NNA - Head of Independence Movement, Michel Moawad, said Friday during the 24th commemoration of his father's assassination that the moderate majority should amalgamate to form a Moderation Front to stand in the face of extremism and Hezbollah's plan to dominate the country and highjack the identity of Lebanon.


A ceremony commemorating the memory of President Rene Moawad was held today in Dbayeh under the patronage of incumbent President Michel Sleiman who was represented by Vice PM, Samir Mokbel. Also present was representative of House Speaker Nabih Berri, MP Qassem Abed al Aziz, and representative of caretaker PM Najib Mikati, caretaker Telecommunication Minister Nicholas Nahhas, along with representative of PM designate Tammam Salam, Mohammad Mashnouq.


Various major political factions were present at the ceremony, held under the slogan "We and Moderation Are a Majority," to show their respect to Rene Moawad who was President of Lebanon for 17 days in 1989, from the 5th to the 22nd of November, when he was assassinated by unknown assailants.


Michel Moawad reminded the audience of his father's speech on the eve of Independence Day in 1989 who refused to choose between Israeli occupation and Iranian custodianship, as there was "no difference between the rape of a land and the rape of an identity."


"Lebanon has a civilization and history of six thousand years...we the sovereign Lebanese, Christians, Sunnis, Shiites and Druze will not accept Israeli occupation, Iranian domination or protection of the Syrian regime...we denounce all extremism."


He could not fathom why a major Lebanese party would work on dictating national decision for the sake of Iran's and Bashar Assad's interests. Moawad addressed Hezbollah's Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, by name telling him that many have attempted this "dominance project," and all have failed.


"We cannot understand or accept Hezbollah' morphing from a national partner to an occupying force, for when a party dominates sovereign decisions, constitutional institutions and vital facilities, such as the airport and port, it becomes an occupier."


He argued that Hezbollah lied when it said its arms were to combat Israel. In fact, it was meant for subduing Lebanon. On that note, he called upon all Lebanese to form a Moderation Front to stand in the face of Hezbollah's supremacy and bring everyone back to Baabda Declaration and confine arms and decision making powers to the state and its legal institutions. He particularly called upon the Shiites to join, describing them as being used as "fuel in the regional fight" of Hezbollah.


Head of Free Patriotic Movement, General Michel Aoun, was also addressed directly by Moawad.


"Hezbollah's project...does not resemble you, and no one can live with it any longer. If that project wins we will both pay the price again. I call upon you, with all sincerity, to surpass sensitivities and line-ups before it's too late, and to meet again hand in hand in a Moderation Front to defend Lebanon and its identity."


===============R.Z.