Al-Rahi International Community Also Obligated to Tackle Hizbullah’s Arms
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stated on Wednesday that an agreement must be reached over Hizbullah’s possession of arms, reiterating past statements that it is not normal for one Lebanese political group to possess weapons and be part of cabinet and parliament.
He said: “Some sides interpreted these remarks as a sign that I support the party’s positions, but all I wanted to say is that the international community is also responsible for this issue as Hizbullah’s arms are not only a Lebanese matter, but an international one.”
He explained that seeing as this issue is connected to international ones, it cannot be resolved strictly through Lebanese methods.
“They don’t accept these statements and interpret them as being a justification of the party’s arms possession,” the patriarch said.
“Hizbullah claims that it will maintain its arms until Israel withdraws from all Lebanese land, so why isn’t the Jewish state pressured to implement international resolutions?” he asked.
“The arms are a problem and I was criticized in the past for saying that I fear this weapons’ possession,” al-Rahi stated.
“How do we solve this problem?” he asked.
“The West did not accept my statements over Hizbullah’s arms, so why don’t they pressure Israel to implement resolutions?” he wondered.
“Why don’t they arm and strengthen the Lebanese army?” continued al-Rahi.
On the Lady of the Mountain Gathering, the patriarch said: “I don’t anything about this meeting, but I don’t believe it to be a good thing.”
“After the defamation campaigns that I was subject to after my trip to France, I decided not to read any newspaper,” he added.
“I have taken the decision to prevent my relationship with people from being affected by what is said about me,” he noted.
It was rumored that the Lady of the Mountain Gathering was expected to issue a critical stand of al-Rahi’s recent controversial positions from France during which he said that Syrian President Bashar Assad should be given more time to implement reform and Hizbullah’s excuses for maintaining its possession of arms should be eliminated.
The venue of the gathering was changed from a monastery to a hotel in Adma after it was reported that the nuns refused to harbor a meeting that may have been critical of the patriarch.
Addressing his statements from France, al-Rahi said: “We don’t support or oppose any regime … as a church, we are concerned with any political reform that can benefit the public through guaranteeing the safety and dignity of the citizens.”
“We support constitutional reform in Syria and any other country,” he stressed.
He also voiced fear of the eruption of civil war in Syria, where its Sunnis would be pitted against the Alawites.
Al-Rahi warned that such a conflict would have “strong and direct repercussions on Lebanon, which enjoys a Sunni and Alawite population.”
He also reiterated his fear that a dictatorial regime may assume power in Syria
“If no one liked our positions, then they are free to have their own opinion,” he remarked.
“Some people don’t want us to tell them the truth and I have the right to speak it as long as I live,” al-Rahi stressed.
“I don’t oppose any country or people, but I don’t want us to be slaughtered on a daily basis for international interests and policies,” he stressed.
Addressing a new parliamentary electoral law, the patriarch said: “I have no political choices, as this is a matter for politicians.”
“I don’t support proportional representation or non-proportional representation,” he added.
“I support what the MPs agree upon, which should serve Muslims and Christians in Lebanon,” he stated.
“I will avoid talking about politics from now one,” he concluded.
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