On the occasion of the 1600th Anniversary of the passing of St Maroun, El Marada leader MP Sleiman Frangieh arrived in Aleppo to participate in the celebrations organized at the original birthplace of St. Maroun. Change and Reform bloc leader General Michel Aoun and former Lebanese president Emil Lahoud also participated in the ceremony.

The delegation led by MP Frangieh consisted of State Minister Youssef Saadeh, Free and United Lebanon bloc MP Emil Rahme, Zgharta Mayor General Joseph Maarawi in addition to a number of Marada officials.

Frangieh told reporters that he is proud of his ties with Syria while he pointed out that certain politicians suffer from complexities when it comes to relations with Syria.

The Marada leader stressed that "we participate in the 1600th Anniversary of the passing of St Maroun at the place in which he was born, grew, lived and died," noting that some people have a problem with the fact that St Maroun is a Syrian.

Frangieh classified his visit as strictly religious and has no political flavor this time around, indicating that his alliance and solidarity with Syria is well-known by all.

With regard to Patriarch Sfeir's reluctance to participate in St Maroun's ceremony in Syria, Frangieh said that he wished that Patriarch Sfeir would have headed a delegation to attend the ceremony in Syria "but it seems as though Patriarch Sfeir has his own assessment which we find hard to comprehend."

9/2/2010