Lebanon has a right to sovereignty, says Patriarch Sfeir

7 March, 2005

On the eve of his departure to Washington Patriarch Sfeir demands
respect for United Nations resolutions. Armenian bishops call for a
government of national unity to implement agreements.

Beirut (AsiaNews) Ã¢~@~S For Maronite Patriarch Card Nassrallah Sfeir
Syria has an obligation to implement the Taef Agreement and respect
United Nations Resolution 1559, which is based on it. At the same
time, the countryÃ¢~@~Ys Armenian bishops call for the formation of a
government of national unity.

The Patriarch spoke to AsiaNews on the eve of his departure for
Washington. He refused to give an opinion on the speech delivered by
Syrian President Bachar al-Asad, in which a redeployment of Syrian
troops was announced, but reiterated the principle that Lebanon has
the right to Ã¢~@~independence, sovereignty and freedom so that its
people might live like other peoplesÃ¢~@~].

Cardinal Sfeir denied having said that his country might reach a
bilateral agreement with Israel. Instead, Ã¢~@~Lebanon,Ã¢~@~] he said,
Ã¢~@~will be last Arab country to sign [a deal] with IsraelÃ¢~@~].

Speaking about his coming meeting with US President George W. Bush,
the Patriarch noted that it was at the PresidentÃ¢~@~Ys invitation.

And as for Hezbollah disarming, he insisted that it was not up to him
but to those involved.

Yesterday, Patriarch Sfeir received a delegation from the OPDS
charitable organisation at the Bkerke shrine. The delegation was
headed by Fr Elie Madi, who was accompanied by its general director
Ms Faten Nseir.

They illustrated the results of their organisationÃ¢~@~Ys campaign in
favour of tsunami victims in Asia and told the Patriarch that they
were devolving Ã¢~BÂ¬ 20,000 (US$ 27,000) to the cause through the
United Nations.

Armenian bishops, but also Catholic and Orthodox bishops, appealed to
political leaders to form a government of national unity capable of
restarting economic development and respecting agreements, especially
the Taef Agreement.

At the end of their meeting on Saturday at the Orthodox eparchy
(diocese) in Zkak el-BlatÃ‚Â (Beirut), the bishops released a statement
on the Lebanese situation. They reiterated that only peace, concord
and dialogue can lead the county out of the current crisis. They
urged all Lebanese and all people of good will to join together to
reach the much desired peace.

Former Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz, who is a member of the
opposition, told AsiaNews that Patriarch Nassrallah SfeirÃ¢~@~Ys visit
to the United States was an historic event, similar to that of
Patriarch Elias Houeik to France in 1920, which founded Lebanon. He
is convinced that the PatriarchÃ¢~@~Ys visit to Washington will lead
to the birth of a new Lebanon, one that is sovereign, independent and
free from foreign interference. (Y.H)

–Boundary_(ID_5eqsoRVi4TP3WFnxlQxI8w)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress