PM Fuad Siniora’s address to the meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference held in Kuala Lumpur

Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

I would have liked to be seated among you today in Kuala Lumpur to describe, in person, to each and every one of you, the agony of the nightmare facing Lebanon for the past three weeks. Unfortunately, circumstances do not permit me to be with you.

Indeed, this is the seventh in a series of outrageous and wanton invasions of Lebanon. It is in cynical breach of practically every law and convention. It is taking an enormous toll on human life and infrastructure, and has totally ravaged our country and  shattered our economy: over 900 killed and 3000 injured so far, one third of the casualties are children under twelve; one quarter of our population, or one million people, displaced, many with no homes to return to; in some areas, hospitals have been destroyed or crippled and are unable to cope with the casualties; fuel, food and medical supplies are in short supply; homes, factories, and warehouses have been completely destroyed; airports ruined,  roads severed, and bridges smashed; UN facilities, army barracks and posts of Joint Security Forces shelled; a civil defense unit wiped out; power supplies bombarded; television and communication aerials crushed; foreign nationals evacuated; and  land, sea and air blockades enforced, effectively besieging the entire country, and fuel tanks set on fire and seriously damaging the environment and polluting the eastern Mediterranean. And so it goes on, unchecked and unpunished.

Is the value of human life in Lebanon less than that of citizens of other countries?

Why does the international community stand by while such callous retribution by the State of Israel is inflicted upon us?

Will you allow innocent civilians, mosques, churches, hospitals, orphanages, medical and relief supplies, people seeking shelter or fleeing their homes and villages to be the casualties of this ugly war?

Is this what the international community calls self-defense? Is this the message to send to the country of diversity, freedom, and tolerance?

Excellencies, no government can survive on the ruins of a nation.

Last week, I addressed the International Conference for Lebanon in Rome, proposing a comprehensive seven-point plan to end the war. It was well received by the Conference and got the unanimous and full backing of the Lebanese Council of Ministers and the Speaker of Parliament. Representatives of diverse segments of civil society in the country have come out strongly in favor, and two days ago, an Islamic-Christian Summit, representing all the religious confessions, endorsed the plan, thereby ensuring a broad national consensus and preserving our delicate social equilibrium.

Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen,

The Lebanese people are virtually united in their belief that the plan, which deals with all outstanding issues, can stop this senseless war. We need the unqualified support of the Islamic Conference , and of all peace loving nations, and urge you to unanimously adopt our seven-point plan for an immediate, permanent and unconditional cease-fire in order to put an end to the trauma, desperation, grief and daily massacres, and allow Lebanon to reclaim its position in this troubled region as a beacon of freedom and democracy where justice and the rule of law prevail, and as a refuge for the oppressed where moderation, tolerance and enlightenment triumph. We also need your humanitarian aid for our disaster-stricken country, as well as longer term assistance in helping us to rebuild, for the eighth time, our fractured land.

The Israeli war machine has laid waste to tens of towns and villages, has destroyed our infrastructure, has orphaned our children, has maimed our men and widowed our women, but it cannot destroy the will of our people to be free. After almost sixty years, after killing hundreds of thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians, after occupation, humiliation, oppression and intimidation, after Deir Yassin, Sabra, Chatila, Qana, Gaza, Jenin, Bint Jbeil, and Qana yet again, they have not learned that they cannot and will not destroy our will to live, that a desire to resist oppression is in the nature of man. With your help, inshallah, we will overcome this latest brutal onslaught, and Lebanon will again receive you with open arms.

From the steadfast, resolute city that is Beirut, I wish you every success in your deliberations today, and know you will not let us down.