Head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc: We support Bkirki’s initiative

Source: Al-Manar, 26-10-2007
The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohamad Raad on Thursday declared support for efforts exerted by Bkirki to achieve consensus among Christians on a presidential candidate provided that it is backed by a nationwide consensus.
The stand was informed to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir during a visit by a three-member Hizbullah delegation grouping MPs Mohammed Raad and Ali Ammar as well as politburo member Ghaleb Abu Zeinab.
"We stressed on our support for these efforts and this initiative and we stated clearly that we support consensus among Christians regarding the (forthcoming) President as an introduction to consensus among all the Lebanese," Raad said after the 30-minute meeting.
In answering a question as to whether the delegation has informed Sfeir that Hizbullah's presidential candidate is the head of the Free Patriotic Movement General Michel Aoun, Raad said: "In fact, nominations are not discussed in public."
"We expressed to the patriarch that we are keen on consensus," Raad added.
He said the atmosphere was "positive and open to optimism."