Patriarch Al-Rahi to Australian Officials: I Hand Over Lebanon to You

During the golden jubilee dinner of the Maronite Archdiocese in Australia, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi addressed Australian officials, saying: "I hand over to you the issue of Lebanon, which is a space of freedom and dialogue among civilizations in the volatile Middle East. We want your support for Lebanon in international forums." He asked, "Why is the international community punishing Lebanon? Is it because it opened its doors to Syrian refugees? The international community is required to provide assistance to the displaced in Syria, not in Lebanon." Al-Rahi thanked Australia, both government and people, for welcoming "the sons of the land of the cedars where they have developed their human capacities."