February 10, 2006

PRESIDENT CHIRAC DELIVERS A SPEECH AT A CEREMONY IN TRIBUTE OF THE LATE PRIME MINISTER RAFIQ AL-HARIRI. PRESIDENT CHIRAC: THOSE WHO UNLEASHED THE ATTACK SHOULD KNOW THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL DO EVERYTHING TO ENSURE THEY ANSWER FOR THEIR CRIME, I SOLEMNLY SAY TO THEM: THIS ABOMINABLE CRIME WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED. Just a few days before the first anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri on February 14, France honored its long-time friend by issuing a medal in his name. The first medal in memory of Hariri was issued before French President Jacques Chirac and Hariri's family at the French Monetary Museum in Paris. President Chirac praised Hariri, saying: "He was a very dedicated statesman who served his country. And since he was a man of peace and dialogue, he wanted to reconcile the Lebanese and build a sovereign, free and independent state." The medal bearing Hariri's picture will be displayed in a special hall along with historical medals that date back hundreds of years. Present at the ceremony, which saw the late leader's name engraved alongside famous men in history, were Mrs. Bernadette Chirac, the assassinated Premier's family members, French Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Thierry Breton, Assistant UN Secretary General Terje Roed-Larsen, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh, MP Bahij Tabbara, Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh, Beirut Mayor Abdel Menem Arees, Lebanese Ambassador to France Sylvie Alam, French Ambassador to Lebanon Bernard Emie, and a large number of dignitaries and figures. President Chirac vowed that the international community will do all that it can to reveal the identities of Hariri's assassins. "This crime will not go unpunished," he vowed. The French President compared the late leader to French General Charles de Gaulle for his love of his country and his heroism. President Chirac said he was moved by the memory of the late leader. The French President paid his respects to the Hariri family and pointed to his strong friendship with the murdered leader. He paid tribute to the former Prime Minister's love for Lebanon, describing him as a hero who had a vision for his country, and sought to make it sovereign, democratic and independent. He recounted the assassinated Prime Minister's values and his support of tens of thousands of Lebanese students, as well as the reconstruction of Lebanon and the capital city, which became a "model" for the entire Middle East. President Chirac said he hoped that the murdered Prime Minister's sacrifices will inspire the Lebanese and the people of the Middle East and the international community to strive for peace and stability. "Those who unleashed the attack should know that the international community will do everything to ensure they answer for their crime. I solemnly say to them: this abominable crime will not go unpunished," President Chirac added. During the ceremony, a documentary tracing Hariri's visits to France and his meetings with top French officials was shown. The film also documented the visits made by Chirac to Lebanon. The former premier was also praised by the governor of Lebanon's Central Bank Riyad Salameh, who said: "He was a man who had a future vision who greatly contributed to rebuilding Lebanon." Salameh said that this commemorative ceremony was a "significant initiative" from France to honor a great man who strived for securing Lebanon's interests and for developing French-Lebanese relations." Meanwhile candlelight vigils, a rally, a concert and other activities are on the program of March 14th youth organizations to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Nader Nakib, the head of the Future Movement Youth organization, called on all the Lebanese to participate in a rally which, will take place in Martyrs' Square on February 14. Nakib stressed that the day has become "a national day for all the Lebanese." The activities, which will start on February 8, focus on the "luminous sides" of Hariri's life, Nakib said. One of the symbolic events will be to make a pyramid by piling up thousands of books close to Hariri's grave. These books will symbolize the 35,000 students whose education was financed by scholarships offered by the Hariri Foundation, Nakib said. Once the pyramid is formed, the books will be donated to Beirut's public library. Other activities will include public speeches by Lebanese politicians and foreign state leaders about their experience with Hariri at the American University of Beirut on February 8. On February 11, people will assemble to form the "slogan of truth" at Martyrs' Square, as a reminder that the 14th of March forces are still waiting the complete truth about who killed Hariri. A concert will also be held at the UNESCO Palace on February 13 to honor the families of all those who were killed by the blast which killed Hariri. Candlelight vigils will be organized across the country on that same night "to bring light back to Lebanon as Hariri always dreamed," Nakib said. Nakib said that the previous year was filled with "tragedies and accomplishments." He added: "Maybe it is our destiny to lose a lot in order to gain a lot."