YouSaid · the spoken record

Rafic Hariri

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS RAFIC HARIRI

lines on the record: 52
first: 1993-09-24
most recent: 1998-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Achieving this noble objective will not only translate just resolutions into tangible action, but it will also further the confidence of small States and nations in an authority that will guarantee their rights, their very existence and their future. In conclusion, I would like to address the Israeli people to tell them that the Arabs, specifically Lebanon and Syria, have taken a strategic decision, namely the peace option, which is the difficult choice. This is the strategic option which we uphold and for which we work in the interest of the future of our nation and that of our children. For peace to be realized, Israel also has to follow suit for the sake of the future of its children. Peace requires courage and a broad vision of the future. Lebanon and Syria have made their choice. Will Israel make the same choice?”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“On the occasion of the departure of the Norwegian battalion that has worked in Lebanon for over two decades, allow me to express, on behalf of the people and the Government of Lebanon, our thanks and gratitude to the Norwegian people and Government for their enduring commitment to and participation in the Force. Many members of the Norwegian battalion sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Lebanon has the right to demand that the international community and the United Nations, which represents international legitimacy, should make every effort to secure Israel?s compliance with international resolutions and its withdrawal from its territories. Lebanon, which believes in peace, will work with its brothers to consolidate this peace and make it a foundation for a new life in the Middle East region.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The United Nations peacekeeping forces have repeatedly been the direct target of Israeli bombardment, including the 1996 shelling of the 21 headquarters of a battalion of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, in Qana, which was the scene of a heinous massacre in which scores of Lebanese lost their lives. Here we would like to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers of the United Nations who have died in Lebanon, victims of Israeli acts of aggression. Lebanon considers them to be its martyrs too. From this rostrum, we honour their memory. We salute each and every member of the United Nations peacekeeping Force stationed in Lebanon. We express special thanks and appreciation to the friendly States that have contributed troops to that Force.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“On the other hand, Lebanon sees how the international community is incapable of doing what it takes to restore its legitimate rights through compliance with the just resolutions adopted by this international Organization, in particular Security Council resolution 425 (1978), which calls for unconditional Israeli withdrawal from the Lebanese territories. Lebanon, which for 50 years has dearly paid for the establishment of Israel, suffers from the double standards which have so far obstructed the implementation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978). The United Nations, which has made continuous efforts, and whose peacekeeping forces have made the ultimate sacrifice, in the South, remains the best witness to the indiscriminate nature and ferocity of the Israeli attacks against the Lebanese.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We have been trying to secure the release of all Lebanese detainees from Israeli jails with the assistance of friendly and brotherly States and with the active involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross. We appeal to the United Nations and to other international humanitarian agencies to give this matter their utmost attention. We also call upon them to plead with Israel to improve the living conditions of these prisoners, who live in unbearable, inhumane circumstances that run counter to international laws and conventions. Lebanon finds itself today twice victimized. On the one hand, it has to endure continued devastating attacks by Israel, attacks that can be justified only under one rubric: Israel?s stubborn clinging to its occupation and to the flimsy pretext of security.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The Lebanese people who, like other peoples whose lands have been occupied, have been resisting occupation, and appeal to the international community to spare no effort in helping to secure the release of its citizens who are incarcerated in Israeli prisons and in detention camps under Israeli control in the occupied Lebanese territories. Hundreds of our sons have been languishing in Israeli jails and detention camps for years. Some have already served the prison sentences handed down by Israeli courts, yet are still in custody for reasons unknown to anyone. Others have been in custody for years but have not yet been arraigned. Their incarceration continues under an arbitrary measure that Israel calls “administrative detention”.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The voices that were recently raised calling for the establishment of military alliances in the region on the pretext of confronting certain trends of thought can only be seen as attempts to bring the region back to the atmosphere of alliances and confrontation. Time and again, history has proven these to be harmful to the interests of peoples. They can only lead to negative results that will obstruct the peace process. So long as the Israeli occupation and assaults against our people continue, we shall continue to uphold our right to resist occupation and to use all legitimate means to which peoples who have had to endure the injustices and evils of occupation have resorted previously. The Lebanese resistance in southern Lebanon and the West Beqaa is in pursuit of a legitimate right supported and endorsed by the entire Lebanese people.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We continue to be committed to peace as a strategic choice. Peace as we see it is a peace built on justice, a peace that will restore usurped rights to their rightful owners fully and without diminution. Any initiatives that ignore these principles and bases are nothing more than manoeuvres predestined to failure. They will only prolong the conflict with all that this implies in terms of squandering the human and economic resources of all concerned. They will further postpone the permanent, just and comprehensive peace which we still uphold and aspire to. To us, this will always be the only viable means to achieve the prosperity and progress of our people and of the other peoples of the region.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Peace negotiations aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive peace — the peace that we always proclaimed our desire to achieve — can only be accomplished on the basis of the Madrid terms of reference, in accordance with the principle of land for peace. These should be pursued on two parallel, inseparable tracks with Israel: the Lebanese negotiation track and the Syrian negotiation track. The interdependence of the twin tracks was a strategic decision dictated by the supreme interests of both Lebanon and Syria. This interdependence enhances the prospects of a just, permanent and comprehensive peace. We have previously declared, and we repeat today before this assembly of nations, that neither Lebanon nor Syria will sign a separate peace agreement with Israel. Lebanon and Syria are committed to the resolutions of international legitimacy.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“On this occasion, we reiterate our total rejection of any settlement of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. We call upon the international community to increase its voluntary contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) pending the implementation of international resolutions relative to refugees, particularly resolution 194 (III). As we repeat our commitment to a just, comprehensive and permanent peace, we declare that we 20 in Lebanon and in Syria are ready to resume the negotiations from where they were stopped. We are ready to sign a peace treaty with Israel within three months, on the condition that it withdraws from the South, from the West Beqaa, and from the Syrian Golan to the lines of 4 June 1967.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We went to the Madrid Peace Conference with the other Arab parties sincerely hoping to achieve a just, permanent and comprehensive peace that would end the continued cycle of violence that has engulfed our region over the past 50 years. The negotiations on the Palestinian track remain in a vicious circle, and the repercussions of Israeli intransigence could very well shatter our hopes for peace; the negotiations on the Lebanese and Syrian tracks have come to a complete standstill as a result of the intransigent position of the Israeli Government. We reaffirm our permanent commitment to the noble objective of achieving peace. We have previously declared that the accomplishment of this goal lies in the full, immediate and unconditional implementation of United Nations resolutions.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“They must bring the necessary pressure to bear on the aggressor to remove the causes of this conflict and lay the foundations of a just and comprehensive peace. Israel cannot merely pay lip service to peace and expect to be considered a truly peace-loving State. Talking about peace is one thing; Israel?s actions on the ground are another. Israel?s claim that it is a weak country surrounded by hostile neighbours is one thing; Israel?s military might, based on weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons and state-of-the-art Western weaponry, is another. Israel has all those weapons and is the mightiest Power in the Middle East. But it does not want to implement or respect the resolutions of international legitimacy.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“This was made possible by the cooperation between the Lebanese financial institutions and their international counterparts. It is a demonstration of the confidence that the world has in the present and future of the national economy and of the confidence of the Lebanese themselves in their country and its future. But to date, Israel has not wanted to meet its commitments; it has not done what it promised to the Palestinians and to the international community; it does not want to resume the negotiations with Lebanon and with Syria from the point at which they left off. We invite the institutions of the international community to play a more effective role in securing compliance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Lebanon has succeeded in regaining the world?s confidence in its ability to play once more a distinguished and shining role in the cultural, economic, commercial and financial fields. Beirut is back to its position as the crossroads of various cultures and civilizations, a fact attested to by the many conferences and the regional and international meetings that were convened there. The United Nations building that Lebanon has recently completed as the focal point for United Nations activities in Lebanon and in the region is proof, if any was needed, of Lebanon?s keen interest in the return of international organizations to Beirut. As an indication of international confidence in our performance, the world financial markets traded in treasury bonds issued by the Lebanese Government and institutions of the private sector.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Throughout this period of reconstruction, Lebanon faced difficult circumstances caused first and foremost by the continued Israeli occupation of parts of its territories and by the continuity of its devastating attacks against its villages and peaceful citizens. These attacks have claimed the lives of many innocent civilians, men, women and children, and wounded many many more. I am confident that the international community still remembers very well the Qana massacre perpetrated by Israel in 1996. Lebanon has faced a critical stage of its history through the past few years while implementing the reconstruction plans. The only parallel to the intensity of this stage is the determination of the Lebanese people to face the various challenges on more than one front.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“19 Lebanon, with an open and creative society, a society that is Arab by identity and orientation, has remained united in territory, population and institutions; Lebanon has remained a vibrant oasis of goodwill and beneficial interaction. As is well known, Lebanon has for the past few years embarked on a reconstruction plan following a protracted devastating war. It has been tirelessly working to regain the prominent cultural and economic position it once held in its region and in the world, depending on God Almighty, then on the will and resourcefulness of its own citizens and on the support of its brothers and the contributions of its friends all over the world.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We therefore believe that it is important for all States, large and small, to commit to the principles of international legitimacy and refrain from undertaking unilateral measures that are driven solely by narrow interests and dictated by expediency. Today, as we reiterate these constant positions of principle, we can point with confidence to the originality of our experience in coexistence, which is based on moderation and tolerance, and our firm belief in both deserves to be a living model that should be emulated whenever solutions are sought to the problems of societies afflicted with wars, racial or factional strife all over the world. This is particularly true of societies that are trying to restore civil peace as part of their post-conflict peace- building efforts.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Lebanon condemns attacks against civilians, embassies and diplomatic missions, plane hijacking and any other act that jeopardizes the lives and property of civilians. However, we must stress the importance of distinguishing between terrorism and peoples? rights to resist the forces of foreign occupation in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and in its successive resolutions adopted by the international Organization and other fora, especially the Declaration of the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations. Lebanon is fully committed to the role of the United Nations and is keen on furthering this role and on safeguarding the equilibrium and integrity of international relations.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In this context, we aspire and call for the establishment of a zone free from nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Five years ago, I was privileged to stand here before the General Assembly to speak about Lebanon and about its commitment to a just and comprehensive peace. From this very rostrum, I declared that Lebanon is committed to the principles of democracy, liberty and human rights, and that it has succeeded in safeguarding these principles even through its darkest moments. In this context, reference should be made to Lebanon?s firm position of condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including political, cultural and economic. We condemn terrorism whether sponsored by States or by individuals.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We need also to address the root causes of the problems and thereby to defuse the crises before they turn into full-scale conflagrations. The time has come to solve pending problems, particularly those of the Middle East region. For instance, a settlement must be found to the question of the three islands in the Gulf disputed by the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Such a settlement should restore the disputed islands to their rightful owners and thus promote peace and stability among the States and the peoples of the region. If we are truly interested in the promotion of regional and international peace and security, we must work in all seriousness to build a world free from weapons of mass destruction.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Furthermore, the reform of the working methods and streamlining of the Security Council to increase its membership and make it more representative should also be completed. Once reformed, different States, particularly small States, will be enabled to participate in the decision-making process relevant to the maintenance of international peace and security. We commend the efforts that went into the establishment of the International Criminal Court whose Statute was recently adopted in Rome. Lebanon supports the establishment of the Court and is determined to study its Statute positively. More than ever before, the international community is called upon to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, especially in extremely sensitive regions of the world.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“It will also give these countries sufficient time to adapt and get ready to face the new challenges. This will help many developing countries avoid the negative effects of surging globalization, given the inadequacy of their production capabilities and the absence of a competitive edge. In this regard, Lebanon is effectively contributing to the establishment of a free trade zone specifically in the Arab region while continuing its commitment to the establishment of trade liberalization worldwide. On the eve of the twenty-first century, the United Nations role requires it to fulfil the tasks of reform and streamlining so that it can keep up with the fast pace of international relations. Thus the reform measures initiated by the Secretary-General must be completed.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The United Nations is duty-bound to enhance its independence since it was liberated from the impact of the cold war and of the bipolarity which held sway over international relations in the post-Second World War era. Today, it is called upon to reactivate its role in making and consolidating peace. This task can be achieved primarily by addressing the root causes of conflicts, through preventive diplomacy and through various 18 technical and development assistance programmes in various fields. It is important here to refer to the fact that international institutions have an important role to play in providing the developing countries with the necessary technical assistance. Such assistance will enable them to take advantage of the accelerated pace of globalization in the field of trade and finance.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We hope that this will be followed by similar successes in other volatile situations plaguing different parts of the world. The hopes that are pinned on the United Nations assume a special meaning at this session, which coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an instrument which Lebanon participated in framing. Today, human rights are a major pillar of the new world order. Respect for human rights has become the yardstick by which the democracy practised in countries is judged. Compliance with the provisions of the Declaration under all circumstances and conditions guarantees not only the peace, security and stability of societies but also the establishment of relations of cooperation and understanding among States.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Mr. Opertti on his election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-third session. I would also like to commend the efforts of his predecessor, Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko, whom we recently welcomed to our country. I should also like to place on record our appreciation to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan. He has been working tirelessly to promote the authority of the United Nations, advocating respect for the international legitimacy for which it stands, especially in the area of finding peaceful solutions to the explosive conflicts that are raging in some parts of the world. The international community has recognized his great achievement when he succeeded a few months ago in defusing an ominous military confrontation in the Arab Gulf region.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“If we really wish to put an end once for all to the chapters of pain and anguish in the Middle East, then the cause of the Palestinians should be addressed in such a manner that may ensure for them a decent life commensurate with their legitimate aspirations and the aspirations of all our countries after human rights. Fourthly, in order to achieve peace, Lebanon is willing to cooperate fully with the two co-sponsors of the peace conference, particularly the United States of America, to reach a comprehensive and just solution that would safeguard the right of all parties to permanent peace, and put an end once and for all to conflicts in the region. Towards that end, Lebanon stands ready to assume its due share of the responsibility.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The accord reached between Israel and the Palestinians will remain a mere single step unless it is quickly complemented by substantive solutions on the other Arab tracks. Lebanon, which is extremely limited in the size of its territory, has a delicate population composition and scant economic resources, cannot provide a solution for Palestinians who have been uprooted from their land. The responsibility for returning the Palestinians Forty-eighth session - 30 September l993 15 to their homeland and for finding a satisfactory solution to their status remains within the competence of the international community.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Along with its Arab brethren, Lebanon will be an active participant in making peace and in supporting its development and advocating its consolidation as the underpinning of life in the Middle East. Thirdly, Lebanon which has had very painful experiences as a result of the policy of the singling out of certain countries and imposing partial solutions, believes that peace is indivisible, especially in cases where issues are closely interrelated, as is the case in the Middle East. We also believe that unilateral and partial arrangements are bound to give rise to nothing but new disputes and conflicts. In this context, I should like to affirm, on the basis of the object-lessons learnt from our common experience, that there can be no firm and lasting peace in the Middle East without Lebanon and Syria.