Cardinal Sfeir: Prophetic deeds needed for Lebanon

On the eve of his departure for France, Maronite Patriarch criticises President Lahoud for “tying his fate to that of Syria”.

Beirut (AsiaNews) – On the eve of Easter festivities, Card Nasrallah Sfeir has made a strong appeal to all Lebanese “to assume their responsibility and renew their commitment to bring peace to the entire country and to all social components of society, through prophetic deeds, worthy of the history of the Land of the Cedars, a land made by the Maronites and Lebanese themselves”.

The Patriarch’s appeal was made today after meeting French Ambassador Bernard Emier at Bkerke. Media sources indicated that the two men talked primarily of the Patriarch’s upcoming visit to France, scheduled for May 13-20, in the course of which, he will meet French President Jacques Chirac to renew French commitment to Lebanon, especially to the Maronite Church, a Francophone stronghold in the Middle East.

The Patriarch’s visit to France comes on the heels of his interview with French magazine Le Point in which he reiterated his disquiet vis-à-vis the “weakness of President Lahoud, who can no longer govern”.

He criticised Lahoud for “tying his fate to that of Syria” and reiterated his belief that “as a military man, President Lahoud is never going to resign”.

For some observers, the meeting between Sfeir and Chirac will play a “determining role” in the history of Lebanon and provide an opportunity to both sides to confirm once again the privileged connection France has to Lebanese Christians and Lebanon. The two men are also likely to talk about the future of the current Lebanese president.

According to Lebanon’s press, the US government is fully behind French involvement in finding a solution to Lebanon’s problems.

Others talk about a “Saudi-French” compromise worked out during President Chirac’s last visit to Saudi Arabia where he discussed the Lebanese question with King Abdullah.