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1- Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Emigrants H.E. Mr. Jean Obeid at the UN General Assembly on 24 September 03 2- Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Emigrants H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Hammoud at the UN General Assembly on 18 September 02
STATEMENT BY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND EMIGRANTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LEBANON AT
THE 58th SESSION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEW
YORK WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2003 Mr.
President, This
large number of Heads of State and Government has assembled at the current
session not for the sake of performing formal rituals, nor from a
commitment to respect periodic agendas. Rather, it is the state of the
world today which requires this exceptional gathering, because, in the
global consciousness, the struggle is heightening between fear and hope,
security and instability, force and weakness, surplus and need, abundance,
and hunger, and freedom and coercion. A
return to this Assembly is tantamount to a return to origins and sources,
and to common sense and basics, after today's world has strayed to the
point of almost losing itself, as well as losing its founding principles. We
return to this Mother Organization like sons in different conditions and
states. Some are obedient or renegade; some are oppressor or oppressed.
This Organization, like its sons was wounded by some of them. Mr.
President, What
hurts the United Nations hurts us all. Its fallen victims are, indeed,
martyrs of humanity, This was the case of Count Folke Bernadotte, Dag
Hamarskjold, Sergio de Mello, and others who were worthy of this noble
martyrdom for the sake of our distinguished Organisation and its lofty
ideals. Mr.
President, In
the consciousness and hope of the world, the United Nations is not only a
haven that upholds the rights of the weak and the needy, but also a
dissuasive authority, against the strong who act aggressively and forget
their obligations and commitments. In
our region and in our country, we have been and still are suffering from
this double standard of resorting to might at the expense of right. Deviation from the spirit and raison d'etre of the international Organization remains the source of repeated wars and injustices, ever since the foundation, on the ruins of the people of Palestine, of an entity that does not recognize either its own borders, or those of others. The
international effort in Madrid to find a peaceful solution to the Middle
East conflict adopted comprehensive and just approaches, resulting in
principles and accomplishments that cannot be renounced or reversed.
Partial approaches emerged, but failed to achieve peace, maintain
security, and ensure stability. It
has become certain to everyone, except to the arrogant in Israel, that
there can be no security without a political solution, and no partial,
peaceful, political solution without the comprehensive peace that embodies
the spirit of the Madrid Conference and the integrated Arab peace
initiative of the Arab Summit in Beirut. Such
a solution is based on the relevant international resolutions which return
to Lebanon the remaining territory still under Israeli occupation,
including Shebaa Farms; which return to Syria its territory up to the line
of 4 June 1967; and which allow the Palestinian refugees to exercise their
legal, humanitarian, and moral right of return to their homeland. Such a
process should ensure the establishment of a sovereign, independent,
stable, and viable Palestinian state with al‑Quds al Sharif as its
capital. Mr.
President, Developments
on the ground, however, run contrary to hope. In fact, the government of
Israel continues to build settlements, take decisions to carry out
extra-judicial killings of men, women, and children, to demolish houses,
and carry out pre-emptive arrests and assassinations. Similar
to events in Palestine, Lebanon suffers from persistent Israeli threats,
aggressions, and violations by sea, by land, and by air, which are carried
out in a provocative and dramatic manner as described by the
Secretary-General and his Special Representative in the region. The
international community should therefore pressure Israel to end these
violations. Lebanese
detainees and prisoners are still held hostage illegally and without trial
in Israel, which still keeps the remaining maps of landmines it planted
during its occupation of South Lebanon. Furthermore, Israel continues its
policy of assassination and still covets Lebanon's waters and natural
resources. Mr.
President, I
must warn that the failure to exercise the Palestinian refugees’ right
of return and to implement it fully puts the entire Middle East in an
explosive situation. The Government and people of Lebanon are especially
eager to implement this right, which they consider to be legal, natural,
and moral. Therefore,
the so‑called "realistic solutions" to this problem should
not even be raised, since they are contrary to the principles, of
international law and the spirit of justice. Indeed,
the commitment to the right of return and the refusal to resettle the
refugees in Lebanon are at the core of the Lebanese consensus that put an
end to the war in Lebanon and that resulted in the Taef Accord endorsed by
the United Nations. In
this context, I wish to stress that these options and positions regarding
Lebanon and the Middle East conflict are not circumstantial ones that
change according to the balance, of power. We believe that these options
are righteous, moral, and consistent with the requirements of a just
peace. These options are the only ones capable of bringing about a
possible settlement to the Arab Israeli conflict that would be
satisfactory, lasting, and resilient. Such
an undertaking is compatible with the goals of the United Nations, as it
strives to strengthen its role, with the endeavors of the
co‑sponsors of the peace process, and with the role of the European
Union. Mr.
President, It
is in Israel's interest to revert to or to reverted to the language of
reason and justice. Since Israel's governments have failed to do so, this
responsibility weighs on the international
community. For
in Israel, there is a government that reads from the book of rights, but
fails to read from the book of obligations. And we believe that the most
dangerous people are those who read from one book only, whichever book it
is. Under
the pretext of security; the government in Israel persists in building a
wall of separation from the people of Palestine and attempts to build a
higher, larger, and more hostile wall between the greater nations of the
West, and the rest of the world, especially the Arab and the Muslim world,
in a bid to serve and support those willing to fuel a conflict between
East and West, between Christianity and Islam, and among religions,
cultures, and civilizations- when, in fact, there is only one human
civilization which stems from common spiritual values, and from the belief
in only one God, no matter how varied the means to Him and how numerous
His messengers. Furthermore,
the Government of Israel resorts to the stick daily as a means of
subjugation. It ignores, or pretends to ignore, that the use of the stick
incites disobedience; that, with time, the oppressors and the oppressed
often exchange roles and positions; and that many who were once at the
helm at various stages of their lives have fallen into the depths of
oblivion and faded from memory, forgetting that only God is everlasting,
as are the universal principles of equality; fairness, and justice. In
the government of Israel, there are those who were brought to power by the
very extremism which ousted a predecessor and which assassinated another,
and which, nevertheless does not hesitate to label and accuse Arabs and
Muslims exclusively as extremists. And
in Israel there are those who insist on making Israel a fortress over the
region, rather that a state in the region. There are those who make life
for the Palestinians worse than death, determined to make their own people
die with the Arabs in war, rather than live with them in peace. And
in the government of Israel, there are those who try to ignore that
Lebanon, Syria, and the right of return are a mandatory path towards a
settlement and towards a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace. On the
contrary they hopelessly use the feeble‑minded to fan the flames of
conflict among the Palestinians themselves, among the Lebanese, between
the Lebanese and the Syrians and among the Arabs, instead of extinguishing
the flames of conflict between the Arabs and Israelis in a decent, just,
and comprehensive manner. The
government of Israel considers that gaining time is more important than
gaining peace; that manipulating tracks and problems is better than
solving all the problems of the conflict on all the tracks; and that
intimidation could right wrongs, wrong rights, and turn occupation into
independence. In
Israel, there is a government that insists on clinging to the absolute
sovereignty of Israel, as well as violating or sharing the sovereignty of
others; a government that confines the role of its most important ally to
providing money and weaponry, denying it even the right to advise. If the
world's Super Power utters a word of advice regarding the construction of
the wall of separation and discrimination, this advice is ignored and the
construction of the wall continues. Mr.
President, Leniency
towards faults breeds guilt. Much of the confusion of standards and
yardsticks is caused by the use of more than one measure when it comes to
justice and international resolutions. It
is neither just, nor wise, nor safe, nor peaceful for the powerful states
to continue to tolerate double standards and criteria and multiple
measures when dealing with Israel while using firm standards and measures
when dealing with the weak, the oppressed, and other nations of the world. Mr.
President, This
state, of affairs obviously leads us to call for the reform and
strengthening of the United Nations, notably by reviewing the mechanisms
of the functioning of the Security Council, by expanding its membership,
by giving it more weight in decision‑making, and by respecting the
democratic, consultative nature which should form the foundation of our
international Organization. Such
a reform fairly and effectively addresses the new challenges facing the
security and safety of the world. It also provides balance and stability
in international relations, especially when coupled with the modernization
of the work of the UN organs, as well as the rationalization and avoidance
of the excessive use of the right to veto in a way that obstructs law and
justice throughout the world. Mr.
President, In
Iraq, there is an increasing call for a pivotal role for the United
Nations to assist the people of Iraq in preserving their unity, assuming
their destiny, ending the occupation of their territory, establishing the
means to administer their wealth, choosing the provisions of their
constitution, and electing their representatives freely War
from the air can be waged by one side alone, while peace on the ground can
only be accomplished through consultations with the parties in Iraq, its
neighbors, and the United Nations. The
peace and destiny of Iraq require that Iraqis be free from occupation as
soon as possible, working under the auspices of the United Nations in an
expanded, pivotal, and political role, not restricted to purely social
matters. The
events, the tragedies, and the appeals of the people of Iraq fall in the
direction. Only the ignorant, or those who pretend to be ignorant, refuse
to listen, to draw lessons, and to reach conclusions before it’s too
late. Mr.
President, The
beginning of this century has been marked by violence and terrorism, which
showed their ugliest manifestations in the tragedies and crimes of'
September 11 and in the ensuing calls for extremism and a clash of
civilizations. These circumstances, prompt us to refuse to yield to the
worst evils that threaten the peace and unity of our planet. Lebanon
was among the first countries to be targeted by terrorism, carried out by
fundamentalist groups, and fought it with courage and resolve. At the same
time, Lebanon still faces the, state terrorism practiced by Israel, which
has caused the death, injury, and displacements of thousands of Lebanese
and the destruction of vital facilities and infrastructures. While
we differentiate between terrorism and the right of peoples whose
territories are occupied to resist and to liberate their land, within the
confines of international resolutions and the United Nations Charter, our
country explicitly and firmly condemns all forms of terrorism, since it
constitutes a danger that threatens all mankind, without distinction
between race, color, or religion. Furthermore, Lebanon reaffirms its
commitment to continue to cooperate with the international community to
fight this extensively harmful and extremely damaging scourge. Mr.
President, In
conclusion, I would be remiss if I failed to congratulate you on your
election as President of our General Assembly and wish you success in your
stewardship. I also wish to commend the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Anan,
for his tireless efforts to promote every opportunity for peace,
stability, and development in the world. I would like further to pay
tribute to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for its
role in South Lebanon. It is my hope, now that Lebanon has been able to
liberate the major part of its territory, that UNIFIL will fulfill the
remaining part of the mandate entrusted to it, and as defined in Security
Council Resolution 425. Lebanon
has been and always will be a country that rejects seclusion and rigidity
and that will remain open to dialogue and to creative, rich, civilized,
and human interaction. Our country will always be true to its message,
and, despite the challenges, will remain eager to promote justice and the
rule of law, in word and deed, and to uphold the values of freedom and
democracy, which constitute, since the beginning, the very bases of
Lebanon and our lofty Organization. Thank
you, Mr. President. (Unofficial Translation) Statement by MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND EMIGRANTS of THE REPUBLIC of LEBANON AT THE FIFTY SEVENTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEW YORK, 18 SEPTEMBER 2002
Mr. President It gives me pleasure to begin by congratulating you on your election as president of the 57th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. I wish you success as you embark on the task of promoting international collective work in the service of peace cooperation and development to face up to the challenges that await us. I would also like to thank your predecessor, Mr. Hang Soong Soo who had so ably steered the work of the 56th Session that was convened amidst acute and grave circumstances.
I shall be remiss if I fail to express my appreciation to H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations for working tirelessly to enhance the role of our international organization.
It is also my pleasure to congratulate the Swiss Federation and East Timor on their admission to the membership of our international organization.
Mr. President; Lebanon considers the United Nations the main recourse entrusted with the realization of international peace and security and upholding respect for the rules of international law. The UN is a safe haven for states, particularly small ones, which find in its Charter the reassurances they need in a turbulent world. Therefore, the departure from the Charter, bypassing or overstepping this authority, the selective handling of its resolutions, the attempts to impose settlements on and solutions to the conflicts and disputes outside its framework flagrantly undermine the credibility of the organization and its organs, particularly the Security Council. These acts are a devastating blow to the pillars of international order.
Lebanon believes that there is a causal relationship between security and sustainable development and calls for a renewed effort under the auspices of the United Nations to eliminate poverty and disease, bridge the gap between the North and this South, and reduce social disparities. These are the scourges that are often manipulated by those wino harbor ill intentions against humanity.
In this context, Lebanon welcomes the establishment of the African Union, and supports the principles on which the new partnership was built.
Mr. President; The work of this session coincides with the first anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks and the terrible tragedy that struck the United States of America. The world is still suffering from their terrible repercussions. I avail myself of this opportunity to renew our sympathy with the bereaved families. Like us, they are heartbroken over the loss of their sons, relatives and loved ones. We also renew our commitment to cooperate with the international community to combat terrorism in accordance with the provisions of SC Resolution 1373 of 9/28/2001 and other relevant UN resolutions.
The events of September 11, 2001, have impeded the convening of the Ninth Summit of the Francophonie that was scheduled to be held last year with theme of "Dialogue among Civilizations". My country is proud to host the conference in mid October, for which the preparations are currently underway. The choice of the subject for this conference before these dramatic events undoubtedly stems from the wisdom of members and participants, and their conviction of the need to interact, engage in dialogue, far from the logic of confrontation and hostility.
Mr. President; Lebanon itself was the target of terrorist acts prior to September 11 2001, and its army stood up to the perpetrators, and overcame them. Lebanon and its Arab brothers have been suffering from the state terrorism continuously practiced by Israel without deterrence since the Deir Yassin Massacre and the Massacres of Qana and Jennie. Lately, Israel started manipulating the tragic events of September 2001 and the international campaign to combat terrorism using them shamefully as a pretext to pursue its persecution of the Palestinian people and deprive them from their right to self‑determination. Israel launched a slanderous campaign of threats against Lebanon and its legitimate resistance as well as against Syria, whereas the origin of the conflict in the region is the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories.
The reality is that Israel has continuously defied the resolutions of the international legality. For over 22 years, Israel has disregarded Security Council Resolution 425 and refused to implement the Security Council resolution that called for the establishment of a fact‑finding mission to investigate the Jenin massacre. It resorted to terror and violence as a means to implement its policies of expansionism and settlement. It accumulated weapons of mass destruction in an arsenal primarily stacked with nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. It continues to oppose all attempts to arrive at a just and comprehensive peaceful solution to the Middle East issue, and remains nonetheless in total impunity, never held accountable for punishable for its actions. This situation cannot but consolidate the impression among the Arab governments and peoples that there are two different standards at play in international affairs, and that, regrettably, Israel is allowed to remain outside and above the law.
Mr. President, Mr. Shimon Perez intentionally accused Hezbollah of terrorism this morning because it effectively contributed to the legitimate resistance against the Israeli occupation and compelled the Israeli forces to withdraw from the majority of the occupied Lebanese territories.
As a matter of fact, this party is represented within the parliament and actively participates in the political, economic and social life in Lebanon.
Mr. Perez is, in fact, the last person entitled to speak about terrorism, being directly responsible for the death of one hundred and two children, women and elders killed at Cana by the Israeli shelling that tracked them to the UNIFIL tent they sought refuge in. This is one of the crimes that are subject to international condemnation.
Israel was originally founded on terrorism which it resorted to in order to impose the "fait accompli" and occupy lands.
If the Israeli massacres of Deir Yassine, Cana and Jennin are not qualified as terrorism, then what are they?
Aren't the daily attempts of Israeli warplanes to break the sound barrier over cities and villages regarded as terrorism and terrorization?
Aren't the Israeli attempts to abduct Lebanese citizens from their homes in the Lebanese territories and keeping them as hostages in Israeli prisons a form of terrorism?
Doesn't the fact of leaving thousand of mines in South Lebanon with the purpose of exterminating civilians deserve the most severe condemnation?
And isn't the continuous aggression against Lebanon and the destruction of its civil installations, infrastructure and developmental projects a sword of terrorism brandished against the Lebanese and their hopes of construction and reconstruction?
Mr. President; As if occupying the Arab lands and terrorizing their civilian populations were not enough, Israeli greed prompts it to usurp our natural wealth and water resources in defiance of international law and instruments. The Israeli Prime Minister directly threatened to attack Lebanon with the pretext that we are diverting the course of the Hasbani River. The fact is however that Lebanon is trying to draw limited amounts of water to some Southern deprived villages that have suffered from the Israeli occupation for many years. This will lead us to pump a total of approximately 9 million cubic meters annually. By all standards, this amount is way below our legitimate entitlement. It represents only one tenth of our right.
Lebanon reiterates its refusal of these Israeli threats, and draws the attention of this august assembly and that of the Security Council to the danger of these threats and to their direct negative impact on international peace and security. Mr. President; It is difficult for any human collectivity to strive for security in the absence of a pursuit of political, economic, and social justice .We therefore believe that security approaches alone, and partial interim solutions cannot possibly succeed in solving the Middle East conflict. And we therefore call for the adoption of an approach that takes into account the priority of the political dimension of this conflict, and the need to arrive at a just and comprehensive solution to the conflict in the region in all its aspects.
It is in this context that the Arab leaders have unanimously adopted an integral indivisible peace initiative in the Arab Summit that was held in Beirut on the 28th and the 29th of March 2002, in accordance with the following equation:
I- Israel is asked to: A- Withdraw completely from the occupied Arab territories including the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of June 4th 1967, and its withdrawal from the territories that are still occupied in Southern Lebanon; B- Arriving at a just solution to the problem of the Palestinian refugees to be agreed upon in accordance with GA Resolution 194; C- Agreeing to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital;
II- Subsequently, the Arab states undertake to: A- Consider that the Arab‑Israeli conflict has ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, along with ensuring security for all the countries of the region; B- Establish normal relations with Israel in the context of this just peace;
III- A major element of the Arab Peace Initiative is securing the rejection of all forms of implantation of Palestinian refugees incompatible with the particularities of the Arab host countries.
It is unfortunate that Israel has responded to this initiative by escalating its aggression and reoccupying the West Bank, relentlessly targeting human lives and property in the occupied Palestinian territory. Simultaneously, others chose to ignore or over‑ride the Initiative, despite its comprehensiveness, unanimous Arab stance and wide international support.
The Beirut Summit established a special committee to implement the Arab Peace Initiative Once formed, the committee requested a meeting with the Quartet to present the Initiative and confirm its status as a reference point for the settlement of the Arab‑Israeli conflict, as it summed up all the previous references since the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991 and was based on the resolutions of international legality, in order to submit it to the Security Council for its adoption and for the subsequent establishment of an international mechanism to put it into effect.
A meeting was held between the Quartet and a delegation of the committee at the UN Headquarters. We hope that it would pave the way for a mechanism of prior consultations and joint effort on the basis of the resolutions of international legality and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Mr. President; The Arab Peace Initiative which we uphold, and which was adopted unanimously by the Arab countries, represents a historic opportunity that may not present itself again. It cannot be replaced by partial or interim approaches, the futility of which was proven over the decades. Instead of leading to the long awaited peace, they led to renewed violence. We therefore call upon the international community to adopt this initiative and support it as it represents a chance for the realization of our aspirations to a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
Mr. President; Submitting the disputes to the United Nations and implementing its resolutions, particularly those of the Security Council can guarantee the peaceful settlement of any given conflict. By following this course the parties could be spared the need to settle their dispute by military means. It may not be easy to contain the tragic ramifications of military action in a given region. This is particularly true of Iraq which was also the subject of deliberations in the Beirut Arab Summit. There it was also decided that the solution to the Iraqi problem is through dialogue. Iraq should not be yet once again the theatre to another war that will increase the suffering of its people. The Arab leaders consider that an attack against any Arab state is a threat to the national security of all Arab countries.
As president of the Arab Summit, Lebanon hopes that Iraq's compliance with the will of the international community, and allowing the return of the international Inspectors will lead to the end of the suffering of its people, and to a comprehensive solution that will lead to the implementation of the requirements of Security Council resolutions, and to lifting of the sanctions. We also hope that this will allow to rid the Middle East region of all weapons of mass destruction, and to refrain from the threat of using force against Iraq thus preserving and respecting its sovereignty, its independence and its territorial integrity.
Mr. President, As a founding member of this Organization, Lebanon takes pride in its strong relation with the UN, being one of the co‑founders and having contributed in the drafting of its Charter, as well as the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As you may know, since 1978 the UN has deployed UNIFIL in South Lebanon in the aftermath of the Israeli occupation of this cherished part of our homeland.
After May 2000, UNIFIL had the opportunity to commence the implementation of its mandate after Israel was forced to withdraw from most of the territories in Southern Lebanon. This withdrawal was possible thanks to the solidarity among our people, their legitimate resistance to the Israeli occupation, the fact that the government embraced the heroic efforts of its people for liberation and the international support to our just cause.
The Lebanese Shab'a Farms at the foot of Mount Hermon, remained under occupation as well as three other points along the withdrawal line with regard to which Lebanon expressed its reservations. These are Lebanese territories and Lebanon preserves its natural right to recover them and to spread its sovereignty over them. Another important aspect of UNIFIL's task that has yet to be fulfilled is the restoration of international peace and security. This task is continuously obstructed by Israel's continued threats against Lebanon, and its provocations as evidenced by the repeated Violation of our sovereignty over our land, airspace, and territorial waters.
Furthermore, Israel continues to occupy the Syrian Golan and to ignore the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. It turned down every initiative to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Middle East problem.
I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to commend the efforts of the United Nations and the important role that UNIFIL plays to fulfill the mandate entrusted to it by the Security Council.
Mr. President, Liberating the Lebanese territories from Israeli occupation will remain incomplete unless we address the heinous legacy of occupation and succeed in finding a just settlement to the problem of Palestinian refugees particularly those residing in Lebanon. Such a settlement should be based on their right to return and rejecting their implantation in Lebanon. Failure to factor the refugees into the equation of the solution based on the Right of Return and the rejection of resettlement in host countries is a time bomb. It will undermine the security we are all striving to attain in the Middle East Region on the basis of peaceful, comprehensive and just settlement to this protracted conflict.
We like to stress that the solution to the Palestinian refugees question cannot be realized through exclusive bilateral Palestinian‑Israeli negotiations. Guaranteeing respect for the rules of international law and the viability of any solution require that host and other concerned countries, including Lebanon, be involved in the negotiating process.
With regard to mine clearing, Lebanon is stepping up cooperation with the United Nations and other friendly counties to assist in clearing the mines that the Israeli Occupying Forces are responsible for laying in our territories, noting that Israel did not hand over the complete maps and specific locations of the mines as it has maintained all along.
We attach maximum importance to the release of the Lebanese citizens who are unduly detained in Israeli prisons. They were kidnapped by Israel, and incarcerated taken as hostages in flagrant defiance of the rules of international law and instruments, particularly the Geneva Convention of 1949 and its additional protocols.
It is no secret that the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon and the Western Beqa'a has taxed our endurance. Our citizens' lives were tragically shattered, their properties destroyed and the infrastructures decimated, and our development was hampered. This requires increased international assistance to revitalize our economy and further our growth opportunities.
Lebanon reserves the right to demand compensation for the damage resulting from the Israeli occupation and acts of aggression in accordance with established procedures in international political and judicial fora.
Mr. President; The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the liberated Lebanese territories and the revitalization of the economy are among the highest priorities of our government Lebanon continues to work for the recovery of its economy and the reform of its fiscal policies through the adoption of carefully developed measures and legislation, including the Value Added Tax on goods and services, the gradual reduction of tariffs, in addition to the direct tax, levy, and the rationalization of spending. The Lebanese Parliament had recently passed the Privatization Act regulating this aspect of economic activity and defining its conditions and its field of application.
These legislations, including the two acts of money laundering and illegitimate gains, are added to a series of laws that were developed to enhance the investors' confidence in the free market system that we are keen to preserve. Along the same lines, those in positions of responsibility in the Lebanese administration are subjected to strict accountability and liability rules.
It is worth mentioning here that the Lebanese internal security forces have destroyed over the years all the illegitimate crops, including hashish. But Lebanon did not receive the assistance that was provided to others so as to enable our farmers to live in dignity, and to find alternative crops to compensate for the huge losses that they have experienced.
Lebanon signed a Partnership agreement with the European Union last June, after acceding to the Greater Arab Free Trade Zone to which most Arab states currently belong. Preparations are currently underway for us to join the World Trade Organization in which we currently enjoy an Observer status.
Mr. President; We gather here under the roof of the United Nations, our "common home" to engage in a dialogue on the best ways to translate infix reality the great values of the Charter.
Lebanon takes pride in its firm belief in these values; and in the fact that it embodies through its national unity the plurality of its society. It stands for a rich human civilized experience, of which we are proud, and which the international community is surely keen to preserve.
Lebanon looks forward to cooperating with you to contribute to the success of this Session and provide constructive solutions to the problems and challenges that we face while upholding the principles of liberty, justice and peace around the world, and particularly in the Middle East region. Finding a just and comprehensive solution to the conflict that has ravaged our region will surely liberate our people from the grips of a protracted problem that depleted their resources and impeded their development.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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