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“More than ever before, the Middle East sorely needs brave, innovative approaches if it is to attain a firm and lasting peace. Lebanon, which is participating in the peace talks in order to liberate its lands and lay the foundations of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, wishes to point out the following: First, Lebanon demands the total withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Lebanese territories under Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978). The Lebanese armed forces will assume full responsibility for security in the southern and western regions should Israel implement the provisions of those two resolutions. Secondly, Lebanon, which believes in and seeks peace, would be among the first beneficiaries of a just peace as it expands to encompass the entire region.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“If Israel uses the security of its northern border as a pretext, we would argue that all the measures taken by Israel, including the occupation of territory, have contributed to the disruption of security. In fact, Lebanon and the international community are more than ever convinced that the only way to ensure regional security is to end the occupation of Lebanese territory and desisting from tampering with the security and safety of its population. Forty-five years of unabated disputes, conflicts and wars have created certain outlooks. Changing such outlooks will require great political courage and deep understanding on the part of those who are interested in peace. Large-scale direct support will also be needed, along with innovative thinking to shake ourselves loose from traditional frames of mind.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Energies and resources that have long been squandered on war could then be harnessed in the service of social and economic development as we stand on the threshold of the twenty-first century with all its promise of achievements to come. Against this backdrop, and in view of the regional and international developments that have made it possible to initiate negotiations with Israel, Lebanon participated in those negotiations two years ago despite the fact that parts of its territory have been under occupation as a result of an act of aggression committed by Israel in 1978 - and not because of a state of war with Israel. Lebanon’s just case firmly rests on a series of United Nations resolutions adopted over the past 15 years, all of which demand Israel’s withdrawal and define the necessary means and modalities required to achieve it.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The positive developments now taking place daily in Lebanon are the most articulate expression of the Lebanese refusal to permit their country once again to be a victim of the Middle East conflict at a time when the winds of peace are starting to blow towards the region. Lebanon yearns for peace and has consistently opted for peace throughout its history. In fact, Lebanon can thrive only in an atmosphere of peace and stability. Indeed, its role in its own region and in the world at large cannot be performed in the midst of violence and war. Lebanon believes that the Middle East region, if it enjoys a just and comprehensive peace, will be in a position to contribute incalculable services to mankind. All the peoples of the region, including the Lebanese, have enormous potential, backed by a great cultural heritage and diverse capabilities.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Despite the repeated appeals by the Commission on Human Rights and Amnesty International and the demands made by 14 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session the Lebanese Government and human-rights societies in Lebanon and the rest of the Arab world, the Israeli authorities refuse to release them. Furthermore, for more than eight years, Israel has denied the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as family members access to visit those prisoners. It is high time indeed for Israel to respond to the appeals of international bodies by releasing those hostages promptly, thus putting an end to their drawn out suffering and the agony of their families. In fact, Israel is duty-bound to do so in compliance with the relevant international treaties and conventions.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“An insistence on peace was the driving force that prompted the Lebanese to return immediately to their villages and farms following the most recent Israeli aggression. They pitched tents in front of their demolished homes, thus demonstrating their deep attachment to the land and their loyalty to the territory and its bounties. The true nature of the Al-Khiyam detention camp, where Israeli military authorities hold more than 200 Lebanese citizens without any legal grounds, is well known to United Nations officials and to Member States. Indeed, the case of those detainees is common knowledge in the international media. Moreover, 100 other Lebanese prisoners are being held in various prisons inside Israel.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Our country, which draws its strength from the steadfastness and resilience of its people, has reaffirmed time and again its right to live in dignity and to ensure the freedom of its territory. The Lebanese Government is heavily engaged in the reconstruction effort and the enhancement of civilian life in order to promote stability throughout the region. Israeli acts of aggression, which have clear objectives and purposes, have been met by the Lebanese with a high sense of responsibility, solidarity and internal unity. Our unchanging, spontaneous response is insistence on peace and on securing the security and progress of our country, which has paid dearly for having been used as an arena to settle accounts among conflicting parties.