Address of the President of the Council of Ministers H.E. Mr. Fuad Siniora on the 7th Anniversary of the Liberation Day and the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon

Fellow Lebanese, sons of our beloved South, heroes of the resistance and liberation, the 7th Anniversary of the Liberation of our beloved South from the Israeli occupation is far different from the six previous years, and this from three perspectives: First, Lebanon had last July to face and resist once more a traitorous Israeli attack which led to the death of beloved victims and huge destruction in the South and in Beirut Suburb as well as in all the Lebanese regions. Second, the Lebanese Army troops have now deployed in Southern Lebanon and protect its people and boundaries, knowing that the Army was absent from the South for more than three decades.  Third, we are making significant progress in the liberation process of the Sheba’a Farms and their placement under UN custody paving the way to their liberation from the unjust occupation and full reintegration in the Lebanese State, hoping for the cooperation of Syria in determining this precious land’s Lebanese identity through the borders' delineation between the two countries.

PM Siniora added: The Israeli withdrawal was achieved in 2000 through resistance, the resistants’ sacrifices and our citizens’ resilience in the resistant South as well as the resistance of the proud Lebanese people and its sacrifices since the first sparks of the resistance to the occupying enemy, factors that all paved the way towards the settlement of the conflict on land and sovereignty for the advantage of Lebanon. Things were pretty much the same during the July war where all Lebanese stood as one united in solidarity with one will just like they stood in the late forties to defend their land, their dignity and their population and participate in bearing the burden of the Arab – Israeli conflict on Palestine during which the still young Lebanese Army back then fought its first battle with its Arab brothers in 1948, year of the defeat.

Fellow citizens, Southerners, we face today, tomorrow and the day after three challenges: First, the challenge of achieving the land liberation, the empowerment of our national Lebanese Army to defend our international boundaries with occupied Palestine and the protection of the Lebanese airspace, and land and sea boundaries. Second, the challenge of the removal of the attack’s impact and damages and compensating the Lebanese citizens who have endured invasion and occupation as well as working on reconstruction and deployment of full Lebanese sovereignty on all the Lebanese territory. Third, achieving national security, peace and recovery, the importance and emergency of which are highlighted by the recent events that occurred in the North and targeted the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces as well as by the explosions and attacks which are endangering the lives and security of Lebanese and Palestinian civilians in Beirut and other Lebanese regions.

In this context, I wish to confirm that the Lebanese have chosen, after their long bitter experience during the last years, a civil democratic state and its legal security instrument, namely the Lebanese Army, the Internal Security Forces and the other security services. We are determined not to allow and we will not allow undermining the State, the Army and the institutions, always through the rule of law and its application on Lebanese citizens and on residents on Lebanese territory.

Let me be clear, in this respect, I have heard during these last days a lots of talks, unjust instigation and  unfair incitement pointing out that the Lebanese State and Army or the Lebanese Government are targeting the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon or the Palestinian people. The truth is that the Lebanese Army was the victim of a criminal attack perpetrated by a terrorist organization that claims to be Islamic and to defend Palestine.

PM Siniora said: Let me tell you, the Palestinians in Lebanon, inside and outside the camps, are our brothers and we share with them bad times before good times. Let be no interference between the Lebanese State and people and the Palestinians in Lebanon. They are our brothers, brothers that we cherish and we will remain brothers in all circumstances. We have to be clear nevertheless in differentiating between a terrorist organization which is attempting to exploit the suffering and struggle of the Palestinian people and our brothers in the camps. To us, this difference is crystal clear, we will work on eradicating and rooting out terrorism whereas we will be working with our Palestinian brothers as usual and we will strive to protect and support them. The Lebanese State, all its security services and administrations will persist in the process of truly and effectively solving the pending issues that impair the relation of the Palestinians with the Lebanese State, in order to improve their living conditions as well as their temporary residence in Lebanon until they return to their country. There won't  be any discord between the Lebanese and the Palestinians and we are keen on maintaining a close and brotherly relationship between the two peoples, just like we are keen on preserving the Palestinians’ security which should be the responsibility of the Lebanese legal authorities.

