Prime Minister Najib Mikati received the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, this morning at the Grand Serail, and the Minister of Public Health Firas Al-Abyad joined the meeting.
Mikati said, “The great challenges facing Lebanon and the Lebanese require first the unity of the national rank among all the Lebanese components and the unity of the Islamic rank, and we are counting on the wisdom of His Eminence and the unification of all efforts for the sake of reunification.”
Mikati and the Grand Mufti of the Republic performed Friday prayers at the Great Omari Mosque in central Beirut, and President Fouad Siniora, Minister of Health Dr. Firas Al-Abyad, also participated in the prayer.
Upon leaving the mosque, President Mikati was asked regarding the issue of participation in the parliamentary elections He replied: It is not important for personal participation in the elections or not. The elections are on time, and we have wealth in the sect and all the qualifications and capabilities to participate in the elections…
He added in response to a question that the elections are on time and the Sunni sect is essential and cannot boycott the elections, and what concerns us in the first place is that the state and its institutions remain established and effective.
Mufti Derian appreciated “the efforts made by the Prime Minister in various fields, especially at this delicate and sensitive stage.”
He stressed that “Dar Al-Fatwa is an incubator for all Lebanese and is a symbol of moderation and openness to all Lebanese components.”
During the meeting, current issues were discussed, and a common emphasis was on that the “official Lebanese response to the “Gulf ideas” should be positive.”
Source: Presidency of the Council of Ministers + National Agency