Head of the Russian Orthodox Church meets with a delegation of Lebanese MPs

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia met with the Lebanese parliament majority leader Saad Rafik Hariri, on May 23, 2006, at his residence in St. Daniel’s monastery. The day before, Mr. Hariri, who is in Russia for a working visit, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

They were joined in their talk by Bishop Niphon of Phillipopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Moscow Patriarchate.

His Holiness warmly welcomed the Lebanese guests. He said in particular, ‘The Russian Orthodox Church has traditionally maintained good relations with the Lebanese people, whose Orthodox faithful are under the pastoral care of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Our cooperation with Lebanon has also been active in the framework of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Nations. In 2002, this foundation awarded its prize to Lebanese vice-premier I. Fares and in 2005 to the Orthodox Balamand University. We have been delighted at the news that this university has opened a Russia and Orthodoxy Chair this academic year’.

‘We have always followed closely the development in the Middle East and in Lebanon. But unfortunately, even after the bloody civil war ended and a process of peaceful settlement began the political situation in the country has remained rather tense. The civil war has brought much suffering to the Lebanese people. In 1991, when I visited Lebanon, the center of Beirut reminded me of Stalingrad after the Great Patriotic War. Beirut is now restored and has become again one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. It is our profound conviction that peace in the Middle East can be achieved only through peace negotiations and peaceful co-existence of the civilizations. I am convinced that your visit to Russia will contribute to the consolidation of peace in the Middle East and to cooperation between our two countries’.