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WCCR conference in
Washington and meetings with US administration
Washington DC, Cedars News, Feb 19th, 2008
The
Executive Committee of the World Council for the Cedars Revolution held
three days of conferences in Washington DC to "address the threats
against the Cedars Revolution and the necessity of an international
action to salvage democracy and freedom in Lebanon as they are
confronted by terrorism."
On Monday
the WCCR held a day long seminar at the Madison Hotel headed by its
President Joe Baini. The delegations from Lebanon, Canada, Australia,
Latin America, Europe and the United States discussed the developing
situation in Lebanon and came up with a memorandum to be addressed to
the US Government in Washington and to the United Nations Security
Council in New York. The seminar discussed the various challenges on the
security, political and economical levels in Lebanon. The WCCR decided
to reactivate the international initiative in support of Lebanon which
has started with the voting of UNSCR 1559 in September 2004.
The
executive committee made several decisions regarding the structures of
the Council in Lebanon to be announced later by the President.
Congress
Forum
On
Tuesday, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Near East at the US
House of Representatives, Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY) co-hosted a
forum at the US Congress with the WCCR to address the Terror threats
facing Lebanon. The forum was attended by a large number of NGOs, media,
and Cedars Revolution leaders in addition to four members of the US
House of the representatives. Among the participants were Rev Keith
Roderick, director of the Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights (56
organizations), Andy Chocran, director of the Foundation for Counter
Terrorism, a team from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies,
Farid Ghadri, President of the Syria Reform Party,
the director
of the Saudi Human Rights Center, a delegation from the Lebanese
Information Center, led
by Edgar Nohra
After
a brief introduction by Attorney John Hajjar, Director of the US Council
for the Cedars Revolution, chairman Ackerman told the forum that the US
Congress and Administration “will never abandon Lebanon and the Cedars
Revolution and that they will oppose the return of Syrian occupation and
control to Lebanon.” Ackerman said the Iranian and Syrian regimes have
been attempting to crumble the Lebanese independence for years but the
free people of Lebanon have risen to claim their freedom. He said that
the Terror forces in the region must understand that whoever comes to
the White House next year, Democrat or Republican will continue the
policy of support to the Cedars Revolution. “This is an American policy,
not a Party’s policy,” said Ackerman.
Mr
EJ Kimball, foreign policy advisor for Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-NC)
delivered remarks on behalf of the legislator who is a co-chairman of
the US House of the Representatives on Counter Terrorism (bipartisan 110
members). Kimball stated that the US Congress stands firmly by the
nations struggling against Terrorism and will continue to support the
implementation of UNSCR 1559 and 1701. He underlined that the Cedars
Revolution represents a free people under attack by terror and it is the
duty of America and the international community to come to its aid.
Congressman
Nick Rahal (D-VA) addressed the forum by saluting “the courageous
Lebanese people who stood firmly for its freedom.” He insisted that
Lebanon will be supported by the United States regardless of which
Administration. Congressman
Darrel
Issa (R-CA) said the Bush Administration has backed a
free Lebanon for years and has been able to secure a UN resolution 1559
to enable the country to control its own destiny. “We are committed to
continue that support now and in the future,” said
Issa.
Congressman Charles
Boustany (R-LA) addressed the forum and reiterated his
support to the Cedars Revolution in Lebanon. He said in the end only
Lebanon’s armed forces will be in charge of its security. The three
Lebanese-American legislators said they will make sure that the US
Congress and Administration will work with the international community
to ensure the implementation of all UN resolutions.
The forum was then moderated by Professor Walid Phares of the Foundation
for the Defense of Democracies who introduced a number of speakers and
answered questions about the terror war waged against Lebanon. Speakers
included Joe Baini, President of the WCCR, Toni Nissi, coordinator of
the Committee 1559 in Lebanon, Roger Edde, President of the Lebanese
Peace Party in Lebanon, Lukman Slim, Lebanese Human Rights activist, Tom
Harb, secretary general of the Committee 1559 and of the WCCR as well as
other speakers. The forum insisted on the necessity of implementing
chapter 7 of the UN Charter in the implementation of UNSCR 1559 and
1701.
