Beirut (AsiaNews) – The capacity to dialogue must be found, if Lebanon is to have any hope. During mass yesterday in Bkerke, the Maronite Patriarch Nassrallah Sfeir once again launched a strong appeal to all parties to return to dialogue, stigmatizing the fact that it has become the norm to argue about everything: “We create polemics over what is legal and what is not, over appointments to public services, to the government and ministries”, “over who holds what post and how to replace outgoing officials”. Moreover, he added “we fight over the international inquest. Should it be instituted under Charter VI or VII?” of the UN charter that is based on a national accord or on norms which provide for the use of force against international threats to peace.
Regarding this, there is great anticipation in Beirut – but little hope – for the out come of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s visit to Damascus, which should have a s one of it’s central themes the institution of an international tribunal to try those responsible for the political murders in Lebanon, starting with that of the ex premier Raffic Hariri.
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, Patrirach Sfeir returned to the worrying effect that current negative trends are having on the community, which sees its energetic and pacific forces drained by emigration. “This all adds to the populations’ desperation, they need new hope” and “foreign leaders who come to visit us no longer know how to help us regain a normal and acceptable life”.