Mr. Speaker, on May 23 and 24, 2000, the Israeli troops occupying Lebanon left it, thus implementing, after many years, UN resolution 425.
This is a big step towards sovereignty for the Lebanese people. Now it is up to the Syrian troops to negotiate their departure so the Lebanese government may exercise complete sovereignty over its territory.
For many, many years Lebanon was the home of refugees, for Armenians and for Palestinians. No country has had to play as humanitarian a role as Lebanon, welcoming all those who were oppressed.
Today its borders have to be secure. I hope and believe that Canada with the international community will safeguard the borders of Lebanon. Let there be a viable democracy—