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Council for Cedar revolution to meet in US congress
May 17, 2006
By Fady Barq,
Special to Lebanonwire
WASHINGTON - The World Council for the Cedars Revolution (WCCR), an INGO
representing activists from the Lebanese Diaspora and Lebanon's civil
society will be holding its first Congress in Washington on Capitol Hill
this Thursday May 18.
The WCCR, headed by Joe Baini from Sydney, Australia will examine "the
state of the Cedars Revolution, one year after."
Officials from the International Lebanese Committee for the Implemetation
of the Cedars Revolution will also co-sponsor the Congressional event. The
latter is co-sponsored by US Congressmen Daryl Issa from California and
Tom Finney from Florida. About 45 offices in Congress will participate in
the various meetings.
The spokespersons for the conference said "the main subjects to be
addressed are the following:
1) The Syrian-Lebanese borders:
According to our NGOs inside Lebanon, European and
Lebanese MPs and other observers, Syrian occupation forces are still
present inside the Lebanese territories despite the so-called full
withdrawal announced by M Bashar Assad of Syria. We have conducted an
independent investigation in April and May 2006 and have the evidence that
Syrian military presence still occupies parts of Lebanon. We would like to
submit this evidence have the audience listen to witnesses.
2) The Hizbollah organization:
Our NGOs have noted the rejection by the Lebanese
civil society of the armed Hizbollah organization, which despite UNSCR
1559, still maintains a terror network and an army inside Lebanon, which
threatens not only Lebanese freedom and security but also regional and
international security.
3) The Lebanese army
Our NGOs would like to brief you about the
aspirations of the Lebanese civil society and the Lebanese Diaspora to see
the United States and the international community supporting the Lebanese
army to recover all Lebanese territories and disarm all militias including
the terrorist organizations.
4) Lebanese Democracy
Our NGOs wish to share the aspirations of the
Lebanese around the world to see Lebanese democracy grow and develop. We
also wish to share the concerns by the lebanese civil society and diaspora
regarding the campaign of Terror aimed at lebanon's politicians,
jounalists and intellectuals.
The World Council for the Cedars Revolution is an
INGO in support of Lebanon's Cedars Revolution and the ILS Committee 1559
is an INGO representing Lebanese communities around the world and inside
Lebanon working on insuring the implementation of UNSCR 1559
The spokespersons also announced that a joint
delegation of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution and the Committee
1559 will be recieved at the US State Department, and the Department of
Defense on Friday and will hold meetings at a number of Washington Think
Tanks. The joint delegation include more than 20 members from a variety of
countries and from Lebanon.
The Conference sessions will move to New York on
Sunday. A joint delegation will be received at the UN Security Council. A
memorandum is expected to be delivered to the UN about the situation in
Lebanon
Among the leaders of the joint delegation: Joe Baini,
President, Tom Harb Secretary General of the Committee 1559, Michel
Douaihi from Australia, John Hajjar and Anis Karam from the US, Dr. Rachid
Rahme from the UK, Mr Joseph Saouk from Sweden, Mr. Sami El-Khoury from
Ecuador, M George Chaya from Argentina, attorney Claudia Chater from
Brazil, Toni Nissi, Joseph Sokhn, Kamal El-Batal from Lebanon, Charbel
Barakat from Canada, Attorney Joanne Fakhre from the Caribbean, and Mrs
Nina Rahme representing Women organizarions.
Lebanonwire will post special
reports on the Washington and New York meetings |
