Latest news with #March14
National News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
Bassil: It is not racism when we demand the return of a people to their land
NNA -The head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, affirmed during a popular rally organized by the movement marking the 20th commemoration of the Syrian army's withdrawal from Lebanon, that "FPM initially resisted Syria alone, before others joined in successively. We rallied support for the Syria Accountability Act in the US Congress, and Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was martyred, so a second March 14 occurred in 2005, with a mass mobilization in which loyalty to Lebanon was a response to loyalty to Syria on March 8." He stressed that March 14 "is a path from the military liberation in 1989 to the popular liberation in 2005, and an expression of a people's will for freedom that led to the withdrawal of the Syrian army on April 26, 2005, which was the day of the dream, the dream that led us to another dream with the return of General Michel Aoun from his exile on May 7, 2005." He continued, "They falsified our history because, with pride, we ended the state of hostility with Syria after it withdrew in 2005. We worked on dialogue to protect Lebanon's sovereignty and establish equal and diplomatic relations with Syria, and we succeeded. We always said we are against Syria when it is in Lebanon and we are with Syria when it is outside Lebanon, at a time when others were with Syria inside Lebanon and became against it when it left Lebanon, and when everyone knelt to the Syrians on the Anjar tiles, while we, from the heart of prison, were becoming growing in pride.' Bassil went on to state that the FPM has always chanted for "Freedom - Sovereignty - Independence," and its "struggle has continued from wartime to peacetime, from the battle of legitimacy against militias in wartime to the battle of the state against mafias in peacetime." "Lebanon is facing a new kind of occupation today, and it must be confronted by demanding its withdrawal. Lebanon is also subject to international guardianship through the UNHCR, which decides who returns and who stays. This is a clear infringement on our national sovereignty and our independent decision-making, which we must confront by rejecting guardianship," cautioned Bassil. He added, "The government, through the Minister of Social Affairs and the Displaced Persons Committee, has so far accepted the UNHCR's proposal on the concept of conditional voluntary return, and this is a national humiliation." "Our demand is clear and firm: the immediate and unconditional return of all displaced Syrians. Just as we liberated Lebanon from the Syrian occupation once, we will liberate it once again from this occupation disguised as humanitarian work," affirmed Bassil. He considered that "we are facing a national emergency due to an attack on our sovereignty and identity, and the municipalities are the current focus of our battle, and the Free Patriotic Movement will have the honor of liberating Lebanon from the army of displaced Syrians." "It is not racism when we demand the return of a people to their land. It is racism when we remain silent about their displacement and close our eyes to attempts to settle them," Bassil underlined. He concluded, "We support every municipality whose agenda includes defending the existence and livelihood of the Lebanese and preventing Syrian refugees from undermining the Lebanese people's livelihood. We are facing a national emergency, with our sovereignty and identity being violated. Municipalities are the current focus of our battle, and the Free Patriotic Movement will have the honor of liberating Lebanon from the army of Syrian refugees." =============
Tayyar.org
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Tayyar.org
Bassil at the Movement's Annual Conference: We are the Free Patriotic Decision and the Opposition, and we warn against compromising the electoral law and the selective application of eliminating political sectarianism.
The President of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, emphasized in his speech during the Movement's annual conference that the Movement was born from the womb of the army—the opposite of militias—and most importantly, from the womb of the Free Patriotic Decision. He warned against compromising the electoral law and true partnership, highlighting the danger of abolishing political sectarianism in a selective manner. He stressed the importance of addressing the Syrian displacement dilemma, reaffirming the Movement's stance on decentralization and its role as a positive and constructive opposition. The annual conference was held in the presence of President General Michel Aoun, deputies, vice presidents, and cadres of the Movement, alongside a large crowd from district and local bodies. A notable youth presence was recorded through speeches delivered by members of the Movement, covering various topics and outlining the Movement's roadmap for the next stage. Martine Najm Kteily, Vice President for Political Affairs, read the political paper, and Ghassan al-Khoury, Vice President for Administrative Affairs, discussed organizational matters. The conference was preceded by a session of the National Council, which approved both the political paper and the annual budget. Bassil stated, 'The Movement continues to commemorate March 14 because it lives in it. March 14 is simply three words: Freedom, Sovereignty, and Independence.' Addressing the young men and women of the Movement, he said, 'This is how we started: the Free Patriotic Decision. In 1988, when they asked the General who he relied on abroad in his war against Syria, his answer was, 'I rely on my people.' We are the same today—the Free Patriotic Decision.' Bassil added, 'When I was asked in 2022 who I relied on to say 'no' to the Axis of Resistance and its presidential candidate, my answer was: I rely on my conviction and conscience. And when I was asked in 2025 why I wanted to stay alone and reject the candidate of the Western Axis, my answer was: I remain with the freedom of my decision and the dignity of my Movement, with the Free Patriotic Decision and all its people.' He noted that the Movement will remain the Free Patriotic Decision because Lebanon faces existential dangers from within and without. 