Al-Rahi Says his Paris Statements Don’t Reflect his Personal Stances
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged the Lebanese on Tuesday to forget about his statements that were allegedly taken out of context and stressed his rejection of differences in Lebanon and abroad.
At the start of his visit to the Upper Metn region, al-Rahi said: “We don’t want to shatter anyone. Lebanon needs all its citizens, parties, movements and sects.”
He said he felt sorry that he created an uproar after his visit to Paris over his statements that he alleges were taken out of context. Al-Rahi said last week that the fate of Hizbullah’s weapons was linked to the liberation of Israeli occupied Lebanese land and the return of Palestinians to their homeland.
He also called for giving Syrian President Bashar Assad the chance to introduce reform after warning that the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria was a threat to Christians in the neighboring country.
Rejecting the patriarchate’s meddling in differences inside and outside Lebanon, al-Rahi said: “We are with peace and everybody’s joy.”
“Forget about all the statements that were taken out of context probably intentionally,” he said, adding that such remarks “are not linked to my personal stances.”
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