PRESS RELEASE
Washington D.C
May 10th, 2005
On May 10th, 2005, a
day of solidarity with the Cedar Revolution,
and in support of the release of all political
detainees in Lebanon was launched by US Congressman
Thaddeus McCotter from Michigan, member of the US
House Subcommittee on the Middle East.
The event was supported by the
Lebanese Information Center in the US. Leaders of
Lebanese-American organizations, Representatives of
Lebanese opposition parties, as well as large groups
of Americans of Lebanese descent came to participate
from all over the USA.
Congressman Thaddeus McCotter
had invited US officials, members of the
Administration, members of Congress, as well as
American and International news agencies and
journalists.
The day started at nine o’clock
in front of the US Congress with a press conference
held by Congressman Thaddeus McCotter. McCotter
praised the bravery of the Lebanese who led the
Cedar Revolution, and compared it to the American
Revolution. He also called for Lebanon’s impending
elections to signal the people’s resurrection from
Syrian domination.
Dr. Joseph Gebeily, President of
the Lebanese Information Center, expressed the
gratitude of the Lebanese people and of Americans of
Lebanese origin to the US Congress, to President Bush
and his Administration for their clear and determined
policy in support of a free and sovereign Lebanon. Dr
Gebeily warned that the fight for a free democratic
Lebanon is not over, and that democracy’s prize cannot
be won and cannot be celebrated without ensuring a
free and fair electoral process, allowing a true
representation of each and every component of the
Lebanese society, without disarming all militias,
without reconsidering all bilateral treaties which
were imposed on Lebanon by the Syrian occupier and
without freeing all political prisoners in Lebanon,
particularly Dr. Samir Geagea, whose case is at the
core of liberating Lebanon.
Mr. Stephen Stanton, President
of Cedar Watch, a Human Rights Organization based in
Australia and focused on Lebanon, thanked the United
States for its courageous stance in support of the
Cedar Revolution, and applauded the initiative of
Congressman McCotter in introducing a new US House
Resolution urging free and fair elections in Lebanon,
the restoration of democratic institutions and the
immediate release of all political prisoners.
After the press conference and
the gathering in front of the congress, the Lebanese
Information Center-US organized a reception at the
Holiday Inn on the Hill, which was attended by US
Officials and Lebanese-American leaders, groups and
individuals.
