NNA - Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rahi, underlined the need for all sorts of liberties as a key requirement for living together, based on the diversity of religion, sects, culture and opinion, not to mention political and party affiliations.



Patriarch Rahi's fresh words came Thursday during the graduation ceremony of American University of Science and Technology (AUST) students for the year 2013 at "Biel" center in Beirut.



"Unilateralism which denies diversity is one of the biggest risks that undermine peace," Patriarch Rahi said, underlining that the Middle East shall not find its identity through violence and war.



He added that "political, socio-economic reforms cannot be imposed from the outside or through war, violence or terrorism... But rather should generate from the inside."



"It is incumbent upon the sons of one nation- authority and people- to cast weapons aside and sit together at the table of dialogue and negotiations, in a spirit of openness and reconciliation---- in order to find peaceful solutions, hold necessary reforms and anchor a just, comprehensive and lasting peace," Rahi said.



Rahi also shed light on the utmost need to resolve the Palestinian cause and Arab-Israeli conflict, which constitute as he said "the basis of the tragedies of the Middle East."



The Patriarch also stressed the need for continual efforts to build the civil state in Lebanon in all its dimensions, and the declaration of Lebanon's positive neutrality, in line with what the Lebanese have agreed upon in the National Charter of the year 1943.


-------------------- L.Y