Opening of the first “Crossing the boundaries” International convention: Lebanon formula constitutes a laboratory for cultures and a confluence between East and West
The Public and Foreign Relations Department in the Lebanese Forces Students Association opened the first International convention under the title: “Crossing the boundaries”, in “St. Hills” Hotel in Adma, in the presence of MP Antoine Zahra representing the Chief Executive in the Lebanese Forces, Dr. Samir Geagea, the Foreign Public Relations consultant, Elie Khoury and the Lebanese Forces Students Association Chief, Me. Charbel Eid.
Thirty five democratic and conservative parties from more than twenty five countries participate in this convention, mainly the Republican Party in the United States, the German Christian Democratic Party headed by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the “Sforza italia Giovani” Party headed by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The convention goes until the evening of the fourth Sunday of October and is interspersed with spiritual and political meetings, and touristic visits.
Before the convention Opening, the meetings coordinator, Emile Issa El Khoury welcomed the attendees, noting that “the aim of this convention hosted by the Lebanese Forces Students Association, is to find a common vision as conservatives and democratic forces. “On this Lebanese soul, we crossed the borders and the differences where West and East coexist. And if we want to understand the Middle East, we have to understand Lebanon, and if we want to understand Lebanon we have to come to Lebanon”.
Then MP Zahra opened the convention representing the Chief Executive in the Lebanese Forces Dr. Samir Geagea. He welcomed the Students Association guests and the Youth element which is, in Lebanon and around the world, the center of the political life and promises a bright and secure future and achieves to the human being its humanity and pulls him out of the barriers of the humanity achievement caused by conflicts that prevent productivity”.
He added: “we as Lebanese Forces are proud of our students who assure the communication with the Christian parties in the free world. Lebanon has accumulated through the History human civilizations, and it is facing the greediness’s and lack of understanding of the community surrounding it. And Lebanon has contributed in the dissemination of the character, the historical and scientific contributions through the ages, as well as the contemporary contributions as the foundation of the United Nations, the Arabic Countries league, and Amnesty International, which led to show Lebanon image interested in justice and humanity development as a reference to resolve conflicts peacefully”.
“With these achievements, Lebanon accommodates with its formula as a laboratory of civilizations, even though we are suffering today from conflicts and crises, we ask the international community to help Lebanon overcome, especially that Lebanon lives without a government after parliament elections that occurred three months ago”.
“Democracy is threatened by the intimidation of weapons and violence to overthrow the elections results and to form a government in which the minority has the principal role unlike all the world’s democracies”.
Zahra welcomed the “experiences exchange between parties with deep experience in democracy, especially that the Lebanese Forces is working hard to get a typical party formula in the Middle East, and so we want to benefit from the other democratic parties experiences, and we call on everyone to contribute in the continuation of the free and efficient Christian existence through the common formula of Lebanon, because this role and message must continue, and therefore, the cultural experience continues on the Christian absolute values basis”.
He considered that: “if the economy takes into consideration the human rights and the application of the neo-liberalism, then the world wouldn’t be experiencing an economic crisis and a financial decline like never seen before, and therefore the rulers of the third world countries must be forbidden to monopolize wealth, excrete and export revolutions to the world like the Iranian regime, which abuses and controls other peoples.
On the other hand, Zahra asked to involve women to form a pressing political, economic and social force, and expressed the need to form a Youth force in order to give effect to the human being live in the land of civilization”.
The Students Association Chief, Me Charbel Eid, welcomed the attendees and thanked the Students Association Youth for their efforts and dedication.
“we, as organized democratic parties, do not want to create a sectarian support against any other political groups, we believe in not being able to live in a country without a state, where Lebanon may be the only geographic land that do not have a state, and without clearly defined borders with Syria which is accused of passing weapons and terrorists to inside Lebanon”.
He added: “If the Taef Agreement had stopped the war, but the political repression did not stop especially from Syria, and we raised the opposition flag and paid the price from prison to martyrs”.
Me. Eid confirmed that: “the illegal weapons on Lebanese territory, like the Palestinian weapons are unacceptable. And it is only up to the state to decide the war and the peace, and it is not allowed to any party to control this decision and to stop the formation of the state and government.
“We don’t also forget the detainees in the Syrian prisons file, where we have names and documents, and Syria refuses to give information and prevent the Red Cross access to their situation”.
He added: “Lebanon is more than a country, it is a coexistence message between eighteen sectarian groups eager to build a state that can serve this people, because our cause is the cause of a people that is eager to live like any other people in the free world”.
Later on, the Lebanese Forces Foreign Affairs consultant, Elie Khoury, welcomed the Youth coming to Lebanon, at this stage where Lebanon is facing the government formation crisis, confirming that it is an episode of a dilemma series of the Lebanese political life”.
Afterwards, a documentary prepared and executed by the Public and Foreign relations Department in the Lebanese Forces Students Association has been displayed.
The first lecturer, Dr. Akl Keyrouz, spoke about Lebanon History, the causes and the results of the Lebanese war, the regional and geographical roles, and the historical role of the Christians of Lebanon.
Then, Rock-Antoine Mehanna spoke about Lebanon during the International economic crisis, and the success of the Lebanese model exposing the economic growth in Lebanon.
After the lecture, the participants headed to “Zahr Al Laymoun” restaurant, in Dbayeh, for lunch, then visited Geita Grotto in Zouk.
After a short break in “St. Hills” Hotel in Adma, the participants started a tour in Down Town where they had lunch, and spent the evening at a Night Club.