By Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Congresswoman)),  Last month, the people of Lebanon said no to fear. They would not be silenced or intimidated as they rejected the corrupt government imposed on them by the Syrian regime. However, the recent elections represent only the first step toward the full restoration of independent democratic governance in Lebanon.The current election was conducted under a 2000 Syrian-inspired law which denies fair and equitable electoral treatment to one of the most significant sectors of the Lebanese population. This law breaks Lebanon into large constituencies, thereby marginalizing one of Lebanon's largest communities and continuing to enable Syrian and Iranian proxies to perpetuate the undue influence of their terrorist states. The United States must help the people of Lebanon in their efforts to restore the separation of powers and the rule of law by promoting electoral reform. Concurrently, we must help rebuild and strengthen Lebanese civil society so that the Lebanese people can once again thrive under independent democratic rule, free from the tentacles of Syrian manipulation. While some of Syria

BEIRUT, 26 July (IRIN) - Stringent new Syrian customs procedures have left hundreds of truck drivers in Lebanon waiting at the border with dwindling resources since the start of the month. The move is seen as a growing threat to Lebanon's agricultural exports. A long caravan of trucks carrying Lebanese exports destined for the rest of the region has been stranded for weeks in the 11 km no-man's land between the two countries. Inspections became stricter than usual in June but the real logjam started in July, according to truckers and local Lebanese officials. Painstaking inspection procedures by the Syrians are only allowing a few trucks through each day, forcing drivers to wait in harsh conditions, given the hot sun and dwindling food and money, while they wait with their cargo, much of it perishable. "Prices have already gone down by almost 50 percent as exporters cannot buy Lebanese agricultural products," said Antoine Hoyek, president of the Syndicate's Federation of Agricultural Producers in Lebanon. He estimated that the delays are costing the Lebanese economy $300,000 a day. Adnan Kassar, president of the Lebanese Trade Unions and Farm Syndicates, warned that long-term losses could severely affect the already ailing Lebanese economy, as other Arab countries would stop importing Lebanese goods. Most of the trucks stuck at the border are carrying perishable goods to destinations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, and even Syria, according to truckers and customs officials. Other loads include contain plastic goods, engine parts and wood. The drivers complained of the imminent risk of spoiling cargoes of fruit and vegetables, mostly from the agricultural heartland of Chtaura, in the Bekaa Valley in Central Lebanon. They said they are given an allowance of about US $2,450 for a trip, to include all expenses (such as customs clearance, administrative fees and their own sustenance) and their salary.