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Furthermore, Saudi Arabia, in keeping with a long-standing tradition, together with other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council continues to donate substantial assistance towards the reconstruction of Lebanon. With the same goal in mind, the Lebanese Government undertook the implementation of a rehabilitation programme in all spheres of life and in an unmistakable atmosphere of international confidence. Gradually, Lebanon began to restore its traditional, regional and international role. This permitted Lebanese energies to be unleashed, and gave rise to creative initiatives for reconstructing and developing the country. In all this, Lebanon has faced up to occupation and violence, by adopting a stance anchored in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“It is not an overstatement to point out that peace in Lebanon has been, and continues to be, the sine qua non for stability in the Middle East and for the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the entire region. Any peace arrangements will remain fragile and incomplete should the international community choose to tolerate the continuation of a situation that threatens Lebanon with potentially explosive disputes. The Lebanese have agreed by consensus on a new formula for national reconciliation, which was worked out in 1989 at Taif in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia played the principal role in working out that formula, which later became Lebanon’s constitution.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“However, as we look forward to the future - having taken firm and crucial steps towards restoring normalcy, with the substantial and effective help of Syria in disarming the militias, ending the internecine fighting and restoring the authority of the State, we feel we have the right to call upon the United Nations at a time when its role is being redefined in consonance with current global changes, to act decisively in Lebanon. More specifically, we expect the United Nations to work forcefully for the implementation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978), and to ensure Israel’s total withdrawal to the internationally recognized boundaries.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Therefore, we must give credit to the Organization for its initial favourable response in regard to Lebanon, especially in terms of the need to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and the establishment of the United Nations peace-keeping force in southern Lebanon. I avail myself of this opportunity to recognize the effective role played by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). May I pay tribute to the many United Nations personnel who have made sacrifices, including the loss of life, in the line of duty in southern Lebanon. To those contingents and to the friendly countries that have contributed troops, we express our deep gratitude.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Justice and law have been, and continue to be, on the side of Lebanon. Notwithstanding, the Lebanese have always been deeply disappointed by the fact that political interests have continued to outweigh justice and the rule of law, and led to the application of double standards regardless of the scores of resolutions that have been adopted right here in the United Nations in support of the legitimate demands of Lebanon, a country that sought effective recourse from the United Nations. All those United Nations resolutions have called for ending violence in Lebanon and for respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and thus have reaffirmed the country’s political independence and national sovereignty.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Early on, the United Nations took cognizance of the situation in Lebanon, as attested to by the many resolutions adopted by the Security Council on the Lebanese crisis. Some people may not be aware that between 1968 and 1993 more than 80 United Nations resolutions and statements on Lebanon were adopted. This is a large number of resolutions in comparison with other crises. Lebanon has an imposing file indeed with both the General Assembly and the Security Council. If the sheer volume of United Nations Forty-eighth session - 30 September l993 13 official records on Lebanon is compared with that of the documents submitted to ordinary courts of law, it will become clear instantly that, on the scales of international justice, the weight of evidence tips the scales in favour of Lebanon.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“It is our hope that our human resources will be highly instrumental in expediting the reconstruction of the better society we all aspire to see: a society that enjoys peace, democracy and prosperity. Lebanon, whose people suffered enormous hardship during the dark years of war, fully recognizes and appreciates the various tragedies and pains that afflict some parts of the world today. As we reaffirm our permanent commitment to peace and to the Charter of the United Nations, and to the tenets that emanate from them, we stress our adherence to and respect for an integrated system of values which includes human rights, freedom and dignity. Indeed, this should be the ultimate goal of every undertaking and endeavour.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“If the armed conflicts and hostilities of recent decades have drained many of our resources, our potential and our capabilities must henceforth be channelled to face up to and overcome the common challenges that confront mankind everywhere. To this end, the Lebanese Government is striving to restore Lebanon to its special position in the community of civilized nations. The emphasis is on achievements that will make the Lebanese individual capable of facing the future. Lebanon considers that its major loss, perhaps, has been the migration of many of its most talented and highly skilled young people. One of our major concerns now is to create favourable conditions that will attract them back.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“This is particularly true in the case of the Middle East region, which has traditionally and historically suffered from the interference of foreign powers and the struggles of interest and conflict that transcended national frontiers, and even the entire region, to pose a threat to world peace in its entirety. Given the magnitude and intensity of the conflicts that have ravaged Lebanon soil, the survival of our country proves that the Lebanese nation is too strong to be eliminated and that it has long-established traditions that will stand the test of time. The people of Lebanon has demonstrated great stamina and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. Lebanon is committed to realizing its aspirations and determined to achieve progress within the context of the opportunities offered by the modern world.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Throughout the war, some one million students continued to attend their schools and colleges as if to express, through pursuit of education, their rejection of war. The same majority continued to discharge its duties towards society and the State in many parts of the country. Even ordinary civilian crimes did not rise noticeably during the war. All this confirms that the Lebanese, who settled this problem a long time ago, not only in texts and precedents, but also in their daily routines and life-styles, are proud to be able to present to the world, after their long suffering, a true example fashioned from first-hand experience of the resilience of human nature with its wealth of intellect and vivid diversity. In our common interest we must all seek to safeguard such a legacy and protect it from violence.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The need for the example set by this system is all the more urgent in our world today, given the many ethnic and religious conflicts currently raging in various regions. Lebanon, with its time-honoured tradition of coexistence, moderation and tolerance emanating from these lofty human values, can indeed be a living example to those even in advanced societies who are searching for a successful formula for social harmony. This is especially true now that Lebanon has put its tragedy behind it and embarked on a course of accord and concord. The great majority of the Lebanese lived through the years of war and bore the brunt of its devastation without having any real belief in bellicosity or its causes.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Thus, the new constitution proclaims that Lebanon is "Arab in identity and affiliation, a founder and active member of the League of Arab States, fully committed to its covenants; and a founding and active member of the United Nations Organization, fully committed to its Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The State is an embodiment of all these principles, in all areas and spheres wherever they apply, without exception." In view of its singular experience, Lebanon deserves your support and a pledge from the world community not only to provide material assistance and help in the reconstruction of what the civil war has destroyed, but to bolster the Lebanese system.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Here, I would be remiss if I did not recall Lebanon’s contribution to the drafting of the Charter as well as of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, for Lebanon was a member of the Special Committee entrusted with the drafting of both instruments. Lebanon’s well-known tradition of firm commitment to the principles of democracy, freedom and human rights, and its success in upholding those principles despite the dangers that threatened it for many years, remains faithful to the basic pillars upon which our pluralistic, open and creative society rests. Lebanon, which has withstood the trying years of its plight, is now facing its critical challenges with the vigour of renewed and consolidated national unity. It has 12 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session incorporated those principles into the fabric of its identity.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Despite the fact that its current operations are somewhat different from the conventional functions originally envisioned for the Organization, its operations demonstrate the growing need for this world body to lend confidence and credibility to the multinational effort in dealing with challenges and conflicts in a fair and sound manner. We believe that understanding between States and peoples hinges upon the preservation of democracy and human rights. Such understanding would in turn contribute significantly to the elimination of regional and global disputes, in keeping with a major principle set forth in the Charter of the United Nations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The wealth of experience drawn from the lessons learned from the numerous conflicts that have taken place throughout this century has taught us that the path of peace is, in the final analysis, the optimal course to follow, as all other avenues have proven futile. The era of a divided world based on blocs and polarization, which severely strained international relations and precipitated crises for many decades, is now over. Therefore, the world is now ready to develop a universal vision of mankind based on a universal code of ethics and set of human rights. The United Nations Organization, which has long suffered from rivalries that paralysed it and placed severe constraints on its potential, is increasingly called upon, in an unprecedented fashion, to engage in peace-keeping activities.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)