Bkirki Sources: Al-Rahi Asked Ban to Announce Lebanon a Neutral State
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has suggested to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to announce Lebanon as a neutral country, Bkirki sources told the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa daily on Sunday.
The sources said that al-Rahi made the proposal during his visit to New York last month. He allegedly asked for U.N. assistance to achieve this objective which serves the stability of Lebanon and the region.
The suggestion complements another proposal made by President Michel Suleiman to transform Lebanon into a permanent center of dialogue between cultures and civilizations, al-Anbaa said.
“The positive neutrality that the patriarch is calling for means not to be a follower of any country or regional or international axis,” the sources said.
Al-Rahi celebrated mass in Bkirki on Sunday. In his sermon, he said that if Christians are minorities in the east then they should preserve their identities.
Bkirki’s press office has announced a postponement of the patriarch’s trip to the northern port city of Tripoli that was scheduled to take place on November 12 upon the request of Tripoli and the North Mufti Sheikh Malek al-Shaar.
Al-Shaar is currently in Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.
over 12 years
What a brilliant idea!
"announcing Lebanon a neutral state" will now be on Ban's to-do list along with announcing the end of world hunger, and announcing the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Your excellency, I am in awe!
over 12 years
Yeah what a joke, lebanon neutral with 30 thousand hezbolla rockest and billions of us dollars smuggled for Iran through lebanese banks...i say nuke them from Iran to Syria to Dahia, one by one they will destroyed, the sooner the better
over 12 years
He knows that ASSad is in the frying pan. He is trying to limit political problems as ASSad goes down. His statement is a bit naiive though. ASSad is already planning to unleash terrorists in Lebanon as his only way to lash out for his destruction. Also he knows that M8 and the Hezz totally support ASSad so he is trying to blunt that effect with his title.
This also gives Lebanon the ability to abstain in UN security council when the vote against Syria comes instead of voting no.
over 12 years
Neutral? with hizballah and aoun at the helms???
Your Eminence
Coherence is a virtue. After justifying the behaviour of a Lebanese belligerent faction, it is far more difficult (or is it far less credible?)to claim neutrality for Lebanon.I respectfully Kiss your hand.