Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Boutros Rahi at the Maronite Patriarchate today, and briefed him on the local and regional developments.

In the wake of the meeting, Rahi said "Hariri's presence in Lebanon, at the head of the government, is of major importance and gives confidence to the Lebanese."

"What happened is an important foundation to be built upon. With good faith in Premier Hariri and His Excellency the President, and amid the prevailing harmony, I am optimistic that the [country's] conditions will improve. (...) We still have economic and livelihood problems but we feel that people are reassured, as we are," Rahi said.

Asked about his position over the dissociation policy, Rahi said "since the government with all of its components came up with this decision, then that is a major step forward. What is left is shouldering this responsibility."
"All the government's components ought to stick to dissociation," he said.

"Dissociation requires the completion of the national defense strategy," Rahi said however

Source: NNA