[NAHARNET] Higher Islamic Shiite Council leader Sheikh Ali al-Khatib on Tuesday called for ''consolidating national unity and building the state upon citizenship and equality among citizens,'' during a meeting in Baabda with President Joseph Aoun.
''Had there been illusory illusory sovereignty and a strong state that defends its people's dignity, we would not have needed all this debate about the issue of weapons, which are not sacred to us. What is sacred is the country's unity and the people's dignity, security and stability,'' Khatib added.
''What we want, like the rest of the Lebanese, is stability and the absence of sectarian conflicts and quota sharing in the state, which is the root of decay,'' the Shiite leader said.
He added that Shiites have never had and will not have in the future a ''private political project in the region.''
''These were political accusations aimed at creating political alignments,'' he said.
''We have great hope in you and high confidence in your performance,'' Khatib added, addressing President Aoun.
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