President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, visited the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, in Bkerke. They discussed the general situation in Lebanon.
Makhzoumi stated that His Beatitude’s positions were honorable, clear, and unequivocal, affirming that they stood by and supported him. He expressed surprise at the “lack of firmness” characterizing some political positions. He noted that His Beatitude had raised the issues of neutrality and internationalization, stressing that they had no objection to positive neutrality, particularly since Lebanon is a member of the Arab League. He emphasized that neutrality did not mean normalizing relations with Israel or abandoning the Palestinian cause, and that His Beatitude had made no statements to that effect.
Regarding internationalization, Makhzoumi said they were surprised by the reactions to this proposal. He pointed out that Lebanon’s problems had always been resolved under international auspices, as witnessed in 1840, 1860, 1918, 1920, 1936, 1943, 1958, 1969, and 1976, as well as during the period from 2004 to 2008. He attributed this to the political class’s unwillingness to work in Lebanon’s best interests.
He asked: “Isn’t the French initiative a form of internationalization? What about the European and international response following the Beirut Port explosion? And before all that, what about the CEDRE conference and Paris I, II, and III? Why, then, is there a campaign against internationalization today?”
He continued: “Every 15 to 20 years, one segment of the Lebanese population uses the power of weapons and its international connections to exert pressure on other groups and impose its authority over Lebanon.” He added that the country could not be governed this way, stressing the need for all Lebanese to coexist and safeguard everyone’s rights.
Regarding the Taif Agreement, Makhzoumi emphasized the need to implement it, noting that some politicians had applied it selectively to serve their own interests.
Makhzoumi reiterated his insistence on forming a government, rejecting any government whose members belonged to the corrupt establishment responsible for the country’s destruction, the dollar’s rise to 10,000 Lebanese pounds, and the worsening economic, social, living, and health conditions.
He called for the formation of a government composed entirely of independent figures, from the Prime Minister to the ministers, capable of restoring the confidence of the Lebanese people, the international community, and expatriates, who have always been among the country’s foremost supporters and contributors to its economy.