Sfeir: just like during the civil war, the parties are beginning to arm themselves
by Youssef Hourany
The Patriarch requests that the opposition sit in is moved, which is “suffocating” the Beirut economy. Foreign ministers from seven Sunni countries gather in Pakistan ahead of a summit on the Middle East crises sponsored by Saudi Arabia.
Beirut (AsiaNews) – The political parties race to arm themselves, which recalls the sad years of civil war (1975-1990) – “from which little was learned” - and the need for the opposition to “free” the centre of Beirut, occupied by a sit-in since December 1st which is crippling commercial activity, were at the forefront of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir’s thoughts during his Sunday homily, dedicated to the increasingly critical situation in Lebanon.
The Lebanese crises continue, meanwhile, to also be at the centre of many international interventions. It’s top of the agenda in Pakistan, where foreign ministers from seven Sunni nations have gathered in Islamabad: Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, as well as the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Conferences, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. The main issue under discussion is the elaboration of a working calendar for Arab leaders promoted by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The summit, to which King Abdullah has also invited the Syrian president Assad, will examine conflicts which threaten the region, from the war in Iraq to the Lebanese crises, from the nuclear standoff between Iran and the West to relaunching peace efforts between the Israel and the Palestinians.
The Maronite Patriarch has warned that the danger exists that a worsening of the Lebanese crises will provoke a fresh outbreak of violence. “We find ourselves facing a very serious phenomenon – he said – that is the re-arming of the political groups, as if they were condemned to return to 20 years ago”. “It seems – he added – that we have forgotten that the war brought the country to the brink of destruction and its people to search for elsewhere to live”.
Patriarch Sfeir, who presided over mass in the Patriarchate church of Bkerke before faithful drawn from across the country appealed to all those in positions of responsibility to redouble their efforts in finding ways to help the country free itself from the “prison of violence”.
Sfeir the went on to criticise all those who “suffocate” the weak economy with their sit-in- promoted by the opposition- in the heart of the capital, “which has forced many Lebanese to fire employees, because of the closure of the commercial centre of Beirut”. “Those who organised it must move it on elsewhere”.
He also appealed to those in charge of education, that the seek to keep the pupils and students away from this destructive climate, calling on all to save this living force, the nation’s true wealth and hope for the future.
Concluding the Patriarch urged that during the Lenten season that there a solid gestures of solidarity towards those most in need.
.png)
See also
