Al-Rahi Calls for Commitment to National Pact, Criticizes Roads Blocking

Maronite Patriarch Beshar al-Rahi reiterated on Saturday his call on rival Lebanese foes to renew their commitment to the 1943 national pact, urging Muslims and Christians to coexist.

“I have already said that we need to go back to the 1943 national pact where only one state existed,” al-Rahi told reporters upon his arrival in Beirut following his trip to Turkey.

He urged the Lebanese to renew their trust and loyalty to the state and its institutions to halt attempts by some people to meddle with the local situation.

Asked about the situation in the southern city of Sidon, al-Rahi criticized the roads blocking, saying: “No one has the right to block the roads… This is an abnormal issue in Lebanon.”

On Wednesday, Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir blocked the road in the southern city of Sidon, vowing to continue the sit-in until the issue of non-state arms is resolved.

Political powers are exerting efforts to convince Asir to end his protest.

“It comes as a result of (state’s) tolerance” in dealing with the security situation in the country, al-Rahi pointed out.

The patriarch headed on Wednesday to Turkish Antioch on a pastoral visit.