08 August 2011

DEIR AL-QAMAR/SIDON, Lebanon: Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai voiced hopes Sunday that the national dialogue which President Michel Sleiman has called for would develop into a national conference, laying down a “new social contract” between the Lebanese, stemming from the National Pact.

Rai’s remarks came during a visit to the Chouf, one day after he paid a historic visit to Sidon and the surrounding area, 275 years after a head of the Maronite Church last visited the southern coastal city.

Delivering Sunday’s sermon in a church in the town of Deir al-Qamar in the presence of Sleiman, Rai said he was “praying” for the success of the president’s efforts to resume national dialogue among Lebanese leaders.

“We are praying for you to be able to boost national dialogue with leaders of the country … which aims at building confidence among them and among different components of the Lebanese people and to protect Lebanon,” Rai said.

“We hope with your excellency that the national dialogue will turn into a comprehensive national conference, laying down a new social contract stemming from the National Pact and Coexistence formula to cope with the challenges of the Arab world and requirements of globalization,” Rai added.

In July, Sleiman called upon Lebanese leaders to resume national dialogue sessions, stalled since this past year.

But both March 8 and March 14 coalitions have set pre-conditions before rejoining dialogue. The March 14 coalition says that it will only take part if Hezbollah’s arms were the only item on its agenda, while the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition voices its readiness to discuss several issues, aside from the resistance’s arms.

Rai said that the Chouf was pleased with the presence of Sleiman, who recently moved to his summer residence at nearby Beiteddine Palace.

Attending the Mass were Minister of the Displaced Alaaeddine Terro, Taymour Jumblatt, on behalf of his father Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt, and MPs Akram Shehayeb, Elie Aoun, Marwan Hamade, George Adwan and former Culture Minister Naji Bustani.

Chouf MP Dori Chamoun, who is from the town, did not attend the Mass.

The patriarch received a public welcome at the entrance of Deir al-Qamar, the first town that he visited in the Chouf, where locals accompanied him to the church.

Rai’s visit to the Chouf comes exactly 10 years after a similar visit paid by his predecessor, Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir.

Rai later visited the town of Baaqlin. The tour in the Chouf is part of series of pastoral visits which Rai began after his election in March.

Prior to the prayers, Rai held talks with Sleiman at the Beiteddine Palace.

In a mass welcome prepared by Sidon’s municipality and its Maronite diocese Saturday, hundreds braved the hot weather in a fasting day and gathered at the coastal city’s Nejmeh square to welcome Rai. Banners welcoming the patriarch were on display in the city’s streets.

Rai greeted the crowds, comprised of people from Sidon and surrounding villages, before he made his way to the nearby headquarters of Sidon’s municipality. He was welcomed by the city’s figures, led by former Prime Minister and Sidon MP Fouad Siniora, Sidon MP Bahia Hariri, Nabatieh MP Abdel-Latif al-Zein, Zahrani MPs Ali Osseiran and Michel Moussa.

Sidon’s Mayor Mohammad Saudi was also present to welcome the Maronite patriarch.

Saudi delivered a speech in which he said that Rai was behaving in line with his slogan of “partnership and love” which he had announced upon his election. “He is simply the right person in the right place.”

When he spoke after, Rai said that Sidon is a city “of coexistence and great heritage.”

“How beautiful to see Christianity and Islam meeting in Lebanon to adopt one culture, one civilization,” Rai said, wishing the Arab and Muslim world a blessed Ramadan.

Rai praised “martyred politicians” hailing from Sidon, including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and former MP Maarouf Saad along with other deceased figures.

Attendees then walked to Sidon’s Maronite diocese, where Rai led prayers for those in attendance joined by Jezzine MP Ziad Aswad.

At the diocese’s main hall, Rai was welcomed by MP Mohammad Raad, the head of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, former MP Osama Saad and other religious figures.

The patriarch headed to the nearby village of Qrayyeh, where he laid down the corner stone of a residential project funded by the Maronite fund.

Prior to his arrival in Sidon, Rai stopped at the nearby coastal village of Rmeileh where he received a mass welcome as well.

Rai also toured the southern mountainous town of Jezzine and the district’s villages. In Jezzine, Rai stressed that there was no fear of economic, social or political hardship in the district “because the district of Jezzine is an example for coexistence.”

Copyright The Daily Star 2011.