Beirut – Lebanon’s anti-Syrian ruling "March 14 Forces coalition" started Friday its first official convention with the aim of declaring a comprehensive political platform for the country. The convention also marks the third anniversary of a massive demonstration often credited with stoking the international pressure that brought an end to Syria’s 29-year military presence in Lebanon following the assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri in 2005.

The grouping’s secretary, former MP Fares Soueid, said the coalition would extend its hand to all other parties in Lebanon in a bid to overcome differences and unify national ranks. Speaking on behalf of the ruling coalition’s different parties, Soueid announced the March 14 Forces’ first "political declaration." "Together for the salvation of Lebanon, together for defending our right to live, together for living peacefully in a sovereign, democratic, and modern state," read the declaration’s opening lines.  The declaration focused on four major points; national unity as a precondition to true independence, protecting state sovereignty through restructuring state institutions and restricting the possession of arms to the state exclusively, protecting independence through redefining the concept of resistance in a way that conforms with national criteria, and safeguarding independence by restructuring Lebanon’s role and relations in the Arab world.  Soueid stressed that national unity could only be achieved by creating a civil state that develops the idea of true citizenship at the expense of clientalism and sectarianism.  Soueid said Lebanon’s sovereignty could not be protected without restricting the possession of arms to the state.  Damascus must stop treating Lebanon as if it is a district of Syria," Fares Suaid, a key coalition figure, told around 2,500 people at a conference in Beirut to mark the anniversary.

According to organizers, the convention entitled "Spring of 2008" will try to define the coalition’s political objectives, a feature that has been largely absent from Lebanese politics – both before and after the Syrian withdrawal. The March 14 coalition came into existence in the wake of the assassination of Hariri, who was killed in a massive bomb blast at a seafront area of Beirut along with 20 other people on February 14, 2005.

A true resistance is one that serves national interests rather than the interests of foreign nations," Soueid said.

5:45 Phalenge Party official Michel Mkattaf delivers a speech and declares the conclusion of the first "Beirut Spring 2008" conference.
5:41 Abi Lamaa calls for holding a conference that facilitates the participation of the Lebanese immigrants in building the future of their home country
5:40 Eddie Abi Lamaa delivers a speech on behalf of the Lebanese Forces
5:35 Al-Ashkar calls for a youth conference that tackles the importance of the participation of Lebanese youth’s in public service
5:25 Rayan al-Ashkar delivers a speech on behalf of the Social Progressive Party adressing the concerns of the Lebanese youth
5:16 Work shops discussing Taef agreement, activating the constitutional institutions, International tribunal, national reconciliation, fair economic development, Lebanese-Syrian relations, Lebanese-israeli conflict are initiated
5:14 Soueid said we extend our hand and reiterate our call on all factions to overcome the disagreements and participate in molding our common destiny
5:08 During the past three years Lebanon suffered from attempts to re-impose the Syrian and hegemony on it, Soueid said
5:04 Soueid said March 14 Alliance is ready to open a new page with the Syrian regime if Damascus acknowledges the full sovereignty of Lebanon
4:57 Lebanon should not have two armies which take orders from two authorities: the Lebanese state and a foreign country, Soueid added

"The end goal of any resistance should be to build a strong state. This is how the success of any resistance should be measured," the declaration said.

On restructuring Lebanon’s role and relations in the Arab world, Soueid said Lebanon should stand side by side with other Arab countries in defiance of the ambitions and agendas of non-Arab regional powers such as Israel and Iran.

Soueid described Israel and Iran as "the friendly foes," explaining that despite the apparent enmity between the two states, both Iran and Israel want to see a weak Arab world.

"The biggest proof of the friendly foe relationship is Israel’s nonstop efforts to provide protection for the Syrian regime," he said, and called for the restructuring of ties between Beirut and Damascus. "We are ready to open a new page with Damascus if the Syrian regime acknowledges Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence."

The declaration also addressed Lebanese-Palestinian ties, focusing on two main points: rejecting any form of naturalizing Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, and asserting the Lebanese state’s control over the Palestinian armed presence.