Inter-Christian Reconciliation Moving Slowly
The Christian-Christian reconciliation is proceeding at a slow pace. Despite the efforts of religious and non-religious leaders to bring Christian parties together and find common grounds, the reconciliation is still at a preliminary stage.
Informed sources told An Nahar daily that discussions have failed to set up a clear reconciliation agenda and were instead concentrating on national subjects and post elections phase.
Sources close to Marada movement said secret meetings held between the different Christian parties before the June parliamentary elections were to ensure the elections took place peacefully and calmly. "These meeting have succeeded in maintaining calm among Marada and Lebanese Forces supporters who live in common villages in north Lebanon," they added.
"The Maronite League has a planned agenda; however, it has not launched a serious reconciliation yet," the sources added. "The party”s (Marada”s) priority is reconciliation among partisans," they said, "conditions for personal reconciliation will need more time."
Informed sources close to the Lebanese Forces said inter-Christian agreement was a cornerstone as reconciliations between the Progressive Socialist Party and Mustaqbal movement on one hand and Amal and Hizbullah on the other were taking place. "We have to overcome our past and look together at the future," they added.
Sources said the LF offered concessions and was ready to conclude reconciliation prior to elections; nonetheless, Marada movement leader Suleiman Franjieh wished to take things slowly. The same sources denied any serious talks on this matter.
Some fear tensions between President Michel Suleiman and MP Franjieh have hindered reconciliation, a process to take place under the patronage of the head of state.
LF sources said their party was on good terms with MP Michel Aoun; thus, no reconciliation was required. "Every party has its own projects and visions and differences can be solved democratically and in a civilized way," they added.
Sources denied any efforts to set up a meeting between Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Free Patriotic Movement leader Aoun.