Bkerke’s Christian-Muslim meeting: we must protect national unity from region's incidents

The Christian-Muslim consultative meeting held in Bkerke on Sunday, hosted by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, called for immunizing national unity in Lebanon and protecting it from the repercussions of the incidents sweeping through the region.         

The participants regretted the current political schism, stressing that Lebanon can face dangers only through dialogue and national responsibility.           

The meeting stressed the necessity to resort to constitutional institutions for settling disputes, to rely on the LAF to solve security issues, to promote national unity among all Lebanese and to consider the state as a source of strength for all Lebanese.            

Participants tackled the transformations that have rocked the Arab region, stressing the people’s right to choose their own fate. They voiced their fear that reaching the rule of law in these societies takes a long time, hoping that the Arab family sticks together in solidarity and diversity.           

The meeting started with a welcoming address by Patriarch Rai who stressed the importance of dialogue to settle all disputes that can occur given the latest updates both on the domestic and regional scenes, in order to preserve the unity of Lebanon and the Lebanese.               

LBCI knew that during the meeting, participants had different points of view regarding the Syrian issue; the participants refused the suggestion of Druze religious leader Sheikh el Aql Naim Hassan to amend the statement.                 

Among the meeting’s participants, Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, the Druze religious leader, Sheikh el Aql Naim Hassan, the vice-president of the Lebanese Higher Islamic Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan, head of the Alawite Council, Sheikh Assad Assi, Titular Bishop of Melitene of the Armenians, Jean Teyrouz representing His Beatitude Nerces Bedros XIX, Archbishop Alexis Mufarrej representing Archbishop Elias Aoude of the Greek Orthodox Church, Latin Apostolic Deputy bishop Boulos Dahdah as well as members of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee.