Maronite Patriarch Beshara Al-Ra'i urged the international community Thursday to give Syrian President Bashar al-Assad further time to implement reform and resume dialogue with opposition factions.

During a news conference at the end of an official visit to France, where he met with the country's top officials, Rahi said that"President Bashar al-Assad is an open-minded person who studied in Europe but he cannot make miracles."

"He Assad has undertaken a series of political reforms. Internal dialogue should have been given additional opportunities to support reform," he added.

Al-Ra'i urged the international community to grant al- Assad more time to implement reforms and resume dialogue with the opposition.

The Patriarch voiced support "for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of Hariri on condition that it is not politicized."

On Hizbullah's arms, Al-Ra'i stressed that "the international community must pressure "Israel" to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories ... and fulfill the Palestinians' right of return, and consequently Hizbullah will have to lay down its arms."

"The international community did not put pressure on "Israel" to liberate the Lebanese territory, and as long as there is an occupied Lebanese territory, Hizbullah will continue to say that it wants to have arms in defense of his land, then what do we say to him? Don't you have the right?" Al-Ra'i wondered.