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Preamble
We are an alliance of Lebanese activists, ex-partisans and independents, united in support of a new political order that embodies the virtues of modernity, justice and equality.
While disenchantment from the current handling of the affairs of the State and from the inadequacy of our leadership is widespread, we offer a fresh political perspective with forward-looking solutions as a basis for change.
Whereas deception, personal interest, and delusion stand out as the prevailing norms of our time we remain true to our past and to the sacrifices of our countrymen who have battled and lost their lives in defense of freedom and peace in Lebanon.
We affirm that the successive wars that Lebanon witnessed for years have proven that no one dominant culture can impose its values and orientation over the others, for Lebanon is inherently a multi-cultural society with no ‘one’ and ‘unifying’ culture for the Lebanese in effect. This, after all, is the genuine message of pluralism.
We recognize that the present compromise-State is no longer viable and fails to cater for the existential fears and socio-political grievances of Lebanese at large.
Now, therefore, we call for a frank and lucid reassessment of our past and present as a basis for a sound future where all communities can live in freedom, peace and security, enjoying complete mastery over their own values and way of living within the lebanese state.
Guiding Principles
We believe that the State is created to serve the individual human person, protect its various cultural entities, and organize a harmonious relation between these entities, without disregarding the duties and obligations we hold towards our State.
We believe in the centrality of freedom, namely, freedom of thought and conscience, in its double aspect of being and becoming.
We believe that each person’s right to life, dignity, liberty and security must be honored, as enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
We commit to resolve our differences with civility, trust, and mutual respect, and to affirm the common goals that unite us.
Domestically
We believe in the territorial sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, both, in its external and internal dimension.
We explicitly reject any armed presence that is outside the legitimate framework of the Lebanese Army and call for immediate decommissioning of such entities.
We believe in pluralism, the meaning of which is complete recognition and respect of differences of belief, and the expression thereof is an assurance of the rights and freedoms of collectivities.
We believe in the multiplicity of the Lebanese identity, which is a composite synthesis of several cultural identities.
We believe that the solution to Lebanon’s anomalies lies in advocating a constitutional formula that nicely combines national and territorial/cultural interests and, at one and the same time, avoids both secessionism or the repetitive failure of the actual state.
We call for a measure of truth disclosure and apology between all Lebanese factions regarding human rights abuses committed during and after the Lebanon War. Such an approach promotes genuine inter-communal reconciliation and upholds the universal notion of human rights and rule of law.
We reject the naturalization of Palestinian refugees, and call for their resettlement in neighboring Arab countries if their lawful “right of return” was not safeguarded.
We call for a transparent and unrestricted scrutiny of State-owned agencies that were involved in considerable financial abuse since the onset of post-war reconstruction.
We support free enterprise and encourage individual initiative because a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit yields a strong economy that provides better opportunities for workers and families.
Regionally
We commit to all United Nations Security Council Resolutions that are pertinent to Lebanon.
We believe that Lebanon should adopt a policy of neutrality amongst its neighbors and that any contribution to the Arab-Israeli conflict should not transcend its diplomatic nature.
We believe that the relation of Lebanon with respect to its geographical neighbors, the Syrian Arab Republic to the North and to the East and the State of Israel to the South, should be founded on mutual respect of each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with International Law.
We call on Syria and Israel, who occupied Lebanon at several intervals, to provide for an immediate release of all Lebanese detainees in their prisons, compensate for the sufferers of their hostilities, and issue an official apology to the Lebanese people.
Our Pledge
We stand for ‘Our Lebanon’— Loubnanouna, which is the Lebanon of Equals we aspire and strive to build.
We welcome into our ranks Lebanese of all shades, residents and expatriates, who are steadfast in their commitment to our cause and ideals.
We choose to change the system instead of settling for the status quo.
We choose producing results instead of playing politics.
We choose sincerity instead of hypocrisy.
We choose confidence as a substitute to uncertainty.
We choose optimism instead of pessimism.
We choose opportunity as an alternative to dependence.
We choose freedom instead of fear.
FINALLY, We adhere to the culture of life and peace as opposed to that of death and hatred.
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