Patriarch al-Rahi to Connely: Lebanon is Independent, It Makes Its Own Decisions

Local Editor

Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi left Beirut on Thursday afternoon, heading to Jordan on top of a senior bishop delegation.

Speaking to media representatives at International Rafik Hariri Airport, al-Rahi answered a question saying that Lebanon is an independent, free and sovereign country whose government decides what it deems suitable for the country's interest.

Al-Rahi made his remarks in light of the US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly's recent call on the Lebanese authorities to provide protection for the members of the rebel Free Syrian Army who flee to Lebanon.

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour had rejected Connelly's call, saying on Thursday that "Lebanon cannot heed such a request; it rather acts according to its interest, security situation and capabilities." In an interview with al-Manar TV, he further explained "we cannot provide support to armed elements stationed in the Lebanese territory."

Furthermore, al-Rahi stressed his support to the Arab spring, and not to what he called the Arab auomn, especially that Arab youths' problems cannot be resolved through weapons, whereby violence only brings about violence without attaining fruitful results.

As such, Rahi called for resolving all standing problems through dialogue, agreement and settlements, indicating that no one can annul the other.
The patriarch is scheduled to travel to Qatar after his Jordan trip. He is expected to return to Lebanon on March 13.

Opening up his pastoral visit, Rahi visited Saint Charbel Church in Telal Sabaa area in National Amman Park, whereby he received a wide popular reception organized by Royal Divan in cooperation with Religious Tourism Activation Body in Jordan.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org