LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 22/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 22:34-40. When the Pharisees heard that he had
silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them (a scholar of
the law) tested him by asking, Teacher, which commandment in the law is the
greatest? He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the
first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Loyalties to the Resistance stay
strong south of Litani/By: Nadine Elali, Now Lebanon 21/08/09
At least Obama and Mubarak agree on
Lebanon/By: Hussain Abdul-Hussain/ Now Lebanon/21.08.09
As the month of Ramadan begins, the Islamic world is a shambles.The
Daily Star 21/08/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
21/09
Dar
al-Fatwa: Ramadan Begins Saturday-Naharnet
Zoghbi: Aoun, a barricade for Hizbullah-Future
News
Britain: UNIFIL's Mandate
Renewal Calls for Mission Review-Naharnet
Hizbullah Cell Goes on Trial in Egypt on Sunday-Naharnet
Sfeir Urges Suleiman,
Hariri to Form Majority Cabinet-Naharnet
Jumblat Seeks to Restore Ties with
March 14 and Bkirki-Naharnet
Hizbullah Throws Cabinet Ball in Hariri's Court, Says No Promises Made-Naharnet
Aoun-Hariri Meeting Collapses Amid Escalation of Words-Naharnet
Abou Assi: Jumblatt-March 14
meeting a new beginning-Future News
Geagea discusses with Sisson Mitchell’s plan-Future
News
Mahfoud: Aoun the disruption puppet-Future
News
Nicolas criticizes Baroud and Najjar-Future
News
Mario Aoun: no government without
the Change and Reform-Future News
Aoun Presents Declaration
of his Assets-Naharnet
Saniora
Says Hariri Steadfast in Cabinet Formation Efforts-Naharnet
Army
Conscript Arrested Over Illegal Arms Depot at his House-Naharnet
Retired ISF Official
Confesses to Spying for Israel-Naharnet
Cairo Announces Full
Backing for Hariri's Cabinet Formation Efforts-Naharnet
Karami After Talks with
Hariri: All are Putting Sticks in the Wheel of Cabinet Formation-Naharnet
INFANTRY: Israel Trains For The Next War In Lebanon-Strategy
Page
Hezbollah Readies for War as UN Peacekeepers Can
Only Observe-Bloomberg
UNIFIL helps Hezbollah infiltrators-Examiner.com
Mitchell to finalize inclusive
blueprint for Mideast peace-Daily
Star
Hariri will form cabinet 'based on
constitutional norms-Daily Star
Analysts say cabinet deadlock
likely to drag on-Daily Star
Faour stresses need for
Druze-Christian reconciliation-Daily Star
Graziano tells Hariri situation in
south 'generally quiet-Daily Star
Lebanon's Sunni authority says
Ramadan starts Saturday-Daily Star
ISF arrest Tripoli man for holding
illegal weapons-Daily Star
Foreign Ministry: Emigrant voting
'out of jurisdiction-Daily Star
Tripoli grenade attack leaves
4-year-old wounded-Daily Star
Fake ISF cars a menace on Lebanon's
roads-Daily Star
Nahr al-Bared reconstruction to
finally kick off-By
IRIN News.org
Committee calls for greater female
participation in polls-Daily Star
The story of Taha Sleiman’s
escape/Future News
Dar al-Fatwa: Ramadan Begins Saturday
Naharnet/Dar al-Fatwa, Lebanon's highest Sunni authority headed by Mufti
Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, announced that the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins
on Saturday. The start of the ninth and holiest month of the Muslim calendar is
traditionally determined by the sighting of the new moon, often dividing rival
Islamic countries and sects over the exact date. Because it follows the lunar
cycle, Ramadan comes 11 days earlier every year on the Gregorian calendar,
bringing the fasting month this year in the summer. During Ramadan, Muslims are
required to abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn until dusk as life slips
into a lower gear during the day. Activity peaks between "iftar," the breaking
of the fast at sunset, and "suhur," the last meal of the day before sunrise.
Beirut, 20 Aug 09, 21:38
Britain: UNIFIL's Mandate Renewal Calls for Mission Review
Naharnet/Britain's permanent representative to the U.N., Sir John Sawers, said a
draft resolution on the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate will include an invitation
to review the peacekeepers' mission in south Lebanon. Following a consultative
Security Council session on Thursday, Sawers said that some countries expressed
fears on recent incidents in south Lebanon, including the alleged Hizbullah
weapons depot blast in Khirbet Selm which is "a clear violation of resolution
1701." The ambassador also said Israel was violating Lebanese airspace and
continued to occupy the northern part of the border village of Ghajar. Sawers
told An Nahar daily that the draft resolution prepared by the French ambassador
will include an invitation for a full review of UNIFIL's mission and its future
role amid a general trend to change the missions of all peacekeeping operations
in the world. Israel had officially asked the Security Council to amend UNIFIL's
Rules of Engagement following the Khirbet Selm explosion. But the French
ambassador to the U.N., Jean-Maurice Ripert, said Thursday the Council is
expected to extend the mandate of the peacekeeping force for another year
without amendments on August 27. Ripert added, however, that some Council
members have remarks on last month's incidents. While Ripert did not name names,
an official with the U.S. mission in New York told An Nahar that his country was
concerned about the weapons cache blast. Beirut, 21 Aug 09, 09:18
Hizbullah Cell Goes on Trial in Egypt on Sunday
Naharnet/Twenty-six men accused of plotting attacks on behalf of Hizbullah on
tourist resorts and on ships in the Suez Canal will go on trial in an Egyptian
security court on Sunday.
