Ahmad Hariri announces the political, economical and social recommendations of Almustaqbal Congress

 

July 25, 2010

 

Secretary General elect of Almustaqbal Movement Ahmad Hariri held a press conference Monday at the movement headquarters to announce the recommendations that were approved by the founding congress of the movement that concluded its work Sunday July 25, 2010.

The Founding Congress of Almustaqbal Movement held Saturday and Sunday July 24, 25 a 2-day working sessions that culminated by electing President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri as President of the movement and the 28-member Politburo who elected Ahmad Hariri as Secretary General of the Movement, and MP Samir Jisr as president of the Overseeing and Supervisory committee.

Hariri said that the movement adopts the opening speech of its president and considers it as a fundamental ‘chart’ to add to its political, social and economic chart.

He described the working sessions as being held in a calm and democratic atmosphere, pointing that the recommendations were approved after taking into consideration the remarks presented by the attendees.

Following is the script of the press conference:

Almustaqbal Movement concluded its First Founding Conference entitled “Our Martyr is our Pillar”, electing Prime Minister Saad Hariri unanimously as Chief of the movement, followed by members of the Politburo who elected Bassem Sabeh, Antoine Andraous and Samir Doumit as Vice-Presidents and Ahmad Hariri as Almustaqbal Movement Secretary General.

Almustaqbal Founding Conference elected the Politburo members. Candidates were: Bassem Sabeh, Ahmad Hariri, Hassan Mneimneh, Samir Doumit, Fayez Makkouk, Saleh Farroukh, Mustapha Allouch, Youssef Nakib, Khaled Arnaout, Jean Ogassapian, Rola Ajouz, Antoine Andraous, Nassir Assaad, Mohamed Smaili, Walid Younes, Bilal Alayli, Rached Fayed, Daoud Sayegh, Malek Al-Ali, Walid Housseini, Abdul Naser Al-Dana, Youssef Doughan, Jamil Kambris, Ali Omar, Ezzeddine Saad, Aref Al-Abed, Fadlallah Fliti, and Fadi Saad.

18 members were elected for the Politburo namely: Bassem Sabeh, Ahmad Hariri, Hassan Mneimneh, Samir Doumit, Fayez Makkouk, Saleh Farroukh, Mostapha Allouch, Youssef Nakib, Khaled Sarout, Jean Ogassapian, Rola Ajouz, Antoine Andraous, Nassir Asaad, Mohamed Smaili, Walid Younes, Bilal Alayli, Rached Fayed and Daoud Sayegh.

According to Almustaqbal bylaws, Prime Minister Saad Hariri appointed 10 members to the politburo namely: Ahmad Fatfat (representing Almustaqbal parliamentary bloc), Ali Hamadeh, Mohammed Murad, Hassan Rifai, Radwan Sayyed, Mohammed Sammak, Raya Hassan, Ghassan Merhebi, Salim Diab, Walid Nakib and Ghassan Bolbol, making the number of elected and appointed Politburo members: 28 members.

Member of Almustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Samir Jisr was unanimously elected as Chairman of Almustaqbal Overseeing and Supervisory Committee.

The electoral process was calm and democratic, after closed-door sessions that lasted for two days (Saturday and Sunday), during which the Conference members discussed the political, economic and social charts of Almustaqbal Movement, in addition to the regulatory chart and organizational structure, before the conclusion of the conference in issuing political, economic and regulatory recommendations as a result of the mentioned reports and after the modification of some articles on the basis of observations and suggestions of the members.

The Founding Conference triggered action Saturday with an opening session, during which Prime Minister Saad Hariri delivered a speech in the attendance of Minister Adnan Sayyed Hussein representing President of the Republic Michel Sleiman, and House Speaker Nabih Berri represented by MP Hani Kobeissi.

After a short break the closed sessions began, where participants discussed the political and socio-economic charts and approved them with the suggestions.

