Suleiman’s Support for al-Rahi Seen a Response to Local, Foreign Critics

President Michel Suleiman’s support for Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi was seen as a response to local and foreign criticism of the prelate over his controversial statements on Hizbullah’s arms and Syria, An Nahar daily said Friday.

Suleiman visited al-Rahi at his summer residence in Diman on Thursday. He said the patriarch does not need anyone to defend him against the statements that he made during a visit to Paris earlier this month.

Al-Rahi’s visit to France was successful and served Lebanon’s interest, the president said.

The patriarch’s statements created a controversy in Lebanon after the March 14-led opposition criticized him for linking the fate of Hizbullah’s weapons to the liberation of remaining occupied Lebanese territories.

Al-Rahi also expressed concern at the possibility of the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood to power in Syria, which causes a threat to Christians in the region. He said Syrian President Bashar Assad should be given the chance to introduce reform.

However, the patriarch later claimed that his statements were taken out of context. This has appeased March 14.

But French Ambassador Denis Pietton was quoted as saying earlier in the week that Paris was “disappointed” by al-Rahi’s remarks and that he would soon visit the patriarch as ordered by his government to seek a clarification.