| AMERICAN LEBANESE COORDINATION COUNCIL |
 |
Press Release
American Lebanese Coalition
Media & Public Relation Office
October 11, 2004
On October 9, 2004, President Bashar Assad of Syria addressed a group of Syrian expatriates in Damascus. In his speech, President Assad raised questions regarding
the underlying reasons and timing behind the UN Security Council Res. 1559. He condemned the Resolution by referring to it as a "mistake," and openly criticized the
Lebanese opposition as well as the International Community. He then blatantly insulted the Lebanese people, particularly the Muslims, claiming that his father, the late
President Assad, intervened in 1976 to save the Lebanese Christians who were being massacred in the name of political reform, justice, socialism and the progressive
doctrine.
After reviewing President Assad’s speech, The American Lebanese Coalition is sorry to notice that despite years of alleged reforms and policy changes claimed by the
Syrian Regime, President Assad adopted the expansionist, aggressive, and outdated ideology of the Baath ruling party; basically reform in reverse. President Assad's
use of implicit threats in his speech towards the Christian community in Lebanon seems to have been taken from the 1970s archives of the Syrian intelligence services.
Back then, Syria’s agents instigated religious strife to split the Lebanese communities into warring factions. They portrayed Muslims as a killing machine ready to
annihilate their Christian brethrens if Syria did not restrain them. On the other hand, they scared the Muslim communities by portraying the Christians as Israeli
collaborators ready to oppress them if Syria failed to stop them. These outdated conniving schemes may have worked in the past for the benefit of the Syrian Baath
regime to further its annexation of Lebanon, but they will not work today as long as the Lebanese are united.
Accordingly, the ALC:
- Condemns President Assad’s approach towards Lebanon which is insulting to all Lebanese religious and political entities for he portrays them as vicious criminals.
- Deplores the repeated use of Lebanon as a battleground for regional and international power struggle.
- Warns against the possibility that Lebanon, once more, be set up against the international community for violating the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions-a
position which will only bring disastrous results to Lebanon and its people.
In addition and regarding the tragic consequences of the Syrian Occupation on the Lebanese, the ALC would like to raise again the multiple issues resulting, namely:
- The unbalanced and unfair trade agreements imposed on Lebanon, with Syrian goods being dumped in the Lebanese economy, at the expense of the Lebanese
farms and industries.
- The flooding of the Lebanese employment market with massive numbers of Syrian workers who are exempt from paying any tax or fee, and who transfer all their
income to Syria free of charge.
- The restrictions on basic freedoms: political freedoms and freedom of press, of speech, of association, and others, carried on by Lebanese and Syrian authorities in
Lebanon against the Opposition, Christian in particular, forcing them to leave or face oppression and persecution.
- The continuous and illegal detention of Lebanese in Syrian jails under inhumane conditions, deprived of legal access and of family visitation.
- The harboring of terrorists by Syria on Lebanese soil, and the involvement of Syrian Military in drugs’ and stolen goods’ trafficking
The ALC holds a firm conviction that an independent and sovereign Lebanon is the greatest mean to eliminating terrorism and creating a free and democratic Middle
East. Subsequently, we call for:
- The restoration of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty through the withdrawal of all Syrian Military, Security and Intelligence Forces, and the disarming of all
militias, Lebanese and non-Lebanese, according to UNSC Resolution 1559.
- The revival of Lebanese democracy and rule of law through the upholding of the Constitution, the respect of political and individual freedoms, and the execution of free
and fair elections.
- The closure of the sad chapter of the Lebanese war by achieving true national reconciliation, the release of all political prisoners, and the formation of a government of
national unity.
Lastly, The ALC urges President Bashar Assad to reevaluate his position on many issues, especially those involving Lebanon, by respecting the Lebanese sovereignty
and the will of all Lebanese communities to live in peace and harmony away from extremism, violence and foreign interference. Then Syria will find in the Lebanese true
friends and even allies.
End.
