Prime Minister Najib Mikati- Speech at The Lebanese Army Conference -Monroe hotel -Beirut
Thursday, Mar 29, 2012
Distinguished guests,
It gives me great pleasure to be welcoming you all in Lebanon. I also take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Lebanese Army’s Strategic Research and Studies Center for organizing this event. The Center plays a crucial role in providing analysis on the monitoring process of ongoing consequences in the region. This will support us in protecting and isolating Lebanon from consequences the region is currently witnessing. This also proves that our national Lebanese Army is the shield that protects our Lebanese democratic & parliamentary system, defends our country’s sovereignty, preserves the national coexistence formula and provides future prospects that pave the way for right decisions.
Distinguished guests,
Our meeting today comes during a crucial period in the history of our Arab Region; it is a period of transformation. Such transitions were costly on both the human and economic levels while and in some countries such transitions were less costly. We hoped that such transitions have happened with no bloodshed nor targeting of countries economic and developmental capacities.
Dear guests, if we wanted, to determine the cause of the popular movements that spawned different facts from what it was in the past, we realize that not only the interior causes and the complex relations between regimes their masses were the only cause for such popular movements to occur but rather the thrive for freedom, and dignity which the democratic systems provide to their masses such as equality & social justice.
Both advanced technologies such as telecommunications and Social Media have allowed the masses, not only to acquire knowledge and information, but also to make comparisons with the standards of living in several Arab states and those in advanced countries. This resulted in regional phenomena in the region to make up for the pass years of marginalization while in other countries this process will take longer time to occur. All countries will not reach this advancement unless they preserve and uphold the principals for basic individual rights.
Great responsibilities are awaiting the new system that have stemmed from such popular movements and which is to focus on positive changing impacts that took place along with the concerns that have erupted from tribal, sectarian and ethnic movements and have accelerated sectarian divisions which caused conflict in some countries and prospects for civil wars in others. Negatives consequences could have been avoided if the goals for such popular movements were realized and were to happen in a civilized calm and less costly procedure through dialogue.
Yes, Dear Guests, if the required reform was to take place in the right time and along with the duly responses to masses ambitiousness, change would have occurred in different forms based on consensus, and national partnership that cannot be comprised and there is no future nations without it. Thus, days and months that pass without a constructive and substantive dialogue is a loss of time and effort and the loss of more capacities and opportunities for success. Resolutions that result personal will and consensus remains the most appropriate solution that does not take into consideration the national interest .
The Lebanese example of dialogue and consensus through the Taef Agreement has closed the door to years of wars and divisions and is an example to follow. No matter how violence accelerated it will not provide sustainable solutions, but rather do more divisions and wars and self-destruction. Such violence will facilitate emerge of new phenomena’s that is not in the interest of the people that look for freedom and development. Now that we see that in some countries of change the rise of religious movements which caused fear among other groups in such countries. Democracy in all its forms through governance, legislation and political life will allow excluding any failure from occurring as well as its role in limiting extremis and protection the civil state, which is what the majority of people strive for.
Through history, Lebanon has stood as a model for dialogue and an oasis for freedom and democracy and a land for cultural development and civil liberties which makes it an ideal example to follow. Lebanon is a mosaic that is composed of a large variety of religious sects that emphasize on human values beyond ideological borders and a melting pot for the different political movements.
We present to Arab world our successful political system as an ideal example this doesn’t not mean that we do not look into our masses ambitions and to work on the implementation of this system that we have agreed to in Taef including the empowerment of our Lebanese Army and the other security entities. Empowerment of the Lebanese Army is always a priority in all my foreign missions.
Furthermore, I believe that The Lebanese System which prevailed over 70 years was able to lay the foundation for a strong civil state based on the freedom and civil rights of individuals along with the strong constitutional institutions and the peaceful authority transitions. This system is the cradle for democratic change in the Arab world.
Having said that, Lebanon’s position as to events in the region is to respect masses ambitions to freedom and having the system that will realize their needs, however, Lebanon does not interfere in the internal affairs of these countries but rather we wish these countries, stability and prosperity. No one will succeed in pushing Lebanon into taking a different position nor will the pressures imposed on us politically or economically cause us to change this position that we believe will jeopardize the Lebanese unity and the agreed pillars that were enrooted by the UN and the Arab League, which Lebanon is proud to be among its founders.
Our approach tothe situation in Syriais a decision we took- Yes,our decision-to distance Lebanon from interfering in Syria’s internal affairs and where we wishSyria all the bestin prevailing stability and the unity of its people in order to regain its role along with its sister Arab countries in facing the Israeli enemy, which occupies Arab territories, namely Palestine, and colonizes its land, captures its resources and practices racial discrimination without any deterrence.
Yes, dear brothers, you should not lose sight of in the midst of what is going on from the events, that the ultimate goal that must be pursued by the Arab countries is the support of just causes, especially the Palestinian cause and the right of the Palestinian people to have their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Dear Guests,
I am confident that the Arab Region will revive and be able to face the many challenges facing it by moving along with the paste of advancements. This conference will play a major role in focusing on the changes in the region and analyzing the geopolitical and economic consequences that stem from such change in the region.
In conclusion,
I say that this is the time of challenging choices; therefore we have to improve our observation to such changes by preventing our countries take challenging choices.
I thank you for your presence and wishing you all a successful meeting.
