Remarks by Walid Maalouf, LARP President, Opening Ceremony,
Beirut, Lebanon - Friday, June 26, 2015

LARP is a bridge between Lebanon's business community and its counterpart in North, Central and South America. Our goals are as follows:

• 1. To strengthen the bridge between business men and women in Lebanon and the Lebanese American businesses in the Americas


• 2. To introduce to the Lebanese people the individual successes of our immigrant businesses


• 3. To support philanthropic projects. For example, in this particular mission we are suiting and equipping the Civil Defense volunteers.

We organized this conference with the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce to present these goals and discuss issues of most concern in the daily lives of Lebanese citizens, hoping to bring the attention necessary for improvement. Today's panels will focus on neutrality, the environment, technology and infrastructure.

Theme of the Conference is Neutrality:

In order to have true stability and more productivity within the complexities of the Lebanese government, we must start from a point where everyone feels secure. This very important Lasting security comes from neutrality; total neutrality from all Arab-Arab conflicts; Palestinian-Israeli conflicts and Arab-Israeli conflicts. I suggest the Turkmenistan neutrality example, where at a December 12, 1995 session of the United Nations General Assembly, Turkmenistan requested neutrality status and all 185 members of the United Nations at the time, responded by unanimously adopting a special resolution, "On the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan." and all regional and international powers respected this vote and awarded Turkmenistan its neutrality. It is today a stable country with a vibrant economy between Iran, Turkey, Pakistan and India.

After 6 months - 1 year of Lebanese neutrality, the country should move to eliminate the confessional system and create a modern constitution for a new Lebanon. In order to reach this goal you need gutsy parliamentarians and educated lawmakers to help move this process forward. Unfortunately, the big hurdle for a new Lebanon, a better Lebanon, and a modern Lebanon is its present political apparatus. They must move out of the way or pave the way for this Lebanon I am describing.

The Lebanese immigrant activists in New York, Washington, Paris, Geneva, London and Moscow are working diligently on neutrality to help Lebanon exactly as they did when UNSC resolution 1559 was created and later implemented on September 3, 2004; but the local politicians diluted it internally and each started hammering this resolution to secure his political side into the present Lebanese government. This resolution changed the US policy toward Lebanon and Syria; it changed the political landscape and freed Lebanon from the Assad-Bath army's occupation; if it weren't for 1559 there would have not been a 1701. 1559 was the cornerstone for a better Lebanon.

The business & NGO communities and the civil society in Lebanon have a tremendous role to play. You are the ones that should turn the table around and lead the change to a neutral country. You have in your hands many bargaining tools: 1. the money and investments in your businesses; 2. the manpower in your organizations; 3. and the masses you represent in the civil society. So, Lebanon would be a better place for business and growth! You must join forces and lead this kind of change. Get engaged, rise up to the opportunity, and rise up for the future generations.

No Lebanese presidency will be successful without the implementation of UNSCR 1559; otherwise the head of State and his government are playing with the security of the country and the future of its citizens.

A President must be elected; 1559 and 1701 must be implemented; a new parliament election law must established; so Lebanon's economy remains robust; security improves and we can all move forward toward neutrality, because neutrality brings prosperity, stability and security. Thank you