Kataeb Students and Youth Department held a handover and takeover ceremony between Comrade Ralph Mrad and the new head of the Kataeb Students and Youth Departments Comrade Elias Semaan at the party's headquarters in Saifi.

On the occasion, Kataeb Leader Samy Gemayel praised the efforts made by Comrade Ralph Mrad in the most challenging situation the country has experienced, deeming the Kataeb Students and Youth Department as a school in which Kataeb members learn to bear responsibilities and develop a political thought.

The Kataeb Leader also congratulated the new head, Comrade Elias Semaan and wished him success in his new duties, saying that he is a committed Kataeb member who has competence and capabilities that enable him to succeed in his responsibilities.

“Today, our main goal is to prevent the postponement of the problems that Lebanon has been suffering from for decades, namely illegal weapons and corruption. Time has come for Hezbollah to live equally with the rest of the Lebanese under the roof of law and Constitution, otherwise we refuse to continue living with it as second-class citizens,” he said.

Gemayel deemed the past 6 years of lying, corruption, compromises, and political betrayals as an escape from responsibility and truth, saying that his party is the last bastion of honesty, patriotism and commitment in the Lebanese cause as it is the only party despite all the pressures, temptations, threats and assassinations, did not change its principles.

“Many accused the Kataeb Party of betrayal, firstly when it refused to elect Michel Aoun, and secondly and strangely, even after they discovered their mistake, but today they are quoting the Kataeb's speech when it opposed and rejected all settlements. This duality in their positions proves that their criterion was their personal interests and not Lebanon's interest,” he stated. 

“Time has come to admit that here is the truth, as well as the true Lebanese cause. Here we confront Hezbollah, defend the Lebanese sovereignty, integrity and efficiency. Here we face corruption with firm stand in position and honesty with the people. Here is the school of Bachir Gemayel and Pierre Gemayel,” he added.

The Kataeb Leader considered that his party’s participation in people’s revolution in the face of mafias and groups which destroyed the lives of the Lebanese was not an accusation.

He noted that participants were from all sects and orientations, and their number had reached two million people, saying that if there were among them those who lacked political experience or tried to take advantage of the revolution.

“Different points led to the division among the 13 lawmakers who were elected in the name of the revolution. We are coordinating with those who share with us a same perception of political and economic matters. Our mission lies in differentiating between right and wrong, and the important thing is to be convinced that what we are doing is right,” he continued.

Gemayel addressed the issue of the presidential elections saying that his party’s goal in 2023 was to stop postponing the intractable problems that Lebanon had suffered for decades and to put on the table illegal weapons, quotas in governments, and corruption issues.

He pointed out that Hezbollah has been preventing the Lebanese from living in a normal country and kept them in a state of war with no sovereignty and lawlessness where smuggling was active and where it used to take the decisions.

“The problem is financial and political mafia which rules the country, wastes money and spreads corruption, and it would not have existed without Hezbollah that provides coverage for it,” he confirmed.

“It is either that Hezbollah accepts that we build together a state of law in which everyone has equality, sovereignty, independence and freedom, otherwise we no longer want to live with them. We refuse to live as second-class citizens in our country. Postponing the solution of this problem is the greatest danger to Lebanon. All youth would leave," he stressed.

Gemayel emphasized that a radical position shall be taken, and that his party would use every opportunity to confront, starting with the presidential elections by refusing to elect a neutral president who would procrastinate for six new years without a solution. 

In response to a question about how the Kataeb Party would sit at the dialogue table with Hezbollah, Gemayel said: "What distinguishes us from Hezbollah is that it received orders, equipment and illegal weapons from Iran. Many changes have occurred in the region, from the demonstrations in Iran to border demarcation in Lebanon"

"Iran and Hezbollah have recognized Israel, no matter how hard they try to deny it, because the official signed text indicates the existence of two parties. These are important data that can lead to alteration in the interest of Iran and Hezbollah and push it to find a solution. This is something that we need to address face to face to get a definitive answer," he added.

The Kataeb Leader called on youth to be the spearhead in defending the principles, saying that every comrade shall be fully aware of the cause he is holding and defending.

Former Head of Kataeb Students and Youth Ralph Mrad delivered a speech in the beginning of the ceremony  praising the work of the department and a number of student offices in the regions which worked hard and devotedly considering them heroes: “Charbel Diab in Bint Jbeil, Zakhia Abou Hamad in Marjayoun, Fayez Nahed in Al-Zahrani, Jean Marc Gharib and Charbel Nassif in Chouf, Nohra Bejani in Aley, Rami Atallah and Ralph Bou Frem in Baabda, Boudi Jabbour and Anthony Doumit in Metn, Anthony Mirza and Anthony Zaarour in Keserwan, Jose Aoun and  Elie Semaan in Jbeil, Dany Alam and Khalil Akroush in Zahle, Elie Naim In Western Bekaa, Osama Haffar in Tripoli, Rose-Marie Challita in Koura, Anthony Bou Antoun in the Lebanese University Department, Youssef Azzi in the Private Universities Department and Michelle Saifi in Schools Department.”

As for department’s committee, Mrad thanked: “Georges Khoury, Rita Ghattas, Rouba Jabbour, Jean-Pierre Gemayel, Youssef Karam, Georges Ghanem, Roy Mhanna, Eliane Radi, Nour Bou Mefleh, Gilbert Sayyah, Jennifer Mardrossian, Rana Jabbour, Rita Doumit and Nadim Karam.”

He also praised all comrades who worked within cells in all schools and universities, and saluted comrades who are in heaven, including Comrade Joe Akiki who died in Beirut Blast and Johnny Khalil.

Mrad considered that the department worked in the most difficult circumstances with multiple crises which affected schools and universities.

He expressed his pride in serving the Kataeb Party under the presidency of Samy Gemayel, and thanked all the support he received from lawmakers.

For his part, new Head of Kataeb Students and Youth Elias Semaan began with recalling Comrade George Qandil and saluting his soul, as well as thanking comrade Ralph Mrad for his professionalism and dedicated work in the interest of the department and the party. 

Semaan said that kataeb Party’s history in peace and war was youth’s dignity. 

“We shall learn from our party’s ups and downs to become more powerful. We would never compromise on our 6000 martyrs,” he noted. 

“It is time to grow more and more. We did not compromise, did not hesitate, and did not weaken. This is our duty in the present to be able to build the future. Students and youth are the backbone of Kataeb Party,” he continued.

In the end, Head of the Lebanese University Department Charbel Diab handed Ralph Mrad a book entitled "Your Journey in Our View" in honor of his struggle and his vigilance over the Lebanese cause.

For his part Semaan presented to his predecessor Mrad a shield of appreciation, out of respect for his hard work and partisan morality.

The ceremony was attended by Kataeb Lawmakers Elias Hankach and Nadim Gemayel, as well as the party’s Secretary-General Serge Dagher and a large number of Kataeb students.