Al-Rahi Meets Aoun: Neutrality Stands for Strong State, Strong Army

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Wednesday met President Michel Aoun in Baabda, following resounding calls that the spiritual leader voiced in recent days for turning Lebanon into a “neutral” country.

“Neutrality brings stability and growth and it would pull us out of the state that we are in today and of poverty and hunger,” al-Rahi told reporters after the talks.

“Lebanon in its nature and foundations is neutral, and when it was neutral it used to be called Switzerland of the East. Therefore Lebanon is in its structure neutral and neutrality is not against anyone,” al-Rahi added.

Asked whether his words refer to Hizbullah, the patriarch said: “I mean everyone, seeing as Lebanon must come first and loyalty must be to it.”

“A lot said that there is a dispute with President Aoun due to the issue of neutrality, knowing that the president is among the first advocates of neutrality in the concept we are talking about today,” al-Rahi went on to say.

He explained: “Neutrality is to commit to the joint Arab causes without engaging in political or military conflicts or joining axes. It is to be rather the first defender of justice, peace and understanding in the Arab causes, except for what relates to Israel.”

“Neutrality stands for a strong state and a strong army, and there is no disagreement with Mr. President over this issue, seeing as he was among the first to call for this,” al-Rahi added.

He also stressed that Bkirki supports neither the opposition nor the ruling majority.

“Bkirki is Bkirki, and if we support a certain camp we will lose our free word,” he added.

He also revealed that he clarified to Aoun that he referred to all parties, “including those who are boycotting the Presidency,” when he mentioned the issue of the “siege on legitimacy.”

LBCI TV meanwhile reported that Aoun stressed to al-Rahi that “consensus among the Lebanese components is the basis for any choice tackling the Lebanese situation.”

“National accord is the main guarantee for any solution for the Lebanese crisis,” the president reportedly added.

Al-Rahi for his part, LBCI said, explained to the president in detail his suggestions on Lebanon’s neutrality, noting that “the idea is not targeted against any part but rather aims to neutralize Lebanon from conflicts.”