Islamic-Christian Summit in Bkirki to Stress Need to Resume National Dialogue

Bkirki is scheduled to hold an Islamic-Christian spiritual summit on Thursday, the first of its kind since the election of Beshara al-Rahi as patriarch of the Maronite church, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

The governmental crisis in Lebanon and the turbulent situation in the region are set to be the main issues of discussion at the meeting, it added.

Christian and Muslim spiritual sources told the daily that the draft statement of the meeting includes a direct warning on the dire political and social situation reached in the country given the ongoing governmental vacuum.

The statement also voiced its approval over the recent meeting at Bkirki that brought together the main Christian leaders in Lebanon, describing it as “an important step aimed at unifying the national ranks.”

It draft statement also asserted the gatherers’ “commitment to national coexistence, the constitution, peace, and absolute loyalty to Lebanon.”

“National coexistence will become threatened in Lebanon the divisions in the country remain,” it said.

“All politicians and intellectuals should rise up to the occasion, calm the political rhetoric, and stay away from accusations of treason and statements of incitement,” it continued.

Furthermore, the Islamic-Christian summit demanded the need to “return to the national dialogue under President Michel Suleiman’s sponsorship in order to reach a defense strategy that could enable Lebanon to defend its sovereignty throughout its territory and protect its national resources.”

It called against resorting to “all forms of violence” on the internal Lebanese scene.

“Lebanon that has endured long years of violence and destructive wars needs the rise of a capable state that is respected by all and therefore it cannot exist alongside the de facto powers,” the statement stressed.