Beirut: The head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), MP Gebran Bassil, addressed a large gathering organized by the movement, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Syrian army's withdrawal from Lebanon. During the event, Bassil emphasized that the FPM was the first to resist Syrian presence in Lebanon and played a pivotal role in garnering support for the Syria Accountability Act in the US Congress. He recalled the events surrounding the martyrdom of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which led to the significant mobilization on March 14, 2005, marking a turning point in Lebanon's loyalty dynamics.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Bassil highlighted that March 14 represents a journey from military to popular liberation, reflecting the people's aspiration for freedom that culminated in the Syrian army's withdrawal on April 26, 2005. This pivotal day eventually led to the return of General Michel Aoun from exile on May 7, 2005. Bassil criticized the rewriting of history, asserting that the FPM played a crucial role in ending hostilities with Syria post-2005, fostering dialogue to safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty, and establishing diplomatic relations with Syria.
Bassil further stated that the FPM has consistently advocated for "Freedom - Sovereignty - Independence," transitioning its struggle from wartime legitimacy battles against militias to peacetime confrontations against state corruption. He warned of a new form of occupation Lebanon faces today, which demands confrontation to reclaim sovereignty, criticizing international oversight through the UNHCR as a violation of national decision-making.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the government's acceptance of the UNHCR's conditional voluntary return proposal, labeling it as a national humiliation. Bassil firmly demanded the immediate and unconditional return of all displaced Syrians, likening it to Lebanon's past liberation from Syrian occupation.
Bassil dismissed accusations of racism, asserting that demanding the return of displaced Syrians to their homeland is not racist, but remaining silent on their displacement and potential settlement is. He pledged support to municipalities defending Lebanese existence and livelihood against the challenges posed by the presence of Syrian refugees, reaffirming the FPM's commitment to liberating Lebanon from what he termed an "army of Syrian refugees" and safeguarding national sovereignty and identity.