'We are most in need of the Free Patriotic Decision—it is what protects and preserves us. It preserves our existence and shields Lebanon from projects of fragmentation and sectarian wars that have turned Syria into a sovereign state yet a fragmented society plagued by sectarian conflicts.' On the Syrian issue, he emphasized that the bloody scene challenges the Lebanese to protect diversity and identity. He warned that Israel's occupation of new Lebanese territories, coupled with international silence and internal complacency, exposes Lebanon to Israel's expansionist project—one not halted by the ceasefire agreement or Resolution 1701. 'This is an existential danger we must recognize in its comprehensive scope, spanning Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon,' Bassil said, 'which urges us to call for a national meeting to formulate a project that preserves Lebanon's existence as an entity and a state.' Bassil stressed that it is the Free Patriotic Decision that allows Lebanon to distance itself from regional conflicts. 'Lebanon is not isolated, but it can isolate itself from sectarian strife and the poison of division and expansionism. It should not be part of an axis interfering in the affairs and interests of countries to involve them in wars, nor should it harm the countries of the region, their borders, rights, or existence.' He insisted that Lebanon's interest lies in a state that holds the national decision, free from any external influence, backed by military, financial, and economic capacities to protect itself and its interests. 'We do not call for Lebanon's weakness and dependency,' he said. 'On the contrary, we call for its strength and independence, gathering all elements of power within a national defense strategy led by the state—without excluding anyone.' Bassil continued, 'Because we have a Free Patriotic Decision, we call on the government to use it to solve the issues:' 1. Syrian Refugees: 'A Free Patriotic Decision enables a practical government plan for the return of Syrian refugees, transforming the rejection of resettlement from a slogan into a concrete plan that leverages our strengths to convince countries and achieve results.' 2. Foreign and Internal Policies: 'It allows us to set conditions for a just peace that secures our rights, builds a foreign policy that neutralizes us from conflicts, and protects our resources and sovereignty—alongside an internal policy that preserves our identity.' 3. Weapons Issue: 'A Free Patriotic Decision allows us to address the issue of all weapons with sovereign responsibility—ensuring the state monopolizes arms, decides on war and peace, and defends Lebanon when Israel attacks and withdraws when Israel gives us back our rights.' 4. Oil and Gas Extraction: 'It allows Lebanon to extract oil and gas without waiting for external approval and to overcome artificial internal obstacles.' 5. Economic Reforms: 'It enables us to implement reforms, not under foreign dictates, but to stop economic collapse—restructuring finances and banks, and recovering looted and smuggled funds.' Bassil emphasized, 'If someone asks why we are doing all this, we say: this is our idea and our policy. The circumstances and countries may not be with us, but if they are with you, go ahead—we are with you.' He underlined that the Free Patriotic Decision is why the Movement is in opposition today. 'We are out of government for two reasons: first, our freedom of decision prevents us from accepting what others have accepted—underrepresentation, as in 2005 and again in 2025. Second, they do not want us inside because they fear our Free Patriotic Decision. They fear we will reject their demands if they do not serve Lebanon's interests.' Bassil added, 'The Movement proved it was unaffected by the wave of pressure on Lebanon and had the courage to say 'no.' If you cannot say no to your friend comfortably, he is not a friend but a master. We have friends in the world, not masters.' He explained, 'Opposition is not sulking or sabotage; it is an incentive for government success. It monitors and questions. We are forming a shadow government to follow every ministry, help where needed, and criticize where necessary.' Bassil addressed those who failed Lebanon by holding grudges against Aoun and the Movement. 'Abandon hatred—don't cause another failure for Lebanon and its new president. Dare to make a free decision. Lebanon faces existential dangers, and we need to avoid sectarian strife and preserve Lebanon as a centralized state with expanded decentralization—fair development that benefits all regions.' He stressed, 'We have a new government fully supported from outside, with broad internal approval. They have a task: implement Resolution 1701 and disarm Hezbollah. We support them in this mission—but oppose disarmament through civil war and normalization with Israel without a just peace.' On the Syrian refugees, Bassil said, 'We were against the Syrian regime in 2005, then worked for friendly relations regardless of regime. Today, the Syrian army is gone, but the refugee crisis remains. We will not stay silent about an international conspiracy that allows their settlement. Our decision is patriotic and free.' He noted, 'We, Aoun's children in the Free Patriotic Movement, demand the departure of the Syrian refugee 'army' from Lebanon—just as General Aoun demanded Syria's withdrawal in 1989.' Bassil called on the current government and its supporters to take action. 