Al-Rahi Warns against Vacuum and Turning Lebanon to Statelets

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged the authorities on Saturday not to allow arms smuggling and prevent the use of Lebanese territories as bases to attack Syria, warning against attempts to push Lebanon to a national crisis in search for a huge change that includes turning it into statelets.

“We urge the authorities to make sure that arms are not smuggled and that Lebanese territories are not used to transfer them to Syria or that its land is not used for bases of defense or attack,” Al-Rahi said in his Easter message.

“We reject vacuum in our political system,” he said in a strongly-worded statement. “We call for a responsible cabinet and an effective parliament.”

Al-Rahi warned “against pushing to a national crisis in search for a huge change by turning Lebanon into statelets.”

He urged the Lebanese to agree on change within the framework of the constitution and the state's institutions.

He said the Lebanese will not tolerate politicians who work for their personal and sectarian interests, a move that is paralyzing the institutions due to the power struggle that leads to several problems including the proliferation of arms.

Al-Rahi said a procrastination on an agreement on the new cabinet to salvage the country from political and sectarian divisions and economic downturn will also not be tolerated.

“The citizens will not accept the extension of the parliament's tenure … which goes against the democratic rotation of power,” he added.

The patriarch criticized the politicians who make public claims on the electoral law despite a different reality.

“Everyone rejects the 1960 law in public but seeks to keep it,” he said.

Al-Rahi has totally rejected the law urging the rival blocs to agree on a draft-law that provides a fair representation for all the Lebanese. But their failure to reach consensus on a new law will likely lead to the postponement of the polls that are set to be held on June 9 and the extension of parliament's term.

The resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's cabinet has worsened the crisis, with each side setting its conditions on the new government.

Al-Rahi urged President Michel Suleiman, who has taken the constitutional oath, to assume his full responsibilities and said all parties should cooperate with him at this sensitive stage.

“Lebanon only rises through dialogue,” he said, adding that dialogue should become a permanent authority that deals with essential patriotic issues at times of crises.

His Easter message had also an appeal on ending the violence in neighboring Syria.

“The bickering parties in Syria … who are killing dozens of innocent civilians daily should throw away their arms and money sent to them from abroad,” he said.

“The region's countries should welcome the Syrian refugees and coordinate their assistance inside and outside Syria,” he added.