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Lebanon: Rai Accuses Officials of Creating Post-Aoun Political 'Vacuum'

Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai meets with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon July 15, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai meets with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon July 15, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
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Lebanon: Rai Accuses Officials of Creating Post-Aoun Political 'Vacuum'

Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai meets with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon July 15, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai meets with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon July 15, 2020. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS

Maronite Patriach Beshara al-Rai accused the Lebanese authorities of creating a political vacuum by leaving the presidency unfilled with outgoing president Michel Aoun's term ending on Monday.

Al-Rai said in his Sunday sermon that officials had "left this supreme and essential presidency in a vacuum, either deliberately, or out of stupidity or selfishness."

He described the presidency as a “cornerstone” for the unity of the state.

The “presidential vacuum in Lebanon is not a fate but rather a conspiracy,” al-Rai cautioned.

Aoun left the presidential palace in Baabda on Sunday, a day ahead of the official end of his six-year term but without a successor.

Aoun leaves the fragile country in an unprecedented situation where the presidency is vacant at the same time as the cabinet operates in a caretaker capacity.

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Arab League Urges Global Efforts to Build a Safer Future for Generations

File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Arab League Urges Global Efforts to Build a Safer Future for Generations

File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Arab League has called for urgent action to create a safer world for future generations, stressing the need to protect vulnerable groups, including migrants, and strengthen their resilience.
In a statement issued on Wednesday to mark International Migrants Day, observed annually on December 18, the Arab League emphasized the importance of maximizing migrants' contributions to sustainable development in both host and origin countries.

It also underscored the need to combat racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and all forms of discrimination to foster social cohesion and cultural dialogue, adding that these objectives align with global frameworks such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the Pact for the Future.
The statement referenced initiatives led by Bahrain, as outlined in the declaration of the 33rd Arab Summit held on May 16, 2024.

These initiatives include providing educational services to those affected by regional conflicts, particularly those deprived of formal education due to security challenges, displacement, and migration. The initiatives also aim to improve healthcare for conflict-affected populations.
Highlighting the ongoing global crises, the General Secretariat of the Arab League noted that instability, poverty, underdevelopment, and climate change are driving unprecedented migration flows. "Millions of migrants face an uncertain and unpredictable future due to wars, armed conflicts, poverty, and climate challenges. This reality underscores the urgent need to address the root causes of instability to prevent future generations from undertaking dangerous journeys in search of safety and opportunity," the statement said.
The Arab League called for sustainable solutions that balance immediate humanitarian assistance with long-term development strategies. It stressed the importance of promoting sustainability based on the interests of future generations, ensuring a comprehensive approach that addresses conflict, violence, and poverty while fostering global cooperation.