Profile
Awards & Decorations
Local
International
Publications
MultimediaRelated Institutions
Inauguration of Issam Fares Oasis for Development& Heritage at the Maronite Patriarchate Park in Diman Issam Fares phones Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros SfeirMr.Issam Fares & Mrs. Hala Fares Hosted by the Bushes in HoustonMaronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir congratulates Fares: ‘Honoring you is an honor to your nation Lebanon’ Address by His Excellency Mr. Issam M. Fares ‘In Pursuit of Peace’ during the Crisis Group Award Dinner 2009 Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir: ‘Issam Fares, this philanthropist who gave his nation without expecting a return’President George W.H. Bush: Issam Fares is a SPECIAL individualOctober 28 a day for Lebanon and a memorable day for Issam Fares in New YorkALMAHABA: The Honorable Issam Fares receives The Chairman's AwardH.E. Mr. Issam Fares conveys his heartfelt congratulations to the newly-formed CabinetIssam Fares, Stances and Achievements: A New Book by Dr. Manaf Mansour Who owns the political press in Lebanon?The Lebanese people, the true wealth of LebanonAn honoring ceremony for Nijad Issam Fares and his spouse in HoustonIssam Fares: ‘His country misses him’Al Kawashra village pays tribute to FaresFouad Daaboul: Issam Fares was a man of state; He was also a state in a man.Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great bestowed upon H.E. Mr. FaresThe General Council of Maronite Congratulates Fares for the Papal Order Al Hayat: A Papal Order to Issam Fares President of the Syriac League Habib Ephram congratulates Fares with the Papal Order Annahar wrote ‘A Papal Order to an Orthodox Knight’Patriarch Sfeir to Issam Fares: Lebanon needs you as an effective reference for the recovery of its national lifeThe Daily Star: Sfeir pays tribute to Issam Fares during Paris visitHala Fares, Recipient of Three Decorations, In Recognition of her Generous Contributions Mr. Nijad Issam Fares visits President Sleiman& Speaker Berri The Office of the President honors the Newly Elected Presidents of Municipalities of AkkarNational Vaccination Campaign conducted in North Lebanon in coordination with Issam Fares Office His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir receives a letter from Fares Issam Fares position from participating in the governmentAl Hayat: A prominent leader in the majority regrets Fares non-participation in the governmentPolitical figures and dignitaries: Fares is the best person to represent AkkarAnnahar talks about information to give Fares a ministerial postFares congratulates the President of the Bar Association in TripoliAn honorary shield From Indket to Issam FaresIssam Fares: The time has come for Lebanon to regain its welfare Completion of the Akkar Orthodox Archdiocese in Baino with a grant from Issam FaresIssam Fares Award for Excellence Presented to Algerian Leader Lakhdar Brahimi Letter to Jeddo Issam from his grandson Michael Fares on his birthday occasionIssam Fares Selected as one of 'Arabian Business 500 Most Powerful Arab People of 2012'Hanan Ashrawi to Receive the 2012 Issam M. Fares Award for Excellence Remarks by the Ambassador Antoine Chedid at the Presentation of the Issam Fares Award for Excellence Patriarchal Medal bestowed by Patriarch Bechara el Rai to Fares
Patriarch el Rai Meets Issam Fares in Paris, Stresses the Need for his Comeback to LebanonMaronite Patriarch Bechara Butros el Rai Honors Fares, Offering him the Patriarchal Medal and St. Maroun Medal
Fares sends a congratulatory telegram to the Emir of Qatar Issam Fares donates a building to the Directorate of General Security in Juma, AkkarThe Association for the Development of Tripoli and the Port Praises Fares as a 'Statesman par Excellence' Issam Fares declares: The Extension of the Parliament's term is an Unfortunate Consequence of the Unconstitutional 2000 and the 1960 Electoral LawsFares supports the efforts of Patriarch Yazeji and his endeavors to release the kidnapped Bishops Issam Fares discusses with the Maronite Patriarch the electoral lawPope Francis bestows upon Issam Fares the Papal Order of St. Gregory The Great Akkar with all its Segments Is Expecting his Excellency Issam FARESIssam FARES Is Back Home FARES on his Way to Akkar: We Are with Conciliation and We Are Part of It Issam FARES and Patriarch HAZIM FARES Flatters the Free Patriotic Movement Issam FARES in Lebanon Early May and Will Speak in the University of Balamand Graduation Ceremony - by Ghassan RIFEH
PrintEmail This Page
Patriarch el Rai Meets Issam Fares in Paris, Stresses the Need for his Comeback to Lebanon
08 Apr 2013


