Sfeir is Against a Hariri Visit to Damascus, Believes Syria Doesn”t View Lebanon Independent
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has reportedly told visiting MP George Adwan that he was against a visit by PM-designate Saad Hariri to Syria because he believes Damascus does not view Lebanon an independent state.
As Safir daily on Monday said Sfeir vehemently criticized "conditions and counter conditions on cabinet formation."
The newspaper also quoted the patriarch”s close circles as saying that Bkirki supports those who are against animosity to Syria "but there are some unsolved problems between the two countries."
The major problem, according to the sources, is how Damascus views Beirut. Bkirki believes that Syria still considers Lebanon a country where it could use its influence.
"The patriarch does not care if Hariri”s visit was prior or after the (cabinet) formation … The most important thing is how Syria views Lebanon and if it looks at the two countries as two independent states," the circles told As Safir.
Adwan said after meeting with Sfeir the Lebanese people had the impression that the cabinet was being formed outside Lebanon. A possible Hariri visit to Damascus hasn”t also encouraged the Lebanese, the Lebanese Forces MP told reporters in Bkirki.
"I believe that the prime minister-designate will not make a visit to Syria before (cabinet) formation," Adwan added.