PM Siniora pursued: Brothers, beloved, citizens, we won't be able to face these challenges successfully unless united and joint in solidarity just like we have always been in the face of the Israeli aggression and all who seek to destabilize the security in Lebanon and to kill and discourage the Lebanese people. We have succeeded, thanks to the solidarity of the Lebanese people with itself, its land, its martyrs, its sons’ resistance, sacrifices and resilience and the national and diplomatic stance of the Lebanese Government, in repelling and facing the aggression and in liberating the land that was recently occupied by the enemy. Your national army troops in collaboration with the UNIFIL forces, have deployed now in the South for the first time since more than three decades.  We have achieved together the hardest task, we still have two major tasks ahead of us, reconstruction and achieving national security and recovery, unanimous in speech and deeds and keen on defending the Lebanese unity and consequently maintaining the unique formula of coexistence, a model that has become a necessity not only for Lebanon and the Lebanese but an Arab, Islamic and international must.

Fellow citizens, our Arab brothers as well as our friends stood by us during and after the aggression, and have given us their political and financial support that will allow us achieve these two major tasks, namely the tasks of reconstruction and achieving national security and overall recovery, without any delay or discord or even including them in the political bazaar and conflict over power no matter what. Conflict over government seats and positions and discord on economic and political processes and administrative measures are temporary factors that should not affect citizens’ rights, their equality and security, their loyalty to the country, the State, the system and the identity.  No national solidarity and unity will persist unless are achieved the Lebanese security and the empowerment of the Lebanese people to exercise its legitimate right and participate in decision making through the effective and transparent Constitutional State institutions which are governed and will progress by virtue of elections held regularly under the Constitution, coexistence and unifying national identity.

PM Siniora added: We have emerged, after the dire experiences we had as well as the resilience of the Lebanese people during the enemy’s aggression, from two factors that have ruled,  for decades, our country and the life of our citizens: First, the internal military conflicts. Second, the fear of another Israeli aggression. We still have, by virtue of responsibility, hospitality Lebanese are famous of, wisdom of their elderly, love and concern of brothers and friends for Lebanon,  by virtue of all these values, to emerge from internal dissension and others’ will to keep Lebanon a battlefield and a regional and international conflict zone in a way that does not serve the interests of an Arab, free, sovereign and independent Lebanon. This can only be achieved through resorting to the State, participation in the democratic system and mechanisms, enabling the constitutional institutions that we have built together by our blood and efforts, our unifying national will and loyalty towards Lebanon.

PM Siniora said: During the current crisis that threatens Lebanon and the whole region, let me reiterate my initiative for an internal consensus on the basis of the national decisions which safeguard Lebanon, the safety of its territory and its unity, protect its Arab identity, its democratic system and liberties, and achieve political and social security. Such a consensus can only be reached through serious and comprehensive dialogue in Parliament that would draw up, according to the Taef Agreement and its full implementation, an executive program of policies and decisions agreed upon by the Lebanese.

This initiative includes an executive program of what was unanimously agreed upon: 

-         the national dialogue decisions,

-         the seven points plan,

-         approval of the Paris III Conference decisions, which will allow us to continue on the track of reforms, guarantying a better usage of our human and financial resources and a sustainable economic growth and better living standards.

Reaching agreement over such an executive program will be solid basis for establishing a national unity government amid these exceptional circumstances in such a way that ministerial seats be distributed according to representation of different political parties in Parliament. It is evident that the necessary dialogue which is the basis of a national unity government, will contribute as well in holding presidential elections during the scheduled constitutional delays and creating the pertaining appropriate atmosphere through a unifying national perspective.

Fellow Lebanese, on the 7th anniversary of the Liberation Day, we pledge loyalty to the martyrs, to the land and to the human being, we commit to reconstruct what was destroyed by the enemy, to achieve national security and recovery, to continue in the path of rebuilding the Lebanese State which will exclusively deploy  its sovereignty through its legitimate armed forces and to work through them and through its institutions for a free, promising and flourishing future for Lebanon and all the Lebanese. On the 7th anniversary of the Liberation Day, the liberation of the land and the will, we declare our determination to achieve national security with all our powers and with the support of the confidence of the Lebanese people, our Arab brothers and the international community.

PM Siniora added: We will not surrender to the terrorism of armed groups no matter what, just like we were not be frightened by assassinations. Our one and only message remains today and tomorrow: the civil state, the national security, the national responsibility, the life and future of the Lebanese people, eradication of these terrorist and criminal phenomena without any delay or hesitation. On 7th anniversary of the Liberation Day, we support our national army who safeguards the country’s unity and stability, deploys on the Southern boundaries, treats with the latest security crisis with wisdom and resolution in a way that protects the life of Lebanese and Palestinian civilians.

PM Siniora concluded: May God bless our brave martyrs, the martyrs of the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces, the martyrs of the resistance and the Lebanese and Palestinian civilians and may He grant us succeed in serving the interests of our country and nation, peace and unity.