According to the Lebanese daily newspaper “L’Orient Le-Jour”, a new organization named “Worlwide Maronite Foundation” was officially launched yesterday, under the aegis of Bkerki. This organization has the following objectives: consolidate the relationships between the Maronite emigrants and Lebanon, help them recuperate their Lebanese nationality and subscribe their descendants on the Lebanese civil registry. The go-ahead of this foundation was given by the Maronite Patriarch, the cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, in Bkerki, in the presence of the president of the foundation- and initiator of the project- the former Minister Michel Edde, as well as members of the council of guardianship of the organization in question.

On the occasion, the Cardinal Sfeir underlined his appreciation towards the efforts of Michel Edde who “expended his energy and paid funds “in order to assemble the dispersed Maronites across the world. Furthermore, he considered that the Lebanese nationality was granted to many people who don’t have the right to take it; therefore, it is necessary to correct this mistake by granting it to the Lebanese emigrants who have the legitimate right to hold it. In the same perspective, the cardinal Sfeir reminded of the successive worldwide tours he has effected recently in order to encourage the Lebanese communities, especially the Christians, to maintain strong links with their homeland. Finally, he noted the threat caused by the immigration on the Islamic-Christian equilibrium in Lebanon, welcoming thus the initiative of the “Worldwide Maronite Foundation”.

Moreover, it is important to note that M. Edde and the members of the council of guardianship were the guests of the Patriarch for lunch. They held a meeting afterwards in order to refine the practical details of the institution’s organization and the action it proposes to lead on different levels. In parallel to M. Edde, it is necessary to mention that many Maronite figures contributed and expressed their will to contribute to the financing of the foundation.

During the launching, the foundation released a press report indicating that one of the objectives of the foundation is to “strengthen the link between emigrant Maronites and their homeland and church”, giving homage, at the same time for the “clear and positive” position of the president Michel Suleiman who insisted since his opening speech on the importance of the emigrant’s participation in the political, economic, and social sectors of the country.