Saturday June 13, 1998 The Kfarsaghab committee banquet in the Greenfield suburbs. On the 8th June 98, the AKLA (Lebanese-Australian committee of Kfarsaghab) organized a banquet in the honor of General Aoun in Greenfield. Were present among others: the honorary consulate of Tunis Mr. Maurice Moubarak, members of the Baramata city council… General Aoun was presented with the honorary key of Baramata. Mr. Joe Barakat (vice president of the committee) gave a speech welcoming General Aoun and wishing him all the best in defending the freedom and sovereignty of Lebanon. Here are some parts of his speech: "…We are honored to have you among us today. We were very much excited when you called all the Lebanese to take part in liberating Lebanon; and it was extremely painful to see those after positions, money and power work against this call…" "…We promise to follow your lead in order to free our country from the tyranny it is under today… and we hope that this day will come very soon." General Aoun’s reply was as follows: "…We know that you left Lebanon in search for work and good life; we know that you are established here. But we know that when Lebanon will be liberated, it will be ready to welcome you in its best way, satisfying your needs, hopes and dreams. With your help and those of the true Lebanese, Lebanon will be liberated; and our next meeting will be in Kfarsaghab hopefully." On the morning of Thursday 11 June 98, General Aoun met with the parliament secretary of the minister of education and youth, the federal deputy Mr. Tony Abbott and discussed with him the means of helping Lebanon restore its role after its liberation from foreign armed forces. He also met with the federal deputy Lory Brearton and former federal deputy Paul Elliott and the Annals Magazine’s editor in chief Reverend Father Paul Stanhouse. General Aoun’s speech in Sydney University  On Thursday 11 June 98, by an invitation from the "Center of Peace and Conflicts Studies" General Aoun delivered a speech asking for an International conference -with the help of the UN- that would help implement free elections and the withdrawal of all foreign armed forces. General Aoun stressed on the implication of the international and regional forces in the war that started in Lebanon in 1975. "… We do not deny disagreement between the different parties and religions in Lebanon but this shouldn’t have led to destruction and violence had it not been for the interference of these regional and international forces…" "Lebanon was presented on a silver plate to Syria on the condition that Syria condemns Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Why does Kuwait’s liberation cost Lebanon its sovereignty and freedom?" "…The Taef agreement was a lie that had to be created in order to overthrow the last person still fighting for Lebanon’s freedom and sovereignty..." "Israel offered to withdraw from the South of Lebanon. Lebanon by orders from Syria refused that and consequently linked the fate of South Lebanon to the Golan’s. All this without even asking the Lebanese people." "…I am with a non-confessional regime or even a federal one…" On Friday 12 June 98, General Aoun met the minister of immigration Mr. Philip Radock and thanked him for his help in making this visit possible. He then met with the Cardinal Edward Clansy. At noon he attended a banquet at the parliament of New South Wales where he met with several deputies, members of the congress namely Mr. Michael Forcho, Mr. Lory Ferguson, Deputy George Thomson, Mr. Peter Naval and Mr. Paul Elliott. In the afternoon General Aoun met the former senator Mr. John Walden. COPYRIGHT FREE LEBANON 1998. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |