Al-Rahi Says Paralyzing Govt. over Bitar Row Harms 'National Partnership'

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi held separate talks Friday with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo.

In his meeting with Aoun, al-Rahi lauded “the Lebanese Army’s efforts to preserve the security of the country and citizens” and its “measures to prevent all kinds of smuggling.”

And during his talks with Grillo, the patriarch reiterated his stance on the parliamentary and presidential elections, stressing that they must be held on time in a “free and impartial manner.”

He also emphasized the need for the government to “resume its work in a normal fashion,” underlining that “it is unacceptable to put obstacles in its way or to involve it in matter that it has nothing to do with and has no jurisdiction over, such as the issue of Judge (Tarek) Bitar, the thing that is harming national partnership.”

The Ambassador for her part expressed her support for the patriarch’s stances, reaffirming France’s stances towards Lebanon.