Lebanon's Maronite Catholic bishops urged government officials to work toward strengthening stability in the country and said recent allegations about Syria's involvement in the assassination of a former Lebanese leader demonstrate the strong influence Syrian intelligence and military have wielded in Lebanon.

"The series of bomb explosions and assassinations which occurred in Lebanon last year spread a heavy atmosphere of fear and caution throughout the country," said the Maronite Council of Bishops in a statement following their monthly meeting.

"The Lebanese authorities should exert their utmost to resolve this atmosphere, which has greatly damaged the country on all levels, especially the economy."

The bishops also referred to the recent statements made by a former Syrian vice president alleging that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad had personally threatened former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri before Hariri's assassination.

The bishops said the allegation "brought to light the great effect which the Syrian military and intelligence presence had in shaking the bases upon which stands the Lebanese state. Nevertheless, it is a statement which should inspire the authorities in both countries to establish true relations that will yield a benefit for both peoples."

The council also denounced the crises in Lebanon's Parliament, in which Shiite ministers suspended their participation in the government in early December to protest a call for an international investigation into the assassinations targeting anti-Syrian political figures and journalists.

This "is not a sign of health," the bishops said. "It shows that official institutions in the country are not working properly, as commanded by duty and realism."

They urged an agreement "for the benefit of the whole homeland."

Commenting on the economic crises in Lebanon, the bishops urged officials to "seriously address the economic situation, the living conditions and the decrease in job opportunities." The country cannot afford this, the bishops said, "as long as the security situation is a failure and does not inspire tranquility."

They also appealed to the authorities to rely on competence rather than nepotism in appointing officials.

Let us strengthen our internal unity and establish our relations among ourselves and with our neighbors, to whom many historical and geographical links attach us," the bishops said.

Source: totalcatholic.com