As part of his visit to Australia, the president of the Independence Movement Michel Moawad attended an event organized by the movement’s branch in Sydney. The event took place at the Mar Charbel Monastery’s main hall and brought together a large attendance from the local Lebanese community.

Speaking on the occasion, Moawad said: “Regardless of the considerations that have led to the form and timing of PM Saad Hariri’s resignation, there is a consecrated tradition in Lebanon that the Lebanese Prime Minister has to present his resignation on the Lebanese soil. Nevertheless, despite the high importance and big questions related to the form of the resignation, the essence of the decision shouldn’t be downplayed. The reason behind the critical crisis that we are presently facing is that there are Arab countries that consider that a Lebanese group, which is part of the Government, is represented in the Assembly and is active on the political scene, is threatening their security by interfering militarily and through its intelligence agents in the internal affairs of these countries. This is happening in Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain and other countries. Furthermore, the Arab countries that are complaining about this group’s interferences are accusing the Lebanese State of covering up the group.”

He added: “It is true that the mentioned interferences are not new. But they had become more serious over the recent days and weeks. PM Hariri became aware that his presence at the head of the Cabinet was not enough to protect Lebanon from the consequences of these infringements against the national security of countries that are friends to Lebanon. These countries say today that Lebanon’s particularities were an element that they had taken in consideration for months and years, but they couldn’t do so anymore as it would be at the expense of their security, their sovereignty and their unity.
This is the core reason behind Hariri’s resignation. Ignoring this reality will delay solving the problem.”

Lebanon First

“The truth must be said as it is. Doing so will offer an opportunity to address the crisis, before things get completely out of control. If the Lebanese parties keep their various alignments with foreign powers that are in confrontation, keep feeding passions via the media, and fail to come up with solutions based on the “Lebanon First” slogan, our country will soon become yet another fighting arena where the regional ‘Iran vs Arab countries’ conflict is being staged. This had become the case in 1975 and you all know the result. Some of you have actually moved here due to what we all endured back then. The same has been happening in Syria, Iraq and Yemen recently. Do we want Lebanon to also swing back to this? What I am saying is not a political analysis or an opinion. It is a matter that is affecting the existence of Lebanon as a country; a matter of security, of economic and social stability…”

Moawad continued: “The situation is critical; I call upon all political instances in the country for more unity and a higher level of responsibility. Lebanon’s interests must come first. Our foremost duty must be to protect the country’s stability. We need to put a stop to useless controversies and focus on the essential issues, otherwise, Lebanon as a state will be at stake. Each party can hold to its opinions and beliefs, but no one has the right to drag the country towards destruction. Protecting the country’s stability comes by avoiding having it being pulled into the regional conflicts, and by preserving Lebanon’s neutrality.

Hezbollah’s withdrawal from Arab countries

“We agree that political and security considerations must be implemented for PM Hariri to return to Lebanon. But preserving Lebanon’s neutrality requires above all the withdrawal of Hezbollah from Syria and other Arab countries and his return to within the Lebanese territories. In fact, the problem will remain as is if PM Hariri returns to Lebanon while Arab countries are still complaining about Hezbollah’s inferences in their countries and his threats to their security and safety. These countries have clearly said that if things remain as is, Lebanon will be considered as an enemy state. Therefore, to avoid the destruction of the country and its economy, Hezbollah must withdraw its troops and presence from all these countries.
We should all reunite under the umbrella of the Lebanese State and re-strengthen the ‘Presidential Compromise’ deal. We see the President of the Republic’s role in this as essential. With his good connections with all parties, he can play a pivotal role in bringing everyone back under the Constitution and the State’s umbrellas.

“The recent developments were serious enough to make us all understand the need to have a clear and united Lebanese vision; a common will to keep a neutral stand towards regional conflicts, to strengthen our sovereignty, and strengthen the national balance and constitutional stability. There should also be a conviction to move towards reforms. Lebanon cannot cope anymore with the present level of corruption and squandering. It is a pride for me to say that everyone in Lebanon – whether they share our political views or don’t – can testify that since me started working in the public field, our hands have never been stained by blood or by the misuse of public funds.

