From: elie@hdtv.njit.edu (Elie I. Mourad)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Solidarity front urged.
Date: 9 Oct 92 07:38:16 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.

Date: 08 Oct 92 
Subject: elections revisited
From: Jock
To: Leb-Net

Hi everybody from Germany! Because of all this turmoil here in
Europe, from monetary to real wars, the recent developments in
Lebanon were a bit ignored here. However, there were two big
conferences here, one of the Liberal International (most of the
Liberal Parties in the world, in Germany the FDP of Hans-Dietrich
Genscher) in Bonn, and one of the Socialist International in
Berlin. (The S.I. contains the German SPD (Willy Brandt, Helmut
Schmidt), the British Labour Party, the Canadian New Democrats,
and Socialist and Social Democratic parties from all over the
world, including the ruling parties in Israel and Egypt. Boutros
Boutros-Ghali, the current U.N. General Secretary, has been a
Vice President of the S.I.). The Christian Democrats are ruling
in several European countries, including Germany (Helmut Kohl)
and Italy (Amato, Andreotti). So I was curious what these guys
had to say about these weird elections in Lebanon and got hold of
the following

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JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SOCIALIST, LIBERAL, AND CHRISTIAN
DEMOCRAT INTERNATIONALS

Re: Lebanon and the Election of 23rd August 1992

The Liberal and Christian Democrat Internationals reaffirm the
wish to see Democratic elections organized in Lebanon in the
presence of International observers. After more than 15 years of
War and Civil War, these elections should allow for the
pacification of the country and the return to democratic
liberties including respect for fundamental Human rights.

Concerned by the announcement of elections to be held on 23rd and
30th August 1992, the Socialist, Liberal and Christian Democrat
Internationals note that necessary conditions for organizing
indisputable elections are far from being observed.

1. Lebanon is still occupied by foreign armies, which are capable
of exerting political pressure on political parties, which is
wholly incompatible with the freedom of these parties in their
own country and who are recognized by the whole of the
International Community.

2. The essential aspects of the Taef accord leading to peace in
Lebanon have not been respected. For example:

a) The Syrian army has neither been redeployed on the Mountains
outside Beirut nor in the Bekaa valley;

b) The demobilization of the militia remains partial: some, such
as the HEZBOLLAH have kept their heavy weapons, whilst other have
kept their light weapons.

c) More than 600,000 people are displaced in their own country
and will not be able to return home for the forth-coming
elections.

d) The Civil Registration documents of many municipalities have
been destroyed during the war and due to the lack of serious and
systematic restruction, there will not be any credible
electoral lists.

e) Almost one million citizens who were forced to emigrate
because of the war and who have remained in close contact with
both their families and their country, and who remain citizens
(registered in the Embassies), have no electoral rights.

3. The Socialist, Liberal and Christian Democrat Internationals
therefore request a postponement of these election to a later
date with the aim of establishing the necessary conditions for
their credibility.

4. The Socialist, Liberal, and Christian Democrat Internationals
propose forming a SOLIDARITY FRONT with all those in Lebanon
fighting for the return of full democratic liberties, whatever
their party, and propose to undertake any useful steps on the
spot and with the aim of respecting and protecting democratic
milieux.

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(Sorry for the late posting, but I have got it myself today, and
thought it might be interesting and encouraging for you. This
solidarity front is a good idea, and if you live in a country
with a Socialist, Christian Democrat, or Liberal Party, maybe you
should check with them about this, and refer to the declaration
above.)

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Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon