Bukhari Hosts Raï: Emphasis on Extension

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï, following his meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari, responded to a question about the extension of Army Commander Joseph Aoun by stating, "We pray for this intention." Media representative at Bkerke, Walid Ghayad, disclosed that "Bukhari conveyed the Kingdom's support for Raï's positions, especially those expressed in his sermons." He noted that "Bukhari mentioned that the Kingdom and the quintet committee are concerned about the vacancy in the leadership of the army and hope that the MPs will fulfill their duties to prevent this vacancy." Ghayad further reported that "Raï spoke of the necessity of extending the Army Commander's term from a national perspective and in light of the importance of the presidency," pointing out that "Raï senses a conspiracy brewing regarding the extension of the Army Commander, has doubts, and is waiting for intentions to become clear. He warns against interpreting the issue and portraying it as a Maronite-Maronite conflict and calls for not hiding behind this portrayal, recognizing that the political game is no longer honorable."