Canada, Toronto 15 July 1998

Mr. President Jacques Chirac

Elysees Palace. France, Paris

Mr. President:

On the occasion of the Syrian President’s visit to France, we wish to expressly draw your attention to the following facts:

1- Hundreds of innocent Lebanese citizens from all religions and different political affiliations remain arbitrarily detained in the notorious Syrian jails and detention centers both in Lebanon and Syria without known charges, trials or even knowledge of their families with regard to their whereabouts. According to the Lebanese and international human rights organizations, these detainees are exposed to extremely inhumane conditions and deprived of proper medical and psychological care.

2- The Syrian troops are occupying Lebanon in contravention to all international laws, United Nations resolutions, human rights charter, local and regional accords and most importantly against the will of the Lebanese people. These troops are devastating the country and its people on all levels and in all domains and sectors, especially labor and manpower. One and a half illegal million Syrian individuals are competing with the impoverished and oppressed Lebanese people for every available kind of work. Because of this imposed situation most of the Lebanese people (especially the young) are forced to leave the country to look for jobs in other countries, including France, USA, Canada, Australia etc.

3- Israel recently recognized the UN 425 Resolution for the first time in 20 years and asked the Lebanese regime to assume its security responsibilities in the Security Zone to make it possible for its troops to withdraw from the South and Bekkah regions. The Syrian-controlled Lebanese government refused the offer although Israel did not ask for a peace treaty at this time.

Mr. President, keeping the Israelis in the South and the Syrians in the rest of Lebanon will not serve the peace process in the Middle East, and definitely will not help the people of Lebanon to regain their confiscated independence and freedom.

4- All human rights, even the basic ones are infringed on by both the Lebanese regime and the Syrian troops who resort to inhumane, illegal and Stalinist police tactics to oppress and muffle those who call for sovereignty, independence, freedom and withdrawal of all foreign troops. Numerous well-documented human rights international organizations speak clearly about the countless excess of ongoing atrocities.

5- The Hariri government, in spite of all the deceptive media propaganda and forged studies and reports, is in fact dragging the country into an imminent financial catastrophe. According to highly specialized neutral resources the Lebanese national debt is expected to jump next year to $26 billion.

6- Mr. President, you are also aware that the Hariri government was appointed by Syria and is composed of warlords and Mafia men. This government as well as all Lebanon’s governments since 1990 were not chosen or elected by the Lebanese people and accordingly do not represent their hopes and aspirations.

7- Mr. President, in general there is nothing right in occupied Lebanon, and a disastrous Syrian-imposed status quo very similar to what France endured during the Nazi occupation era. Mr. President, there is a popular Lebanese proverb that says "who knows the pain better than those who experienced it." The great people of France went through the bitterness of the Nazi occupation and definitely share with us, the oppressed Lebanese people, our pain, frustration and agony.

Mr. President, on the behalf of all the patriotic people in occupied Lebanon and millions of Lebanese living in Diaspora who share with the great people of France the same values of freedom, democracy, peace and respect for human rights we ask you to encourage the Syrian President:

A- To authorize all Lebanese prisoners under the Syrian control to receive visits from their families and their lawyers and to receive adequate medical care.

B- To guarantee the physical and psychological security of prisoners, prohibiting the use of torture during interrogation and detention.

C- To release immediately and without delay all persons against whom no charges have been filed, and to swiftly bring to trial all detainees who have been charged, in accordance with international standards of judicial laws and in accordance to Charter of Human rights.

D- To abide by the terms of the Taef Accord and withdraw his troops from Lebanon, leaving its peace loving people manage their own affairs in accordance with democracy and constitutional values.

E- To recognize officially, once and for all, the independence of the state of Lebanon and the significant Lebanese identity, culture and history and the unique Lebanese multi-cultural characteristics. The people of Lebanon want him to put an end to his ongoing scheme to annex Lebanon and exchange ambassadors between the two countries, as in all independent countries.

F- To order the one and a half million Syrians illegally competing with the people of Lebanon for their bread to go back to Syria.

Mr. President, France has always championed freedom and democracy. We ask you and your government to help the Lebanese people elect their own representatives without any intimidation or interference from non-Lebanese troops, under the supervision of the United Nation and free world countries.

We ask you to help our people form a transitional Lebanese government in which all the Lebanese factions are represented after the withdrawal of all foreign troops and all their proxies.

Mr. President, the people of Lebanon are capable of handling their own affairs if left alone. Help us to regain our independence and freedom again and send the Syrians back to Syria and the Israelis to Israel.

Long live France & Long live Lebanon.

Sincerely yours

Elias Bejjani

Media Chairman for CCCLO