Mustafa Barghouthi, at of of the 700 checkpoints across the West Bank Ramallah, 16-08-09: In a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their just struggle and steadfastness, France offered the highest medal of honour –the legion of honour- to Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, the Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative.
Following the decision of the President of the French Republic, the distinction award was granted to Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi “for his dedicated action in the medical, social, humanitarian and political fields.”
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi was thanked for being “a solid and constructive partner, for so many years”.
In fact, the Parlemantarian has proven extensive efforts to awaken global awareness of the Palestinian cause and worked hard toward building a network of international solidarity movements resulting in close cooperative collaboration with international institutions to provide humanitarian relief and solidarity to the Palestinians.
Mustafa Barghouthi thanked the French president, his government and its people, reaffirming that “this gesture will be dedicated to the Palestinian people and their heroic steadfastness, during decades of suffering and to the Palestinian resilience to remain in their homeland, despite the harshness of the conditions.”
“We, as Palestinians, are proud of this close friendship that links us to the French people and their institutions that characterize the values of liberty, fraternity, equality and justice. We are proud that those universal values are supporting us in our quest for freedom and independence toward a just peace.”