MOHAMMED SAMMAK, a Sunni Muslim is secretary general of Lebanon's Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue. He believes that the declining number of Christians in the Middle East region is a concern for all Muslims. "The emigration of Christians is an impoverishment of the Arabic identity, of its culture and authenticity," said Sammak, who is an adviser to Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. He added that maintaining the Christian presence in the Middle East was a "common Islamic duty."