Source: Kataeb.org
Thursday 28 September 2023 11:29:29
During his American tour, Kataeb Lawmaker Nadim Gemayel participated in a gathering organized by, Sami El-Kadi, the representative of the Progressive Socialist Party in the United States.
This event was held in honor of Gemayel during his American tour and was attended by Deputies Ragy El-Saad and Adib Abdel Massih, as well as members of the Druze community.
At the outset, the host delivered a speech in which he expressed his wish for "a new resurrection for Lebanon through the resolution of the presidential vacancy, allowing for legislative and institutional work to proceed."
The host thanked Gemayel for accepting his invitation and emphasized Gemayel's commitment to unity, brotherhood, and cooperation among the children of one nation.
Gemayel delivered a speech in which he stated: "Since I entered this gracious house, the residence of our friend Samir El-Kadi, I have felt that I am in a place where warmth, love, and affection prevail among its members and friends. This is the Lebanon we desire: a Lebanon where Christians, Muslims, and Druze come together in love, respect, and brotherhood. Today, we are here in the United States with my colleagues Ragy El-Saad and Adib Abdel-Massih to reaffirm that communication persists between Lebanon and the diaspora, who still carry Lebanon in their hearts—the homeland that will remain sovereign, free, and democratic, no matter what challenges it faces. We will continue to work to preserve it."
"From this gracious house, we must extend greetings to Walid Jumblatt and emphasize the bonds that connect the people of the mountain with the people of Mount Lebanon as a whole. These bonds are the foundation of Lebanon's unity and continuity. They are the constants that must be preserved for the sake of our country's future, a country that our ancestors dreamed of, a country we dream of for ourselves and our children. We must protect our presence in our homeland,” he added.
Gemayel noted that the situation in Lebanon is very delicate, requiring awareness, vigilance, and constant monitoring.
“What we are experiencing today in Lebanon is not merely a presidential vacuum or a governmental crisis; it is a matter of choice and identity regarding the Lebanon we envision,” he stated.
“There is an armed group attempting to impose a new identity on Lebanon and alter its fundamental cultural and civilizational characteristics. This necessitates a resolute response, a clear and unequivocal stance to tell the people that this is not the Lebanon we desire,” Gemayel explained.
“We want Lebanon with its history, culture, values, and democracy, not Lebanon under the rule of a cleric, not Lebanon as an extension of Iran, and not Lebanon entangled in alliances unrelated to its essence,” he went on saying.
“We know our role. Our role is to maintain relationships based on mutual respect with states that respect international decisions that concern Lebanon. Our role is to preserve good relations and the historical regional role Lebanon has played with its Arab brethren, even though some are trying to distance us from them, or even turn us into enemies of the Arab world. We must confront all of this by safeguarding the values that Lebanon has cherished for thousands of years,” he stressed.
Gemayel said that the essence of Lebanon and its existence are dependent on its international and Arab relations and its cultural and educational role in the Middle East.
"This is our cause today, especially since some are presenting us with a choice between two projects. One project has no relevance to us and does not resemble us, while the other project, in which many Lebanese residents and expatriates believe, is the project of a Lebanon free from any external agenda,” Gemayel indicated.
“With the grace of God, we will confront all attempts that seek to strip Lebanon of its true identity. This requires unity, just as we witnessed on March 14, 2005, a dream that liberated Lebanon from the Syrians, but more importantly, it marked the beginning of a joint project that encompasses all Lebanese. In the absence of this common project, and not in the midst of contradictions, we cannot build the Lebanon that the Lebanese, who believe in their land, homeland, and state, aspire to. The common project existed, but unfortunately, the plan succeeded in undermining it through our fragmentation and division,” he concluded.