Audeh Marks Tueni's Assassination Anniversary with Calls for Unity

Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut Elias Audeh stressed on Friday the importance of unity and coexistence in Lebanon amid the ongoing developments.

“A new page has opened with a golden chance for us to fortify our unity, which safeguards our independence and sovereignty,” Audeh said during a mass at the St. Demettrius Church in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district on the 9th anniversary of the assassination of MP Gebran Tueni.

“Participation in governing, based on democracy, means dialogue and accepting the other in an attempt to reach common grounds and principles,” Audeh added.

He noted that Tueni had the vision of a “free, independent and united country.”

Audeh said that Tueni's political affiliation didn't prevent him from helping others but the “hand of deceit” reached him.

Tueni, the former editor and publisher of An Nahar newspaper, was assassinated in a car bomb blast in Mkalles on Dec. 12, 2005.

He was among a series of anti-Syrian officials who were assassinated or escaped murder in the aftermath of the Feb. 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

H.K.

M.T.