Remove Lahoud from office only in accordance with the law, says Cardinal Sfeir
Beirut (AsiaNews) In a long interview with AsiaNews, Maronite Patriarch spoke about his country's current predicament. For him, Lebanon's President Lahoud's can be removed if it is done in accordance with the constitution and according to legal procedures, but no one should boycott cabinet meetings just because he chairs them. Similarly, Hezbollah should disarm; the international inquiry into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri should continue; and new polls ought to take place as long as election rules are fair. Altogether, he left few issues untouched not least Syria's continued influence in the country.
"Although people gathered last February 14 to commemorate Prime Minister Hariri's death, we cannot agree with all their demands, including those of a political nature," said the 84-year-old Sfeir.
At the helm of the Maronite Church for almost 20 years, the patriarch is against Christian ministers boycotting cabinet meetings when they are chaired by President Lahoud; instead, he wants a solution that is worthy of the high office. Without mentioning his name, he criticised Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea who insists on demanding Christian ministers stay away. According to the patriarch, the latter's February 14 speech was "too knee-jerk and argumentative and I cannot share the views of those who are led by their emotions".
Moreover, he said he was very sorry to see "tensions between members of the Lebanese Forces and the followers of General Michel Aoun." He urged them instead to "learn from the past, from the 1989-1990 clashes that left thousands dead and forced more to emigrate".
In comments about calls for President Lahoud's removal from office, the patriarch reiterated what he said months ago, namely that he was "opposed to actions based on the use of force in violation of the law and the constitution".
He did though acknowledge the need to elect a new president when a general consensus emerges. Never the less, under current circumstances many baulk at the idea of having Lahoud removed.
For the patriarch, "everyone knows what is required. With 18 religious communities in Lebanon, [the new president] must be acceptable to his community for him to be able to preside over the affairs of all communities. He must be a trustworthy man, a man of integrity, one who is willing to sacrifice himself for the country." What is more, the "next president, when he is elected, must be chosen by the Lebanese and must satisfy their aspirations and expectations".
Patriarch Sfeir did not refrain from criticising last year's elections, which were conducted under "unfair" rules in his opinion. Hopefully, he said, "we shall be able to get a more representative electoral law and, perhaps, hold fresh elections in the near future."
Last but not least, the head of the Maronite Church spoke about relations with Syria, wondering whether Syria has actually pulled out of Lebanon given the continued presence of its secret services and its political influence in some parts of the country.
In light of this, he reiterated the need to continue the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and is hopeful that relations between the two countries can improve.
"Mutual respect and disinterested co-operation can renew historical ties between neighbours," he explained.
As for the alliance between Syria, Iran and Hezbollah, Patriarch Sfeir re-stated his position that the latter "should disarm as a matter of principle because no one ought to bear arms even if they claim that their weapons are necessary to fight Israel".
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