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Dubai: Lebanese citizens living in the UAE have a diverse reaction to Lebanon's current and forthcoming situation, which some described as 'gloomy,' yet they hope a new president comes in to help their country.
The president-to-be should think as a Lebanese and not otherwise, according to the President of the Lebanese Businessmen Council in Abu Dhabi, Albert Matta.
"The situation in Lebanon is very critical and strongly depends on the remaining three-day negotiations which will happen between the different parties.
"France has been exerting tremendous efforts to solve the presidency issue. They haven't succeeded till now because Syria and Iran haven't approved the stance of France," said Matta.
He said Syria wants the former minister Michel Edde to be the president while the majority of the parliament and the people want someone else.
"This is the core of the conflict. If the different parties fail to elect a president, Lebanon will pay dearly," warned Matta.
He wants the new president to give stability to the country and "to introduce equality between different parties and act as an arbitrator among the conflicting parties... as one boss for the country"
Zeina Elias, PR manager, said the situation is disheartening especially for people living abroad because they tend to worry more than those residing in Lebanon and because they are misinformed.
"It will be great if our leaders and politicians follow the example of the UAE leaders. Our lawmakers should concentrate more on productivity and growth and the well-being of their people instead of wasting their time bickering over political issues and power seats while we are suffering," said Zeina who has been living here for 15 years.
She said "history taught us to always hope for the best and regardless of what happens, our country has forever proven that it rises at the final moments."
Sa'ad Al Zein, Managing Director of Abraj property developers, said: "It is unfortunate that we have reached such a state where Lebanese have become like a barometer; we change our attitude on an hourly basis. I feel we are on the way to loose our dear country. We don't deserve this because our country and its people deserve better than what is happening."
Resources
"The incoming president should address people as citizens and not sects or politicians. We should build a very solid country that has all resources unified and one of the leading Arab countries in the Arab world," concluded Al Zein.
Maria Adnan, continuity producer in broadcast media, said: "I am trying to think positive about the current situation because I love my country. I want things to be okay. This seems to be farfetched so far, however, I hope it happens soon."
Maria believes, that with all the mayhem currently hitting her country, a president will be elected "but I don't know who!" She wants him to bring social and political equality, stability and security to the country and its people.
"My fellow Lebanese and I want a chance to live decently in our country. After three years of working here, I am returning in one month time to Lebanon where I want to live decently," she said.
Advocate Mohiedean Dimasy, practising law in the UAE for the past four years, deems that Lebanon is heading to darkness. "Lebanon's friends and rivals, intervene wanting to select a Lebanese president! Why? Leave us alone! There is a conflict of interests and of opinions among regional and international countries who are intervening to name a president.
Impact
"This has been, strongly and negatively, impacting the presidential elections besides keeping our politicians from uniting and electing a president," Dimasy said.
He called on Lebanon's politicians to unite against any international interference "because we should set our own destiny."
Dimasy said: "Due to the current state of instability in Lebanon, I think our country will not see a new president, though I hope the contrary. Our politicians have failed to agree on a president in the past year, so how do you expect them to do so in the last 24 hours!"
Jad Sa'ad, a sales manager, said: "It is one of the worst political situations that ever struck the country. I think none of the politicians is capable of running Lebanon. Our politicians have proven that they are successful and are pioneers in throwing the country into chaos."
Sa'ad asks the new president, if elected, to demolish all political parties and unify the people under the Lebanese flag.
"This is not against the freedom of the Lebanese," he said.
"Five years ago I came to the UAE searching for a career after what has been happening in my country, now, I am a citizen searching for a lost country named Lebanon," he concluded.
Have you heard of any Lebanese family who have left their country because of the prolonged political instability and conflict there? Tell us their story.
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