Jumblat Meets al-Rahi: We Hope Maronite Meetings Will Lead to Comprehensive National Dialogue

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hoped on Thursday that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi would succeed in uniting Maronite ranks in Lebanon.

He said after meeting with al-Rahi and former Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Diman: “We hope that this step would be followed by a comprehensive and constructive national dialogue” that would include all parties in Lebanon.

The talks also addressed al-Rahi’s upcoming visit to the Shouf region, as well as local and regional developments.

An agreement was reached to fortify the internal scene against suffering any repercussions from the developments in the Arab world.

The Maronite Patriarchate had hosted a few meetings for prominent Maronite political leaders in an attempt to settle disputes among them.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea had stated earlier this week that he would “think twice” before attending another of the meetings, hinting at his distrust of some of the other participants.