Phalange: We Will Raise our Voice against Conspiracy against Christians

The Phalange Party hailed on Monday the release of the Maalula nuns, stressing the importance of restoring the Syrian town to its residents.

Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi stated after the party's weekly politburo meeting: “We will not stand idly by against the conspiracy against the Christians.”

“We will raise awareness over this issue at international meetings,” he declared.

The nuns, from both Syria and Lebanon, were kidnapped from a convent in Maalula in December, as regime and rebel forces battled for control in the surrounding Qalamoun region.

They were released on Sunday in exchange for over 150 prisoners held in Syria.

Commenting on the ongoing dispute over the government policy statement, Qazzi said: “We will not accept anything that contradicts the principles of the March 14 camp.”

“We will adhere to our positions and remain open to any suggestion that achieves the balance between Lebanon's right to resist foreign aggression and its right to a competent state,” he continued.

“The state alone harbors the resistance,” he remarked.

The ongoing dispute over the policy statement is focusing on the wording of how Lebanon can resist Israel.

Hizbullah is insistent that the statement include the “army-people-resistance” equation, while the Mach 14 camp is insistent that it include a reference to the Baabda Declaration.

The panel drafting the statement is scheduled to convene on Tuesday.