Rahi Calls for Reforms, Removing Lebanon from Policy of Axes

Rahi during Sunday mass. (NNA)
Rahi during Sunday mass. (NNA)
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Rahi Calls for Reforms, Removing Lebanon from Policy of Axes

Rahi during Sunday mass. (NNA)
Rahi during Sunday mass. (NNA)

Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged on Sunday the newly formed cabinet to carry out reforms and to remove the country from the policy of axes, while rejecting practices that “violate the constitution” and the recent import of Iranian oil.

During his Sunday mass sermon, the patriarch welcomed the formation of a new cabinet following 13 months of delay.

“We hope that [the government] will work as one national team to stop the collapse and confront the continuous operations that undermine the legitimacy and sovereignty of the state,” he said, citing the recent import of Iranian fuel and the obstruction of the investigation into the Beirut Port explosion..

Last Thursday, Iran-backed Hezbollah began bringing in tankers carrying fuel from Iran, a move it says should ease a crippling energy crisis in Lebanon. A tanker ship carried the fuel to Syria and from there it crossed into Lebanon. Both Syria and Iran are under US sanctions.

Rahi stressed the need to protect Lebanon’s neutrality, to achieve expanded decentralization and support the judiciary that should complete investigations into the Beirut Port explosion.

He hoped that Lebanon would overcome its current crisis given the internal, regional and international circumstances that facilitated the formation of the new government.

He called for reforms in all sectors, resolving the fuel and electricity crisis, closing border crossings with Syria that are used for smuggling, and combating the price manipulation of commodities.



Emirates Airline to Resume Flights to Beirut

Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
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Emirates Airline to Resume Flights to Beirut

Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo

Emirates airline will resume flights to Beirut on February 1 after a four-month suspension triggered by conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a statement said on Friday.

The Middle East's biggest airline will first offer a daily return flight and scale up to two services per day from April 1, AFP quoted the statement as saying.

Emirates will also resume a daily flight to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, from February 1, it added.

The Dubai-based, state-owned carrier was one of several regional airlines to suspend Beirut services in late September as tensions soared between Israel and Hezbollah.

A truce came into effect on November 27, ending over a year of hostilities.