Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rahi on Thursday received in Bkerke Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, who offered to the Patriarch well-wishes on Christmas and the New Year.

Minister Makary was accompanied by Brigadier General Antoine Makary.

The visit was an occasion to discuss the current general situation in the country.

On emerging, Caretaker Minister Makary said, "His Eminence insists on electing a president of the republic through democratic means, and we share the same point of view. We should not wait for the outside because we have enough sagacity and know how to elect a president, and therefore we say that the strongest wins," noting that the theory of a consensual president has nothing to do with democracy.

In response to a question, Minister Makary denied that he had conveyed to the Patriarch any message from Marada Movement Head Sleiman Frangieh, stressing that communication between the Patriarch and Frangieh is ongoing and the relationship is "good, sound, and open."