Hariri Wants Presidency to Remain Christian
Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri said at the end of his three-day visit to Britain that the president of Lebanon should remain Christian to strengthen coexistence.
"The president should remain Christian because we believe that Lebanon”s characteristic and strength is in not differentiating between its Christians and Muslims. As the late Pope John Paul II has said, Lebanon is a message and not just a country. The message is that Christians and Muslims should live together and there is no problem if they govern each other," Hariri said during a lecture at Chatham House on Wednesday.
He reiterated that the June 7 parliamentary elections are historic, adding that they will decide the future of the country.
"The polls are aimed at protecting Lebanon that we believe is a moderate, advanced and tolerant country whose problems are solved peacefully," the MP said.
About the results of the elections, the Mustaqbal leader said: "If we win, we look forward to form a harmonious government … In case we don”t win, we will be in the opposition."
He called for taking advantage of Lebanon”s economic strengths and said providing new job opportunities for the Lebanese is a priority.
"We will run in the parliamentary elections based on an economic and social program of reform that seeks to deal with the outstanding challenges that our economy faces," Hariri said.
About the nomination of a Syrian ambassador to Lebanon, Hariri said: "There is finally an ambassador and a Syrian embassy in Lebanon."
He also stressed that he is not against U.S.-Syrian dialogue because "dialogue is necessary" in such a tense region.