NNA - During his presence in Hungary, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil delivered a lecture organized by the Hungarian Diplomatic Academy, entitled "Crossroads: What Role for Christians in Shaping the Future of the Middle East?"
Bassil said, "I am honored to address this distinguished audience, and I thank the organizers for inviting me to attend this lecture. I am always happy to visit Hungary, a country with which I have built strong relations based on our shared Christian and human values, thanks to my close friend Minister Péter Szijjártó."
“Today’s topic compels me to express my sincere gratitude to the Hungarian authorities, who have shown boundless solidarity with Christian communities in the Middle East, provided assistance to Christian institutions in the region, and responded to our concerns in light of the ominous developments in the Middle East," Bassil continued.
The FPM Chief outlined the role of Lebanese Christians in being a connection link internally and active peacemakers in the Middle East based on the Beirut Arab Summit initiative.
"We will build on our heritage and the experience gained in building the pillars of diversity and democracy that underpin the Lebanese model. We have concluded, along with all national communities, that peace is our key to stability, prosperity, progress, and development. We have played a unifying role in Lebanon, and we are ready to replicate it in the region," Bassil went on.
He emphasized that "peace is the path our reason urges us to take, as wars and instability threaten our existence in the region. Tomorrow, Lebanese Christians will play a pivotal role in establishing a lasting peace that respects all, in accordance with the Arab Peace Plan adopted in Beirut. They will exploit their openness to mobilize all interlocutors to agree that peace is the only way to end the current cycle of violence, otherwise the region will constantly face renewed conflicts."
Bassil considered that today Lebanon, and particularly its vibrant Christian community, finds itself in a delicate situation, adding, "We must remain extremely vigilant regarding the changes that are rapidly reshaping the region, its borders, and its peoples." He deemed that amid current tensions, the best thing Christians can do is avoid being overwhelmed by the radical transformations reshaping the Middle East. "Lebanon must find its way out of this storm, avoiding being drawn into new alliances emerging at the expense of its sovereignty and stability," he underlined.
Bassil pointed to the Free Patriotic Movement's efforts in seeking to express the concerns of society while working to consolidate Lebanese institutions. He said, "We have always believed that our political efficacy depends on our independence and self-governance, unlike other Lebanese political parties that are subject to external forces or foreign agendas."
"The Free Patriotic Movement has always stood alone in its struggle for independence, and history has proven our position correct," he affirmed.
"We, Lebanese Christians, in a changing world, yearn for a peace that protects our identity and enables us to continue promoting our values for years to come in the region to which we belong," Bassil concluded.
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