Word: gemayels
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...Amin Gemayel: The countdown has begun. I don't know how quick will...
...Amin Gemayel: It was not all of a sudden that the mood changed. The (Syrian-backed) extension of President Emile Lahoud's term of office (in September 2004) was, to use a French expression, the drop that caused the glass to overflow. Before that extension, hope had been raised in hearts and minds of the people. They thought that with a new president, perhaps there will be a new policy and a new era. Their disappointment was like an explosion. Many other things, including the assassination attempt against MP Marwan Hamade, strengthened feelings against the Lebanese government and Syria...
...Amin Gemayel: The people rose up. It is like with (former Romanian dictator Nicolae) Ceausescu. There is a feeling of being fed up. People feel, ?Let us die but keep the country alive.? You gain courage and determination because you have nothing to lose anymore. Syria used the logic of ?divide and rule? with success for a very long time. They were very active in promoting the division and inciting people to fight each other and keep the country in permanent conflict with itself. But now, this policy is over. It doesn't work anymore...
...Amin Gemayel: The parties until recent years were fighting each other. Now they decided to unite, to join their efforts to liberate the country. They have come from opposite trenches to call for the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon. This would have been unbelievable just a few months ago. There is a personal and national interest of every leader to remain committed and to go all the way, until Lebanon regains its freedom and sovereignty. It is an opportunity for the country and nobody can afford not to work for the cause of liberation. Otherwise they will...
...Amin Gemayel: Syria has an historic and national dream to annex Lebanon. They refuse to appoint an ambassador in Beirut and have diplomatic relations like with any other country, because they don't recognize the independence of Lebanon. Lebanon is the only card that remains for Syria to show that it is an important country in the Middle East. Syria is controlling the main aspects of the Lebanese economy. As important as all the other points, many Syrian officials are exploiting their influence in Lebanon for their own financial interests...