Bkirki Delegation Tours Sidon: Extremists a Small Minority, Arms Can't Solve Problems
A delegation from the Maronite patriarchate that toured Sidon on Friday said exremists are only a "small minority" and that they pose a threat to both Christians and Muslims, as former premier Fouad Saniora lauded the Maronite bishops' latest statement that stressed the importance of the army's role in protecting all the Lebanese.
"We met with the governor, the officials, the army and the religious leaders and we tell Sidon that what happened was something that the city did not want and it was not part of its spirit or of the Sidon we know," Bishop Boulos Sayyah, who was accompanied by two bishops, said after meeting with the city's dignitaries.
"We came to offer condolences to the army and to those who lost beloved ones and we urged compensations and aid to those affected by the Abra clashes," Sayyah added.
"We were pleased to see major reconstruction works in Sidon and the most important thing is the spirit that is being promoted by Sidon's figures and restoring the spirit of brotherhood," the bishop went on to say.
Eighteen army troops were killed in fierce clashes with supporters of Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir in Sidon on June 23-24.
At least 20 of Asir's supporters were also killed in the 24 hours of violence, which raised tensions throughout Lebanon and ended with the cleric on the run.
“Problems cannot be solved through weapons but rather through dialogue and we reiterate our support for the army and we hope the army will protect everyone,” Sayyah stressed.
“We must not say that extremism is the dominant current, as it is a small minority,” he added.
For his part, Saniora said after meeting the delegation: “We thank (Maronite) Patriarch (Beshara) al-Rahi for dispatching the bishops and it is a call for moderation, which is the trait of the city of Sidon, the city of coexistence.”
“I laud the latest statement that was issued by the dignified bishops who stressed the importance of coexistence, this feature that was mentioned by the pope who described Lebanon as a message,” Saniora added.
“We salute what was mentioned in the statement about the importance of resorting to the state and we stressed the importance of the role of state institutions and the army, under the law and the constitution, in protecting all the Lebanese,” he went on to say.
Saniora noted that experiences have proved that “only the state can protect the citizen and that illegal arms -- as the bishops' statement mentioned -- will only justify the possession of illegal arms by other groups.”
He underlined that the state has the exclusive right to “possess and use weapons,” adding that the Lebanese “must realize that any dispute will only lead to the destruction of their country.”
“We appreciate the patriarch's dear initiative and God willing the coming days will carry progress in terms of mending the wounds and extending the exclusive authority of the state,” Saniora said.
“We are against all forms of extremism because it is not beneficial at all and we must put an end to this phenomenon and al-Asir was created by Hizbullah's extremism,” he pointed out.
The ex-PM added: “We are keen on the army, which must confront any attack on its troops or on citizens.”
“We demanded a transparent and fair probe into the deadly attack on the army and to determine who allowed Hizbullah to take part in the operation and human rights must be respected,” he said.
After talks with MP Bahia Hariri in Majdelyoun, Sayyah said: “Sidon will emerge stronger from the war and MP Hariri's remarks are encouraging.”
Earlier, Sayyah and the bishops visited a number of Sidon political and religious leaders, accompanied by Maronite Bishop of Sidon and Deir al-Qamar Elias Nassar and a number of governors and security officials.
During a meeting with South Lebanon Governor Nicola Abu Daher, Sayyah said: "Patriarch al-Rahi is giving this issue special attention and is always thinking of the tragedies that happened in this dear region, and he calls for dialogue and for resolving issues in a manner that can reconcile viewpoints," adding that "Sidon will overcome this tragedy the same as it had triumphed over the tragedies of the past."
Later on Friday, Sayyah met with Popular Nasserite Organization chief ex-MP Osama Saad. "We hope that problems will be solved through dialogue, as arms only lead to destruction and violence only breeds violence and we have confidence in ex-MP Saad's efforts," said Sayyah after the meeting.
"Sidon is the city of diversity and it represents together with the neighboring areas the same national position and the residents of Sidon and its surroundings are facing the same challenges," Saad said.
"The political forces and state authorities must take care of and protect the political and religious diversity in the Sidon region," he added.
He called on the political forces to "realize the importance of diversity in Sidon," warning that "any behavior to the contrary would subject the city to grave threats."
"The visit is aimed at backing this approach which is part of the city's national, humanitarian and ethical values and this city has always been a focal point for national unity and for confronting the challenges, especially those created by the Israeli enemy," Saad added.
"It has also been at the center of people's causes and in its struggle for social justice, health care, education and job opportunities," he went on to say.
Saad said Bkirki is "with us in backing the unity of the region's residents in the face of threats and challenges and for the sake of security, stability and prosperity."
In its monthly statement on Wednesday, the Maronite Bishops council condemned the spread of illegal arms in Lebanon, saying that it will only create chaos in the country.
“All armed groups must lay down their weapons in favor of official security forces,” said the statement.
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