On Sunday morning, deputy Lindsay Taner -an ardent defensor of Lebanon's freedom in Victoria county- visited General Aoun at his hotel where he met with him privately and discussed the Lebanese crisis. They also discussed different matters such as the peace talks in the Middle-East and the regional forces that are putting their interests before Lebanon's. After the meeting, General Aoun and his family attended mass at the Maronite Sacred Heart Church. Monseignor Jo Takchi and the Antonines priests Charbel Chidiac and Edmond Andraos performed the mass. Father Edmond Chidiac then gave a little speech to the occasion of General Aoun's visit and asked everybody to pray for Lebanon. ![]() At noon, the committee of the Lebanese Veterans invited General Aoun and his accompanying party to a banquet at Beirut restaurant. A lot of people attended the banquet among others were: most of the veterans and their wives, the australian deputies Calvin Thompson and Alan Grifith, clergy people, Mr. Tony Yaakoub, Mr. Tony Helou, Mrs Rosana Beaini, the vice president of the Veterans' committee, representatives of the arabic written newspapers... Upon arrival, General Aoun was saluted by the veterans. Then Mr. Halabi gave a speech stressing on the fact that Lebanon should be liberated from all the occupying armies. Then deputy Calvin Thompson took his turn in assuring that his party will always back up Lebanon's quest for freedom and sovereignty. General Aoun addressing the veterans said: "Be proud of the sacrifices you made to your country because you were always in the defense position. Don't ever let anybody claim their patriotism over yours because you were always the sole defenders of your country and people. Nobody can hide the truth for ever, at the end it will always appear as bright as the sun"...
After the banquet, General Aoun went to the Dallas Brooks hall were he met with the Lebanese people who had come a long way to see him and hear his words. Among the gathered people were the eminent Cheikh Fahmi Al Imam, Monseignor Youssef Touma, several Antonines nuns and a number of newspeople... After the meeting in the Dallas Brook hall, General Aoun visited the Herald Newspapers offices where he met with the staff and congratulated them on the good work they are doing. At night General Aoun and his family were invited by the BCCN in Melbourne to a banquet at the AlMazat restaurant. It was a nice dinner that gathered the whole "family" once again. COPYRIGHT FREE LEBANON 1998. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |