Azzi to LBC: We hope Rai integral speech be published

The vice-president of the Kataeb party Sejaan Azzi told Nharkom Said TV show that the latest stances taken by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai in Paris caught him off-guard.

“As a Maronite, it is my duty and my right to voice my opinion regarding Rai’s remarks regardless of my political affiliation”, Azzi added.

Azzi urged Rai to publish the integral text of his speech so that the Lebanese political parties would be able to determine their position, adding that he will not get into a heated debate with the patriarch over this issue.

“The Lebanese presidency is strengthened when the patriarch supports the president and not the other way around”, Azzi added.  

Azzi described as acceptable Rai’s statements on the fears voiced by the Christians in Syria. Azzi stressed that he is concerned Rai’s remarks on Hezbollah’s weapons will be echoed in President Michel Sleiman’s address to the UN General Assembly.

On the visit paid by the Head of the Kataeb party Amin Gemayel to Saudi Arabia, Azzi said: “Gemayel’s visit is purely political since Saudi Arabia is the only Islamic Arab country endorsing moderate regimes and open to the Western world”.

Azzi added that the visit aims at looking into KSA’s new evaluation of Lebanon’s and the Arab world’s situation.