Dr. Nassif Haitti, professor of international relations and Middle East studies at the University of the Holy Spirit - Kaslik, said: "In the early 2000s, and in 2005, we lost our Arab identity.. the main link between Syria, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon disappeared.. It was made worse by the intervension of Iran and Turkey into the Arab region, which created sectarianism".
His remarks came during a seminar organized by the Faculty of International Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo under the title: "Challenges and Opportunities", in line with the series of dialogue of Tahrir. The lecture dealt with the political situation in Lebanon in light of the demonstrations currently sweeping the country and their future implications.
He explained that Lebanon was weakened by the large number of its sects, represented in the parliament and, instead of empowering the country, it weakened it.
He wondered: "Where is the Arab role here in light of the presence of Iran and Turkey in the Arab region, particularly Lebanon, Syria and Iraq?". He stressed that the problems in the Arab countries only need some kind of Arab regional cooperation.
The professor of international relations and Middle East studies pointed out that the Arabs got used to refer to a conspiracy theory, "but we have to stop it and observe the current political scene correctly".
He underscored that establishing a civilian state will not happen overnight and needs a lot of work.
Dr. Haiti stressed that the civil state does not abandon religion, and that sectarianism has become a tumor at all Arab countries. He pointed out to the ongooing protests in Lebanon, saying that it won't be easily broken, "and what is currently proposed is to unite the Arab sides".
Regarding the guarantees that the state will not fall, he said: "Everyone has learned the lesson well from the civil war that happened before, and the current balance of power does not allow such a war to happen, and there is no interest for anyone in Lebanon's falling." All current elements call for containment."
Dr. Haiti received his Ph.D. from the School of International Relations, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a Masters in International Relations from the Department of Political Science at the American University of Beirut.
He has held several diplomatic posts including Head of Arab League missions to Italy and France and has served as Permanent Observer of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Organization of la Francophonie.
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