'', p.128</ref>▼
Since 1993, he chairs the '''Union of Parliamentarians of Lebanese Descent''' including 156 members of parliament and senators from 19 countries.<ref name="Nabih1">{{cite news|title=Nabih Berry Biography|url=http://lp.gov.lb/admin/uploads/files/CV%20President%20Berry%20En.pdf }}</ref><ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/1998/Apr-21/16858-deputies-of-lebanese-origin-say-diaspora-should-be-citizens-too.ashx#axzz33f6SETXG the daily star]. the daily star (21 April 1998). Retrieved on 5 August 2014.</ref>▼
 
Berri headed the list of "Resistance and Development" in the parliamentary elections that took place in southern Lebanon on 3 September 2000, which was won in full. He also headed the list of Liberation and Development in the parliamentary elections which took place in June 2005, which was won in full. Currently, Berri heads the list of "Liberation and Development" in the parliamentary elections on 7 June 2009. All the members of the Bloc won the elections on 2009.
===Corruption allegations===
▲Berri is involved in corruption allegations regarding a 1996 coastal motorway in southern Lebanon. The contract for the motorway was won by a firm run by Berri's wife, Randa Assi, and was said to be overpriced by over three hundred million US dollars.<ref>Johnson, Michael (2001). ''[http://books.google.com.lb/books?id=Zydtz0dDntQC&pg=PA236&dq=nabih+berri+corrupt&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZxUgUfzVJqLy4QSK8oGQCw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=nabih%20berri%20corrupt&f=false All Honorable Men: The Social Origins Of War In Lebanon]'', p.236</ref><ref>Schwerna, Tobias (2010). ''[http://books.google.fr/books?id=9O6aZGPkqoUC&pg=PA128&dq=berri+nabih+solidere&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UCkiUbXWD4io0QWK64GwDA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=berri&f=false Lebanon: A Model of Consociational Conflict]'', p.128</ref>
 
▲ In Speaker Nabih Berri was always and still a big supporter of the dialogue between all the Lebanese parties, religions and sects, during the last national dialogue session in May 2014, Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed that "power-sharing between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon would not change under any circumstance saying he was speaking on behalf of Shiites, Sunnis and Druze".<ref name=Nabih0>{{cite news|title=No change in power-sharing formula in Lebanon|author=Kechichian, Joseph A. |date= 6 May 2014|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/region/lebanon/no-change-in-power-sharing-formula-in-lebanon-1.1328924 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/May-06/255491-leaders-praise-sleiman-at-final-dialogue-session.ashx#axzz32uZF3lWO Leaders praise Sleiman at final Dialogue session]. Dailystar.com.lb. 6 May 2014.</ref>
In 2004, Berri was mentioned in several of the [[United States diplomatic cables leak|diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks]]. One cable said that Amal is "near universally derided as corrupt to the core", and that Berri was described by a relative of [[Musa al-Sadr]] as having provided social services in the south only through "wheeling, dealing, and stealing". Also according to the cables, Berri receives USD 400,000 a month from [[Iran]], using a fourth of the sum to shore up his support and pocketing the rest.<ref>[http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/12/the-%E2%80%9Cindependent-shi%E2%80%99a%E2%80%9D-of-lebanon-what-wikileaks-tells-us-about-american-efforts-to-find-an-alternative-to-hizballah/#_edn50 The "independent Shia" of Lebanon: What Wikileaks tells us about American efforts to find an alternative to Hizballah]</ref><ref>[http://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/04/06BEIRUT1090.html Amal-Hizballah Marriage Weakening Amal But May Open A Way For Other Shia]</ref>▼
 
▲He was elected Speaker of the parliament of Lebanon for the first time on 20 October 1992 ''(105 votes out of 124 votes)''.<ref name=users>{{cite web|title=Nabih Berri Facts|url=http://www.yourdictionary.com/nabih-berri#6|publisher=YourDictionary, Under Syria's Influence part}}</ref> He was re-elected for a second time on 22 October 1996 ''(122 votes out of 126 votes)''. He was elected to the same post three more times on 17 October 2000 unanimously ''(124 votes out of 126 votes)'', on 28 June 2005 ''(90 votes out of 126 votes)''<ref name=mallat>{{cite book|last=Mallat|first=Chibli|title=Lebanon's Cedar Revolution An essay on non-violence and justice|publisher=Mallat|page=122|url=http://mallat.com/books/Appendix1%20and%202.pdf}}</ref> and on 25 June 2009 ''(90 votes out of 127 votes)''<ref name=Nabih>{{cite news|title=Nabih Berry Biography|url=http://www.nabihberry.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A9/}}</ref>
According to one source, Berri was considered by [[Rafik Hariri]] to be "irredeemably corrupt and unreliable", as well as an opportunist,<ref>Blanford, Nicholas (2006). ''[http://books.google.com.lb/books?id=tBfDB18OHY0C&pg=PA118&dq=nabih+berri+corrupt&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZxUgUfzVJqLy4QSK8oGQCw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=nabih%20berri%20corrupt&f=false Killing Mr. Lebanon: The Assasination of Rafik Hariri and Its Impact on the Middle East]'', p. 118</ref> and is thought to maintain his support base through access to state funds.
 
