Five American-Lebanese political organizations comment on recent  ATFL divisive statements made in Lebanon

2/8/02

After reading statements made by some members of the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) in Beirut, we are convinced that prominent members of the Lebanese-American community visiting Lebanon are subject to indirect pressure from Syrian intelligence and their Lebanese elements to issue inaccurate and divisive statements with the only purpose to divide the Lebanese-American community and the only goal is to serve Syria's anti-American objectives in Lebanon.

We deplore any attempt to imply that there are differences in the aspirations or expectations between Lebanese-American who live freely in the USA and Lebanese living in Lebanon who are subject to all kind of constraint.

As Representatives of a number of Lebanese-American Organizations politically active in the US, we are totally stunned by these statements and as much as we would like to avoid the bickering among Lebanese-Americans, we feel obligated to clarify major points regarding these reports for the sake of truth and accuracy, and to maintain good relationship with our friends at the ATFL.

1. ATFL does not-absolutely not-represent the overwhelming majority of Lebanese Americans. ATFL is in reality a group of about one hundred businessmen and professionals, whom we know and very much respect. But ATFL is not at all a Grassroots organization. Actually more than 90% of Lebanese-Americans do not really know what ATFL is, or never heard of it.

2. ATFL is not a lobbying force. We know for a fact that ATFL members do not share the same exact political views on Lebanon and the Middle East. Actually a significant number of ATFL members are active in Political Organizations outside ATFL. We will abstain from releasing names or facts, but the truth is that without an agreement within its own members on a clear political agenda for Lebanon, ATFL cannot claim it lobbies for Lebanon.

To our knowledge the overwhelming majority of Lebanese-American including the overwhelming majority of the members of the ATFL works diligently to fulfill the aspirations of the Lebanese citizenry. There may be insignificant differences in the approach but never over the principals of the Sovereignty, Freedom, territorial integrity, Independence of Lebanon and the withdrawal of all non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon.

We doubt the accuracy of the statements of Mr. Tannous and Mr. Gabriel and suspect manipulations and pressure to serve the anti-Lebanese and the anti-American objectives.

We certainly will not allow divisiveness to succeed and sincerely hope that both the ATFL and those who took part in the World Maronite Congress will continue to work for the common principles of Sovereignty and Independence.

Assembly for Lebanon - Mr.Mel Zohrob
American Lebanese Alliance - Mr.Tony Bou Samra
American Maronite Union - Mr.Tom Harb
Lebanese Information Center - Dr. Joseph Gebeily
World Lebanese Organization-USA -  Mr.Theo Sokhn