Address by Minister Dion at the reception for civil society organizations and friends of the Embassy of Canada to Lebanon

Lebanon Forever

December 4, 2016 - Beirut, Lebanon

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

Finally, I am in Lebanon. I have been a member of Parliament for 20 years, and for 20 years, I have been dreaming of coming here.

I am here in my capacity as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and as the member of Parliament for Saint-Lebanon…oh, excuse me, Saint-Laurent!

On behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and in the presence of my fellow members of Parliament Eva Nassif, Fayçal El-Khoury, Marwan Tabbara, Ziad Aboultaif and Robert Aubin, let me say how honoured and pleased I am to celebrate with you, not only the contribution of Canadians of Lebanese origin, a tremendous contribution for Montreal, Quebec, and all of Canada but also Lebanon’s contribution to the world.

For indeed, Lebanon, this tremendously beautiful parcel of land, this cliff by the sea located at the crossroads of continents, has known its share of domination but has triumphed in its own way by enriching itself with the best each civilization had to offer. And so the best of the:

• Canaanites
• Phoenicians
• Egyptians
• Mesopotamians
• Babylonians
• Romans
• Arabs
• Franks
• Ottomans
• and even the French

Despite all these influences, Lebanon’s heritage never failed to inspire thinkers and poets.

It became a universal symbol of openness to civilizations, cultures and religions, fostered through the intellectual wellspring of academia and printing, an embodiment of the noble aspiration of generous community pluralism bringing Christian and Muslim communities together.

Moreover, Lebanon became the meeting place of the Mediterranean’s trading nations.

How many economic miracles have taken place in this country that we have nicknamed the Switzerland of the Middle East?

But we should be talking about a Switzerland that has always bounced back stronger than ever after every destruction.

And how many parliamentary renaissances have taken place in this democracy that will not die?
Let us imagine what Lebanon could offer its citizens and the world if it could finally know long-term peace and security.

This hope for democracy and progress is still alive. It beats in the hearts of all those who love Lebanon. And it speaks to the ever-solid alloy of the cedar and the maple.

For the maple leaf, Canada, must be there at the time of a new parliamentary renaissance in Lebanon.

And indeed, a new parliamentary renaissance is taking shape once more. The election of Michel Aoun as president and the appointment of Saad Hariri as prime minister-designate have revived this democratic hope. Yet this hopeful event also comes at a time of considerable challenges for Lebanon.

This country is bearing a disproportionate burden as it hosts a large number of refugees, the highest number per capita in the world and the equivalent of about one third of the country’s population.

Can you imagine it? On a Canadian scale, that would mean hosting some 11 million refugees. Could we rise to that challenge, even in a country with much more developed and stable institutions and infrastructure?

We are proud in Canada to have hosted more than 35,000 Syrian refugees since November 2015, about half of whom have come from Lebanon. But let us not lose sight of the tremendous efforts being made in Lebanon.

The real solution, as we all know, is peace in Syria, which would allow the refugees to return home safely. On the ground in Syria and at the United Nations, everywhere Canada is acting as a determined peacebuilder.

Under our Middle East redeployment plan announced last February 8 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, we are making great efforts for Iraq and Syria, countries in turmoil. But we have also agreed that Canada needs to support countries that are resisting turmoil and are the most directly affected by the after-effects.

We think of Jordan, where Canada has increased its presence and assistance. But we think of Lebanon as well. Lebanon must succeed: this is crucial for our Lebanese friends, for the region and for the whole world.

Because Lebanon must prove to the world that Christians and Muslims can not only tolerate one another but can build something greater and admirable because they are together.

At a time when the world is afflicted with the syndrome of mistrust, if you Lebanese succeed in building trust among all your communities, you will give the whole human race a powerful lesson in optimism.

Canada cannot do it for you, but we will be there. After all, the very essence of Canada is that it is built on that principle of trust. Different populations by language, religion and cultural references have forged a country that is envied worldwide. That must be possible for Lebanon as well, albeit in a much more difficult context.

I am here with my parliamentary colleagues to meet with your leaders and encourage the Canadians working alongside you.

Canada must support the countries that remain democratic despite the region’s destabilization. Those islands of hope, like Lebanon, or Tunisia, are resisting the authoritarian impulse despite the obstacles.

Our comprehensive plan for the region includes a $198-million contribution to Lebanon over three years for development, humanitarian assistance and military support.

We are present in Lebanon in different ways.

Prime Minister Trudeau is a teacher, and I am a teacher: for us the future of Lebanon depends on educating the children and youth of Lebanon, and Canada supports Lebanon’s Ministry of Education in increasing school enrollment and improving the quality of education for all—that is, the Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian peoples.

We are also working with Lebanon to ensure that vulnerable people have access to health services and clean drinking water, while we support the hard work to reduce tensions among the youth in communities.

Just today I was having lunch with several water experts to discuss how Canada can support Lebanon in improving its water management and sanitation.

We believe in a stable and secure Lebanon, and that is why Canada is supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in its fight against terrorism and in its efforts to secure Lebanon’s borders and to preserve an institution that truly represents all the Lebanese people. A military force in which they can have confidence and for which they can be proud.

I’ll stop there, for there are many ways we want to participate in Lebanon’s success.

Until I leave on Tuesday morning, I intend to savour every minute of my stay here with you. For in the words of poet Antoine Raad, Lebanon is Beirut, “the star of the heart, mysterious beauty”; it is Byblos, “the inventor of the alphabet”; it is Tyre, “the queen of the seas and a shining beacon”; it is Sidon, “steeped in glory and pride”; and it is also “fragrant” Tripoli.

And so, as the minister of foreign affairs, I say to you, long live Lebanon, and long live the everlasting friendship between Lebanon and Canada!

Contacts

Chantal Gagnon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
343-203-1851
chantal.gagnon@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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