Euro MPs highlight plight of Lebanon – where MPs fear for their lives
13 November 2007
The Party of European Socialists launched a declaration in support of the 41 Lebanese MPs who have been living for the past forty days under armed guard in a hotel in Beirut unable to leave due to fears for their safety.
PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said “The plight of the Lebanese MPs is a symbol of the tragic situation in Lebanon today. It is bad enough that the Parliament has met only once in the last year – and that a minority of MPs are preventing the election of a new President. But it is a terrible reflection on the lack of security in Lebanon that some forty MPs cannot leave their hotel for fear for their lives. We will do all we can to support a free and democratic Lebanon.”
“The right to meet is at the heart of democracy – that it why it is vital that the Parliament is able to meet without fear of violence,” said Rasmussen “especially as the mandate of the current President runs out on November 24, 2007. The threat of violence must be lifted and the Parliament has to meet and democratically elect a new head of state.”
Speaking at the launch of the declaration in the European Parliament in Strasbourg were Lebanese party leaders Carlos Edde, Leader of the National Bloc, and Dory Chamoun, Leader of the Liberal Party. Also present were representatives of the Future Party and the PSP.
MEPs supporting the declaration included Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Zita Gurmai, Gary Titley, Harlem Desir, Gianni Pitella, Adrian Severin, Miguel Angel Martinez, Veronique De Keyser, Jo Leinen, Jan Andersson, Neena Gill, Stavros Arnaoutakis, Proinsias De Rossa, Said El Khadraoui, Edite Estrella, Michael Cashman, Giovanna Corda, Magda Kovacs, Alain Hutchinson, Glyn Ford, Ana Gomes, Dan Mihalache, Kader Arif, Paulo Casaca, Gianni De Michelis, Benoit Hamon, Marianne Mikko, Jose Ignacio Salafranca, Anni Podimata, Pierre Schapira.
The Declaration states
We wish to draw the world’s attention to the fact that 41 Lebanese MPs have been living for over forty days under armed guard in a hotel in central Beirut, unable to leave for fear for their security.
We express our dismay that the Lebanese Parliament has only met for one day in the last year, thereby preventing the election of a new President.
We are appalled that 6 Parliamentarians have been killed since 2005, including the previous Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
The Hotel Phoenecia, where the pro-independence MPs are confined, is a symbol of the tragedy which threatens to overwhelm the country.
The sad reality is that there is a pro-democratic majority, which is being held up by a minority using a combination of threats and parliamentary procedures to prevent the vote.
We give our full support to the parliamentary majority that should be able to meet and elect a new President. We call for an end to external interference in Lebanon, and urge the international community to put the maximum pressure on Lebanon’s neighbours to respect the country’s independence. We, the undersigned, declare our unequivocal support for a free, independent and democratic Lebanon.
MORE INFORMATION:
Julian Scola, Communications Advisor - Media & Campaigns
Party of European Socialists, Rue du Trône, 98, B-1050 Brussels
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