Siniora in tears as he recalls days of life-long companion

BEIRUT - Maysam Ali

March/April 2006

“I chose to speak in AUB because it has the youth and because the martyr was always interested in education,” said Prime Minister Fouad Siniora during a commemoration event of late Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination.

The Future Youth Organization had invited Siniora to a sermon entitled They Said about the Former Premier at the Issam Fares Hall in February.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s speech came last in a series of speeches given by prominent Lebanese political figures: Information Minister Ghazi Aridi, former MP Nasib Lahoud, the Democratic Left Movement’s Secretary-General and Tripoli MP Elias Atallah.

Also present was Beirut MP Ghinwa Jalloul from the Hariri bloc.

Siniora discussed three major challenges facing Lebanon: first, the full implementation of the Taef Agreement; second, economic, social, and administrative reform; and third, the reinforcement of security and stability accompanied by the separation of powers, the protection of the Lebanese borders, and the establishment of proper relations with Syria. In his closing statement on Hariri, Siniora’s eyes were in tears as the audience applauded him.

The event had started with a moment of silence in respect of late Hariri’s memory, after which Future TV journalist and event moderator Najat Sharafeddine expressed an articulation of grief a year after his assassination.

    After the introduction, a movie was played highlighting the major condemnations of Hariri’s assassination. The movie was followed by a speech given by the President of the Future Youth Movement Nader Naqeeb who said that Emile Lahoud should resign, and prayed that Saad Hariri “saves Lebanon from conflict.”

Naqeeb talked about Hariri’s role in restoring civil order and peace after the Taef Agreement, his role in rebuilding the Lebanese infrastructure, revitalizing the flawed economy, restoring state institutions and attracting foreign Arab and international investments through the improved private sector.

For his part, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi’s lengthy improvised speech provoked the audience that gave him a good round of applause as it chanted “Abou Baha,” in reference to the slain premier.

 “It’s a matter of days before they [the assassins] are forced to comply with the international court,” said Aridi. He called for the resignation of Lahoud saying that freedom in Lebanon will be never curbed for “Hariri exists in those who seek democracy and freedom, he exists in Mukhtara [home of Chouf MP and President of Aridi’s Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt,] in Beirut, and in each and every one of us. “We will avenge you, Abu Baha,” Aridi concluded.

Lawmaker Elias Atallah remembered Hariri’s role in preserving civil peace and the current attempts by intelligence networks to destroy last year’s accomplishments. He denounced the riots in Achrafieh and called on the March 14 alliance to “hold on to the convictions of Rafik Hariri, Bassil Fuleihan, Samir Kassir, George Hawi, and Gebran Tueni.” 

Meanwhile, Nasib Lahoud spoke about Hariri’s unifying death, his accomplishments and his dream of building the Lebanese democratic state. He cautioned the “exceptional statesman” Premier Siniora from giving in to security problems urging him to keep Lebanon safe from external interferences and the continuous Syrian destructive politics toward Lebanon.