Since 1999, he chairs the Arab Parliament Committee in charge of disclosing the Israeli crimes against Arab civilians. On 3 June 2003, he was elected president of the [[Arab Parliament]] and handed the presidency in [[Damascus]] on 1 March 2004 for a period of two years. He was elected president of the Council of the Parliamentary Union of the Member States.<ref name="Nabih1">{{cite news|title=Nabih Berry Biography|url=http://lp.gov.lb/admin/uploads/files/CV%20President%20Berry%20En.pdf }}</ref>
===Leaked [[2006 Lebanon War]] cables===
According to leaked diplomatic cables, during the [[2006 Lebanon war]], Berri, publicly an ally of Hezbollah, described Israel's attacks on [[Hezbollah]] to US Ambassador [[Jeffrey Feltman]] as being "like honey", and hoped that Israel would complete its mission against Hezbollah quickly. He suggested that the IDF "markedly improve its targeting intelligence to make air strikes more effective. Either that, or they would have to wipe Hizballah out of the south with a ground offensive." He also suggested that "if Israel succeeds in weakening Hizballah militarily, then he will be more willing to weaken them politically".<ref>[http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=06BEIRUT2407 Berri says cease-fire necessary eventually, but for now, Israeli strikes are like honey]</ref><ref>[https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/nownews/wikileaks_berri_pleased_with_2006_israel_raids Berri pleased with 2006 raids - NOW Media]</ref><ref>[http://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/middle-east-programs/us-lebanon-dialogue/the-lebanon-bulletin/syria-hezbollah-allies-exp Syria and Hezbollah allies exposed in recent Wikileaks dipatch - Aspen Institute]</ref><ref>[http://middle-east-online.com/ENGLISH/?id=47941 Wikileaks: Lebanon speaker pleased with 2006 Israel raids on Hezbollah, describes Assad as 'stupid']</ref>
 
Nabih Berri was elected President of the [[Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States]] in Dakar-Senegal in 9 March 2004 until 9 March 2006.<ref name="Nabih1">{{cite news|title=Nabih Berry Biography|url=http://lp.gov.lb/admin/uploads/files/CV%20President%20Berry%20En.pdf }}</ref><ref>[http://www.oic-oci.org/oicv2/home/ OIC official website]</ref>
===Gaddafi's Green Book controversy===
 
Berri's sister-in-law and close business associate Samira Assi, is said to have made a fortune by getting a contract from Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]] to print one million copies of Gaddafi's "Green Book".<ref>[http://www.meforum.org/meib/articles/0012_ld1.htm Nabih Berri profile - Middle East Intelligence Bulletin]</ref> Assi's deals are seen as highly controversial, since the founder of the [[Amal Movement]], [[Musa al-Sadr]], is known to have been disappeared on the orders of Gaddafi himself.
▲In 2004, Berri was mentioned in several one of the [[United States diplomatic cables leak|diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks]]. One The cable said that Amal is had "near problems universally with derided as corrupt to the core" corruption, and that Berri was described by a relative of [[Musa al-Sadr]] as having provided social services in the south only through "wheeling, dealing, and stealing" . Also according to the cables, Berri receives USD 400,000 a month from [[Iran]], using a fourth of the sum to shore up his support and pocketing the rest.<ref>[http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/12/the-%E2%80%9Cindependent-shi%E2%80%99a%E2%80%9D-of-lebanon-what-wikileaks-tells-us-about-american-efforts-to-find-an-alternative-to-hizballah/#_edn50 The "independent Shia" of Lebanon: What Wikileaks tells us about American efforts to find an alternative to Hizballah ]</ref><ref>[http://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/04/06BEIRUT1090.html Amal-Hizballah Marriage Weakening Amal But May Open A Way For Other Shia]</ref>
 
▲Since 1993, he chairs the '''Union of Parliamentarians of Lebanese Descent ''' including 156 members of parliament and senators from 19 countries.<ref name="Nabih1">{{cite news|title=Nabih Berry Biography|url=http://lp.gov.lb/admin/uploads/files/CV%20President%20Berry%20En.pdf }}</ref><ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/1998/Apr-21/16858-deputies-of-lebanese-origin-say-diaspora-should-be-citizens-too.ashx#axzz33f6SETXG the daily star]. the daily star (21 April 1998). Retrieved on 5 August 2014.</ref>
 
==Personal life==
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{{Authority control|VIAF=78827217}}
 
{{:DEFAULTSORT:Berri, Nabih}}▼
[[:Category:1938 births]]▼
[[:Category:Living people]]▼
[[:Category:Lebanese University alumni]]▼
[[:Category:Lebanese Shia Muslims]]▼
[[:Category:Lebanese expatriates in the United States]]▼
[[:Category:Speakers of the Parliament of Lebanon]]▼
[[:Category:People from South Lebanon]]▼
[[:Category:Amal Movement politicians]]▼
 
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
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▲{{ :DEFAULTSORT:Berri, Nabih}}
{{Uncategorized|date=September 2014}}
▲[[ :Category:1938 births]]
▲[[ :Category:Living people]]
▲[[ :Category:Lebanese University alumni]]
▲[[ :Category:Lebanese Shia Muslims]]
▲[[ :Category:Lebanese expatriates in the United States]]
▲[[ :Category:Speakers of the Parliament of Lebanon]]
▲[[ :Category:People from South Lebanon]]
▲[[ :Category:Amal Movement politicians]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabih_Berri"