NNA – A consultative ministerial meeting chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati was held at the Maronite Patriarchatersquo;s summer residence in Diman on Tuesday, with the participation of 15 government members, namely ministers Bassam Mawalwi, Firas al-Abiad, Abbas Halabi, George Kallas, Youssef Khalil, Georges Bouchikian, Mohammad Wissam Mortada, Abbas Hajj Hassan, Issam Charafeddine, Najla Riachy, George Corm, Ziad Makary, Ali Hamie, Amine Salam and Mostafa Bayram.
quot;The idea of this meeting came spontaneously,quot; said Patriarch Beshara Rahi at the beginning of the meeting. quot;This is not a session for the Council of Ministers, but rather a spontaneous consultative meeting to discuss the overall general affairs,quot; he added.
He continued: quot;The first time the French presidential envoy (Jean-Yves) Le Drian visited me, I told him that what you hear does not express the truth. We are a parliamentary democratic republic and there are two presidential candidates. Let the MPs assume their duty and vote; either a president is elected or not. And in light of the results, a dialogue should be held and an agreement over a third candidate should be reached.quot;
quot;Unfortunately,quot; he said, quot;the country is heading towards chaos, and the state is struggling.quot;
quot;Our meeting today is free and fraternal, and what should be said will be said,quot; he underlined.
For his part, Mikati said the meeting aims to discuss quot;affairs that unite the Lebanese,quot; such as the respect of the Lebanese formula and pluralism.
quot;This is why we wanted to hold this meeting. We wonder at some interpretations of this meeting and the fact that some have considered it a coup against Taif Agreement,quot; he said.
quot;We are ready to be a bridge between all the Lebanese and to engage in a dialogue over all the issues,quot; he added.
quot;The country would not recover if we did not act within the framework of dialogue and rapprochement,quot; he went on saying.
quot;We are ready for rapprochement and for being a bridge of dialogue and fraternity between all the Lebanese,quot; he stressed.
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