Maronite Patriarch Bechara Butros el Rai hosted at his wing at Raphael Hotel in Paris former Deputy Prime Minister Issam Fares in their first meeting since the election of Patriarch el Rai in March 2011. The fruitful bilateral meeting touched upon the prevailing situation in Lebanon and the Middle East region and the critical conditions the Middle Eastern countries are going through a result of the political and military tension and its negative repercussions.


During the meeting, the Maronite Patriarch renewed his call for the international community to bring to a halt the war operations and assassinations and to adopt dialogue as the only mean to settle down the ongoing conflicts.


During the meeting, discussions also revolved around the Lebanese situation, mainly the heated controversy over the electoral law, the formation of a new government, and the economic situation and living conditions. Both parties emphasized the imperative necessity to reach an electoral law that secures a sound representation and guarantees the Christians' effective participation and active role in the management of their national affairs, and the crucial need to form a government that is capable of facing the current internal and regional challenges and that addresses the pressing Lebanese economic and living conditions.


The Patriarch and Fares also recalled the landmark pastoral visit paid by His Beatitude to Akkar last summer, and stressed the necessity to issue decrees for the governorate of Akkar in order to contribute in the region's prosperous development.

El Rai underscored the importance for Fares' comeback to Lebanon, deeming that the country is in dire need of a 'loyal component' that contributes to its renaissance and to refining its real image in the world. He pinned high hopes for the availability of the appropriate conditions for his return which would promote confidence in Lebanon.


For his part, Fares expressed his appreciation for the patriarch's follow-up of this visit, based on his pastoral and national awareness of Akkar'svital needs. He renewed his strong support for the Patriarch's efforts which aim- on the local level- at enhancing national balance through a fair and modern electoral law that secures a sound representation, and - on the regional level- at affirming solidarity with the Middle Eastern countries in their crises, on the basis of the unity of History, fate, and future.


On the heels of their bilateral meeting, Fares threw a dinner banquet in honor of the Maronite Patriarch and the accompanying delegation, in the presence of Lebanon's Ambassador to the UNESCO Dr. Khalil Karam and the Cardinal of Paris.


It is worth saying that el Rai shall pay a visit to Fares residence on April 9 during which both parties will hold a closed-door meeting followed by another big reception thrown by Fares& his wife Mrs. Hala Fares to pay tribute to the Maronite Cardinal.

It is to mention that the head of the Maronite church had left Beirut on board of a private jet Issam Fares put at his disposal to undertake a long tour that would lead him to Paris, Latin America, and the Italian capital.


Prior to his departure from Beirut International Airport, the Patriarch answered the reporters' questions. Asked whether he shall urge Mr. Issam Fares to return to Lebanon to take part in the parliamentary elections because Lebanon is in need of symbols such as Fares, the Patriarch replied, 'I pay my tribute to President Issam Fares who put at our disposal a private jet for our visit from Paris to Argentine. I think that every Lebanese wishes the comeback of President Issam Fares to Lebanon, and I believe there no divergence of opinion over this point. This is what I wish, what the President of the Republic wishes, as well as every Lebanese citizen because Fares represents a great patriotic value for Lebanon in general, Akkar in particular'.


The Patriarch went on saying, 'when we visited Akkar, we felt how much the presence of H.E. Mr. Issam Fares is essential, and how much life he dedicated to Akkar, and how much he is loved in Akkar, and how much he cherishes Akkar. I think this is what the Lebanese unanimously agree upon. We hope he will return to Lebanon and hope that things will be settled down because, in the absence of laws, such as the electoral law for instance, and in the absence of a real democratic practice, many Lebanese personalities remain overseas'.

Copyright © 2010 Issam M. Fares. All Rights Reserved.