Lebanon Religious Leaders Stress Need for Dialogue in Joint Call with U.N. Chief
Lebanon's religious leaders met Monday with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his visit to Lebanon.
A joint communique was issued after the talks in which the conferees confirmed their "commitment to openness, tolerance and coexistence as the essence of Lebanon’s identity and stability."
"They stressed the importance of safeguarding these values, which are at the core of faith, especially at this difficult time of grave financial and socioeconomic crisis that is heavily impacting the population," the statement said.
"Participants expressed their determination to focus on what unites Lebanon and brings its people together, and they encouraged their communities to do the same and to adopt dialogue as a means of resolving differences in a spirit of consensus and togetherness," it added.
The participants also emphasized "a shared desire across all religions and confessions to see Lebanon recover and prosper," adding that they are "committed to doing all they can to restore hope to its people."
The meeting also reconfirmed the support of the United Nations to Lebanon in order to "halt the crisis and spare the people from further suffering."
21 December 2021, 00:59
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Hezbullah and thus a majority of Lebanese did not get an invitation.
In its statement, the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council said that the U.S. continues to impose unjust sanctions against Iran, considering that "the decision constitutes an unprecedented attack on religious sanctities and a dangerous and aggressive behavior that provokes Muslims' feelings and violates international laws and norms and religious and cultural values."...Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in a statement that "the rate of insanity and hatred has increased remarkably recently...as the U.S. presidential term approaches its last days, and has directed its blatant hatred in more than one direction."
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Jan 17, 2021 — BEIRUT, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Islamic Shiite Council in Lebanon and Hezbollah both condemned in separate statements on Saturday ...
21 December 2021, 23:11
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Chris Rushlau you ignorant moron, the guy in brown standing on the far left of Guterres is Ali al-Khatib the deputy head of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council. The Supreme Islamic Shiite Council is controlled by Hezbollah and Berri and is the religious representative of the Shiite in Lebanon. The Shiite make up about one third of the total Lebanese population, hardly a majority. Also idiot, update your calendar we are in December 2021!
21 December 2021, 01:10
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Guterres didn't use the meeting to tell the Christian leaders to abandon Article 24. (See National Pact)
Article 24:
Until such time as the Chamber enacts new electoral laws on a non-confessional basis, the distribution of seats shall be according to the following principles:
Equal representation between Christians and Muslims.
Proportional representation among the confessional groups within each of the two religious communities.
Proportional representation among geographic regions.
Exceptionally, and for one time only, the seats that are currently vacant, as well as the new seats that have been established by law, shall be filled by appointment, all at once, and by a two thirds majority of the Government of National Unity. This is to establish equality between Christians and Muslims as stipulated in the Document of National Accord. The electoral laws shall specify the details regarding the implementation of this clause.
21 December 2021, 23:20
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Maybe Guterres should use such meetings to ask the Muslims, who under Syrian armed occupation then Iranian armed occupation by proxy, controlled the country since Taef, why haven't they pushed to implement Article 22:
"With the election of the first Chamber of Deputies on a national, non-confessional basis, a Senate shall be established in which all the religious communities shall be represented. Its authority shall be limited to major national issues."
