Muslim-Christian Summit Rejects Foreign Influence, Domestic Arms

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

An Islamic-Christian summit held Thursday at Dar al-Fatwa called on Lebanese parties to stop relying on foreign influence to empower themselves domestically, as it rejected the proliferation of arms in the country under the excuse of self-defense against jihadist groups.

The summit also stressed the importance of dialogue for preserving pluralism and addressing disputes.

According to the closing statement, the conferees also decided to “form a joint Muslim-Christian delegation to discuss … the violation of Arab Christians' rights with the Arab religious and political authorities.”

The spiritual leaders called for “consolidating the pillars of the state and its institutions instead of paralyzing it,” stressing commitment to “coexistence, national unity, the state and its constitutions institutions.”

Tensions have been running high in Lebanon since a deadly incursion into the Bekaa border town of Arsal by Syria-based jihadists in early August. The militants took hostage several dozen soldiers and policemen during clashes with the Lebanese army in and around the town.

Jihadists from the Islamic State have so far executed two of the hostages while al-Nusra Front has killed a third, causing deep anger and anxiety in Lebanon and leading to a backlash against Syrian refugees in some places.

Turning to the thorny issue of Syrian refugees, the conferees noted that "Lebanon is performing its humanitarian duties towards the refugees, but it cannot bear the burden of a community whose numbers are equivalent to more than a third of its own population."

They urged the Arab and international communities to "share the responsibility."

There are more than 1.1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, which has just four million citizens.

Commenting on the stalled presidential election in Lebanon, the spiritual leaders warned that "delaying the election of the only Christian head of state in the Arab world prevents Lebanon from performing its noble message."

"Lebanon needs a president who enjoys a vision and the wisdom required to lead the Lebanese," the conferees said.

They also called on the parliament to "carry out its constitutional duty and elect a new president ... who would reflect the country's unity and sovereignty and safeguard its security and stability."

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended. Several presidential elections sessions have been held at parliament, but the blocs have failed to elect his successor due to ongoing disputes between the March 8 and 14 camps.

The disagreement has also led to bickering over holding legislative sessions given the presidential vacuum.

Y.R.

Comments 24
Default-user-icon dehablo (Guest) 25 September 2014, 16:49

you too

Default-user-icon aka (Guest) 25 September 2014, 16:53

yup rejecting rejecting foreign influence and domestic arms is boring, even down right heretical to every hezballah propagandist pretending to be Christian.

Missing .samy.. 25 September 2014, 17:18

They don't want to embarrass Ft and company, the most famous genii humanity has ever known

Default-user-icon CFTC (Guest) 25 September 2014, 18:07

please, the_roar FT can answer for himself and does not need your intervention.

Missing imagine_1979 25 September 2014, 19:02

Roar the magnificant, please share with us ur increadble knowledge..
And please come back to the homeland australia is so far, u would be such a great input...
So finished ur chupachup or not yet man?..

Missing imagine_1979 25 September 2014, 19:34

Nope again i donno, never had the chance to visit australia, but i guess there is nice and bad lebanese everywhere... Anyway don't really care about east sidney (nor yemen, nor irak, nor zoulfikar, nor senile supreme iranian revolution leadder) was only telling u that u are missed home, people like u are a reall loss to the country...
Come back man, and no bad use of chupachups man, 3eb...

Missing .samy.. 25 September 2014, 17:55

FT is the leader of the pack which includes you.
I do not debate idiots like you. Never did, never will. You guys are on the loose, you should be locked in mental hospitals
The trash of the world you are.

Missing .samy.. 25 September 2014, 18:15

why you keep confusing everything with my Nusra friends

Thumb thepatriot 26 September 2014, 15:35

Ya roar... Bashar/Hezb/Nosrah/isil/Daesh/ are all equally evil...you like one of them, you like'em all!
We do not!

Thumb liberty 25 September 2014, 18:37

the only doll we see is yours, loser! Stop fantasizing about iceman. He is a winner and you are a loser, lebpatriot, the_roar, wolf, etc etc. Did you post today less than 200 comments? Now who would post so many comments unless he has no life and nothing to do.

Missing .samy.. 25 September 2014, 18:41

so true liberty

Missing imagine_1979 25 September 2014, 19:00

Wawou phenician roar always amazing..
I think assir would fit in that one, as for geagea he has been calling against self defence comities in case the don't put this on al manar/sana....
But plus one for ur participation
U win an orange chupachup, enjoy man

Missing imagine_1979 25 September 2014, 19:06

Well they will say they blew 50mirkava (yes mirkavas; u know they'll find a way to put it in some speach...)and that tousands deads, billions lost, economy...all that stuff is not important because of the cause (u know the cause of the senile bearded guy in iran; the cause....
Anw they should enjoy some chupachups, relax, and figure we that we are living in the 21st century... I guess..

Missing imagine_1979 25 September 2014, 19:31

Never went to australia roar, sorry... Anyway don't be sad after all, all the guys who donnot agree with ur graeat vidsions are takfiri/zionist/ksa/neo nazi/imperialist and live in west sidney...
Roar donnot abuse chupachups, and please come back home, ur wosdome will be our light... General is becoming very old and u are even better than bassilo, please donnot leave us alone...

Thumb chrisrushlau 25 September 2014, 21:50

Did the conference come out for "one person, one vote" so that the Shia majority could exercise power in accord with its actual numbers in Lebanon?

Thumb Loubnani 25 September 2014, 22:22

You again. You just don't get it do you? We are trying to aim for a secular nation and you and American douche comes here and lectures us on democracy with a sectarian comment. I've told you before and I'll tell you again. No one knows anything about Lebanon's religious demography ever since our last census 80 years ago so how can you Mr Rushlau come up with stupid claims like that.

Such an idiot

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 27 September 2014, 20:19

Yes for one person one vote. Yes for the naturalization of children of Lebanese mothers. Yes for a strong bill of rights. Yes for a strong Judiciary. Yes to democracy and no to sectarianism.

Thumb nickjames 25 September 2014, 22:54

Geagea is armed by Nusra hahahahahahhahahahaha Roar you ought to be a comedian

Thumb Elemental 25 September 2014, 23:24

NPD at it's finest yet again, no point in debating with someone who has zero ties to Lebanon either. Let's all go and get involved in Australian politics since we have nothing to do with it.

Thumb Tony.Farris 26 September 2014, 00:17

@ASSad_roar Different avatar same scumbag...
@lebpatriot0008, speaking of insecure, try liquid Chupa Chups...

Default-user-icon Clint (Guest) 26 September 2014, 02:21

it is a message for you The Boar.We reject foreign influence.Go back to Syria Mokhabarat!!!

Default-user-icon Craig Abraham (Guest) 26 September 2014, 07:24

I just don't understand all the hatred for fellow mento men and children of a differing religious belief. Why kill innocent people over a simple matter as praying?
W

Default-user-icon dehablo (Guest) 26 September 2014, 12:44

it is someone like you defacto

Thumb thepatriot 26 September 2014, 15:36

Aoun President of Deir el salib!