World Lebanese Cultural Union
Media Release –
Lebanese American Organizations’ Leaders Discussed in
Washington DC Current Situation in Lebanon.
Leaders from Lebanese American organizations, in support of Lebanon in its
current crisis, met for a conference at the United States Capitol in
Washington DC on July 28, 2006 to discuss among themselves and with US
officials the ways to address the roots and causes of the current crisis in
Lebanon to devise and suggest long lasting solutions to set up a plan of
action to help end the dangerous Lebanese situation.
Congressman Darrel Issa deplored the violence and raised concerns about the
humanitarian crisis. He furthermore insisted on respecting the authority of
the Lebanese government as the sole representative of the free will of the
Lebanese people. Representative Issa had visited the White House earlier
that morning with a group of other Congressmen from Lebanese origin. The
group asked for a cessation of hostilities coupled with a long stabilization
plan for Lebanon. They received assurances that the President is concerned
about the civilian and the humanitarian losses while at the same time being
committed to a lasting solution for Lebanon. Congressman Charles Boustany
sympathized with the Lebanese for their losses and supported his colleague
Mr. Issa for his stand. Dr Boustany pledged total support to Lebanon in its
current crisis and reassured all present of his commitment to work with his
colleagues for finding a lasting solution for Lebanon and relieve the
suffering of its people. Senator John Sununu sent his assistant Mr Martin
Bayr in a show of support for the leadership conference.
Ambassador John Bolton US Ambassador to the United Nations sent a letter to
the Conference with Deputy Ambassador Ms Sarah Tinsley Demarest, reiterating
that he will not rest until he sees Lebanon sovereign and fully independent
from all foreign interferences; the immediate task facing the US Mission and
the UN Security Council being the formation of a multinational force to
deploy in Southern Lebanon and to separate the protagonists.
The Director of Public Diplomacy at USAID the Honorable Walid Maalouf
presented the conference with a report of the aid package sent to Lebanon
along with future commitments from his agency to assist the Lebanese people.
At the end of the conference Dr. Joseph Gebeily, President of the Lebanese
Information Center and the American Lebanese Coalition, read the resolution
to the media on behalf of the organizations present.
RESOLUTION
The Organizations participating in this conference agree on:
1. Calling on all internal and external parties involved in the
conflict, directly or indirectly, to fully respect the sovereignty of
Lebanon and abide by the rules of International law.
2. Demanding an immediate and complete cease-fire to allow the Lebanese
Government and the international community’s efforts to solve the problems
emanating from the latest conflagrations and their consequences, in a
permanent manner. Such cease-fire is to be followed immediately by a
concrete, comprehensive, and speedy process to restore Lebanese sovereignty
and defend it against any foreign interference.
3. Opposing Hezbollah’s deplorable actions in engaging Israel in war
activities while serving the agendas of Syria and Iran, and its continued
determination to ignore Lebanon’s need to have legitimate armed forces,
namely the Lebanese Army, and thus abide by the Taef Agreement and relevant
UN resolutions.
4. Denouncing the Israeli aggression over Lebanon, and any deliberate
targeting of civilians, infrastructure, relief activities, Lebanese Army
barracks, and United Nations posts.
5. Deploring the civilian losses and mass displacement of civilians.
6. Expressing gratitude for the United States of America and all other
friends of Lebanon for the support they have provided and continue to
provide, to the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people.
7. Continuing the campaign in the United States aimed at helping
alleviate the suffering of the Lebanese people, and calling for a rapid
recovery operation aided by the international community.
8. Asserting that the Lebanese Government is the exclusive legitimate
party to negotiate on behalf of Lebanon, and to exclusively hold the
decision of war and peace. Supporting the Lebanese Government’s efforts to
extend its authority over the totality of the Lebanese territory, to control
the Lebanese borders, and to disarm all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias
according to the Taef Agreement and UNSCR 1559.
9. Calling for the establishment of an enabled multinational force
under the auspices of the United Nations to work alongside the Lebanese Army
in deploying along, and securing Lebanon’s borders with Syria and Israel.
Furthermore, calling on the United Nations to assist Lebanon in the drawing
and finalization of its international borders, and finding a permanent
solution to the issue of the Shebaa Farms.
10. Stressing the need for a quick resolution concerning all Lebanese
detainees in Syria and Israel.
11. Stressing the need to revert to the 1949 Armistice Agreement between
Lebanon and Israel.
12. Reminding the international community that Lebanon has been
victimized by all parties involved in this conflict directly or indirectly.
Participating Organizations
* American Lebanese Alliance – member of the American Lebanese
Coalition
* Assembly for Lebanon – member of the American Lebanese Coalition
* Lebanese Information Center – member of the American Lebanese
Coalition
* National Alliance of Lebanese Americans
* March 14th Alliance in the US
* World Lebanese Cultural Union
* American Lebanon Coalition for a Sovereign Lebanon
* American Lebanese Coordination Council – member of the American
Lebanese Coalition
* Lebanese For Lebanon Foundation
* American Lebanese Christian Club of Cleveland
For Media and Public Relations Contact:
* Dr. Joseph Gebeily
President,
Lebanese Information Center
American Lebanese Coalition
Tel: (240) 498-1895
Email: jgebeily@licus.org
* Joseph Hage
President,
American Lebanese Coordination Council
Vice President – Media & Public Relations
American Lebanese Coalition
Tel: (305) 370-2255
Email: josephhage@alcc-research.com
Joseph Hage
