The final statement of the “Crossing to the Third Independence” conference at the invitation of the National Council to lift the Iranian occupation of Lebanon

At the invitation of the National Council to end the Iranian occupation of Lebanon, the Lebanese Center for Research and Studies (LCRS) Politica organized a dialogue conference under the theme "Crossing Over to the Third Independence” in the presence of Member of Parliament Ashraf Rifi, and former MPs Henri Helou and Antoine Zahra.

One hundred and twenty-two personalities from Lebanon and abroad participated in the conference and, after deliberation, the conferees issued their recommendations in the signed statement below.

Final statement

“To end the Iranian occupation of Lebanon”

Lebanon is under the Iranian occupation of Hezbollah’s militia forces and their weapons in breach of any constitutional legitimacy.

We have previously rejected, and we still reject, civil strife. We continue to respect this position, hence we choose the path of constitutional and popular legitimacy in order to restore Lebanon to its historical, sovereign, and democratic path.

Therefore, we declare that:

1- We hold the Constitution and the Taif Agreement, in letter and spirit, as the national pact founded on coexistence, the finality of the Lebanese entity, and the Arabness of Lebanon.

2- We adhere to the Arab Peace Initiative to resolve the Arab conflict with Israel.

3- We adhere to the international legitimacy of UNSC resolutions, specifically Resolutions 1559, 1680, 1701 and 6502.

4- We refuse any defensive strategy outside the framework of the Taif Agreement and UNSC Resolution 1701.

5- We demand the nation’s representatives deliberate in Parliament about the maritime border agreement with Israel.

6- We demand the demarcation of the land border with Israel and insist on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701.

7- We demand the execution of UNSC Resolution 1680 to demarcate the land and sea borders with Syria.

8- We demand that Lebanese authorities clarify the Syrian regime’s refusal to hand over documents confirming Shebaa Farms’ Lebanese identity and demand these documents be deposited with the United Nations.

9- We refuse the participation of any party in any government adopting the [Hezbollah] policy of “Army, People and Resistance.”

10- We support the election of a President of the Republic who adopts the points raised in this statement.

11- We refuse the participation of any party in any national dialogue outside the constitutional institutions.

We appeal to all political forces entrusted with the idea of Lebanon to show solidarity amongst each other because this challenge requires the congregation of patriots across society of all sects, and parties.

Crossing over to the third independence after the first in 1943 and the second in 2005 is a joint national duty.

Signatories:

      Ahmad Fatfat, Amin Mohamed Bashir, Antoine Andraous, Ayman Jezzini, Antoine Courban, Edmond Rabbat, Eliane Moukarzel, Elie Hajj, Elie Kyrillos, Elise Bassil Moukarzel, Isabelle Kyrillos, Adeeb Basbous, Antoine Hnayn, Antonia Douweihi, Elie Haykal, Ahmad Sankari, Antoine Kassis, Ayoub Slim, Ishaq Badawi, Arkan Hajj Shehadeh, Issal Saleh, Pierre Akel, Paul Janbas, Bahjat Salameh, Basel Osta, Toufic Gaspard, Soraya Karam, Jad Akhawi, Johnny Al Masri, George Selwen, Gerard Jabbour, Jamil Warraq, Jawad Pakradouni, Johnny Al-Siddiq, Joseph Karam, Hamed Daqduqi, Habib Khoury, Hosn Abboud, Khaled Nsouli, Khalil El-Helou, Khaled Hamadeh, Danielle Zakher, Dina Alloush, Katy Tabaa, Samer Hamiyah, Salim Dahdah, Sami Chamoun, Sana Al-Jack, Sandra Njeim, Sami Haddad, Simon George Karam, Suzy Ziadeh, Serge Gharios, Soulaf El Hajj, Charbel Kyrillos, Aref El-Abed, Abdallah Baroudi, Atallah Wehbe, Afifa El-Sayed, Abdel-Rahman Bchinati, Ghassan Moghabgab, Grace Kamel, Fadi El-Khair, Fares Souaid, Fadi Antoine Karam, Fajr Yassin , Farid Al-Beiruti, Philip Abi Akl, Fayrouz Joudeh, Fathi Yafi, Kifah Farhat, Larissa Fares, Lina Hamdan, Lina Tanner, Louis Maarawi, Mustafa Alloush, Majed Karam, Mamoun Malak, Marianne Issa Elkhoury, Maya Khalil, Michael Tabshouri, Mervat Ghazzawi, Muhammad Ali Tarshishi, Moeen Talib, Maha Halabi, Majd Bou Mjahid, Marwan Ayoubi, Marwan Hindi, Mayad Haidar, Muhammad Amin Marhaba, Maroun Hitti, Nehme Lebbos, Nada Abi Akl, Nadera Mounir Fawaz, Naoum Abi Rached, Nawal El Meouchi, Nelly Kandil, Norma Rizk, Nazih Khayat, Hind El Sofi, Radi Asaker, Ramy Shalhoub, Roderigue Nawfal, Ralph Germanos, Ralph Sioufi, Ruba Kabbara, Regina Kantara, Ziad Rizk, Sobhi Yaghi, Saleh Mokaddam , Tony Nissi, Tobia Atallah, Tony Khawaja, Tony Karam, Talal Khawaja, Tony Habib, Tanios Shahwan, Walid Chahine, Youssef Diab.