Rahi Urges Declaration of Lebanon as ‘Neutral Country,’ to Visit Iraq in November
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged on Monday the United Nations to declare Lebanon as a neutral country during his visit to the U.S., As Safir newspaper reported.
The patriarch noted that he means by it “the positive neutrality, whereby (Lebanon) isn’t subordinate to any country or regional or international axes.”
“However, it also means that we are still committed to the Arab and humanitarian causes,” a-Rahi said.
He described Islam in the region as “moderate.”
Al-Rahi said that he will begin a three-day visit to Iraq on November 1 for the annual memorial of the attacks that targeted the Our Lady of Salvation Church in 2010, adding that he will meet with spiritual and official figures to discuss the fate of Christians there.
Militants had stormed the church in central Baghdad, killing 44 worshippers, two priests and seven security force personnel in an attack claimed by al-Qaida's local affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq.
The Patriarch ends a pastoral visit to the U.S. on Monday after Washington cancelled his meetings with high-ranking officials, including U.S. President Barack Obama, due to controversial statements by al-Rahi in Paris.
He had told the international community that Syrian President Bashar Assad should have been given further time to implement reforms, warning that Sunni extremists could possibly take power if Assad’s regime collapses.
Al-Rahi also tied the disarmament of Hizbullah to the withdrawal of Israel from all Lebanese occupied territories.
over 12 years
An idea many have strived for before, but the pro Iran and Syria parties will never accept it unfortunately.
Neutrality is Lebanon's only hope.
over 12 years
if this happens, it will the best idea coming from our religious figures.
if you support neutrality, hit the thumbs up !
over 12 years
why did my comment get deleted... i didn;t say anything negative.
but yes i am for the "neutral" idea
over 12 years
very bright old idea.... i salute the late raymond edde, the father of neutral bilad el arz.
monseigneur rahi is learning very fast. he is even passing the rock of lebanon monseigneur sfeir.
over 12 years
Great idea, we're all for it...
over 12 years
I hope that Sayyed Hassan tonight tells this man that the matters of war and peace should be left to the competent people in charge ie our glorious Resistance.
Neutrality is not an option and it will never be and neither are the divine Resistance's arms. Even if the Zionists withdraw from all Lebanese and Arab occupied territories. we will never be disarmed.
Stop lying to yourself and to the people.
over 12 years
this is an old dream that has always been thwarted by the syro/iranians.
you will now see the comments of these thugs against it, because it means their weapons have no reason to exist in this context :)
over 12 years
who? Al Rahi? he is the one who was against civil marriage!
now that is a brilliant idea...