Rai: Building the State Requires Lebanon and Its Institutions to Be the First Loyalty

The Patriarchal See in Dimane witnessed a series of meetings with His Beatitude and Eminence Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai, covering Lebanese-Venezuelan relations, diaspora conditions, ways to support Christian steadfastness in peripheral areas, as well as the situation of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and plans for its reactivation and development of services.

Venezuelan Ambassador: Activate Relations and Benefit from Diaspora Energies.

Patriarch Rai received the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Lebanon, Jose Pio Bogy, accompanied by Minister Counselor Alexander Ramirez and Juliet Lahoud, the Ambassador's assistant.

The meeting addressed relations between Lebanon and Venezuela and the wide Lebanese and Syrian presence there. Rai affirmed that Venezuela is close to the hearts of Lebanese people, recalling his visit to the country and meetings with members of the Lebanese community.

For his part, Ambassador Bogy, who hails from a Syrian family from Aleppo, presented aspects of his diplomatic and political career and the situations Venezuela has gone through in recent years, noting the beginning of economic improvement and the importance of opening up to international cooperation.

He highlighted the significant presence of Lebanese and Syrians in Venezuela and their contribution to economic and social life, considering that the level of political, economic, and commercial relations between Beirut and Caracas remains below available potential. He stressed that it is in Lebanon's interest to strengthen its openness to Venezuela and benefit from Lebanese diaspora energies to build new bridges of cooperation.

The meeting also touched upon the concept of national loyalty, where Patriarch Rai emphasized that the Constitution affirms that "Lebanon is the final homeland for all its children," and that building the state requires that the first loyalty be to Lebanon and its institutions.

Nemer Abu Rizk: The Goal is to Anchor Peripheral Christians in Their Land

Patriarch Rai received lawyer Nemer Abu Rizk, arriving from Ottawa, Canada, accompanied by Mr. Ibrahim Samili. They discussed the conditions of Christians in peripheral areas, particularly in the South, and the results of Abu Rizk's tour accompanied by MP Melhem Khalaf, which included meetings with bishops, priests, mukhtars, and residents of affected areas.

Abu Rizk clarified that his primary concern is the survival of peripheral Christians in their land, noting that his field tour revealed the extent of difficulties in healthcare, education, and securing basic living elements, in addition to damage to homes and agricultural lands.

He affirmed that emergency aid, despite its importance, is insufficient, calling for a transition towards projects that anchor people in their land through schools, hospitals, job opportunities, productive projects, and accessible financing.

He pointed to work on a project to comprehensively support one school, and his contacts with institutions and donor entities, including those concerned with Hungarian aid.

For his part, Patriarch Rai emphasized that education remains at the forefront of priorities for the Lebanese family, and that the Church and its institutions bear heavy burdens in education, health, and social assistance, but cannot replace the state.

The meeting also addressed the reality of hospitals in peripheral areas, where Rai called for supporting existing institutions, particularly Ain Ebel Hospital where Caritas operates, and enhancing its capacity to serve the region's residents.

NSSF Board: Retirement and Health Coverage Top Priorities

Patriarch Rai also received a delegation from the Board of Directors of the National Social Security Fund, headed by Dr. Bachara Al-Assmar, including Vice President Dr. Bassam Alik, Patricia Hashem, George Alam, and several board members.

The delegation presented to His Beatitude the work plan following the formation of the new 10-member board instead of 26, distributed among worker representatives, employers, and the state, affirming that the priority is to reactivate the fund and improve its services after the significant decline resulting from the financial crisis and the collapse of the lira.

Rai welcomed the new steps, considering that reactivating social security gives hope for the return of this institution to its role in serving the Lebanese.

The meeting specifically addressed the retirement system, social protection, and end-of-service indemnities, as the board works on transitioning to a system that provides insured individuals with a continuous pension instead of relying solely on a lump-sum payment.

They also discussed health and hospitalization coverage, given that before the crisis, social security covered about 80 percent of medication and 90 percent of hospitalization, before the real value of these benefits declined with the currency collapse.

The delegation noted the fund's need for approximately 500 new employees across various specialties, emphasizing the importance of encouraging youth to apply for recruitment exams and actively participate in state institutions.

The South was also present in the meeting, as Dr. Bassam Alik urged Patriarch Rai to keep his voice raised in defense of its people, speaking about the extent of destruction affecting villages, homes, and agricultural lands, and the uprooting of ancient olive trees.

In conclusion, Rai wished the new board success in its mission, affirming the importance of social security in protecting the dignity of workers, patients, and retirees, and blessing efforts aimed at restoring this institution to its national and social role.