Pietton to Visit al-Rahi Amid French Disappointment with his Remarks
French ambassador Denis Pietton unveiled on Wednesday that Paris was disappointed with the statements made by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi following talks with top French officials.
In remarks to AlKalima Online website, Pietton said that the officials were “surprised and disappointed” with the remarks of al-Rahi who linked the fate of Hizbullah’s arms to the liberation of the remaining Israeli-occupied Lebanese territories.
The patriarch also expressed fear on the fate of Christians in Syria if the Muslim Brotherhood rose to power. He called for giving Syrian President Bashar Assad the chance to introduce reform.
Al-Rahi’s “statement did not reflect the stance of French authorities regardless of the patriarch’s personal point of view and his way of thinking,” Pietton said.
He also unveiled that he would visit the patriarch soon upon the request of French authorities to inquire him about his statements.
The dispute that erupted among Lebanese parties over his remarks, led to “unsatisfactory expectations among the Lebanese, particularly that they see the patriarchate as a moral authority in addition to being a political and religious” authority, the ambassador added.
Pietton stressed to the website that following talks with Premier Najib Miqati he didn’t describe al-Rahi’s visit to Paris as “successful.” He said the trip was “important.”
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