Ya Libnan

Suleiman calls Lebanese expatriates the ‘oxygen’ of Lebanon

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During a reception that was held in his honor in Sydney by the Lebanese-Australian community on Wednesday , President Michel Suleiman who is on an official visit urged those that were born in Australia to apply for Lebanese citizenship in order for them to qualify for participation in the Lebanese elections

He also urged those that were born in Lebanon to submit their names to the civil registry in anticipation of the approval of a draft law that would allow Lebanese expatriates to apply for dual citizenship.

Suleiman said that the draft law, which the Cabinet approved late last year, “has been submitted to Parliament and will be approved soon.”

President Michel Suleiman , during a reception that was held in his honor in Sydney by the Lebanese-Australian community on Wednesday April 18, 2012 . He called the Lebanese expatriates the “oxygen” of Lebanon.

Suleiman Called the Lebanese expatriates the “oxygen” of Lebanon and said they should have preferential opportunities to invest in Lebanon, and urged them “ not give up their Lebanese land, for it is precious. Build your home on it.” He stressed.

Suleiman said that the most important project for Lebanon is “to develop a modern electoral law that will represent all the Lebanese fully, and will ensure the right of expatriates to vote.”

The Lebanese parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place about a year from now, but it is far from certain what electoral law will be applied . The president and the Minister of interior are facing an uphill battle in convincing all the Lebanese lawmakers to adopt the proposed new law that is based on proportional representation . A large number of the MPs want to stick with the modified 1960 electoral law , because they fear that Hezbollah arms could change the balance of power in Lebanon if these arms are not handed over to the state before the pools take place. Former PM Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist party leader Walid Jumblatt are leading the fight against the proposed electoral law.

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5 responses to “Suleiman calls Lebanese expatriates the ‘oxygen’ of Lebanon”

  1. MekensehParty Avatar
    MekensehParty

    Of all lebanese, the expats remain the worse.
    They’re probably the strongest “minoroty” and definitely the richest yet they have no rights nor do they work to get any.
    If the expats want the right to vote all they need to do is stop wiring money to lebanon and in less than a week all the clowns in parliament will be sitting to sign the law as the economy crumbles.
    That’s wishful thinking of course because after all, expats or not, they’re still lebanese…

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      They may feel an attachment for ‘home’, and yes do send the money to help people they love, but they are Australians (or whatever country they were born in) now. A decidedly better citizenship. And in all the world’s places they are now, definitely not a minority of Lebanese – even if they have learned to cut family size down closer to the ideal 2.3 kids which might save the planet.
      The only reason to become a ‘dual citizen’ is a wish to get some more democracy into Lebanon, considering what is happening. Not a bad idea, of course, but how many can really care that much?

      I remember a Greek friend with that ‘enviable’ dual citizenship even though he was born in Canada. At some point he decided it would be wonderful to drag his young Canadian family to Greece, take over the old family homestead, and build it up. Got dragged into the Greek army immediately since he wasn’t just visiting any more, and posted on the Macedonian border for 2 years leaving his wife and kids struggling in Athens with an uncle while trying to learn Greek and survive it. The fact they did says something about the Canadian wife’s ability I suppose. And Macedonia wasn’t quite like Lebanon …. something to consider if you’re Australian and want to return to the beaches of Beirut. :-))))

    2. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      They may feel an attachment for ‘home’, and yes do send the money to help people they love, but they are Australians (or whatever country they were born in) now. A decidedly better citizenship. And in all the world’s places they are now, definitely not a minority of Lebanese – even if they have learned to cut family size down closer to the ideal 2.3 kids which might save the planet.
      The only reason to become a ‘dual citizen’ is a wish to get some more democracy into Lebanon, considering what is happening. Not a bad idea, of course, but how many can really care that much?

      I remember a Greek friend with that ‘enviable’ dual citizenship even though he was born in Canada. At some point he decided it would be wonderful to drag his young Canadian family to Greece, take over the old family homestead, and build it up. Got dragged into the Greek army immediately since he wasn’t just visiting any more, and posted on the Macedonian border for 2 years leaving his wife and kids struggling in Athens with an uncle while trying to learn Greek and survive it. The fact they did says something about the Canadian wife’s ability I suppose. And Macedonia wasn’t quite like Lebanon …. something to consider if you’re Australian and want to return to the beaches of Beirut. :-))))

  2. MekensehParty Avatar
    MekensehParty

    Of all lebanese, the expats remain the worse.
    They’re probably the strongest “minoroty” and definitely the richest yet they have no rights nor do they work to get any.
    If the expats want the right to vote all they need to do is stop wiring money to lebanon and in less than a week all the clowns in parliament will be sitting to sign the law as the economy crumbles.
    That’s wishful thinking of course because after all, expats or not, they’re still lebanese…

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      They may feel an attachment for ‘home’, and yes do send the money to help people they love, but they are Australians (or whatever country they were born in) now. A decidedly better citizenship. And in all the world’s places they are now, definitely not a minority of Lebanese – even if they have learned to cut family size down closer to the ideal 2.3 kids which might save the planet.
      The only reason to become a ‘dual citizen’ is a wish to get some more democracy into Lebanon, considering what is happening. Not a bad idea, of course, but how many can really care that much?

      I remember a Greek friend with that ‘enviable’ dual citizenship even though he was born in Canada. At some point he decided it would be wonderful to drag his young Canadian family to Greece, take over the old family homestead, and build it up. Got dragged into the Greek army immediately since he wasn’t just visiting any more, and posted on the Macedonian border for 2 years leaving his wife and kids struggling in Athens with an uncle while trying to learn Greek and survive it. The fact they did says something about the Canadian wife’s ability I suppose. And Macedonia wasn’t quite like Lebanon …. something to consider if you’re Australian and want to return to the beaches of Beirut. :-))))

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