Sfeir Slams Hizbullah’s Arms and Denies Accusations of Bias

Outgoing Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir denied that he had been biased during his 25-year tenure and reiterated that only the Lebanese army should carry arms.

“I support things that I see beneficial to the sect and the nation,” Sfeir told An Nahar daily in an interview published Friday. “I am neither with them nor against them,” he said about the different factions in the country.

Sfeir unveiled that he was worried over bickering among the political leaders of his sect, saying other confessions weren’t divided as much as the Maronites were.

He warned that Lebanon’s independence was in danger because all factions were seeking to govern their country according to their own rules.

They should forget about their personal interests and make “sacrifices for the nation’s independence,” the patriarch added.

Asked about the obstacles facing the government formation process, Sfeir said: “We hope that the cabinet would be formed and the country would become stable … so that the people could live in security, tranquility and peace.”

Denying that he was forced to quit, Sfeir said he would put himself in the service of the new patriarch.

The synod of bishops will begin meetings next Wednesday to elect the new spiritual head for Lebanon's Maronite church.

The meetings are expected to start with several days of spiritual retreat followed by discussions and the election of Lebanon's 77th patriarch. The process may take up to 15 days.

In another interview with al-Mustaqbal newspaper, Sfeir said: “Unfortunately, the Lebanese are divided between March 8 and 14. But as citizens, they should hold onto national principles.”

He advised the Lebanese “to hold onto freedom.”

Sfeir also criticized Hizbullah’s arms saying: “Why do countries have governments?” if other factions would also have weapons.

“It is the job of every government to carry arms alone to defend citizens and the land,” he added.