Gemayel: Lebanon's salvation lies in adherence to the Baabda declaration

Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel called Monday on Lebanese political factions to let go of set conditions and counter-conditions so as to facilitate the formation of a cabinet capable of facing Lebanon's upcoming challenges the soonest possible.            

Gemayel added that the new cabinet should provide a strong political cover for security and judicial institutions noting that governmental void threatens the upcoming presidential entitlements.             

During a press conference held following a meeting for the party's politburo in Bikfaya, Gemayel called on politicians, bloc leaders, and officials to bear the responsibility of the country's current stage, adding that "Lebanon's salvation lies within its adherence to the Baabda declaration."          

On another note, Gemayel said the incidents taking place in Syria's Maaloula are worrying, stressing that a political solution for the Syrian crisis should be sought in the framework of the Geneva II peace conference.            

Earlier, Gemayel met with the US Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale, urging him to take advantage of the US' position in order to prevent infringements upon the Christian community in Syria and the region, reiterating his call to release the two kidnapped Syrian bishops.        

The two Syrian bishops, who were kidnapped by gunmen on Monday April 22nd, are still missing, church sources in Damascus and Aleppo said, contradicting a report that the men had been freed. Pope Francis urged the release of the two Aleppian bishops, 2 days after their disappearance.                          

They have been identified as Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo and Alexandria Boulos Yaziji, and Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo Yuhanna Ibrahim.                            

This as fears rise over the status of Christians and other minority groups in Syria.

Syrian troops launched an attack Monday on hills overlooking a Christian-majority village near the capital Damascus, two days after rebel forces captured the ancient community, an activist group said.        

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighters from the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Qalamon Liberation Front still control Maaloula, an ancient village that is home to two of the oldest surviving monasteries in Syria. Rebels captured the village on Saturday the 7th of April.