To mark the fifth anniversary of the Beirut Port explosion, the Lebanese-French Coordination Committee (CCLF) organized a symbolic gathering at Place Victor Hugo in Paris, near the Lebanese Embassy, under the slogan “So We Do Not Forget or Forgive.”

The event began with a speech by committee coordinator Tarek Ziad Wahbi, who emphasized the importance of remembrance as an act of loyalty to the victims and a means of preserving collective memory. The program opened with the Lebanese and French national anthems, followed by a moment of silence in honor of those who perished, were wounded, or traumatized by the explosion that devastated half of Beirut on August 4, 2020.

Dr. Eliane Sarkis, president of the “Lebanese Citizens of the World” association, delivered the CCLF’s official address, reaffirming that both expatriates and residents remain determined to uncover the truth, assign responsibility, and hold all perpetrators and accomplices accountable—regardless of their status or influence.

Kamal Torbey, head of the Lebanese Assembly in France, followed with a call to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to remain true to their oaths of office and policy declarations. He urged them to fully support the work of Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator, and to ensure the investigation proceeds without any political interference.

This initiative in Paris underscores the Lebanese diaspora’s unwavering commitment to truth and justice, refusing to allow this national tragedy to fade into silence or impunity.