Sfeir for a Cabinet that Meets the People”s Aspirations
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir voiced hope on Friday that the new government would respond to the Lebanese people”s demands, and that no one would hamper its work.
"First, we thank God that we now have a president," Sfeir said. "We hope that the new government will embrace all Lebanese parties and respond to people”s needs. We also hope that no one will interfere to impede its activities."
"We hope that the Lebanese of all sects will remain united because Lebanon is the example of peaceful coexistence," he said. "We ask God to help us all uplift Lebanon."
Sfeir met on Friday with Italian Ambassador Gabriel Checchia to discuss the latest developments in the country.
Checchia said that he hoped that the new government would be established soon on the basis of the agreement reached by Lebanese leaders in Doha earlier this month.
"The formation of the new government is a pure Lebanese matter," he said. "Italy supports Lebanese consensus [on the formation of the government], but if complications arise, we and our partners in the EU, the international community and the Arab League, may see what those complications are."
"But at first, the government should be a Lebanese accomplishment," he added.