Joseph Hage
VP/Media & Public Relations
(305) 542-6322 Fax (305) 249-9446
ALC-Media-PR@excite.com
American Lebanese Coalition
Media & Public Relation Office
October 11, 2004
On October 9, 2004, President Bashar Assad of Syria addressed a group of Syrian expatriates in Damascus. In his speech, President Assad raised questions regarding
the underlying reasons and timing behind the UN Security Council Res. 1559. He condemned the Resolution by referring to it as a "mistake," and openly criticized the
Lebanese opposition as well as the International Community. He then blatantly insulted the Lebanese people, particularly the Muslims, claiming that his father, the late
President Assad, intervened in 1976 to save the Lebanese Christians who were being massacred in the name of political reform, justice, socialism and the progressive
doctrine.
After reviewing President Assad’s speech, The American Lebanese Coalition is sorry to notice that despite years of alleged reforms and policy changes claimed by the
Syrian Regime, President Assad adopted the expansionist, aggressive, and outdated ideology of the Baath ruling party; basically reform in reverse. President Assad's
use of implicit threats in his speech towards the Christian community in Lebanon seems to have been taken from the 1970s archives of the Syrian intelligence services.
Back then, Syria’s agents instigated religious strife to split the Lebanese communities into warring factions. They portrayed Muslims as a killing machine ready to
annihilate their Christian brethrens if Syria did not restrain them. On the other hand, they scared the Muslim communities by portraying the Christians as Israeli
collaborators ready to oppress them if Syria failed to stop them. These outdated conniving schemes may have worked in the past for the benefit of the Syrian Baath
regime to further its annexation of Lebanon, but they will not work today as long as the Lebanese are united.
Accordingly, the ALC:
- Condemns President Assad’s approach towards Lebanon which is insulting to all Lebanese religious and political entities for he portrays them as vicious criminals.
- Deplores the repeated use of Lebanon as a battleground for regional and international power struggle.
- Warns against the possibility that Lebanon, once more, be set up against the international community for violating the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions-a
position which will only bring disastrous results to Lebanon and its people.
In addition and regarding the tragic consequences of the Syrian Occupation on the Lebanese, the ALC would like to raise again the multiple issues resulting, namely:
- The unbalanced and unfair trade agreements imposed on Lebanon, with Syrian goods being dumped in the Lebanese economy, at the expense of the Lebanese
farms and industries.
- The flooding of the Lebanese employment market with massive numbers of Syrian workers who are exempt from paying any tax or fee, and who transfer all their
income to Syria free of charge.
- The restrictions on basic freedoms: political freedoms and freedom of press, of speech, of association, and others, carried on by Lebanese and Syrian authorities in
Lebanon against the Opposition, Christian in particular, forcing them to leave or face oppression and persecution.
- The continuous and illegal detention of Lebanese in Syrian jails under inhumane conditions, deprived of legal access and of family visitation.
- The harboring of terrorists by Syria on Lebanese soil, and the involvement of Syrian Military in drugs’ and stolen goods’ trafficking
The ALC holds a firm conviction that an independent and sovereign Lebanon is the greatest mean to eliminating terrorism and creating a free and democratic Middle
East. Subsequently, we call for:
- The restoration of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty through the withdrawal of all Syrian Military, Security and Intelligence Forces, and the disarming of all
militias, Lebanese and non-Lebanese, according to UNSC Resolution 1559.
- The revival of Lebanese democracy and rule of law through the upholding of the Constitution, the respect of political and individual freedoms, and the execution of free
and fair elections.
- The closure of the sad chapter of the Lebanese war by achieving true national reconciliation, the release of all political prisoners, and the formation of a government of
national unity.
Lastly, The ALC urges President Bashar Assad to reevaluate his position on many issues, especially those involving Lebanon, by respecting the Lebanese sovereignty
and the will of all Lebanese communities to live in peace and harmony away from extremism, violence and foreign interference. Then Syria will find in the Lebanese true
friends and even allies.
End.
Joseph Hage
VP/Media & Public Relations
(305) 542-6322 Fax (305) 249-9446
ALC-Media-PR@excite.com