Political talks between Lebanese parties resumed on Tuesday on several levels to overcome obstacles that are hindering the birth of a new government. The greatest obstacle pits the main Christian parties of the Lebanese Forces (LF) and Free Patriotic Movement (FPM). A first step towards calming situation came when the LF and FPM announced that they will exercise calm to pave the way for drawing a roadmap of their mutual relations and resume dialogue that stopped as a result of the eruption of the crisis. Meetings between both parties are expected to be held in the coming days, particularly after Bkirki intervened by calling for a meeting Thursday between caretaker Information Minister Melhem Riachi of the LF and MP Ibrahim Kanaan of the FPM. The two officials are sponsors of the 2016 Maarab Understanding that brought FPM founder, Michel Aoun, to the presidency. On Tuesday, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri met with Speaker Nabih Berri, while both Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and caretaker Interior Minister Nohad Mashnouq met separately with Aoun to tackle developments related to the cabinet formation. Hariri said that obstacles remain, hoping that the Christian truce will help resolve them. Moreover, he remarked that Lebanon has a golden opportunity to implement the CEDRE Conference and the necessary reforms, revealing that disputes over ministerial shares are impeding the government formation process. “All political parties should make sacrifices for the sake of Lebanon and its economy. Everyone needs to know that government formation is a priority," he told reporters following his two-hour meeting with Berri. He added that the speaker is also keen on speeding up the formation process and reviving the economy. Rahi, for his part, said that talks with Aoun touched on the delay in the government formation. "The president reassures that the government will be formed," the Patriarch told reporters. FPM ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun’s meetings with Rahi and Mashnouq were “very good,” signaling the presence of a positive mood, particularly after the two Christian parties announced a period of calm. “Aoun is keen on protecting the Christian reconciliation and preventing its collapse,” they added.