Iranian Top Diplomat Stresses Lebanon's Role in Proximity of Religions

TEHRAN, May 15 (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in a message to Lebanon's newly elected Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai underscored Lebanon's important role in promoting proximity among different religions.
In his message conveyed by Iranian Ambassador to Beirut Qazanfar Roknabadi to the Lebanese patriarch on Saturday, Salehi felicitated al-Rai on his election as the new Maronite Patriarch.

Salehi stressed Lebanon's important role as a bridge linking the tribes, peoples and religions of the West and the East, and said, "Peaceful coexistence among tribes and existence of compatible democracy indicate the importance of the position that Lebanon can have in proximity among religions and dialogue among religious leaders."

Roknabadi had earlier in March met with Lebanon's new Maronite Patriarch, and hoped for the further consolidation of national unity among the different Lebanese sects.

During the meeting, the two sides also called for fostering bilateral ties.

Patriarch al-Rai, 71, is the 77th Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon.