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The President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, delivered a speech during the lunch held at Baabda Palace at noon in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and said: “Your Excellency, the President of the French Republic, my dear friend, you he is welcome in Lebanon. We welcome you on this precious occasion into our hearts. “Your presence with us and the delegation that accompanies us marks a new chapter in the distinguished history that unites our two countries and our peoples.”
The memory of the declaration of the state of Greater Lebanon unites us today. A hundred years have passed since September 1, 1920, when General Gouraud said from the steps of the Pine Palace in Beirut: “I solemnly declare the rise of Greater Lebanon, while sharing your joy and pride. I salute you, on behalf of the government of the French Republic, for your greatness and strength, from the great river to the gates of Palestine and the peaks of the eastern chain. Although the celebration of this historical event is limited to the maximum, the impression remains here. It is an impact that reaches its climax at a time when Lebanon is currently going through a period of deep pain as a result of the economic and financial collapse and the crisis derived from the outbreak of the Corona epidemic, in addition to the tragedy without precedent in our history. derived from the explosion of the port of Beirut.
He added: “Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, faced with these blows of fate, there are two possibilities: surrender or maintain hope. Our history has taught us to get up and rebuild, never looking to the future. The past, rich in experiences, urges us today to act, and it is the best teacher for us who pushes us not to repeat mistakes.
President Aoun stressed that “Lebanon’s borders are the limits of freedom in this East, and our Lebanon is great with its pluralism, creative thinking and spirit of tolerance, in addition to its generosity and the spirit of openness that distinguishes it. That is why Pope Saint John Paul II saw in him more than one country, as a message. We urge everyone to preserve this message.
He continued: “Our hope today is focused on forming a new government that can launch the necessary reform workshop to get the country out of the current crisis. The hope is also in making our pain a catalyst to become a civil state, where efficiency is the criterion and the law that guarantees equal rights. To do this, I have promised to convene a national dialogue to arrive at a formula acceptable to all. May the first of September 2020 be a starting point for a new Lebanon, where the citizen is the king and not the leaders of the sects: a modern state that responds to the expectations of the people and the aspirations of our youth, which are the future of the country. Long live France, long live Lebanon.
Source: National Information Agency
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