Lebanon: the future and challenges - one year after Rafik Hariri's tragic death

The Euro-Med working group of the EPP-ED Group organised a special event in collaboration with the Lebanese community in Belgium on Tuesday 7 March 2006 in the European Parliament on 'Lebanon's future one year after Rafik Hariri's death' which was hosted by Rodi Kratsa MEP (EPP-ED, GR) and Lorenzo Cesa MEP (EPP-ED, IT).

Personalities from Lebanon such as Neematallah Abi Nasr, Member of the Lebanese Parliament and President of the Christian Democratic Union Lebanon and Farez Boueiz, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Yasma Fuleihan, wife of the late Minister of Economy and Trade Dr Basil Fuleihan who was assassinated with Rafik Hariri on 14 February 2005, and the Ambassador of Lebanon, HE Fawaz, participated at this special event as well as personalities from different fields such as institutions (European Institute for Research for Mediterranean and Euro-Arab Cooperation), representatives of the Lebanese political and economic life (Arab-Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce), from Belgian politics (Jos Chabert, Vice-President of the Belgian Parliament and Robert Urbain, Minister of State), Embassies of Arab States (Qatar, Lebanon, Arab States, Egypt, Kuwait, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Djibouti), international and Arab Media (Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabia, Kuwait News, TV-Brussels, RTL, RTBF, RTBF-Radio) and of Arab newspapers (Al-Hayat, Shark El Awsat).

Edward McMillan-Scott MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament and the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, welcomed the participants and made a brief introduction recalling the main elements of EPP-ED policy in the Mediterranean region

The first speaker, Rodi Kratsa MEP, underlined that the object of this initiative is to promote the dialogue, the exchange of information and to respect each other. "We are convinced that the destinies of the people living around the Mediterranean are strongly connected to each other. This is a reality which leads us to double our efforts in order to better understand the needs of this turbulent area", said Kratsa. Lebanon plays a major role in this effort especially after the tragic death of Rafik Hariri. It is a country open to the West and Arabic countries. The EPP-ED Group supports the Lebanese people in trying to help them build a democratic and peaceful state with good relations with its neighbours.

José Ignacio Salafranca MEP, EPP-ED Group Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Head of the EU mission of observers for the legislative elections in Lebanon, took the chair as moderator of the event and gave the floor to Mr Neematallah Abi Nasr who focused his speech on the solidarity shown by the Lebanese people despite all the terrorists' attempts to dissuade them from expressing themselves and calling for their independence. There was a huge mobilisation of the Lebanese people who stood up to express their desire for peace and freedom as well as their refusal of any foreign interference in their affairs. He furthermore highlighted the major challenges for Lebanon's future, namely citizenship, belonging to a nation whose state is based on the Rule of Law where there is protection of public freedoms and democracy in a sound economy. He also called on the European Union to "help us meet these challenges and make the Lebanese a model of government for the world of tomorrow".

Fares Boueiz made an historical summary of the situation in Lebanon before and after the departure of Syria, until the recent elections. For him "Lebanon could not be governed by Syria but not against it either. A dialogue is necessary which is taking place at the moment". He made reference to the geographical and political situation of Lebanon which makes it a special case between East and West and between Africa and Asia. He also referred to historical realities which made it an economic and cultural bridge in peace time between the different continents and unfortunately a military bridge in the time of war and conflict, and to a cultural reality with a diversity of cultures and religions. This is the whole Lebanese problem. It is a dimension that goes beyond its borders.

Concluding the meeting, Elmar Brok MEP (EPP-ED, D), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, highlighted that the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri 13 months ago plunged Lebanon into its worst crisis. Mr Brok added that although the elections were well managed and took place in a generally peaceful manner within the existing framework for elections, there is an urgent need for complete reform of the election framework. Finally, he underlined the fact that a fully democratic and sovereign Lebanon can play a vital role in the development of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and called on Syria to fully cooperate with the European Union in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy to ensure peace and stability in the region. He also called for the complete withdrawal of Syrian troops and its intelligence services from Lebanon, as called for in the Council's conclusions and the EP Resolution on the situation in Lebanon of March 10 2006.

Speeches
Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou MEP
Neemtallah Abi-Nasr
SEM Fares Boueiz

Photos of the meeting