Lebanon 'Spiritual Summit' Aims to Push Reconciliation

Lebanon 'Spiritual Summit' Aims to Push Reconciliation

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24/06/2008 A summit between Muslim and Christian religious leaders, under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman, was held at Baabda Presidential Palace on Tuesday in a bid to boost national reconciliation. "This gathering is a message to the Lebanese and the whole world that our country is built on morals and values, and politicians must act accordingly," President Suleiman told Muslim and Christian dignitaries at Baabda palace, adding that this meeting was a national and human need because it is a model for dialogue between cultures and religions. "I hope this summit will lay down the basis of a national dialogue aimed at consolidating the unity of the country," he said. Suleiman, who organized the meeting, told delegates that "differences between Lebanese have led them to the brink of suicide" and called for dialogue "before it is too late." "If one faction is suffering in Lebanon, the whole country suffers along with it," Suleiman pointed out, calling at the same time for the establishment of the government as soon as possible, "for it reflects the Lebanese aspiration for a better future, even if this requires making compromises before it’s too late." Those attending the meeting represented most of Lebanon's 18 religious communities. They called on all politicians to commit themselves to using high political and moral standards while speaking in order to prevent further political crises. The Spiritual Summit stressed on the respect of Lebanon’s diversity, which is its distinctive mark, so that the country can remain a place for freedom and dialogue, and can hold on to the constitutional principles as agreed upon in the Taif Agreement. In the same context, it stressed on the Lebanese holding to their national unity, to their country’s model of diversity and communal living, and to their awareness of this model’s importance. They condemned the violence which rocked the country and stressed the need to adhere to the Doha accord which "prohibits recourse to weapons to achieve political objectives." They called for the liberation of remaining territory occupied by Israel, referring in particular to the Shebaa Farms in South Lebanon.