by Youssef Hourany

In a press release, the prelates call the former Syrian vice president an important eyewitness. Relations between Syria and Lebanon must be guaranteed. An appeal is made in favour inter-Lebanese dialogue; criticism is reserved for Shiite ministers' decision to stop participating in cabinet.

Beirut (AsiaNews) – "The statements by former Syrian Vice President Khaddam are proof that Syria's policies in Lebanon over the last 30 years were wrong," this according to Maronite bishops' monthly press release. They met yesterday at Bkerke under the chairmanship of Card Nassrallah Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Church.

In the communiqué, the bishops reiterate their support for the work accomplished by the UN commission probing the Hariri assassination. They also value what the former Syrian vice president said as "an eyewitness cut from the same cloth as the other rulers", adding that "we must take into account his role during the years of Syrian occupation of Lebanon".

The release underscored the need to guarantee better relations between Lebanon and Syria "in mutual respect of each other's sovereignty and freedom".

On the domestic front, the Maronite bishops renewed their support for inter-Lebanese dialogue and expressed their objection to the self-suspension undertaken by the Lebanese cabinet's five Shiite ministers from Hassan Nassrallah's Hizbollah and Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal parties. In their opinion, it is "an anti-constitutional attitude" taken after Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government proposed to set up an international tribunal to investigate all terrorist acts carried out in Lebanon since October 2004, from the attack against Druze Minister Marwan Hamade till the latest, which cost the life of Gibran Tueini, member of parliament and editor-in-chief of the al-Nahar newspaper.

Finally, the bishops made an appeal to all Lebanese to back initiatives of solidarity at a time of economic crisis and high levels of unemployment.

It is necessary, they insist, to pursue new social policies that can lead the country out of its current crisis. And hopeful that positive changes can occur in the new year, they reasserted the Church's support for every initiative that favours peace and harmony among all.

• lebanon
• syria
• bkerke
• maronite
• bishops
• press
• release
• united
• nations
• probe
• investigation
• commission
• terrorism
• parliament
• attacks