Meeting
at the White House
The WCCR delegation comprising Joe Baini, Tom Harb, Roger Edde,
Toni
Nissi, John Hajjar, and Colonel Charbel Barakat, and Najib Zwein was
then received at the White House by the Office of the Vice President
where high ranking officials from Dick Cheney’s bureau and the National
Security Council including Dr.
samatha Ravich, Mr. Robert Karam, and Ms Emily Hardin welcomed
the delegation and reviewed the crisis in Lebanon. The WCCR officials
underlined the reality taking place in Lebanon since the launching of a
Terror War sponsored by the Syro-Iranian axis against the civil society
in Lebanon and its political and defense institutions. The delegation
insisted on the fact that after three years since the withdrawal of most
Syrian regular troops from the country, a military-terror machine
remained in the country to kill and spread chaos. “It is unthinkable”
said Tom Harb that legislators, journalists and defense officials were
savagely assassinated for three years without a direct intervention from
the international community.” Edde argued that “when a nation is unable
to defend itself against terror, the international community has to
assume its responsibility.” White House officials told the delegation
that the US Government is following closely the tragic events in Lebanon
and assured the Lebanese leaders that “America will not allow the
takeover by terror forces of this country.” Najib
Zwain member of the delegation and representative of the
Beirut-based Bureau of National Coordination (BCCN) said "we made sure
to update the White House officials on the realities on the ground in
Lebanon. Ret
Col Charbel barakat summarized the security situation on the ground
while Toni Nissi summarized the situation at the Syrian Lebanese border
which is still open for flow of arms from Syria to Hizbollah.
At the end of the meeting, the delegation remitted a document
calling for the implementation of Chapter 7 and prepared by Professor
Walid Phares for the WCCR.
Meeting
at the State Department
The
following day a delegation from the WCCR led by Joe Baini and including
Roger Edde ,Tom Harb, John Hajjar, Eblan farris, Najib Zwein, Toni Nissi
and Carol Sukhen visited the US State Department and met with officials
including principal Deputy Under Secretary Jeffrey Feltman, Kent Patton,
and Owen Kirby. During the meeting the delegation reviewed the latest
developments in Lebanon particularly the Terror campaign that has been
targeting legislators, politicians, Army and Security officers as well
as the UNIFIL. The delegation conveyed to the US officials the decision
by the WCCR and a number of Lebanese NGOs to raise the issue of Chapter
7 at international levels. Joe Baini said the Lebanese Government is
under so much terror pressures that it is now unable to call for
international help. Therefore the international community must help
Lebanon even though its Government is not calling for such help. Tom
Harb said it is the duty of the international community to act, and act
now. “The Terror forces have been killing the democratically elected
representatives of the Lebanese People and assassinating the commanders
who were in charge of defending the civilians from this terror.” The
delegation asked the US Government to move forward in the implementation
of Chapter 7. On their part, US officials assured the delegation that
Washington stood by the Lebanese civil society and will do all it can
under international law to confront Terrorism worldwide and in Lebanon.
Ambassador Feltman told the delegation that his years in Lebanon
provided him with the best experience as to what are the challenges in
that country. This experience will increase the US ability to help
Lebanon.
Meetings
with legislators
Following the
State
Deptartment meeting, WCCR officials visited several
legislators’ offices including Senator Mel Martinez, Congressman Robert
Wexler, Where they remitted the document calling for the
internationalization of the Lebanese crisis. Tom Harb said after the
meetings that the Lebanese pressure group overseas is making progress in
pushing for the implementation of chapter 7 as US and European
legislators are being educated as to the necessity of this move.” Harb
added that “we found a great reception among American legislators both
Democrats and Republicans as to the principle of assisting the Lebanese
people under international law.”
also
discussed the file of US funded TV Al-Hurra and its outreach in Lebanon.
Meeting with Congressmen Gregory Meeks and Russ Carnahan, member of the
delegation Kamal Batal submitted a file on Human rights abuse and the
lebanese prisoners in Syrian jails. Batal
summarized the human rights abuses still taking place in Lebanon at the
hand of pro-Syrian elements.
Meeting
at the Foundation
A
delegation from the conference visited the Foundation for the Defense of
Democracies and met with officials from the Research Division and the
Democracy Programs. Ms Carol Sokhn, from the delegation, explained the
necessity of developing programs in Lebanon to educate cadres for
democratic processes.
Cedars Revolution dinner
On Tuesday evening, the WCCR delegation gave a dinner to close the
conference and activities in Washington before heading to New York to
meet with United Nations Security Council missions. The key note speaker
at the dinner was Congressman Tom Feeney (R-FL) who insisted on American
full-fledged support to the Cedars Revolution which embodies the
aspirations of the Lebanese people. Feeney said “when the United States
introduced –with France- the text of UNSCR 1559 and continued to support
Lebanon it was extending its support to the Lebanese People first. And
it is to this civil society that America will continue to be committed.
In the face of growing dangers and terror, we cannot but assist the
Lebanese.” Following the speech a debate took place with two speakers,
Professor Walid Phares and Middle East expert, former Pentagon official
David Schenker. WCCR President Joe Baini closed the dinner with a thank
you speech to the delegation and all Lebanon’s friends in the US. |
