March 14 Christian Figures Praise 'Historic' Bkirki Treaty

Christian figures in the March 14 coalition praised on Thursday the "historic" Bkirki Treaty that was unveiled on Wednesday and that focused on preserving Lebanon's coexistence and national pact.

"The Bkirki Treaty is a historic stance that emphasizes national principals that the patriarchy has always endorsed and protected,” the Phalange Party said in a released statement.

"The treaty comes at difficult times and it is a safe approach towards finding solutions to the current crisis and its political, security, social and economic consequences,” the statement added.

The party also called on all Lebanese factions to endorse the treaty and strive to implement its articles.

"We must leave individual interests behind and move forward to building a country on strong foundations to strengthen stability and ensure holding the anticipated elections on time.”

Lebanese Forces MP Sethrida Geagea also praised the “historic and timely” treaty, considering that it accentuates basic values and beliefs that were “supported by Christians for hundreds of years.”

"Bkirki has always voiced these values that are the basis for the Lebanese entity,” she said in a released statement.

She noted: “Stressing on equality, partnership and holding onto freedom, democracy and the establishment of a real and sovereign country for all Lebanese citizens are the most important principals in the treaty.”

Meanwhile, head of the Independence Movement Michel Mouawad also described the treaty as historic, expressing that it should be a recipe to get out of the current crises in the country.

"We urge all Christians in the country to support the treaty which stressed again that Lebanon is a nation established based on values of freedom, coexistence, diversity and neutrality.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi had unveiled on Wednesday a treaty that calls for holding the presidential elections on time.

It also demanded that political powers adhere to the country's national pact and place national interests above personal ones.