Patriarch Sfeir from New York Calls for Efforts to Help Lebanon

     

New York- Neharnet — Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has told the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council that Lebanon is in dire need of a president and stressed the necessity of non-interference in the country’s internal affairs. “All our constitutional institutions should be active and efficient.

The election of a president is a pressing need and has to remain a top priority,” Sfeir said Thursday in the New York residence of Lebanon’s U.N. ambassador Nawaf Salam. “Parliament should open its doors…Cabinet is suffering from the boycott of a major sect because this sect feels that its voice hasn’t been heard,” the Patriarch read from a memorandum that he delivered to the ambassadors.

In an indirect reference to Syria and Iran, which the pro-government camp accuses of meddling in Lebanon’s internal affairs, Sfeir expressed hope that the world body would urge “its members to facilitate the work of the Lebanese government.” “We have to be reassured that neighboring countries would not attack Lebanon, invade it or violate its sovereignty,” Sfeir said.

He also said Israel should end its violation of Lebanese airspace. Sfeir said the issue of the Shabaa farms area should be solved, the Lebanese-Syrian border demarcated, and diplomatic relations set up between Beirut and Damascus. He urged the implementation of all Security Council resolutions on Lebanon.

The cleric arrived in New York from South Africa where he made an eight-day visit. He also met with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the presence of special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen at the U.N. headquarters.