“Your role as Lebanese living abroad is essential to help create this clear national vision for sovereignty, a balanced national partnership and reforms, because you represent the Lebanese conscience. In fact, I often see the true Lebanon here in Australia amongst the Lebanese community, more than I see it in Lebanon.

“Over the last few years, we have fought and won the battle of giving you the right to vote from your places of residence abroad. This is now provided by the new Parliamentary Electoral Law. Your national duty at this point is to move to the next step which is to get yourselves registered before November 20 in order to become eligible to participate in the coming elections, and chose your representatives in Lebanon from your place of residence here in Australia.”

Zgharta-Zawiyat

Addressing the ‘Comrades in the Independence Movement’ and those in the crowd that are from the Zgharta-Zawiyat region, Moawad said: “You are first of all Lebanese citizens. Your first duty is towards your Lebanese national identity. But you are also from a region which has a symbolism in Lebanon’s history. We wish for this region to shift back to its historically known faithfulness to the ideal of sovereignty. Our region needs you. At the Lebanese national level, the Independence Movement holds a political project that aims for sovereignty, participation and reforms. In parallel, at the Zgharta-Zawiyat level the movement carries a project that seeks participation, freedom and dignity.”

“You all know how much the Zgharta-Zawiyat region has suffered from exploitation. Exploitation in politics is just like monopoly in economics, where the end result is in the consumers’ disadvantage. In politics, it all goes at the expense of the citizens’ interests, their dignity and their rights. Our political plan looks for complementary and participation between Zgharta and Zawiyat. We want that the Zawiyat be treated with the same respect as Zgharta, and not be secondary. We don’t accept that it remains looked at in an inferior way. In fact, we want it to be a foundation stone for development in the region. Our project is a project that wants to bring in development. Development is a right for the citizen, not a favor. It is based on transparency, not on corruption. It is a means for evolution and freedom, instead of clientelism and submission. This is what our political project seeks and wants to implement. Our will for this is firm, but in politics what one wishes is not enough to have it materialize. It will be you that would provide the power and capacity to make this will become reality. Your vote will allow this. It will help protect Lebanon’s sovereignty and bring in a balance partnership and reforms at the national level; and help implement freedom, partnership, development and a proper balance in Zgharta-Zawiyat.”

Answering a question, Moawad said: “The political parties in the country didn’t finalize yet their electoral alliances. Part of the reason has to do with the particularities of the new Elections law, not that there is a lack of clarity in the parties’ choices… The day that I get elected as a Member of Parliament, I will join my voice to all the voices at the Assembly that work for sovereignty, a balanced national participation, reforms, and the fighting of corruption.”

Asked about the crisis that the Arab World is going through, he answered: “The problem that the Arab World is facing does not concern the Sunnites of Lebanon only, but concerns all the Lebanese. The 500,000 thousand Lebanese living in the Gulf are not 500,000 thousand Sunnites, they are 500,000 thousand Lebanese. The problem has thus to be looked at from a national Lebanese point of view, not a sectarian one. Lebanon cannot bear the results of being in confrontation with the Arab world. Neither historically, nor economically, nor culturally, nor diplomatically, nor politically can we do that. If we go for a confrontation with the Arab world, we will be facing an identity crisis at the political, economic and social levels.”

The attendance

Were present at the event: The head of the Lebanese Forces in Australia, Toni Obeid, and the head of the Lebanese Forces Center in Sydney, Jihad Dagher; the Tayyar coordinator in Australia, Toni Tawk, and the Tayyar coordinator in Sydney, Toni Rizk; the Future Movement coordinator in Australia, Abdallah Al Mir, and the Future Movement coordinator in Sydney, Omar Shehade; the head of the Kataeb branch in Sydney, Lody Farah Ayyoub; the Independence Movement coordinator in Australia, Assad Barakat, and the movement’s coordinator in Sydney, Said Doueihy; the regional head of the Cultural University, Michel Doueihy; the head of the Maronite league, Bakhos Gergis; the president of the Maronite General Council, Toni Khattar; the president of the Maronite Center for Studies, Jean Torbey; the president of the Australian Chamber of Commerce; along with media representatives and a large crowd of members from the Lebanese community in Sydney and followers of the Independence Movement.