International conference in Budapest highlights cultural and political challenges facing Lebanese Christians

BUDAPEST — At the recent International Founding Conference for the Support Fund of Lebanese Christians, held in Budapest, Hungary, Alfred Riachi, Secretary-General of the Permanent Conference of Federalism in Lebanon, delivered a powerful speech. He described the challenges faced by Lebanese Christians over the decades as a form of “collective cultural genocide.”

Impact of Taif Agreement

Riachi began his address by critiquing the Taif Agreement, which was later incorporated into the Constitution of Lebanon. He argued that this accord has led to significant imbalances affecting the Christian community, including:

• Naturalization Law: Resulting in the naturalization of over 250,000 families and individuals, altering Lebanon’s demographic makeup.
• Parliamentary Representation: Changes in the distribution of parliamentary seats that reduced Christian political influence.
• National Identity: The redefinition of Lebanon’s identity as Arab in both affiliation and culture, which Riachi sees as a form of cultural erasure, violating international human rights charters.

Addressing External Threats

Riachi also highlighted external challenges that have compounded the plight of Lebanese Christians, including:

• Syrian Refugee Crisis: The socio-economic strain caused by the large influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon.
• Palestinian Resettlement: The potential permanent settlement of Palestinian refugees, raising further demographic concerns.
• Hezbollah’s Armament: Riachi underscored the destabilizing impact of Hezbollah’s weapons arsenal on Lebanon’s national stability.

To confront these issues, Riachi proposed a comprehensive plan to restore balance and protect the cultural and political identity of Lebanese Christians.

Collaborative Efforts for Support

The conference brought together representatives from various political parties and organizations, including the Universal Syriac Union Party, as well as notable figures such as Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai.

Discussions focused on initiatives to revitalize Lebanon’s Christian community. International participants proposed a financial support package of approximately $200 million to address the community’s challenges.

Participants agreed to reconvene in a follow-up meeting to outline actionable frameworks for international assistance, demonstrating a unified commitment to safeguarding the future of Lebanese Christians.

من المؤتمر الدولي بمدينة بودابيست المجر، تحت عنوان: تأسيس صندوق لدعم مسيحيي لبنان، حيث شددنا بالجلسة الحوارية panel على النقاط التالية:

١- النظام السياسي الحالي، مقترح الفدرالية
٢- حل اشكالية النازحين السوريين
٣- حل معضلة اللاجئين الفلسطينين وسلاحهم
٤- متابعة ترسبات ما بعد… pic.twitter.com/1DYYJsUOdB

— Alfred Riachi (@RiachiAlfred) March 1, 2025