'You hold all the ministries and files. We are ready for accountability. If you find any scandal involving us—take us to court. But if you find nothing, apologize to the people.' He pointed to the halted forensic audit. 'We demanded it and started with the Central Bank. It was stopped when frightening facts emerged. The Prime Minister promised to continue—go ahead and fulfill that promise. Start with us—but start!' On reforms and deposits, Bassil said, 'Without recovering transferred funds, talk about returning deposits is meaningless. We pursue cases like Forry, Optimum, and Riad Salameh abroad—but you are the government. What will you do?' He criticized the recent budget approval. 'A budget with crazy taxes and no reforms, approved without proper review—is this the reformist vision? The Movement will challenge this budget in court.' Regarding decentralization, Bassil called on the Prime Minister to present his project to the government and parliament. 'Approve it or adopt the Movement's proposal in Parliament. This fulfills a core clause of Taif and opens the path to others, like the Senate and the comprehensive abolition of sectarianism.' Bassil warned against selective abolition of political sectarianism. 'This would erase Christians from Lebanon. We will oppose any attempt to abolish any component of the country. Balanced representation and the electoral law must be preserved.' He stressed, 'Touching diaspora voting rights is unacceptable. Diaspora deputies are vital, and their role must be preserved.' On electricity, Bassil emphasized the Movement's plan: '24/24 hours, low prices for citizens, and zero deficit for the treasury. We want electricity—no matter who provides it. We are ready to help or observe, but the people's needs come first.' He added, 'Expose us if you find wrongdoing in the ministries we held—Communications, Energy, and Foreign Affairs. Cut off my head if necessary!' Bassil assured, 'We will be an opposition that does not disrupt services. We will question the government in parliament on every file, focusing on issues—not personalities.' On municipal elections, he said the Movement aims to preserve their developmental character, with consensus and no partisan slogans. 'We want municipalities to serve people, free from politicization.' For parliamentary elections, Bassil stated, 'Every election is about eliminating us. We must counter this through active engagement with residents and expatriates—telling our story against media distortion and financial manipulation.' In conclusion, Bassil addressed the youth. 'I trust and love you more. You are the Movement's future. You have endured bullying and injustice—and emerged strong. You will face more challenges, but stand firm and believe—you will win.' He ended, 'When Lebanon's sovereignty, identity, and dignity are at stake, we need a Free Patriotic Decision. We are the Free Patriotic Decision.'
Tayyar.org
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Tayyar.org
Bassil at the Free Patriotic Movement's Annual Dinner: 'We Are the Free Patriotic Decision and the True Opposition… And There Is an ‘Afghanization' of Syria'
The President of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Gebran Bassil, affirmed that the Movement embodies the true spirit of March 14, 1989, because it remains steadfast in its commitment to freedom, sovereignty, and independence. Others, he said, only invoke these values as slogans. 'We have continued to commemorate this anniversary until today, while they are absent now and will remain absent tomorrow. We stood firm and never deviated from our principles. As we did on March 14, we continue to stand for freedom, sovereignty, and independence,' Bassil declared. Bassil's remarks came during the FPM's annual dinner, held at the Habtoor Hotel, attended by a large gathering of diplomats, politicians, parliamentarians, and party members. He emphasized that the foundation of the Movement lay in the 'Free Patriotic Decision,' which later evolved into the Free Patriotic Movement. 'This is how we started,' he said. 'Our president came from the heart of the state and the army—outside of militias. He represented the national decision, free from foreign influence, expressing the Lebanese will for independence. The whole world stood against him until his removal in 1990, when Syrian and Israeli warplanes met above Baabda Palace, and the Saudi and American decisions converged on Parliament, while the Lebanese decision stood alone, in exile.' Bassil continued, 'In 2005, the entire international community came together to isolate him, alongside internal forces in alliances—the quadripartite, pentagonal, and hexagonal coalitions. Yet again, the Lebanese decision stood alone in its homeland.' He argued that on October 17, 2019, 'everyone united to target the president, aiming to remove him through a so-called revolution of 'all of them means all of them.' But their goal was to besiege us—the Free Patriotic Decision—mobilizing money and media against us.' In 2025, Bassil said, 'consuls, envoys, and delegates have returned, exporting foreign decisions to the Lebanese. And once again, 'all of them means all of them' obeyed—while we alone remained standing.' Addressing President Michel Aoun, Bassil declared: 'General, I am proud to have acted in 2025 as you did in 1988. You said no to the Murphy-Assad agreement. We, the Movement, said no to the five-party agreement. We said we will choose our president, and no one else will choose him for us. Our decision is national and free, and it will remain so.' He added, 'We will remain free, masters of our decisions, because our choices come from our minds, not our pockets. It's better for our pockets to be empty while our heads remain full of dignity. As for them, when their pockets are empty, they sell their dignity.' Bassil described the upcoming elections as decisive: 'The Movement will remain the Free Patriotic Decision. Just as they tried to eliminate us before, they will try again in 2026—but they will fail. That's why we are launching the 