Press Release from 17 Lebanese Diaspora Organizations and Clubs‎ addressing the International conference to be held in the Italian capital on July 26/06, to discuss the tragic situation in Lebanon.

Toronto – Canada,
July ‎‏24‏‎, ‎‏2006‏
For Immediate Release

On the 26^th of this month, an international conference will be held in the Italian capital based on a recommendation by the Security Council issued during its meeting of July 21, 2006. The conference will discuss the tragic situation in Lebanon, the possibility of reaching a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah group, and means of enabling an implementation of UN resolution 1559.

We, the undersigned representatives of the Lebanese Diaspora organizations and clubs listed below call on the representatives of the countries participating at the conference to adopt the following measures:

1 – Act seriously and responsibly to bring an end to the hellish cycle of violence in our homeland out of mercy for our innocent fellow Lebanese who have been turned by the forces of evil into fodder for a war that is imposed on them and in which they have no say or decision.

2 – Adopt binding and effective resolutions that are necessary to resolve the Lebanese crisis at its root causes in order to prevent its recurrence, disable its effects and eliminate its causative factors.

3 – Find binding practical solutions that have applicable mechanisms with the objective of enabling the rise of a strong and just Lebanese State that is capable of defending the borders with Israel and Syria, spreading its authority and the rule of law on every part of Lebanese territory, and uphold the rights and security of all the segments of Lebanese society.

4 – Dispatch international combat forces to Lebanon having full authority and sufficient firepower to accomplish the military mission it is mandated with, in order to implement all clauses of UN resolution 1559 on the ground, including:

A - Disarm the Hezbollah group and the Palestinian organizations, and prevent and intercept the transfer of weapons to them from Iran and Syria.

B - Elaborate a complete plan for providing the legitimate armed forces of Lebanon – the Army and the Security Forces – with all necessary materiel and weapons, as well as the necessary training and preparation, to fully carry out their mission of protecting Lebanese sovereignty.

5 – Act towards passing a resolution by the United Nations condemning Syria and Iran, holding them responsible for the escalation leading to the catastrophe that has befallen Lebanon, and making them liable for the damages incurred by the Lebanese people and the costs of reconstruction as a result of the military operations.

6 – Establish an international inquiry commission mandated with the task of determining Hezbollah’s legal responsibility for the events leading to the cycle of violence inflicted on Lebanon today, and impose the appropriate penalties against Hezbollah’s leadership.

7 – Urge and encourage the international community and humanitarian organizations to undertake a prompt and massive delivery of humanitarian assistance to Lebanon.

We finally call on our Lebanese brethren in Lebanon and the Diaspora to distinguish between honest calls for national unity on one hand, and the deceitful calls aiming at surrendering to the will of the fundamentalist Hezbollah group and the dictates of its financiers and sponsors in Damascus and Tehran on the other. The latter have indeed forced on Lebanon and the Lebanese people a unilateral and irresponsible decision towards a cycle of destruction, killing and displacement. To remain silent over their crimes or to turn a blind eye on their practices, violations and threats is itself an act of treason to the nation and an unforgivable crime.

Signatories of the release
Dr. Joseph Hitti/ New England Americans For Lebanon (NEAL)
Dr. Rachid Rahme/Secretary General of the International Committee for the Cedars Revolution in Lebanon.
Colonel Charbel Barakat/World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU)-Canadian Chapter
Elias Bejjani/Lebanese Canadian Coordinating Council (LCCC)
Toni Mouanis/Canadian Lebanese Human Rights Federation (CLHRF)
Noel Haddad/Phoenician Club of Mississauga (PCOM)
Khalil Kaekati/Canadian Phoenician Community Services Club (CPCSC)
Charbel Constantine/Canadian Lebanese Christian Heritage Club (CLCHC)
Atef Harb/World US Maronite Union (WMUSAU)
John Hajjar/National Council for the Cedars’ Revolution (WCRC)
Ghabi Galo/Aramic Democratic Organization (Ardo)
Chebl Zoghbi/Ex Lebanese Forces Veteran Fighter in Diaspora (LFVF)
Asaad Sauma/Solidarity organization for Middle Ease Christians (SOMAC)
George Chaya/WCLU Media Chairman for Spanish America
Roni Doumit/World Maronite Union-Europen Chapter (WMU-Europe)
Antoine Mourad./Christian Lebanese Union in Britain CLUB
Christian Chaoul./Guardians of the Cedars club in Britain

NB: For more information, please contact us at one of the following e-mail addresses:‎
clhrf@yahoo.com or Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Related Web sites
www.10452lccc.com, www.clhrf.com, www.aramaic-dem.org, www.neal-us.org, www.lfvf.org, www.maroniteunion.org