FPM, LF Entrust Al-Rahi with Declaration of Intent: Not Seeking New Political Affiliations
The Free Patriotic Movement and Lebanese Forces handed over to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi a copy of the so-called declaration of intent between the two parties for his review.
FPM lawmaker Ibrahim Kanaan and LF official Melhem Riachi stressed after talks with al-Rahi in Bkirki that the declaration isn't targeting any side but merely to bridge the gap between Christians.
Change and Reform bloc MP Kanaan clarified that the agreement represents a “new page and hope for Christians.”
“We are not creating new affiliations,” Kanaan told reporters, pointing out that the FPM and the LF are seeking to generalize the declaration and implement it.
He noted that “al-Rahi is the sole guarantee and sponsor for to the declaration.”
For his part, Riachi remarked that the social fabric is united again and the “virtual wall that separates the two parties collapsed.”
He considered that “positive and fruitful dialogue will take place from now on.”
On Tuesday, LF leader Samir Geagea held a landmark meeting with FPM chief MP Michel Aoun after which a joint document was announced.
In the so-called declaration of intent, the two parties called for the election of “a strong president who is embraced by his (Christian) community and capable of reassuring the other components of the country.”
Since independence, Lebanon's leadership posts have been distributed among its largest religious sects: Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims and Christians, for whom the presidency is reserved.
Kanaan and Riachi had held a series of meetings in recent months to prepare for the joint declaration.
The rival camps have failed to elect a successor to president Michel Suleiman although around 24 parliamentary sessions have been held for this purpose. A boycott by the MPs of Hizbullah and Aoun's Change and Reform bloc have stripped the sessions of the two-thirds quorum required to hold a presidential vote.
H.K.
D.A.
06 June 2015, 13:12
02
No news could herald more joy and hope for people like me. The LF and the FPM, their leaders and cadres must be commended for a bold and courageous step in the right direction. Already the positive vibes are being felt in society, even business has picked up after this joint declaration. Of course, doubters there will be, but who could blame them after all these years. However it is said, better late than never. As of now, let both parties have a joint committee that sits regularly to trash out everything between the two parties. This is a solid move in the right direction, now let's all join hands to work out what is best for Lebanon, starting from us Christians, we cannot, must not and should not be pawns in the hands of anyone anymore.
06 June 2015, 14:18
05
pity this nation where politics need to involve religion... all hand in hand to better rule this nation and brainwash their sheep... religious people would have no power if politics did not give them importance and vice versa.... both choke the lebanese people who are happy not to breathe...
i spit on all of them, they make me want to puke... i guess Lebanon has the rulers it deserves as everyone seem happy to be ruled by hypocrits and thieves, clerics included!...
we are stuck in the middle ages and proud of it it seems....
06 June 2015, 14:26
50
Patriarch al Rahi closed the brief meeting by leading the assembled guests in a prayer that God would swiftly and decisively destroy the Shia majority of the Lebanese population so as to make Article 24 of the Constitution, which reserves half of Parliament for the Christian minority, no longer necessary. al Rahi told God in his guests' presence, "May your grace let us no longer regard law and reason as the enemies of faith, by destroying the Shia majority which makes Article 24 necessary."
06 June 2015, 15:21
04
Chris, I am sure that God must be telling you now to kneel and ask for forgiveness, forgiveness for another racist, sectarian and utterly useless remark, lest I say more, now kneel and confess because once again you used vital cyber space to say nothing in truth. Yalla, kneel.
06 June 2015, 16:05
04
riachi can at least dress up decently and not look like the hezbo thugs
