President Michel Suleiman urged Arab leaders on Tuesday to preserve minorities in their countries, saying Lebanon's newly-elected Greek Orthodox patriarch faces a tough task of defending Christians in the region. “We congratulate the Lebanese and Arabs on the election of the new patriarch,” Suleiman told reporters at Our Lady of Balamand Monastery following a short meeting with Patriarch Youhanna X.

Youhanna al-Yaziji was elected on Monday Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Levant and Antioch. [Link]