"New leadership promises dawn of new era for Lebanon and ties with Australia" Charge d'Affaires Giscard El Khoury

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

The Lebanese Embassy in Canberra celebrates its 73rd Independence anniversary at Albert Hall on November 22. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the federal government, Lebanese community and economic, religious and media personalities as well as Arab and foreign ambassadors. The Charge d'Affaires of the embassy, Giscard El Khoury, stressed the contribution of the Lebanese community in Australia, emphasising the shared values between the two countries. Mr. Khouri and Ms. Lyndall Sachs, director of protocol at the Department of Foreign Affairs and the government representative, raised a toast.

Speech by Mr. Giscard El Khoury

This year’s Independence Day has a special meaning with the election of President Michel Aoun after almost two and half years of a presidential vacuum that threatened to irreversibly damage the country. Also promising was the selection of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to

form the new cabinet. With this new political environment, there is much hope and

much promise to make up for lost time, for those many missing opportunities and to face those many challenges.

“… I take great pride that the Lebanese community is recognised as having had a part in the making of Australia today.” Gisvard el Khoury

These challenges are enormous for my country to cope with alone, not least of which

are the two million displaced refugees that we temporarily host when our population is only four million. An estimated 6 per cent of our GDP goes to pay the bill for hosting them every year. The strain on every sector of our economy, and accompanying threat to our social fabric, is intolerable. Lebanon expects the international community to provide the necessary support, and to do more. We expect them to find a solution that envisages the return of these refugees and displaced to their home countries, and that recognizes their stay in Lebanon is temporary.

Here we extend our thanks to Australia for her expressed commitment to support Lebanon and to the security of Lebanon. I wish to equally thank the many officials from various departments with whom I had the honour to work with. They were all very courteous, very professional, and very eager for bilateral co-operation.

As a Lebanese diplomat here, I take great pride that the Lebanese community is recognised as having had a part in the making of Australia today. The early migrants arrived in the 1870s. In World War I, my fellow Lebanese in Australia joined the Australian Army and fought in defence of freedom. An estimated 400 Lebanese were martyred. They were the “Lebanese Anzacs”, many of whose names are engraved on the walls of honour at the war memorial in Canberra. From here, I stand in salute of all Anzacs, and in remembrance of their ultimate sacrifice. I do that “lest we forget”.

Lebanon-Australia relations are strong, and our countries have lot in common. Not only the spirit of “mateship” that we established 140 years ago but also because, as nations, we share the same values and ideals that we live by and die for. We both uphold the same respect for political and personal liberties; we subscribe to the same market system, economic freedoms and free initiative; and we adhere to the same values of cultural diversity and multiculturalism. In fact that is a distinction that Lebanon prides ourselves on. Lebanon’s cultural diversity values are not dissimilar to Australian values.

We both have provided generously, throughout history, a refuge for persecuted

minorities to come to us and live in peace befitting their dignity. We both have the same enemy and face the same threats in the form of terrorism which, in the words of president Aoun, “we shall counter it by adopting pre-emptive, deterring, and defensive measures until we defeat it”. Here I might add that our Lebanese army is at the forefront of battling terrorism. We fight it not with the sophisticated weapons that we don’t have but with our

sheer will and with our innocent blood that eventually will wash away every trace. Another salute to our Lebanese Army and the many martyrs.

Above all, what we have most in common are the people - Australians with Lebanese heritage and Lebanese with Australian links, upon whose shoulders lies the great honor of bringing our countries closer together.

To my Lebanese people in Australia: You have called Australia home, and truly so. Australia is home. As to the motherland, there are legitimate expectations that the current political

momentum in Lebanon will initiate a long arduous journey to success and to attain the rightful place we envision for ourselves among the nations. A place from where we positively engage with every nation and from where we can constructively contribute. The lessons of our history are with us and the picture of a bright future is before us. Together we can make it. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we will make it.