Miqati in Diman for Talks with al-Rahi, Says Dialogue is Essential

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati visited on Wednesday Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi at his summer seat of Diman where he attended part of the meeting of the council of Maronite bishops.

Miqati was accompanied by Caretaker Ministers Hassan Diab, Walid al-Daour and Ahmed Karami and the head of the Council for Development and Reconstruction, Nabil al-Jisr.

The caretaker PM started his visit by attending the meeting of the bishops.

Al-Rahi welcomed him, lauding Miqati on his patience. “We are worried over the fate of the nation at these difficult circumstances,” he said.

The patriarch also expressed regret at the failure to form a new government.

As for Miqati, he thanked al-Rahi for visiting the northern city of Tripoli in the aftermath of two consecutive bombings that targeted two mosques, leaving hundreds of casualties.

“We are going through difficult circumstances in the region but we could definitely confront them … by consolidating the internal front and sticking to the policy of dissociation as adopted by the Baabda Declaration,” he said.

“Dialogue among the Lebanese is essential to resolve controversial issues so that we leave to our children and grandchildren a peaceful nation,” Miqati said.

He later held closed-door talks with al-Rahi after attending a lunch banquet in his honor.

“We should unite and join hands to confront the regional storm,” said Miqati after his meeting with the patriarch.

“In addition to unity, we should hold onto the dissociation policy and not involve the Lebanese in issues not connected to them,” he told reporters.

“I still urge everyone to keep themselves at a distance from Syria's crisis,” Miqati added.