27/07/2020

USUP President Ibrahim Mrad: Without the sacrifices of our martyrs, “our cross, dignity, and our homeland dignity would not have been elevated”

BEIRUT — As in every year, the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) commemorated the 1,132 Syriac martyrs who passed away in defense of Lebanon and the Christian presence within the country in Syriac Martyrs’ Square in the area of ​​Sayd el-Bouchrieh.

In the presence of USUP President Ibrahim Mrad and the President of the Syriac Maronite Union-Tur Levnon Amine Jules Iskandar, several political and civil personalities, in addition to a number of priests, the commemoration came with the unveiling of a new monument in Martyrs’ Square after its reconstruction by the USUP. A wreath was placed on the memorial and a prayer was held to comfort the souls of martyrs.

USUP President Mrad delivered a speech, saying, “This new monument is a tribute to the sacrifices of our righteous martyrs, without whom our cross, dignity, and our homeland dignity would not have been elevated.”

“Recently, we had many protests in front of the embassies, the last of which was in front of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) headquarters in defense of our state sovereignty,” he continued. “Today, some people try to impose their policy on the way we live and they threaten us with their illegal weapons.”

Mrad announced three basic points, according to the party’s point of view, to resolve the Lebanese crisis and the return of Lebanon as a fair and functioning state: Firstly, the implementation of Resolution 1559 and all international decisions to withdraw the weapons of all militias, including Hezbollah; secondly, achieving a foreign policy of complete neutrality; and thirdly, the adoption of a new federal system for Lebanon in which the Lebanese people can live with dignity and in peace.

Below the full speech of Ibrahim Mrad.