Gemayel on Pierre's Assassination Anniversary: We Will Remain Spearhead Defending March 14 Values

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel on Sunday stressed that his party “will remain the spearhead” in defending the values of the March 14 camp, insisting that “the army must extend its authority over the 10,452 square kilometers."

“The president (Michel Suleiman) knows the sacrifices of each one of us and Speaker (Nabih) Berri embraced (slain industry minister) Pierre (Gemayel) and cooperated with him and continued with the same admiration towards (MP) Sami (Gemayel) and we salute him. We also thank PM (Najib) Miqati,” said Gemayel in a speech commemorating the sixth anniversary of the assassination of his son, Pierre.

On November 21, 2006, gunmen opened fired at close range on Gemayel's car in the Northern Metn district of Jdeideh, killing the then industry minister and his bodyguard, Samir Chartouni.

“We hope God will inspire those who are in government today so that we can reach safety,” added Gemayel.

The March 14 forces have demanded that Miqati's government step down in the wake of the October 19 assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Maj. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan.

“I will repeat Pierre's words: We will not accept half a dignity, but rather full dignity. We will not accept an incomplete authority for the army, as the army must extend its authority over the 10,452 square kilometers,” said Gemayel in his speech.

“I thank ex-PM (Fouad) Saniora and ex-PM (Saad) Hariri with whom we started the March 14 revolution and the Phalange Party will remain the spearhead in defending the values we struggled for and only death can tear us apart,” Gemayel stressed.

“We struggled for the Lebanon of dignity and values and our struggle will continue until we achieve all these objectives,” he went on to say.

Gemayel extended gratitude to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi “who delegated today a very dear person, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir.”

Sfeir presided over the commemoration mass held at the Saint Antonios Church in Jdeideh where Gemayel delivered his speech.

“We must all renew the oath so that we continue on the path drawn by the martyrs,” said Gemayel.

He vowed that the Phalange Party “will always remain in Lebanon's service.”

“We will always revitalize the party so that it reflects the image of Pierre, (slain MP) Antoine (Ghanem) and all our martyrs,” Gemayel pledged.