Frem from Bkerke: We Must Quickly Seize the Opportunity of Negotiations Because the Danger Facing Lebanon, Its Entity, and Its Model Is Substantial

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi received, in Bkerke, a delegation from Project Watan’s Executive Board, headed by its chairman, MP Neemat Frem.

Following the meeting, Frem explained that the purpose of the visit was to “denounce what happened and to affirm to His Beatitude – this mountain – that our Church grows when it is persecuted, just like its Master, Jesus Christ.”

“We know that when we walk on the right path, persecution increases,” he stated. “That is why His Beatitude said that we must all pray for those who committed this act, so that God may inspire them, and the Holy Spirit may enter their hearts, so they may realize that in this matter, they are the ones losing. They are losing while this Patriarchal See grows stronger. All of Lebanon knows that those who committed this act do not represent Lebanon, because our country is coexistence – a large family that transcends religions.”

He added: “The Spirit of God inspires only goodness. What happened is unacceptable; it did not come from the Spirit of God, but from the spirit of division, the spirit of evil. We all, in Lebanon, must fight this – especially in these delicate moments the country is going through. All of us in Project Watan pray, think, and work to affirm that Lebanon will remain a model. What is happening today in the negotiations means that the entire world is concerned about Lebanon and is watching, saying that we must quickly enter intensive care.”

Frem continued: “We, in Project Watan, are discussing this matter, and our conclusion is that we must move quickly and seize this opportunity, because the danger facing Lebanon, its entity, and its model is substantial. This is why we wanted to discuss this with the Patriarch, who fully understands the situation, who prays, and who supports a swift, deep, and frank movement aimed at saving the entity. 

“We want every inch of Lebanon’s territory to remain part of it, and at the same time, we want coexistence. We want this model to be one of life, not death. Therefore, we must come together around life. The purpose of coexistence is growth, prosperity, and life. This is what we are thinking about today and what we aspire to. In my opinion, we will reach safe shores if good intentions prevail.”

Asked whether this meant that Project Watan supports President Joseph Aoun’s path of negotiations to save the country, he confirmed: “Absolutely and without any doubt. We believe that the path launched by His Excellency the President and the Prime Minister, together with all the living forces in Lebanon and with the Arab and international community, aims to lead us toward stability and a clear, deep truce – and beyond the truce as well.

“If we achieve the goal of stability in Lebanon, then we will become masters of our own destiny, and we will be able to say to everyone, for the first time, that Lebanon alone decides its future.”

Responding to another question, the lawmaker stressed that “axes have brought nothing good to Lebanon” and that “neutrality lies in Lebanon’s stability and in preserving the entity.”

“Every country made up of different sects must work together to build a nation in the fullest sense of the word through a clear national pact. I believe neutrality is the foundation of its success,” he concluded.