Shaar Says Tripoli Conference an Umbrella for City's Civil Peace

Contacts intensified recently to persuade Muslim and Christian prominent figures in the northern port city of Tripoli to attend a conference set to highlight civil peace in the area.

The Mufti of Tripoli and the North, Sheikh Malek al-Shaar, revealed in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Monday that the conference that will be held under the slogan “The National Tripoli Gathering” will issue a “civil peace charter.”

“All sides, no matter what the sect is, should abide by the charter,” Shaar told the newspaper, saying that it aims at “rejecting the chaos and security tension that contribute in distorting the image of Tripoli.”

The conference, that will gather prominent religious, political, social and economy figures, is expected to be held at the end of October.

The cleric expressed relief over the conference, noting that the gathering will not be “traditional but will discuss the depth of the Tripoli crisis.”

Shaar considered in remarks to As Safir that the conference is to stress the “unity of the people on the national principles.”

“The principles and the steps that we will announce are almost ready,” Shaar said, pointing out that the charter that will be issued will be a group effort.

He described the meet as a “safe umbrella,” revealing that several committees will be formed... to tackle the crises gripping the city of Tripoli.”

“Tripoli is in the safe hands of the army that the Lebanese people support,” Shaar said.

“I am relieved that there will not be a major security event traumatizing our city.”

The army has been facing rising assaults in Tripoli recently following the gunbattles between troops and Sunni jihadists who overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.

H.K.

G.K.