
The head of the Maronite Church, Bechara al-Rai, delivers his Sunday homily in Bkirki on May 12, 2024. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT—Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai on Sunday expressed disappointment over "the lack of cooperation of European and international countries with Lebanon" on the issue of Syrian refugees present in the country, saying they have burdened Lebanon "with this heavy load and its very dangerous consequences, not realizing that they are preparing criminals and terrorists."
Rai's comments came during his Sunday sermon.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on May 2, during a visit to Lebnaon, one billion euros in aid for the crisis-hit country and urged it to tackle illegal migration from Lebanon to the EU.
During last week's Sunday sermon, Rai urged Lebanon not to succumb to European Union pressure and temptations following the EU aid announcement.
This Sunday, Rai said, "We regret the lack of cooperation of European and international countries with Lebanon to solve the problem of the displaced and their return to their homeland, because these countries are still using the displaced for political purposes in Syria and do not want to separate the political problem from the return of these people to their homeland."
"They burden Lebanon with this heavy load and its very dangerous consequences, not realizing that they are preparing criminals and terrorists, and these countries will be their theater before others," he added.
Rai also lamented the political stalemate preventing the election of a new president in Lebanon. The country has been without a president for over a year and seven months while its government remains in a caretaker mode.
"It seems that those who are obstructing the election of a president of the republic do not really want a president because they benefit from his absence in an effort to increase their influence and manipulate the people, their fate, the constitution and its sanctity," Rai said.
Also speaking on Sunday, Mufti Ahmad Kabalan, head of Lebanon's highest Shiite religious council and close to Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, said in a statement, “The presidential solution starts [in Lebanon] and not abroad, just as is the case with the issue of displaced [Syrians] that is almost swallowing up the country.”
“Whoever boycotts the national settlement prevents the presidential entitlement and commits the worst national mistake,” he added.
Marking the 40-day anniversary of the murder of Pascal Sleiman, a political figure affiliated with the Lebanese Forces party, Rai paid tribute to his family.
On April 7, Sleiman was abducted and murdered close to Jbeil, North Lebanon. His body was discovered in Syria the following day. Authorities in Lebanon have claimed that the killing was linked to a car theft, but the LF believes there may be political motivations behind it. Meanwhile, many Lebanese people have pointed fingers at the country's large contingent of Syrian refugees.