Lebanese must guard Lebanon “the way we protect our homes”

 

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir chastised some ministers Tuesday for being “moody in practicing their duties” and criticized the continuing closure of Parliament. “I regret how we are fighting each other when we need to support one another to preserve our country,” Sfeir said.

 

On Tuesday Sfeir continued to receive political and social figures and delegations who flocked to Bkirki to show solidarity with the patriarch after scathing criticism of him by opposition leader and former Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh last week.

 

During an interview last Wednesday, Franjieh, who heads the Marada Movement, lashed out at Sfeir, describing him as an employee of the American and French diplomatic missions. Franjieh also urged the patriarch to resign.

 

Sfeir stressed the need to protect the country “the way we protect our homes,” saying that the Lebanese “are going through miserable days as we are living the toughest experience ever.”

 

“We have faith in our God and country,” Sfeir said. “Our story is big and long.”

 

The UN secretary general”s representative in Lebanon, Geir Pedersen, said after meeting Sfeir Tuesday that the UN “will always stand by Lebanon.”

 

“During my farewell visit to the patriarch, we discussed the political and security developments in the country and ways to resolve the ongoing crisis as obstacles are obstructing the implementation of the Arab League initiative [aimed at ending the country”s power struggle],” Pedersen said.

 

Asked if the UN Security Council would issue a new resolution regarding the situation in Lebanon, Pedersen said: “It depends on the council”s members. There is nothing so far.”

 

Sfeir also met on Tuesday with the head of the Higher Judicial Council, Judge Antoine Kheir, for talks on the general and judicial situation in the country. No comments were released after the meeting.