Al-Rahi from France: No Lebanese Faction Can Impose Certain Fate on Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed the need for the Lebanese to reach a “new understanding” based on the country’s national contract.
He said: “Given the current circumstances, no Lebanese faction can force a certain fate on the country.”
He made his statements during a dinner banquet thrown in his honor on Monday by the President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher during the patriarch’s ongoing visit to France.
“We support change, democracy, and freedom, but we should be wary of extremism or fragmentation, which has driven me since my election as Patriarch in March to create rapprochement among the disputed political forces in Lebanon,” al-Rahi said.
“This mission is driven by the changes in the region while simultaneously maintaining our principles and values,” he stated.
“Given the developments in the region, the Lebanese need now more than ever to bolster the conditions to hold dialogue and achieve national reconciliation,” he continued.
“Lebanon is more than just a country, it is a message,” stressed the patriarch quoting late Pope John Paul II.
Furthermore, he noted that the cooperation between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon can set the example for similar cooperation between different religions throughout the Middle East.
Lebanese Ambassador to France Butros Asaker later held a reception in al-Rahi’s honor during which the patriarch spoke of the meetings he held with various French officials, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday.
“The talks focused on maintaining Lebanon as a nation open to the West and East,” he revealed.
The patriarch later held talks on Tuesday with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and Interior Minister Claude Guéant.
06 September 2011, 16:13
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monseigneur rahi,ur support to bashar has only one meaning:
u are participating in the killing of the syrian people,and the consequences will be very sad.
no more saad el hariri politics in syria and lebanon if the killing continues.period and bi.
06 September 2011, 16:41
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Patriarch al-Rahi is telling the lord of the flies Mohammad Raad to stop threatening the Lebanese .
06 September 2011, 20:29
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His beatitude should refrain from criticizing Hezbollah's policies if he want to see any Maronite church's land returned , most of it is Muslim land by right but we might give him a few yards .
06 September 2011, 20:42
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Le phi phi, u can't claim squatters rights. You have the whole Arab world to call Muslim. Lebanon will remain for everyone except for persian termites like u.
07 September 2011, 02:39
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Mustapha...FYI, Batrak Rahi is a cardinal and patriach of Antioch. He is the second highest rank after the Pope. A monseigner is a level above a local priest and at least 3 lower than Cardinal.
I'm quite sure what u mean by no more saad hariri politics in Syria or Lebanon if the killing continues? Does that mean people should be encouraging more killings?
07 September 2011, 04:05
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ado down undo, I take it you agree with our Shiite friend Le Phenicien that Lebanon belongs to Muslims and you are just a stickler for clerics titles knowing that it never bothered you before when Sfeir title a Cardinal was demeaned by supporters of the Zionist infested Resistance, just wondering if have you bought into the divinity and infallibility of the turbaned ape.
07 September 2011, 11:44
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Fidatto... I'm not a stickler for clerical titles, but Ive noticed mustapha call the batrak, monsignor a number of times now and thought that it might help him not to sound too patronizing,when he feels the need gives advise to someone who he seems to not even know what his position is.
As for the person who commented as "mowaten" and "le phenician"... I know that the imposter is only trying to stir the racist sectarian pot.
