Khazen: Al-Rai’s Dialogue with Hizbullah Won’t Stop, to Visit Syria When Security Situation Improves
He carried his cross and walked on the path of Jesus Christ.
It is the wisdom of those who know the beginning and predict the ends.
For him, the right word in arid political fields is based on his conscience and religious duty.
A year at the head of the Antioch and the East churches, Patriarch Mar Bshara Peter aL-Rai scored major turns at the Lebanese church's stances.
And in the midst of regional and international changes, al-Rai's national speeches were in the heart of political debate along the past year.
Love, Partnership Pastoral Message:
Since the moment of nominating him at the head of the Antioch and the East churches, i.e. on the 25th of March 2011, al-Rai took the words of "love" and "partnership" as a title for his pastoral message.
The historical moment constituted a turning point in Lebanon's messianic role.
According to the President of the General Maronite Council, former Minister Wadih Khazen, "since the first moment, the head of Bkirki sought to gather the Christian poles on one table."
In an interview with "moaqawama.org", Khazen recalled how al-Rai contacted various Christian rivals and gathered them on one table under the slogan: "a Christian convergence paves the way for a national Lebanese unity." Al-Rai's major concern is to fortify the domestic arena," the former minister clarified highlighting that "al-Rai had asked the Republic's Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Qabbani to hold the recent religious Christian-Islamic summit to stress national cohesion."
Good Relation with Hizbullah
From the Christian window of dialogue, Patriarch al-Rai opened a track in front of all Lebanese sides among which is Hizbullah.
"No problem exists with the resistance's weapons that are defending the Land until an alternative is found," Rai confirmed.
Hizbullah officials clearly read the massage and towards Bkirki they moved their compass of dialogue.
"Al-Rai is convinced with dialogue as the only weapon at the internal front," Khazen confirmed pointing out that "Hizbullah is the representative of a wide Lebanese fraction and is greatly present in the Lebanese political equation."
In this context, he reiterated that "the Islamic-Christian committee led by Hareth Shhab resulted in successive meetings with Hizbullah officials."
"These meetings comforted both Bkirki and Haret Hreik," Khazen added stating that "from this point emerged the Patriarch's stance concerning the resistance's arms."
From Egypt, Jordan and France al-Rai clearly emphasized that "before asking the resistance to deliver its weapons, the international community must pressure "Israel" to withdraw from Lebanese lands and to sop breaching Lebanese sovereignty."
The Patriarch's stances angered US and its Lebanese "March 14" allies. However, al-Rai's position from the "Arab Autumn" and the Syrian crisis formed a major slap to those betting on Bkirki's history of backing the west.
"Al-Rai's views aren't based on political positions, but rather on national Lebanese and Christian interests," he confirmed noting that "the dialogue with Hizbullah will continue."
In his response to moqawama.org question on the scenario of a pole meeting between the Secretary General of Hizbullah His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Patriarch al-Rai, Khazen asserted that "intentions are found, but the security obstacles prevent the historic summit from taking place."
Al-Rai Not to Be affected by Political Campaigns
During the last year, the head of the Maronite church sought to distance his post from domestic political alleys. His major concern was how to achieve a strong Lebanon in face of the stormy regional developments.
In this context, the President of the General Maronite Council neglected a recent "March 14" and particularly head of Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea verbal campaign against Bkirki.
"His Eminence isn't to be affected by political voices from here and there," Khazen responded denying all claims that "al-Rai has diverted from the Lebanese church's histo
ry."
He went on to add that "the best national response to such campaigns was manifested in the popular Lebanese relief all along the Lebanese internal arena."
Khazen recalled some of the most beautiful unity images that al-Rai achieved in his tours to both the Southern and Bekaa Lebanese territories.
The receptions were spontaneous and unexpected, especially in the Shiite areas, where the words of Bkirki's master touched the heart of citizens in the South, the North, and Lebanese mountain.
"Everyone witnessed the special reception that al-Rai received in his tours and we all touched the positive consequences of these tours on the ground," he added informing that "al-Rai is to visit Canada and Northern American countries next month."
"The Patriarch will visit neighboring Syria as soon as the security situation improves;" the former minister unveiled pointing out that "al-Rai is in daily contact with Christian spiritual leaders in Syria."
"Al-Rai continuously calls all Syrian parts to halt bloodshed and to return to the political dialogue because Syria's stability is on top of all other calculations. However, his stance is based on the stances of the Syrian Christian Parishes," Khazen added.
After a year, it seems that al-Rai's stances found a new Lebanese Christian equation to confront all regional and international waves of challenge: "Openness is the guarantee, dialogue is the mean, and stability is the aim."
Source: moqawama.org
