UK envoy blames Hezbollah behavior for undermining peace in Lebanon

UK ambassador Chris Rampling met with Mar Bishara Boutros Al-Rai, the Lebanese patriarch of the Maronite Catholic church.  (NNA)

CAIRO: The British ambassador to Lebanon said Wednesday that the behavior of some parties, including that of Hezbollah, undermines peace in Lebanon. 
The remarks by Chris Rampling came during his meeting with Mar Bishara Boutros Al-Rai, the Lebanese patriarch of the Maronite Catholic church.  
Rampling said he discussed the political solution proposed by Al-Rai for Lebanon, which aims to maintain the country’s characteristics of pluralism, openness, and democracy.
“I discussed with his eminence the neutrality initiative that he launched and its content, which it is clear that some parties, including Hezbollah, did not support, and this undermines the stability of Lebanon.”
The ambassador also described his meeting with the Al-Rai as “very important.” 
“We talked about the Beirut bombing, and I expressed my condolences to his eminence and the Lebanese people,” he was quoted by Lebanon’s state news agency as saying. 
“We talked about the difficult economic situation, the difficulties that Lebanon and the Lebanese are facing, the necessity for reforms at this delicate stage.”