A Syrian diplomatic source said Damascus has appreciated the stance taken by Lebanon at the meeting of the Arab foreign ministers in Cairo last Saturday.

The source told al-Joumhouria daily published on Thursday that the Lebanese position expressed the common vision of the two countries.

Four days after Lebanon voted against an Arab League decision to suspend Syria’s membership, the role that Premier Najib Miqati played in that decision was still unclear.

Diplomatic and ministerial sources said in remarks to several dailies on Wednesday that Miqati told Saudi Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah during a phone conversation that Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour “violated his instructions” and voted against the Arab League measure.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Tuesday the need for cooperation with the Russian Church in order to preserve the Christian presence in the Middle East.

He said after holding talks with Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill: “Christians should play an active role in the region as it has always done throughout history, since the time of Christ.”

Speaker Nabih Berri stated that the Arab League decision on Syria can be modified in order to avoid any negative repercussions it may create.

He told al-Joumhouriya newspaper in remarks published on Monday that he fears that Lebanon may incur the consequences of the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership.

Cabinet is scheduled to hold two sessions this week, one on Tuesday and another on Wednesday, reported the daily An Nahar on Monday.

It is expected to tackle the draft parliamentary electoral law and the restoration of nationality to Lebanese living aboard during its Wednesday session, which will be held at the Baabda Palace.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati urged on Sunday all political leaderships to cooperate with the repeated calls to resume the contacts, whether through national dialogue or answering the people’s inquiries over the country’s future.

He said: “This government places Lebanon’s interest above all else and it does not seek to take uncalculated risks or exploit the Syrian refugees’ plight.”

France is keen that Lebanon state its clear position on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, whether it is positive or negative, revealed French diplomatic sources to the daily al-Mustaqbal Sunday.

They added that the ties between the two countries will remain the same until Lebanon reveals its stance on the tribunal.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Sunday that Lebanon did not oppose the decisions of the Arab League, saying that it refuses the isolation of any country.

He said: “I call on Syrian President Bashar Assad to implement the Arab League initiative.”

In an unprecedented initiative, President Michel Suleiman is scheduled to address the nation on the eve of Lebanon’s 68th independence anniversary from the citadel of Rashaya in the town of Rashaya al-Wadi.

An Nahar daily said Saturday that around 100 political, social and spiritual personalities are expected to attend the ceremony inside the citadel on November 21.

Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill arrives in Beirut on Sunday accompanied by Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch and All The East for talks with top political and religious officials.

The two patriarchs and their accompanying delegation are scheduled to visit the St. George Cathedral in Beirut to meet with Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Awdeh.