In light of the dangerous crisis Lebanon has been facing for several months now, each and every Lebanese citizen is prone to yield to despair and oblivion. Each of us is entitled to ask himself whether a free, stable and united Lebanon is anything more than a myth.

Is it really our destiny to remain spectators or helpless victims of an endless drama? Do we have to keep on blaming international tensions and regional conflicts? Are we condemned to wait for the next international conference, foreign alliance or misalliance to save us from the inside?

At a time when the current situation leads to resignation, it is our duty, now more than ever, to refuse giving up. Lebanon does define our identity and in return, it time for us to affirm and consolidate Lebanon’s identity through our actions.

It is our duty, us Lebanese from the Diaspora, to ask ourselves how we can influence the course of events, by uniting our voices with all fellow citizens who yearn for a better future.

It is our duty to unite our efforts, still desperately scattered, to contribute to the establishment of a strong State considerate of public welfare.

To be efficient, our action must address short term and a long term constraints. First, we must immediately and relentlessly assist the country overcome the current crisis. On a more structural level, we ought to participate in establishing today the Lebanon we long for tomorrow.

The situation on the ground has reached a dangerous deadlock. The Collective of Lebanese Citizens and Lebanon’s Friends (a Diaspora organization based in Paris) as well as many other citizen groups must multiply calls and actions aiming at exerting pressure on politicians who are fostering a dangerous climate of suspicion and violence through their affiliated media. This situation has urged the Collective to publish its « Call for a citizen awakening’’, which has already collected more than 4 000 signatures on its website www.pourquelelibanvive.com.

Similar initiatives should not suffer any respite.

However, the country’s stability shall not be durable unless it is based on a will of undertaking profound political and economic reforms. None of the conditions necessary to make such a change seems to be available today.

In its citizen call, the Collective demanded from politicians ‘’to call for the creation of an independent commission. Its mission would be to study and submit all means necessary to establish a State of Law in Lebanon, to make the current political system evolve and to build up a citizen maturity beyond confessionalism’’.

The aim of our organization is to contribute, at our own level, to the advent of this Lebanon. The Diaspora can and should play a major role in reaching this goal. Through our 2007 plan of action, which will soon be published on our website, our Collective invites each and every Lebanese citizen and Lebanon’s friend to join us.

Our wish is to see the Lebanese Diaspora play a major role in line with its ambitions and considerable means, by contributing to the definition of the political and socio-economical future of the country, and by defending from abroad Lebanon’s interests and promoting its socio-cultural activities.

This is a major challenge, for all of us, Lebanese citizens. However, it is a crucial one we have to take on today so that Lebanon can live tomorrow!