Frem from the Islamic Makassed Alumni Association in Beirut: To seize the golden opportunity in the East led by the Saudi Vision 2030

The chairman of “Project Watan’s” Executive Board, MP Neemat Frem, emphasized the need "to seize the golden opportunity that is presented to us in order to keep pace with the new renaissance era in the East, with a renewed Arabism led with distinction by the Saudi Vision 2030.”

Frem made these remarks during a dialogue session titled "A National Vision for Reform," organized by the Islamic Makassed Alumni Association in Beirut, at its headquarters in Sanayeh.

This session was attended by various prominent figures, including deputies Imad Al-Hout, Faisal Al-Sayegh, and Nabil Badr, as well as former ministers Hassan Al-Sabeh, Khaled Qabbani, Marwan Charbel, Ibrahim Shamseddine, and Mohammad Choucair, in addition to former deputy Rola Al-Tabesh, Director General of the Ministry of Displaced Ahmed Mahmoud, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Liwaa newspaper Salah Salam, former Director General of the Internal Security Forces Major-General Ibrahim Basbous, former president of the Banking Control Commission Samir Hammoud, Dr. Bilal Hamad, Consul Khaled Al-Daouk, Sayyed Hassan Al-Husseini, Dr. Jamal Kebbi, members of the Beirut Municipal Council Yousra Sidani and Engineer Adnan Omeirat, member of the Order of Engineers and Architects Bassam Ali Hassan, Dr. Ghaleb Mahmassani, Mr. Talal Makdessi, Eng. Nabil Itani, Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki,  president of the Islamic Center Eng. Ali Noureddine Assaf, president of the Committee of Defense of Beirut Lawyer Saeb Matraji, president of the Association for the Welfare of Muslim Children Lawyer Issam Baadrani, Lawyer Omar Zein, Lawyer Marwan Salam, Brigadier Mahmoud Al-Jamal, Brigadier Takieddine Tannir, Journalist Mohammad Afifi, and a wide crowd of Beirut figures, Al-Makassed alumni, and members of the association’s administrative and advisory committees.

Sharbaji

After the opening of the symposium with the Lebanese national anthem, the president of the Islamic Makassed Alumni Association, Dr. Mazen Sharbaji, delivered a speech in which he affirmed that “Project Watan” is “a project that we all want to be a pathway towards reclaiming our homeland from the abyss into which it has fallen.”

“This is a vision that we desperately need in order to build a homeland that aligns with our ambitions and the aspirations of our youth, most of whom are unfortunately seeking to emigrate or work abroad whenever they find an opportunity,” he explained.

Sharbaji also stressed that the revival of the state depends on vision, sound planning, and human excellence. “National responsibility requires the MPs to end the presidential vacuum by reaching a common ground among the majority of political forces. Lebanon’s composition does not tolerate the formula of dominance and subjugation. We need a president who can put back the political process on its national track and work to protect the Constitution and to ensure its comprehensive implementation -- in cooperation with a national rescue government that endeavors to extricate the country from the economic crisis, rectify the monetary trajectory to safeguard depositors' money in banks, and modernize the administration in accordance with the demands of our era,” he stated.

Frem

Deputy Neemat Frem, in turn, said that Lebanon cannot isolate itself from extensive openness to knowledge and modernity throughout our Arab world, neither deviate from its important and fundamental historical path in this regard.

"This necessitates the strengthening of Lebanon’s society and the entry into a new, different, and promising era, so that we can once again witness the historical role and pioneering message of the Lebanese people, in order for them to be at the center of this leap, this renaissance, and this Arabism," he declared.

The lawmaker outlined in his speech “all the reasons that led to the financial collapse -- the most prominent of which being the vulnerable economic model."

He considered that "the current situation is the result of the political performance, the economic policies, the arbitrary decisions, corruption, and the lack of integrity and efficiency." He further emphasized that "prioritizing the rentier economy over the productive economy, as well as undermining the productivity of state institutions, which caused additional deficit year after year with unlimited borrowing, has created a substantial financial gap that has robbed our children of their future and eroded the hard work of productive people."

Frem then presented a part of "the economic vision for rescue, which entails a unified agreement on three no’s: no budgets with deficits, no political decisions that prioritize the interests of Lebanese parties over reforms, and no compromise on paying the true value of various state services, even if they are costly."

Furthermore, he highlighted the necessity to “empower the Lebanese people to endure the temporary suffering caused by the comprehensive reform process by creating a social healthcare network that integrates the services of the Ministry of Health and the National Social Security Fund through the issuance of the national health card."

He also called for “the establishment of a fund to invest the state's assets, where all revenues will be placed to enable the state to shoulder the responsibility for the existing gap, repay depositors’ money, and finance security, education and other services."

Frem finally called to “be aware of the importance of implementing the Taif Agreement as a starting point for decentralization," stressing that "this stage should focus on rebuilding the Lebanese state institutions away from any politicization.” “The next president should restore hope to Lebanese youth, regain the exceptional energies and all talents and intellectual wealth that have left Lebanon, and commit to the rescue project," he concluded.

Interventions and Dialogue

After his speech, MP Frem answered questions from the attendees who expressed their concerns and shared their aspirations for the vision of "Project Watan" as a basis for the nation’s salvation.