Aoun: Levant Christians Not Newcomers, Govt. to Reflect People Aspirations
President Michel Aoun stressed Friday that the Christians of the Levant are not “newcomers to this land,” as he noted that the new Lebanese government will reflect “the people's aspirations and balances.”
Aoun was speaking at the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the Metn town of al-Atshaneh.
“The opening of this patriarchate seat is a response to all the attempts to empty the Levant of some of its components and it is a clear message to those who abducted the dear bishops Youhanna Ibrahim – the son of this church -- and Boulos al-Yazigi,” Aoun said.
He underlined that the Christians of the Levant “are not newcomers to this land” and that “they cannot allow any circumstances or suffering to uproot them from it.”
Turning to the latest wave of terrorism in the region, the president said “Christians during the war of terrorism were the victims of a systematic and organized campaign to uproot them from their countries and roots, especially in Iraq and Syria, and previously in Palestine, amid the silence of the international community.”
As for the domestic situation, Aoun said he will “defend the experience of coexistence, balance and mutual respect among the components of this people.”
“Together with everyone, I will seek the formation of a government that reflects the aspirations and balances of the Lebanese people, a government that presents to the world a bright image about our determination to press on with the project of reviving the country, implementing reforms and transparency, and confronting corruption and corrupts,” the president added.
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