Media Release –<\/p>\n
Lebanese American Organizations’ Leaders Discussed in<\/p>\n
Washington DC Current Situation in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
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Leaders from Lebanese American organizations, in support of Lebanon in its<\/p>\n
current crisis, met for a conference at the United States Capitol in<\/p>\n
Washington DC on July 28, 2006 to discuss among themselves and with US<\/p>\n
officials the ways to address the roots and causes of the current crisis in<\/p>\n
Lebanon to devise and suggest long lasting solutions to set up a plan of<\/p>\n
action to help end the dangerous Lebanese situation.<\/p>\n
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Congressman Darrel Issa deplored the violence and raised concerns about the<\/p>\n
humanitarian crisis. He furthermore insisted on respecting the authority of<\/p>\n
the Lebanese government as the sole representative of the free will of the<\/p>\n
Lebanese people. Representative Issa had visited the White House earlier<\/p>\n
that morning with a group of other Congressmen from Lebanese origin. The<\/p>\n
group asked for a cessation of hostilities coupled with a long stabilization<\/p>\n
plan for Lebanon. They received assurances that the President is concerned<\/p>\n
about the civilian and the humanitarian losses while at the same time being<\/p>\n
committed to a lasting solution for Lebanon. Congressman Charles Boustany<\/p>\n
sympathized with the Lebanese for their losses and supported his colleague<\/p>\n
Mr. Issa for his stand. Dr Boustany pledged total support to Lebanon in its<\/p>\n
current crisis and reassured all present of his commitment to work with his<\/p>\n
colleagues for finding a lasting solution for Lebanon and relieve the<\/p>\n
suffering of its people. Senator John Sununu sent his assistant Mr Martin<\/p>\n
Bayr in a show of support for the leadership conference.<\/p>\n
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Ambassador John Bolton US Ambassador to the United Nations sent a letter to<\/p>\n
the Conference with Deputy Ambassador Ms Sarah Tinsley Demarest, reiterating<\/p>\n
that he will not rest until he sees Lebanon sovereign and fully independent<\/p>\n
from all foreign interferences; the immediate task facing the US Mission and<\/p>\n
the UN Security Council being the formation of a multinational force to<\/p>\n
deploy in Southern Lebanon and to separate the protagonists.<\/p>\n
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The Director of Public Diplomacy at USAID the Honorable Walid Maalouf<\/p>\n
presented the conference with a report of the aid package sent to Lebanon<\/p>\n
along with future commitments from his agency to assist the Lebanese people.<\/p>\n
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At the end of the conference Dr. Joseph Gebeily, President of the Lebanese<\/p>\n
Information Center and the American Lebanese Coalition, read the resolution<\/p>\n
to the media on behalf of the organizations present.<\/p>\n
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RESOLUTION<\/p>\n
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The Organizations participating in this conference agree on:<\/p>\n
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1.\u00a0 Calling on all internal and external parties involved in the<\/p>\n
conflict, directly or indirectly, to fully respect the sovereignty of<\/p>\n
Lebanon and abide by the rules of International law.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 Demanding an immediate and complete cease-fire to allow the Lebanese<\/p>\n
Government and the international community’s efforts to solve the problems<\/p>\n
emanating from the latest conflagrations and their consequences, in a<\/p>\n
permanent manner.\u00a0 Such cease-fire is to be followed immediately by a<\/p>\n
concrete, comprehensive, and speedy process to restore Lebanese sovereignty<\/p>\n
and defend it against any foreign interference.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0 Opposing Hezbollah’s deplorable actions in engaging Israel in war<\/p>\n
activities while serving the agendas of Syria and Iran, and its continued<\/p>\n
determination to ignore Lebanon’s need to have legitimate armed forces,<\/p>\n
namely the Lebanese Army, and thus abide by the Taef Agreement and relevant<\/p>\n
UN resolutions.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0 Denouncing the Israeli aggression over Lebanon, and any deliberate<\/p>\n
targeting of civilians, infrastructure, relief activities, Lebanese Army<\/p>\n
barracks, and United Nations posts.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0 Deploring the civilian losses and mass displacement of civilians.<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0 Expressing gratitude for the United States of America and all other<\/p>\n
friends of Lebanon for the support they have provided and continue to<\/p>\n
provide, to the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people.<\/p>\n
7.\u00a0 Continuing the campaign in the United States aimed at helping<\/p>\n
alleviate the suffering of the Lebanese people, and calling for a rapid<\/p>\n
recovery operation aided by the international community.<\/p>\n
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8.\u00a0 Asserting that the Lebanese Government is the exclusive legitimate<\/p>\n
party to negotiate on behalf of Lebanon, and to exclusively hold the<\/p>\n
decision of war and peace.\u00a0 Supporting the Lebanese Government’s efforts to<\/p>\n
extend its authority over the totality of the Lebanese territory, to control<\/p>\n
the Lebanese borders, and to disarm all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias<\/p>\n
according to the Taef Agreement and UNSCR 1559.<\/p>\n
9.\u00a0 Calling for the establishment of an enabled multinational force<\/p>\n
under the auspices of the United Nations to work alongside the Lebanese Army<\/p>\n
in deploying along, and securing Lebanon’s borders with Syria and Israel.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, calling on the United Nations to assist Lebanon in the drawing<\/p>\n
and finalization of its international borders, and finding a permanent<\/p>\n
solution to the issue of the Shebaa Farms.<\/p>\n
10. Stressing the need for a quick resolution concerning all Lebanese<\/p>\n
detainees in Syria and Israel.<\/p>\n
11. Stressing the need to revert to the 1949 Armistice Agreement between<\/p>\n
Lebanon and Israel.<\/p>\n
12. Reminding the international community that Lebanon has been<\/p>\n
victimized by all parties involved in this conflict directly or indirectly.<\/p>\n
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Participating Organizations<\/p>\n
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*\u00a0\u00a0 American Lebanese Alliance – member of the American Lebanese<\/p>\n
Coalition<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 Assembly for Lebanon – member of the American Lebanese Coalition<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 Lebanese Information Center – member of the American Lebanese<\/p>\n
Coalition<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 National Alliance of Lebanese Americans<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 March 14th Alliance in the US<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 World Lebanese Cultural Union<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 American Lebanon Coalition for a Sovereign Lebanon<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 American Lebanese Coordination Council – member of the American<\/p>\n
Lebanese Coalition<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 Lebanese For Lebanon Foundation<\/p>\n
*\u00a0\u00a0 American Lebanese Christian Club of Cleveland<\/p>\n
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For Media and Public Relations Contact:<\/p>\n
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*\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Joseph Gebeily<\/p>\n
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President,<\/p>\n
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Lebanese Information Center<\/p>\n
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American Lebanese Coalition<\/p>\n
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Tel:\u00a0 (240) 498-1895<\/p>\n
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Email:\u00a0 jgebeily@licus.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \n \n \n *\u00a0\u00a0 Joseph Hage<\/p>\n \n President,<\/p>\n \n American Lebanese Coordination Council<\/p>\n \n Vice President – Media & Public Relations<\/p>\n \n American Lebanese Coalition<\/p>\n \n Tel:\u00a0 (305) 370-2255<\/p>\n \n Email: josephhage@alcc-research.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \n \n \n Joseph Hage<\/p>\n \n