by naharnet -- Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday said that it would be unreasonable for the Lebanese to “waste all their sacrifices and martyrs for the sake of domestic caprices and foreign schemes.” “That’s why we invite all Lebanese for a moment of conscience in order to renew recognition of Lebanon as a final homeland, and to translate this recognition into ultimate allegiance to the Lebanese homeland and to an independent, legitimate and free state,” al-Rahi said in his Easter Mass sermon. He lamented that Lebanon has reached the current wretched state of affairs due to “the poor political performance, the lack of maturity in governance and the negativity of political choices.” He added: “How can we celebrate the holidays while half of the Lebanese people are in a state of hunger and some of them are below poverty line? “How can we rejoice while our vibrant manpower is emigrating without looking behind, including university graduates, doctors, engineers and specialists?” al-Rahi wondered.

Saudi FM Warns of 'Dangerous Circumstances' in Lebanon if No Reform

 by Naharnet -- Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has warned that Lebanon will face “dangerous circumstances” if political leaders do not embrace “true reforms.” “Lebanon’s future is in the hands of the Lebanese,” the minister said in English in an interview with CNN. “We hope that the Lebanese and the Lebanese leaderships… will take a real, serious look at the situation that Lebanon is in and come together to embrace true reforms -- political reforms and economic reforms that can address the challenges that Lebanon face and can deliver sustainable solutions for the future,” he added.

He cautioned that “unless the Lebanese political leadership is willing to do that,” he fears that Lebanon will be heading to “ever more dangerous circumstances.” “The status quo in Lebanon is no longer workable,” the minister stressed. “The kingdom doesn’t feel that it is appropriate to continue to subsidize or continue to support the status quo,” he added. Asked about Hizbullah’s role, Prince Faisal lamented that “a non-state actor, Hizbullah, has a de facto rule, veto, over everything that happens in that country and has control over its key infrastructure.” “The political class does very little to address the challenges that the ordinary Lebanese people face, whether it is endemic corruption, mismanagement and all of these things,” he decried. He added: “Lebanon needs a true reform agenda and we hope that the Lebanese politicians can come together to embrace such an agenda. If they do, we will stand there to support them.”

Asked whether PM-designate Saad Hariri can deliver that reform agenda, the Saudi minister said the kingdom is “ready to support a robust and real reform agenda.” “We hope that Saad Hariri and others can deliver that. If we see a real reform agenda from whomever it is in Lebanon, we will stand behind that,” the Saudi minister said. “We are not standing behind individuals in Lebanon. We will be ready to stand behind Lebanon as long as the Lebanese political class take real steps to address the problems that Lebanon faces,” he explained.