2026 electoral fund today. Everyone can contribute according to their means, but the essential thing is to keep both our pockets and our decisions free.' On the Movement's current stance, Bassil said:'We were the opposition to the Syrian and Israeli occupation of Lebanon when we were inside the state and government between 1988 and were the opposition to Syrian trusteeship and Israeli occupation when we were outside the state from 1990 to we became the opposition to the corrupt ruling system after returning to the state in 2005.'He added, 'We remained in opposition to the system while part of the government from 2008. We continued opposing the system when we participated in government from 2016 to 2022, and after leaving government in 2022 until today, we are still against the system—and we will continue to be.' Bassil stressed that the FPM has always opposed the regime's financial and economic policies, its mismanagement, and its corruption. 'The only difference,' he explained, 'is that when we regained our rightful representation in administration, parliament, government, and the presidency, we no longer needed to demand what we had reclaimed. But today, we must once again demand, even if we stand alone, the rights of our community—which, sadly, we have lost again.' He reiterated that the Movement has always opposed compromises on sovereignty and the national decision. 'Today,' he said, 'we stand against subservience and dependency.' 'We support a just peace—one that secures rights. A peace that the brave sign while standing, built on conviction and mutual interests, not an imposed peace that cowards accept while kneeling.' Bassil continued, 'We have always opposed corruption, displacement, the looting and smuggling of money, violations of the constitution and institutions, the failure to implement expanded decentralization, and any attempt to undermine our identity, entity, role, existence, and dignity. We oppose foreign interference in our affairs and reject interfering in the affairs of others.' On the situation in Syria, Bassil asked, 'How can we not be affected by what's happening on our borders? How can we not mourn for people fearing for their existence and lives, whose only crime is their religious affiliation?How can we not feel pain for the innocent children hiding under stairs and beds, waiting for the bullet that may pierce their heads?Is this democracy and human rights in Syria? Is this how brothers rule? Is this how comrades behave?' Bassil warned, 'What we are witnessing is the Afghanization of Syria, and this must not spread to the Middle East.'He emphasized, 'Islam is a religion of mercy, with values of brotherhood and humanity. We see these in the document signed under the auspices of the United Arab Emirates between the Pope of Rome and the Sheikh of Al-Azhar. This is the Islam we understand. This is the Christianity we live.' 'The sectarian infidelity of some groups contradicts the pluralistic nature of the Orient and poses an existential threat—not only to Alawites, Druze, Christians, and Shiites—but also to moderate Sunnis, who represent openness, development, and prosperity in the Arab Mashreq, as exemplified by the model promoted by Prince Mohammed bin Salman.' He added, 'Our opposition targets anything that threatens our existence and identity, including the international conspiracy seeking to alter our entity, structure, identity, and democracy. This is the greatest challenge of the coming have never been part of the system. Yes, we talk to it and negotiate to pass projects in government and legislation in parliament—but we are not part of it, nor is it part of us. And when we saw its influence infiltrating our ranks, among some of our officials and MPs, we pushed them away.' Bassil promised that the Movement's current opposition would be different. After 14 years in government, directly or indirectly, it will demonstrate how opposition can be positive, constructive, and purposeful—not negative, destructive, or chaotic.'We will praise what is good, help build with those who build, and hold accountable those who sabotage and destroy,' he said. 'We will maintain this positive approach. We will not sabotage—but this time, we will not take the blame for the saboteurs' actions. We fought to bring electricity. They blocked us and blamed us. But this time, if there is sabotage, they will bear the responsibility, not us.' Bassil declared, 'Today, we are not just the Free Patriotic Movement—we are the Free Patriotic Opposition. We are not part of the opposition—we are the opposition. We are the Lebanese opposition.' He emphasized, 'They are all sitting together—the revolutionaries and those against the revolution, the system and its opponents. They are all inside, and none can claim to be the opposition. But they will try to steal the name and the cause from us before the elections. Suddenly, they will all become the opposition. For now, they are all sitting together. We wish them success, and we are with them positively.' Bassil concluded with a salute to President Michel Aoun:'Twenty years we have celebrated this dinner after your return from exile. You have been with us for twenty years—absent for six years in person. May God forgive those who did what they did to the Lebanese during your presidency. You worked hard in the first year—that's what disturbed them. So they ruined it after a year and destroyed it after two. But nothing will destroy us. Their destruction was upon the country, and we have learned from it—and continue to learn. The important thing is not to tire or despair, as long as Lebanon is our cause. You are our school, and as long as we are the Free Patriotic Decision, we will remain steadfast in our country.' Bassil concluded, 'The more they persecute the Movement, the stronger it becomes. The more they exclude it, the stronger it grows. And the greater the challenges, the deeper our belief in our right and our commitment to our dignity.'
