Al-Rahi Says Bkirki to Issue New National Pact Next Week

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi announced on Tuesday that a national pact will be issued after the monthly meeting of the Council of Maronite Bishops on February 5.

“The accord will focus on three constituents, which are the national principles, concerns and priorities,” al-Rahi said.

He told his visitors that the pact will be made of 10 papers, noting that articles in it were discussed with various political leaders.

Al-Rahi expressed concern over the local situation, describing it as “dangerous.”

He called on Christians to “play their expected pioneer role that amid the ongoing developments in the region.”

Concerning the cabinet formation process, al-Rahi urged politicians to facilitate the formation of an all-embracing government to prevent any vacuum at constitutional institutions.

The cabinet formation process reached an impasse after being put on front burner after Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun insisted that his bloc retain the Energy and Telecommunications Ministries portfolios, currently held by caretaker Ministers Jebran Bassil and Nicolas Sehnaoui respectively. In addition to his rejection to the concept of rotation of ministerial portfolios.

However, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, who was appointed in April, is holding onto the concept of “fair, balanced and comprehensive rotation of portfolios,” which is rejected by the Free Patriotic Movement.