Miqati Urges Youth on Civil War Anniversary to Avoid Being Manipulated in 'Futile' Battles

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati hoped on Saturday that youths in Lebanon would learn from the experiences of their elders and “realize that no one in the country can eliminate the other.”

He said: “We hope that the youths would avoid being used as fuel for futile battles that only lead to more despair.”

He made his remarks before a delegation from the Joy of Giving non-profit organization on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the eruption of the Lebanese Civil War.

“The youths should steer away from escalatory rhetoric that only increases the divide and tensions between the people,” he stressed.

“We are now in the greatest need for efforts that bring the Lebanese close together and that may help achieve comprehensive reconciliation between them,” added Miqati.

“There can be no substitute for this reconciliation no matter how great the disputes among the people of the nation,” he noted.

The youths should take hold of their fates and work for a prosperous Lebanon, he declared.

The civil broke out in 1975 and ended in 1990 through the Saudi-sponsored Taef accord, signed in 1989.

Around 120,000 people were killed in the unrest.