Speaker Nabih Berri has called on the Lebanese Diaspora to participate in May’s parliamentary race, adding that Lebanon is in dire need for its expatriates, who are necessary for its development. Addressing the Lebanese Diaspora from his home in southern Lebanon in a televised speech at the Annual Diaspora Conference organized by Amal Movements Berlin Chapter, Berri called on his supporters to commit to the "Hope and Loyalty" electoral lists in the elections, urging "those who failed to partake in the Election Day to register their names." His speech came one week after Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil launched the Lebanese Diaspora Energy (LDE) Europe in Paris. Berri warned against "those who play on sectarian sensitivities that destroyed Lebanon in 1958 and 1975," regretting their failure to learn from the painful lessons of the past. “Do not listen to sectarian voices and do not give them your votes!" the Speaker said. Berri, who heads Amal Movement, said expatriates are sharing for the first time in creating the future. “This is the beginning of Lebanons expatriate coming together with Lebanons resident, and we hope that the expats will elect representatives who would cater to the affairs of expatriate communities," he added. The Shi’ite leader said the parliamentary polls must be a step towards lifting tutelage and hegemony off Lebanon. “The election is to build a society of resistance against the Israeli occupation, which is thirsty for our waters, and breaches our airspace on a daily basis." Berri reiterated his commitment to supporting the army and security apparatuses and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He emphasized that elections are aimed at “protecting the achievement of the Lebanese army and resistance … building a society of resistance against debts and spreading security and safety." Berri promised to work on "restoring the Lebanese nationality to children of Lebanese expatriates, and re-assigning an Expatriate Consul to take care of Lebanese civil status records, in addition to establishing schools for expats, linking them to Lebanese educational curricula, especially Arabic language education."