Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi believes that "there is no salvation for Lebanon except through the management of its citizens, and national unity is the guarantee of their future. No matter how many external initiatives there are, they remain insufficient for achieving salvation if the Lebanese do not commit to the supreme interest of their country and overcome their personal and factional disputes."
During a speech at a regular meeting in Diman, held by the National Thought Forum, Al-Rahi emphasized that "the entry point to solving the current severe crisis is the election of a president of the republic according to the democratic mechanisms established in our political system, away from all disputes, challenges, and obstruction," noting that "this crisis has revealed the central importance of the presidency, confirming that it is effectively the constitutional head without which the institutional body cannot function, despite all discussions about the decline in its constitutional powers."
He also warned about "the seriousness of the international stance regarding the Syrian displaced individuals and their presence in Lebanon," stating: "It is very regrettable and strange that almost all countries adhere to this stance, as evidenced by their reliance on a unified discourse that links the humanitarian solution, which guarantees the return of the displaced to Syria, with the stalled political solution."
He revealed that he is following "this critical file" through correspondence with officials abroad and ongoing meetings with ambassadors, adding: "However, their responses to our inquiries are strange and regrettable."
Al-Rahi concluded by saying: "Our internal divisions have led Lebanon to its current miserable state, creating an unprecedented situation in the world, where a country exists without a president. These divisions highlight our lack of national responsibility, which justifies the world's abandonment of its responsibilities towards us."