On the second day, the conferees discussed the regulatory report, and organizational structure of Almustaqbal Movement and made comments and observations, followed by the election of the President, where Prime Minister Saad Hariri unanimously won the post, as MP Samir Jisr was elected as Chairman of the Overseeing and Supervisory Committee, then the 18 members of the Politburo were elected and assembled under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Hariri, who named the 10 additional members.

Almustaqbal Policy Recommendations

Almustaqbal Movement Founding Congress decided to verbatim adopt the opening speech of its President and to consider it as one of its fundamental documents, to adopt the submitted political report and to deem it as a document chronicling the events in the Movement’s history.

The Congress decided to approve the following policy recommendations respectively:

 
1

The Congress announces the Movement’s commitment to the School of Martyr President Rafic Hariri and pledges to continue his approach toward building a strong, fair and sovereign State, serving the people unexceptionally, preserving the nation's stability and prosperity, and asserting the belonging of Lebanon to Arabism and Arab moderation.

 

2

The Congress that consecrates the vows of its President in terms of respecting the principle of diversity and plurality in society and puts it into concrete acts, will conclude its work by voicing calls to all the Lebanese society in all its stratum; Muslims and Christian to enroll in the Movement to enrich and deepen the ties of Lebanon, which Almustaqbal represents and adheres to.

 

3 The Congress is deeply concerned over the repercussions of Christian emigration and brain drain from some countries in the Middle East, and considers the defense and the preservation of the Christian presence is the responsibility of Arab-Islamic as it is the responsibility of Christians. The congress commends the initiative of the Vatican Conference to organize a special conference to discuss this issue in cooperation with the churches of the region, emphasizes the importance of the national, constructive and cultural role of Arab-Christians in building a better future for themselves and their partners, including Muslims, to promote national unity and coexistence.
 
4 The Congress duly appreciates the President for his active political diplomacy aimed at protecting Lebanon from the regional repercussions and Israeli threats, and supports him in stressing on the importance of achieving a permanent peace in the region, and agrees that Lebanon's peace is linked to a lasting peace in the region.
 
5 The Congress confirms that Almustaqbal Movement does not see an alternative to building the State institutions on the national principles, and considers that reaching this goal requires a long, tough and difficult struggle, but it is strongly convinced that this national goal is worth the struggle and the myriad of sacrifices since it is a condition to achieve the country’s prosperity, stability and improve the conditions of all the Lebanese.
 
6

The Congress confirms that Almustaqbal Movement does not see an alternative to the liberation of the Shebaa Farms and Kfarshouba hills and the outlying areas of Hibbariyeh and the Lebanese part of Ghajar village through diplomacy carried out by the Lebanese State and its military capability should be needed, which affirms the calls of the President to bolster the military capabilities of the Lebanese Army and to arm this institutions.

 

7 The Congress in all the aforementioned recommendations considers the experience of former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government in the most dangerous stages in the history of Lebanon is a source of proud and honor for Almustaqbal, and the Movement salutes his steadfastness, firmness and commitments to the Movement’s principles and the line of Martyr President.
 
8 Since the Movement’s convictions are based on several code of belief - that there is no divergence or contradiction between justice and civil peace and that civil peace safeguards justice and that violence totally opposes stability and peace which are detrimental to the nation and the State – emphasizes that there is no compromises on justice which is a moral, righteous and patriotic commitment before the martyrs, their families and all Lebanese therefore highlights the dire necessity of ending intimidations and false assumption scenarios, and urges all citizens and political forces to cooperate for the sake of truth and justice for all Lebanon.
 
9 The Congress underlines that Palestinian issue is a national cause for all Arabs, and believes that a just solution - which includes establishing an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem its capital and supporting the right of return for Palestinians - is the key to a lasting peace in the region. From this context, Almustaqbal reiterates its support for Arab reconciliation launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz at the Kuwait Summit in 2009, and the Arab Peace Initiative initiated by the King and that achieved a unanimous agreement in the Arab summits in Beirut in 2002 and in Riyadh in 2007. The Movement also highlights the Arab solidarity and the unified Arab strategy in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
 
10 The Congress affirms its support to endorsing the draft law on granting the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon their human rights, and emphasizes that no link between the human rights and the settlement which is totally rejected.
 
