Beirut (AsiaNews) - "They [Lebanese politicians] take orders from abroad" and lack independence. The country's salvation lies in national unity and "loyalty to Lebanon," Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai said at a meeting with journalists in which he did not mince words about the country's situation and future prospects from the point of view of the search for the common good.
The "country is paralyzed because it has been linked to [foreign] alliances," the patriarch explained. Instead, it "must play its leading role in the Arab environment, especially since the Arabs say that they need Lebanon."
Speaking a week after an attempt was made to kill lawmaker Butros Harb, Mgr Rai noted that the root cause of political assassinations is the same.
"This is the result of the absence of loyalty to the state and the proliferation of arms with large quantities everywhere held by the Palestinians, Hezbollah, parties, militias and people." Sadly, "all those who carried out the assassinations enjoyed political cover," he said.
"Lebanon is a country that is its own entity and" has "its value among all world states. Therefore, loyalty to Lebanon is required in the first place. Lebanon needs to be friendly with all states. We do not have any interest in being hostile to any state," Rai added.
"Lebanon is open to all the world without being subservient to anyone." For this reason, it should "be declared a neutral country whereby it does not get involved in the policy of regional or international axes, but is committed to all Arab and [. . .] international issues."
"The Lebanese must unite and declare their allegiance to the state. No one has the right to impose his opinion on the other," Rai said. "We live in a democratic country and we will not accept dictatorship." (PD)