Sfeir: I do not hold a grudge for Aoun

Al-Akhbar daily quoted Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir on Thursday as saying that “my resignation was a natural step; I had to hand over responsibility to someone else eventually,” adding “Maronites will not be safe should they stay divided on all matters, as is the case today.”         

Commenting on the contradictory positions within the Maronite sect with regards to his performance as a Patriarch, Sfeir recalled what he failed to come to term with though 20 years have passed since then, saying “they [Aounist protesters] came to me; reproached me, then, I had to move from Bkerke to the Patriarchal headquarter in Diman [...]”      

Asked on the reason behind favoring Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea over other Christian leaders, Sfeir neither confirmed nor denied, answering “for he [Geagea] has undertaken a national responsibility, despite all difficulties; he brings together young people and breathes the spirit of freedom into them, pushing them to free the country.”     

On the other hand, Sfeir denied that he holds any grudge for MP Michel Aoun, saying “I love all the people and I wish the best for everyone.”    

Sfeir stressed that Christians should support both the Sunni and Shia sects, saying “I am not biased to particular people, but some are siding with external parties so I define my position towards them according to their stance on Lebanon.”      

Sfeir added that “I am in no position to give advice to the Shiite sect; I, however, urge them to side with Lebanon rather than with a foreign state.”