11 The Congress expresses its adamant support to the new phase of state-to-state bilateral ties between Lebanon and Syria, and underlines its support to the directions and steps of the President in opening a new chapter based on reciprocal respect to each other's sovereignty in order to develop relations in all fields in the interest of the two countries and peoples. The Movement expresses its support to the promotion of bilateral ties and the development of a comprehensive coordination strategy on the regional and international levels and the signature of 17 new bilateral agreements in Damascus as well as the establishment of diplomatic ties with Syria at the ambassadorial level. The Movement also calls all Lebanese to exert strenuous efforts to promote future relations on the basis of a Lebanese-Syrian projects aimed at activating inter Arab relations as well.
 
12 The Congress confirms that "Almustaqbal Movement" is not only a political-organizational component of the "March 14," but it is also a pillar and a key founder that contributed to a large extent to the Uprising. It was born from the sacrifices and “The blood of Martyr Rafic Hariri” that triggered this National Movement (Intifada Uprising) which encompassed Lebanese from all confessions, communities, sects and regions. The Movement instead is determined to continue and overhaul this movement, including Muslim-Christian partnership and civil peace.
 
13

The Conference stresses the discussion of democracy during the working sessions is a positive factor toward achieving Almustaqbal principles namely civilization, national political institution of democracy, the development of Lebanese political life and the protection of parliamentary democracy.

 

14 The self-criticism during the discussions that with the previous phase, with all its political, social achievements and failures is an added value that reflects the Movement’s strength, unity, power and cohesion and its ability to face challenges in the coming period.
 
15

The Congress, in light of the rich and deep discussions that took place at its sessions, recommends the launching of fully-fledged political and intellectual workshops to mull over a number of essential issues, most notably:
 

1 The Taëf Agreement and Christian-Muslim equal power sharing
2 The Taëf Agreement and Civil State
3 Consensual Democracy
4 Democracy and Electoral law
5 Lebanon’s National Unity Government
6 The role of Almustaqbal Movement and Lebanon in the Arab-Israeli conflict
7 The Movement’s role at Arab level
8 The Arab Peace Initiative and Arab moderation
9 The Principles of ethics and fighting corruption
   

The Congress decided to approve the following Economic Recommendations:

1

To endorse the Economic Report given that it contains the general principles and approaches that Almustaqbal Movement relies on within the framework of the government in the current stage.

 

2

To request Almustaqbal Movement ministers to shape a program of work that includes cyclical benchmarks that the Movement will work to achieve over the next year.

 

3

To call on Almustaqbal Movement Parliamentary MPs to set up proposals for laws to be submitted to the Lebanese Parliament aimed at developing the Movement’s economic and social imminent programs.

 

4

To request Almustaqbal Movement coordinates to prepare programs that comprise economic and development priorities for all regions in Lebanon.

 

5 To request the Politico bureau to collect the Movement’s aforementioned programs of work and to compile it in an inclusive program for the next stage.
   

Draft of Recommendations and regulatory decisions:

 
On the regulatory chart:
 

The Founding Conference for Almustaqbal Movement adopts the organizational report provided by the Quinquenal Committee and considers it as a regulatory document of the Conference that identifies insights and regulatory trends of the movement.

   
Adoption and application of rules:
 

The founding conference of Almustaqbal Movement, after the adoption of the rules of procedure, recommends the Politburo to issue the mentioned political regulations set forth in the movement bylaws. The Committee also recommends the follow-up of efforts and supervision of renovating Almustaqbal bodies.

   
Regulatory recommendations:
 

Almustaqbal Founding Conference calls regulatory bodies of the movement for an organizational workshop in order to implement the guidelines and internal regulations during the period of two or three months.