March 14 Vows Independence Uprising Will Continue Until It Reaches Objectives, Suggests 7-Point Plan
March 14 forces on Sunday stressed the need for "protecting Lebanon's independence" and urged everyone to support the State "in shadow of the regional and international turbulent situations," adding that "defending Lebanon is the State's responsibility."
"Our uprising will continue until it achieves its objectives despite the disappointments and mistakes we have committed in order to preserve our dream of a better society and a better life," March 14 General-Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid said, reciting the closing statement of March 14 Alliance 3rd Conference held at Bristol Hotel on the occasion of March 14's 5th birth anniversary.March 14 forces suggested a 7-point plan for protecting Lebanon and called on the Lebanese political factions to debate it.
The plan is based on "abiding by national dialogue's resolutions, normal relations with Syria and commitment to a timeframe for endorsing the defense strategy," in addition to "a clear declaration by all political forces, coupled with commitment, that national defense is the responsibility of the State through its legitimate authorities."
"Defending Lebanon is the responsibility of the Lebanese State and army exclusively," the statement said.
Soaid called on all forces to "rise above narrow-minded factional interests for the sake of national and societal solidarity," urging "all participant parties in cabinet and parliament for honest cooperation in order to turn the wheel of the State in a calm and stable manner." He also urged them "to avoid any stance or behavior that is apt to obstruct."
March 14 general-secretariat coordinator noted that "legitimate internal divergence is one thing and facing the occupation is something else," stressing that "any Israeli attack on any part of Lebanon is an aggression against all of Lebanon that will face it shoulder-to-shoulder in defense of the country and its higher interest."
Soaid called on the Lebanese State to take the initiative and "urge the Arab League to work on protecting Lebanon according to Arab solidarity, and to urge the international community to work on implementing UNSCR 1701 because it is essential in protecting the State and Lebanon."
He declared March 14's intent to make internal and external approaches, "especially toward the Lebanese civil society in order to create a social safety network, and toward the public opinion of the Arab nations to urge protecting Lebanon and its human model that embodies the Arabism of coexistence, the Arabism of diversity and tolerance that strays away from ideological investment aiming at serving this country or that political party."
On the other hand, PM Saad Hariri did not attend the conference due to his 3-day official visit to Germany that started on the same day.
