Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi received Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday morning at the patriarchal headquarters in Bkirki, where they discussed current affairs and the presidential and governmental entitlements.
After the visit, the Prime Minister made the following statement: "I was pleased this morning to meet with His Eminence, and our conversation focused on the challenges we are facing. I explained to His Eminence the important matter that is on the verge of completion, related to the maritime border demarcation. His Eminence inquired about some details of this agreement, and I told him that despite the strategic importance of this agreement, today I am personally pleased for two reasons: we are avoiding a certain war in the region, and more importantly, when we unite and have a single decision, we can achieve what we all want. Unity is essential in this particular circumstance and must be present for the election of a new president, regardless of the individual or the opinions of each team. We must work diligently to elect a president in this situation."
He added: "We also touched on the matter of forming the government, and I assured His Eminence that I am personally the last person to talk about sectarianism, as I believe in Lebanon, its unity, and state-building. We must avoid discussing any issues today that lead to further fragmentation, and we need to speak in a way that brings all Lebanese closer together rather than distancing them from one another."
