Beirut, on December 4, 2012

His Eminence the Sheikh Akl of the Druze Unitarian Community the Sheikh Naim Hassan received at the House of the Community in Verdun a delegation from the Syndicate of Press Editors presided by the Syndicate President Elias Aoun. They discussed national and general affairs and the Sheikh Hassan certified that “the Press assumes an essential role, especially at this stage, by making the national speech, the public interest and the predomination of rightness as priorities”, emphasizing “the necessity of discerning between freedoms and chaos”.

As for the spiritual summit intended to be held at the House of the Community, he certified that “this House belongs to all, but the final date of the summit has not been specified yet until the end of the current negotiations concerning its agenda and the title it will be holding”, underlining that “communication is continuously going between all the spiritual leaderships”, mentioning that “the holding of this summit itself will leave a good impression in the Lebanese people’s spirits”. 

As a reply to a question about the initiative taken by the “Leader of the Socialist Progressive Party” MP Walid Jumblatt, his Eminence Hassan confirmed that “Walid Beik is the valve of safety for this nation and his initiative is deemed as a national, uniting and precious one that should be accepted by all”.

Regarding the electoral law, the Sheikh Hassan answered: “We reject any abeyance in the elections”, asking: How could the electoral law consist in the election of the Druze for a Druze candidate and the Christian for a Christian candidate in a country where coexistence dominates? We are the sons of coexistence in one united nation”. He mentioned that “in order to keep Lebanon at its best, the Mount Lebanon shall be preserved, and the Mount Lebanon would not be so unless Walid Jumblatt is safe and sound”.

His Eminence added: “We, as a Community, all that we call for resides in coexistence, dialogue and union, and this is our principle”.

As for the government, his Eminence the Sheikh emphasized that “everyone has the right to express his positions toward it, but we should not fall into the gap and all affairs should be settled by understanding”, certifying that “this is what we expect from all”.

Concerning the Druze affair itself, his Eminence declared that “the Druze Community is united and this was stipulated by the law. All matters should be solved under one roof and this is entrusted to the Sheikhs, wise men and reasonable figures at the Community”.

His Eminence also received the Ambassador of Sudan Dr. Ahmad Hassan Ahmad Mohamad during a visit of acquaintance and they discussed the latest incidents in Lebanon and the region.