Spiritual Summit in Baabda |
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Written by Naharnet, Dailystar | |||
Tuesday, 24 June 2008 | |||
Religious summit expected to back unity, president Daily Star staff BEIRUT: A meeting between Lebanese Muslim and Christian leaders is expected to take place at the Presidential Palace in Baabda on Tuesday. Spiritual leaders, their advisers and members of the Christian-Islamic Dialogue Committee are expected to attend Tuesday's conference, which will be hosted by President Michel Sleiman. "This summit aims at restoring dialogue between the different confessional leaders and religious figures in Lebanon," a source close to the Presidential Palace told The Daily Star. Fiery speeches traded by various religious figures are believed to have fueled clashes between supporters of feuding political groups. According to the source, some skepticism remains concerning the outcome of such a summit: "Others even question the purpose of holding the conference, as it seems useless amid the ongoing dangerous political divisions and the existing tensions that led to civil clashes between partisans to opposite groups." Media reports on Monday said Sleiman first had the idea to organize the summit in the Presidential Palace as he thought it would be "a good idea to reunite all the Lebanese religious parties in a location that represents all the people." Reports quoted Sleiman as saying that Baabda was also the right place to resolve internal disputes as well as the right place to "fight and condemn religious divisions and confessional extremism." According to reports published on Monday, the president will be giving the summit's opening speech, where he will present his expectations from the meeting and his hopes of seeing the country get out of its extended political crisis. The religious figures will then be able to discuss the main items on the agenda of the meeting, which will be compiled by the Christian-Islamic Dialogue Committee members. Reports have said the religious figures will also show their support to the president by trying to discuss ways to free the Israeli-occupied areas of the South as well as the issue of Lebanese held prisoners in foreign countries, namely Syria and Israel. The religious leaders are also expected to work on eliminating the obstacles delaying the formation of a new cabinet. Another issue to be discussed is the internal use of weapons. Reports said that the dignitaries would voice condemnation of the use of arms and "forbid their use to solve internal political quarrels." The summit will stress that security services and constitutional institutions should be "the sole authorities dealing with solving political skirmishes." The attendees reportedly will also call on various media outlets to avoid bias, "which directly contributes to widening the country's division." They also are expected to call on the media to keep away from all kinds of "fiery and violent speeches and promote the concept of national unity." Finally, the religious leaders are expected to express thanks to all the "friendly Arab nations" who contributed to easing Lebanon's political deadlock and six months of a presidential vacuum by organizing the Doha summit which was a first step toward a solution. According to several media reports on Monday, the issue of Hizbullah's weapons will not be discussed during the religious summit "since it is a delicate subject that would be better left for politicians to resolve." - The Daily Star http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=93447 --------------------------------------------------------------- Spiritual Summit Likely to Support Unity A summit between Muslim and Christian religious leaders, under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman, began at Baabda Palace on Tuesday. Lebanese spiritual leaders, their advisers and members of the Christian-Islamic Dialogue Committee attended the meeting which started at 11 am. "This summit aims at restoring dialogue between the different confessional leaders and religious figures in Lebanon," The Daily Star quoted a source close to the Presidential Palace as saying. Suleiman has reportedly called for the summit in an effort to reunite all Lebanese religious parties in the wake of the extended political crisis. Use of arms as well as ways to free the Israeli-occupied areas of south Lebanon and the issue of Lebanese detainees held in foreign countries were reportedly on the summit agenda. The participants were expected to condemn the use of arms and "forbid their use to settle internal political quarrels." They are also expected to work on eliminating the obstacles facing the new cabinet line-up. News reports said the summit will also stress that security services and constitutional institutions should be "the sole authorities dealing with solving political conflicts." The summit is also likely to urge the various media outlets to avoid bias, "which directly contributes to widening the country's division." It is expected to call on the media to avoid all kinds of "fiery and violent speeches and promote the concept of national unity." Beirut, 24 Jun 08, 11:07 http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/92DB66F9396577D0C2257472003191BD?OpenDocument --------------------------------------------------------------- Muslim-Christian Summit in Baabda June 24 A summit of Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders is expected to take place at the presidential Palace in Baabda June 24 as part of the reconciliation process. Meanwhile, President Michel Suleiman's political advisor Nazem Khoury was busy finalizing invitations to Lebanon's main Christian and Muslim religious leaders. News reports said Khoury visited Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani on Monday in order to invite him to the spiritual summit. Beirut, 17 Jun 08, 12:02 http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/newsdesk.nsf/0/D470BB83C32B6F2CC225746B003126DA?OpenDocument
Tuesday, 24 June 2008 13:36 The final statement of the Spiritual Summit: The final statement of the Spiritual Summit
Mohammed Sammak, secretary general of the committee for Christian-Islamic dialogue, delivering the final statement of the Spiritual Summit: 13:17 Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Speaker Nabih Berri have arrived at the Baabda presidential palace. 12:24 President Michel Sleiman from the spiritual summit in Baabda: President Michel Sleiman from the spiritual summit in Baabda
12:15 Religious summit begins in Baabda. 12:01 MP Samir Jisr to NTV:
11:34 The heads of various religious sects have started arriving at the Baabda presidential palace to participate in the spiritual summit. 10:48 An explosion was heard in the area separating Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, which could have been caused by unexploded ordinance left over from recent clashes in the region. 10:42 Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel to the Future News Channel:
10:13 MP Robert Ghanem to LBC Television:
09:14 MP Antoine Zahra to the Voice of Lebanon radio station:
08:47 MP Boutros Harb to the Voice of Lebanon radio station: Speaker Nabih Berri will not call for a session on adopting the electoral law, which cannot be passed quickly because it needs to be discussed thoroughly in order to improve the agreement and reassure the Christians over the divisions of some districts. 08:36 Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Fatfat to the Voice of Lebanon radio station:
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 June 2008 ) |
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