Lebanese Cardinal Blames Corruption for Lebanon's Current Dire Situation

Nasrallah Pierre Cardinal Sfeir

Function: Patriarch of Antiochia, Lebanon

Title: Cardinal Bishop, No titular church

Birthdate: May 15, 1920	Country: Lebanon

Elevated: Nov 26, 1994	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

Send a text about this cardinal »

View all articles about this cardinal »

Lebanese Cardinal Blames Corruption for Lebanon's Current Dire Situation
Dec 26, 2005
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir on Thursday blamed corruption for Lebanon's current dire state of affairs. "Corruption has gotten us to this situation," the Prelate said, following a meeting with local and foreign officials.

(Daily Star, 12-22-2005) Beirut -- Sfeir had been visited by a delegation from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, led by politburo member in Lebanon Ali Faisal, for a discussion on the ongoing internal Palestinian dialogue.

Following the meeting, the delegation issued a statement asserting there were many "pressing issues that can be solved by a decision from the Lebanese government, mainly opening a Palestinian Embassy" in Beirut.

The delegation also voiced its rejection of the "blatant U.S., European and Israeli interventions in the legislative elections (in Palestine), as they contradict democratic principles and are a blatant intervention in Palestine's internal affairs."

Separately, former MP Tammam Salam said the current government headed by Premier Fouad Siniora is "doing its best."

Salam's comments came after a meeting with Archbishop of Beirut Elias Aoude, and in response to MP Michel Aoun's demand the Cabinet resign and be reformed under the leadership of MP Saad Hariri.

The former MP also credited Speaker Nabih Berri with "playing a very great role" in the ongoing attempts to resolve the row within the Cabinet.

Noting the Cabinet's sessions are being boycotted by the Hizbullah and Amal bloc representatives, and President Emile Lahoud's refusal to chair a session until their return, Salam admitted: "The situation is uncomfortable and disturbing," adding, "The country is exposed on the security level."

26 READERS ONLINE

INDEX

back to the first page

printer-friendly

CARDINALS

in alphabetical order

ARTICLES