Report: U.S. Not Seeking to Cancel al-Rahi’s Entry Visa
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The State Department does not intend to cancel Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s entry visa to the U.S. over his controversial statements on Hizbullah’s weapons and Syria, As Safir daily reported Monday.
The report came after Ad-Diyar newspaper said Sunday that the Department might cancel the visa to snub al-Rahi for linking the fate of Hizbullah’s arms to the liberation of the remaining occupied Lebanese territories and for saying that Syrian President Bashar Assad should be given the chance to introduce reform.
Ad-Diyar also said that al-Rahi will not meet with top U.S. officials in Washington after he told U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly that he held onto his remarks.
Connelly reportedly told the patriarch that he needed to provide explanations on his statements before setting dates with U.S President Barack Obama and other officials. Al-Rahi snapped back by cancelling his visit to Washington, Ad-Diyar said.
As Safir’s Washington correspondent confirmed that a meeting hasn’t been set with Obama, adding that Bkirki cancelled the Washington stop as part of the patriarch’s pastoral visit after the U.S. administration set meetings between lower-ranking officials and al-Rahi.
The daily confirmed that the U.S. has expressed reservations on his stances.
26 September 2011, 09:17
04
He should not be received by any U.S. official and should be treated as a tourist, something he is very good at doing.
26 September 2011, 10:19
12
No Roy. They should cancel all visa's. He shouldn't be allowed into the u.s. at all. He should be labelled a terrorist and have all Maronite funds and bank accounts frozen for supporting terrorism. Any one who dares not tow the line of U.S. policy should be black listed. U.S.A, U.S.A, U.S.A
26 September 2011, 10:33
14
what a coward this patriarch. let him him go one way to iran.
26 September 2011, 14:21
01
Perhaps it is best if religious leaders stayed away from making political comments that could be perceived by one party or the other as provocative. I am not necessarily against what the Patriarch said but he has inadvertantly caused problems to himself and the maronite church.
26 September 2011, 18:17
01
Just like all lebanese, rahi thinks that the US cares who he is or whom he represents. Keep snubbing as much as you want, you're the one living in a 5th world country and it seems you're happy this way.
No one is going to take his visa away (M8 propaganda).
I simply doubt many Leb-US people would want to hear what he has to say or would welcome him as he is being welcomed in nasrallahland.
If he cancels his trip it won't be under US pressure but because he'll find very few fans to listen to his BS about shebaa, bashar and the rest.
26 September 2011, 18:21
20
the traitor has just laid out the zionist scheme.
whenever you see someone trying to present south lebanese as iranians, it's a signature of zionist information war department.
26 September 2011, 19:24
11
@ thepatriot, you forgot "Moutawate2 ma3 Iran" which = mowaten, he needs to be exported as well.
@ jabal habal, do you know any other word other than Zionist? I doubt it but please learn a new word. You're becoming very predictable.
26 September 2011, 19:33
12
habal kamel, just leave us Lebanese alone and disappear on a one way ticket
to Tehran
26 September 2011, 19:42
12
habal kamel, just leave us Lebanese alone and disappear on a one way ticket
to Tehran
26 September 2011, 19:43
12
habal kamel, just leave us Lebanese alone and disappear on a one way ticket
to Tehran
27 September 2011, 11:49
11
@ Censor: You are pathetic! I always refrain from vulgarity and make my point without refering to abusive language, yet, you censor me constantly...I'm fed up!
