27 December 2010

BEIRUT: Christian religious leaders warned against dangers to Lebanon’s stability amid rising tensions over the tribunal investigating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination during Christmas sermons over the weekend.

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said the Lebanese should follow in the footsteps of President Michel Sleiman and stand united to preserve their country as challenges and dangers loom on the horizon.

“No one ignores the challenges Lebanon has witnessed in the past and those it is currently enduring as well as difficulties lying ahead,” Sfeir said, adding that Lebanon’s soil has long been blended with the blood of martyrs that have fallen.

“You [Sleiman] are giving your best for the nation’s ship to reach the port safely and we pray to God that your efforts succeed despite all difficulties … similarly the Lebanese, under your wise guidance, should unite to save their country.”

Beirut Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Audi called on Lebanese political parties to calmly await the outcome of investigations carried out by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), urging them to resort to legal debate to resolve their disputes.

“When will stability reign and when will we live in peace and security away from parties trading accusations and warning against strife?” Audi asked.

“Doesn’t everyone claim that they want the truth … why then fight to abolish it?” He asked. “Why don’t we wait for the outcome of investigations calmly and patiently and resort to legal debate to resolve our dispute rather than resort to provocations that could spark fire.”

With the STL indictment widely expected to implicate its members in the 2005 Hariri assassination, Hizbullah has condemned the UN-backed tribunal as an “Israeli project” aimed at dealing a blow to the resistance.

Many fear that if the STL issues its indictment against Hizbullah members, violence will erupt between supporters of the Future Movement and Hizbullah.

In reference to Hizbullah and its allies, Audi criticized the obstruction of government meetings in an attempt to force a certain political agenda concerning STL-related controversies.

“In civilized countries, political parties bicker ideologically to serve the interest of their country,” said Audi. “But did it ever occur that a case, irrespective of how just and righteous it is, paralyzes the government’s work and that of the country?” the bishop asked.

Hizbullah and its allies insist that the issue of “false witnesses” be settled before ministerial discussions take place on any other topic.

The March 8 coalition demands that “false witnesses,” whom they accuse of misleading the UN probe in 2005, be referred to Lebanon’s highest court, the Judicial Council, but the March 14 coalition say the witnesses ought to be tried by the regular judiciary.

The March 14 alliance fears that the investigation of “false witnesses” by the Judicial Council would eventually block the work of the STL.

“We have heard the Cabinet’s agenda contained 300 topics. Doesn’t this mean the people’s needs are frozen?” Audi said.

Beirut Maronite Bishop Boulos Matar also warned that no substitute to Lebanon’s current model of coexistence would exist if the country collapses.

Matar received Iranian Ambassador Ghazanfar Roknabadi Saturday, who passed on good wishes for Christmas.

Lebanon’s top three officials, lawmakers, ministers and representatives of political parties have conveyed season’s greetings to Christian religious figures during phone calls over the weekend.

Sleiman, who attended the mass celebrated by Sfeir in Bkirki, also held closed-door talks with the patriarch and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt paid a quick visit to Bkirki.

Meanwhile, Future Movement parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora congratulated Sidon and Deir al-Qamar Greek Melkite Catholic Bishop Elie Haddad and Maronite Bishop Elias Nassar during a visit to the city’s dioceses.

Siniora said the Lebanese people’s interests should not be tied to political demands as he called on parties to resume ministerial discussions away from pre-imposed conditions.

Siniora added that the foundations of any Arab-brokered solution to the political deadlock should stem from efforts to accomplish justice.

Sidon MP Bahia Hariri and a number of Future Movement officials visited Haddad and Nassar to pass on their good wishes on the occasion of Christmas.

Several Sidon Amal Movement officials offered season’s greetings to the city’s Christian figures on behalf of Speaker Nabih Berri, while Hizbullah officials passed good wishes to a number of Christian figures in Mount Lebanon and south Lebanon. – The Daily Star

Copyright The Daily Star 2010.