(Unofficial Translation – Google)
Dr. Antoine Bou Abboud Harb posted in Annahar Newspaper on 12 February 2012
It hurts me the unfair attack on the World Lebanese Cultural Union and denial of all its work and achievements and sacrifices, and then describing it as failed, paralysed and divided organisation...
Untrue Words against WLCU leaders and its history that involve a lot of injustice, rather than a thanks to the distinctive expatriate and national personalities who chaired the WLCU and maintained its mission and objectives without appreciation.How we could ignore, that WLCU is the strongest and the most important organization with its worldwide networking. Due to its current president Sheikh Eid Chedrawi and his world council, the WLCU still doing the best to spread its mission and establish its goals, starting from the United Nations, which recognized the WLCU as a Cultural, Social Organization and reaching all the Lebanese in the Diaspora. WLCU became the organization that defends the intellectual of Lebanon and its brilliance of civilization; and proved its presence in all international instances or project of renewal, reform or modernity.
WLCU promote the universality of Lebanon and assume the effective presence in the international forums. WLCU contributed in the adoption of UN Resolution 1559. WLCU reunited the Lebanese across the world …
it planted in the heart of the descent all pride about their roots encouraged them to stay in touch with their culture. The policy of the Lebanese government was never a correct policy based on wisdom.
The WLCU is an NGO, the Lebanese Government does not have any authority over it. The Minister (Foreign Affairs) Philippe Takla defined this relationship, saying: "The Lebanese government has no authority on the WLCU, nor control it, or constrain it. It is a relationship of love, help and encouragement." The Ministry of Immigration ignored these principles and issued the decree number one and two with no avail.
The Directorate of the Ministry of Emigration seeks by all means through Article XII (12) in its law to control the WLCU. This unfair article contradicts the international agreements, especially the Congress of Vienna (Vienna) in 1972, in order to dominate, and serve narrow sectarian and partisan horizon, and vainly sought to disrupt and paralyze its effectiveness...
Have been absent from the minds of the forces of status quo powers (Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs), that the WLCU is a unifying solid force, and not a noisy sectarian and political slogan …
Therefore, the Council that they are preaching for, may become a front lines between the WLCU, Lebanese State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The WLCU and the Lebanese Diaspora are not on the brink of danger. Their motive, to put the hand on it, is not valid…
The WLCU, which has strengthened the bonds of cultural, social and national interaction, and became the historical bridge of communication between Lebanon and expatriates, it cannot be canceled by a political decision...
Is it permissible to establish a fourth emigration entity? Or impose the Lebanese state’s power on expatriate who are subject to the laws and regulations of other countries …? If they want to, let it be!