Lebanon's Cardinal Supports Government Talks

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

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Lebanon's Cardinal Supports Government Talks
Mar 29, 2006
Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has pledged his "full support" to "any initiative that leads the country out of its current crisis". Speaking on the eve of his departure for Rome where he will take part in the Consistory, the Patriarch said he was opposed to "the use of any violent language against the president of the Republic".

Beirut (AsiaNews, 3-22-2006) --- He said he hoped that the ongoing national dialogue would progress, calling on participants to assume their responsibility before history and warning against the danger of using force.

He also expressed his support for new elections under legislation that is fairer and more representative, adding that everyone should learn from history.

Today, the third and most difficult round in the national dialogue opened but was suspended immediately. At its core is the fate of sitting President Émile Lahoud and, in accordance with UN Resolution 1559, the disarmament of militias, in particular Hezbollah's.

For the daily L'Orient Le Jour, the atmosphere is particularly charged. The paper reports that the meeting was suspended partly because Saad Hariri, one of the 14 leaders involved in the national dialogue, is currently in Saudi Arabia.

Other sources say that the talks will resume after the summit of Arab heads of state in Sudan on March 28-29 which will also deal with this the Lebanese problem.

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