Chamoun will boycott Bkirki meeting if they involve politics

National Liberal Party leader MP Dori Chamoun told LBC television that he will boycott the meetings held at Bkirki’s Maronite Patriarchate “if they are related to political affairs.”

“I will not attend the meetings in Bkirki if they evolve around the drafting of a new electoral law or political matters,” the MP said (more…)

Patriarch Rai claims his statements were taken out of context

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai said on Tuesday during a visit to the Metn town of Al-Arbaniyya that his recent ( controversial) statements were taken out of context and that the patriarchate “cannot relinquish any party and does not want to eliminate or marginalize any party, because Lebanon needs all its citizens, parties and sects.” (more…)

Lebanon Patriarch headed to Paris

Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai headed on to Paris for an official visit.

During his visit , Rai is expected to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and will hold talks pertaining to the developments in Lebanon and in the Middle East, National News Agency reported. (more…)

Maronite patriarchate’s secretary Toq dies from a heart attack

Voice of Lebanon reported that Maronite patriarchate’s secretary, Monsignor Youssef Toq passed away. He died from a heart attack and will be buried at his hometown of Besharri in northern Lebanon on Saturday. (more…)

March 14: Lassa incident proves why Hezbollah arms should be only issue at dialogue talks

March 14 has interpreted the recent attacks against a Maronite League delegation and MTV film crew at the town of Lassa as the early signs of Hezbollah’s dominance over the new majority, the An Nahar newspaper quoted Thursday informed sources as saying. (more…)

Deal reached between Bkirki and Hezbollah over Lassa land dispute

A meeting was held at Bkirki on Wednesday, was chaired by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai and was attended by Hezbollah officials Ghaleb Abu Zainab and Hassan al-Moqdad and members of a follow up committee MTV reported. (more…)

Patriarch Rai: THe Lebanese president should have more power

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai said on Monday that the 1989 Taif Agreement “is not a holy document that descended from heaven.”

After holding talks with Change and Reform bloc MP Nematallah Abi Nasr he said: “We don’t mind change and if we needed a new agreement, then why not.”

“We all accepted the Taif, but the agreement has flaws and needs to be reformed,” Rai was quoted by the National News Agency as saying. (more…)

Bkirrki: Will Geagea shake hands with Aoun, Franjieh?

Bkirki sources revealed on Sunday that Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai is determined to gather all the Christian Maronite leaders under one roof on Tuesday even though he knows that achieving reconciliation between all of them is along shot . The maximum he can aspire to is to isolate the Christian unity from political differences . (more…)

Rai to reconcile Christian leaders next week, report

LBC TV reported that a Christian reconciliation meeting is scheduled to be held in Bkirki next week and will include Lebanese Forces leader leader Samir Geagea, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, former Lebanese president and current Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel and Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, (more…)

Rai, Sfeir at Baabda palace with Lebanese president

Lebanon’s newly-elected Maronite Patriarch Beshara Boutros al-Rai had a closed door meeting at the Baabda palace with President Michel Suleiman . After the meeting the president invited hosted a lunch in his honor (more…)