Bkirki Summit Backs Presidency, Says No One Has Right to Change Lebanon Identity
Maronite leaders and lawmakers gathered in Bkirki stressed Wednesday that “no one has the right to create a new identity for Lebanon,” as they threw their support behind the presidency.
The summit was held following an invitation from Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
In the closing statement, the conferees rejected “anything that harms the balance of constitutional institutions and the powers of each of them, topped by the Presidency.”
“The meeting has a national aspect,” the statement said.
“Lebanon should not be isolated from its Arab region and international partners,” it added.
Turning to the stalled cabinet formation process, the conferees called for “speeding up the formation of the government according to the Constitution” and for “cooperation with the President and the PM-designate.”
“We condemn the Israeli violations and reject any attempt to naturalize Palestinian refugees in Lebanon,” they added, while emphasizing that Syrian refugees should “safely return” to their country.
The conferees also pledged to confront the “alarming challenges” through forming a follow-up committee.
The meeting had kicked off with an opening speech by al-Rahi.
Media reports said Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil called during the meeting for “strengthening the presidential post and the president's camp.”
Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh hit back, saying he backs strengthening the presidency but rejects that the president and the Free Patriotic Movement be granted a one-third veto power in Cabinet.
“You want 11 ministers to defend your own interests and not those of Christians,” Franjieh was quoted as saying.
MP Ziad Aswad of the FPM lashed out at Franjieh at this point.
“Why don't we have the right to create new norms, like others are doing, which would give influence for the president, seeing as the others are not giving us our rights,” Aswad said.
According to media reports, most of the interventions tackled the importance of the presidential post and the participants emphasized that “preserving the state requires adherence to the constitution and the Taef Accord.”
Before the meeting began, caretaker Social Affairs Minister Pierre Bou Assi told an MTV reporter that the meeting was an opportunity to discuss the “unsound” situation in the country in light of a “serious political crisis.”
“We came to Bkirki today with the aim of reviving the constitutional and political institutions. Adhering to the constitution and the state’s institutions in practice are the only means to achieve that,” added Bou Assi.
The meeting brought 33 officials, out of 36 invited, together. It was held in the absence of Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and MP Sethrida Geagea, who are outside the country, and MP Jean Obeid who cited “personal” reasons.
Source: Naharnet
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