The Maronite League expressed its support for the proposals of Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Raï in his address to the Lebanese on Saturday, affirming its backing for his "rescue efforts aimed at pulling Lebanon out of its existential crisis."
In a statement today, it said: "His Eminence's words came after existential dangers to Lebanon, which have placed all of us as Lebanese in front of a tragic reality that politicians have been unable to confront or address, even in terms of meeting and dialogue to derive solutions without an intermediary, overseer, or guardian. They acknowledged that the resolution of Lebanese crises is no longer in their hands but in the hands of others. Thus, His Eminence's message stemmed from his historical responsibility to safeguard Lebanon and its people."
The statement added: "Patriarch Raï's message was comprehensive, explaining the concept of neutrality and the international conference, clarifying that they do not target any Lebanese component. It also reiterated the need for national unity under the umbrella of the constitutional constants and Lebanese law, and cohabitation."
The League considered Patriarch Raï's words affirmed that the Taif Agreement has not been implemented in text and practice and that the remaining points of the agreement have remained on paper, reiterating the urgent need to expedite the formation of the new government, which should be accompanied by a program for political, economic, and social reform, along with a mechanism to manage Lebanese administration and combat corruption and its system.
It pointed out that the issue of Syrian refugees was not overlooked in His Eminence's speech, as the file remains pressing without a solution, and it must be addressed internationally by lifting the "veto" on the safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, after the war has ended there.
The League recalled that it "has always stood by Bkerke and what it represents as a spiritual position and a national site since its inception, and it has never faltered in this role."
It concluded: "Cardinal Raï is a national figure and a significant spiritual leader, above all divisions, and on this basis, we consider his words to be a unifying Lebanese conscience that beats with love for Lebanon and the interests of its people."
