Al-Rahi Stresses Importance of Dialogue: Govt. Must Be up to Task of Facing Challenges

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged on Sunday the government to be up to the task of facing challenges in Lebanon.

He stressed during his Sunday sermon “the importance of national dialogue given the political, security, economic, and social situation in the country.”

“The government should therefore take the necessary measure in addressing security, economic, and administrative affairs,” he stated.

President Michel Suleiman had called on the various political powers to resume the national dialogue.

He set as June 11 the date for resuming the talks.

The March 14-led opposition has said that it will take part in the dialogue if Hizbullah’s arms are the sole topic of discussion.

Party chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly said that Hizbullah would return to the talks if no conditions are placed.

On the developments in Tripoli, al-Rahi condemned the unrest, adding: “We pray for the residents in the city and that peace would be restored.”

The patriarch demanded that the Lebanese authorities take “the immediate and wise measures to halt the conflict and reunite the people of Tripoli.”

Clashes broke out late on Friday between the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, leaving 14 people dead and some 50 wounded.