The suspects -- two Lebanese, five Palestinians and 19 Egyptians -- face charges
of "conspiracy to murder, spying for a foreign organization with the intent of
conducting terrorist attacks and weapons possession." Four more accused are on
the run and will be tried in absentia, including Lebanese alleged mastermind
Mohammed Qabalan who is believed to have left Egypt.
Defense lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud told Agence France Presse that some of
the defendants had confessed to planning attacks against Israelis. "Those whose
names appear on the list, including number two suspect Lebanese Mohammed Youssef
Ahmed Mansour known as Sami Shehab, told prosecutors during questioning that
they initially planned attacks against Israeli tourists in Sinai in response to
the killing of (Hizbullah leader) Imad Mughniyeh, but that orders came from
Hizbullah leadership banning such activities," he said.
Mughniyeh, a Hizbullah commander, was killed by a car bombing in Damascus in a
February 2008 attack that was blamed on but denied by Israel. Hizbullah chief
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah admitted in April that Shehab was a Hizbullah agent but
said he was only tasked with smuggling weapons to militants into the Gaza Strip.
The defendants said that their main goal was to help Palestinians in Gaza.
Egyptian security forces had said that five of the accused in what is being
called the "Hizbullah cell case" belonged to the banned Muslim Brotherhood but
that they had left the organization in recent years. In an interview aired on
Monday by the U.S. television network CBS, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
claimed that the Brotherhood had contacts with the Lebanese and Palestinian
militant groups Hizbullah and Hamas. "They have contacts with Hamas. They have
contacts with Hizbullah. These are well-known and they have contacts with many
organizations," he said, but added: "As long as they do not commit any terrorist
crimes, I don't care." State security courts were set up under Egypt's emergency
laws which have been in place since 1981. Their verdicts are final.(AFP) Beirut,
21 Aug 09, 11:00
Sfeir Urges Suleiman, Hariri to Form Majority Cabinet
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir urged President Michel Suleiman and
PM-designate Saad Hariri to decide on the formation of a cabinet ruled by the
parliamentary majority.
Elaph website quoted Sfeir as saying that Suleiman and Hariri should settle the
government issue by forming a cabinet in which the majority would rule in
accordance with the results of the June elections. The opposition, according to
Sfeir, would monitor the government's activities and urge it to improve its
functions. On Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat's latest stances,
Sfeir said that the MP did not inform him of his intention to split from the
March 14 forces when they met a week before the Druze leader's controversial
speech on August 2. Elaph also said the patriarch agrees that there is foreign
meddling in Lebanese internal affairs. But he holds responsible those who "open
the door for such interference." Sfeir also lauded Interior Minister Ziad Baroud
on his firm decision and appropriate measures he took following the breakout
attempt from Roumieh prison. The website also quoted the patriarch as saying
that he is not against Hizbullah. He told the site that he wants arms to be
under with the country's legitimate authorities. Beirut, 21 Aug 09, 13:55
Loyalties to the Resistance stay strong south of
Litani
Nadine Elali, Now Lebanon
August 21, 2009
South Lebanon’s Houjeir Valley, once tightly controlled by Hezbollah, is now
open to public traffic. However, any hope that this might indicate a relaxation
in military activity in the area was crushed by the explosion at Kherbet Selem
last month in what was thought to be an underground Hezbollah arms cache. The
subsequent investigation, during which UNIFIL troops attempted to search houses
for weapons, prompted angry clashes between residents and the foreign soldiers.
The reality is that the area south of the Litani River, while tightly patrolled
by UNIFIL and subject to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, is still under
tight Hezbollah control, with a local population that is still robust in its
anger toward Israel.
At a vegetable kiosk midway between the Houjeir Valley and Kherbet Selem, farmer
Abu Ali stands by his tomatoes and cucumbers. Elderly and trim, he is a missing
thumb, a legacy he claims from the decades of violence that have shaken the
area. He was happy to talk of the valley’s history and of the by-now-famous
Hezbollah operations against an Israeli Merkava tank during the July War.
“Listen dear,” he explained matter-of-factly to this reporter. “The people of
this area…we are all fighters. Don’t expect that, if we see our enemies coming
into our land, we’ll wait for someone else to fight our wars for us. This is our
land, and it is our duty to protect it.”
Abu Ali was guarded and suspicious of strangers, as was the woman who stopped to
buy some of his tomatoes and the two men who suddenly appeared to ask if
anything was wrong. The locals are fiercely loyal to the Resistance and its
flagship organization, Hezbollah. They are the unofficial eyes and ears of the
party, and it was clear that the arrival of strangers does not go unnoticed. It
was time to move on.
At a garage next to the site of the Kherbet Selem explosion, a young man
explained how the incident had changed the area residents’ relationship with
UNIFIL. “We were coexisting,” he said, his initial friendliness vanishing. “Then
the UNIFIL forces wanted to search the houses. Who was behind [the explosion]? I
don’t have anything to say.” Once again, the system kicked in. A man on a
motorbike drove up and asked if anything was wrong.
Later, on our way into the valley, a young boy on a motorbike pulled up and
asked if we needed anything. He agreed to guide us to our destination.
The sight of the explosion was not heavily guarded. It doesn’t have to be in
this part of the country. The man at the garage told us that the Lebanese army
is positioned close by, to make sure no one trespasses but that UNIFIL troops
stay away.
For 30 years, the Houjeir valley was a no-go zone. Before 2000, the Israelis
held it. Today, with a new road funded by donations from Kuwait “and the
collaboration of Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri”, the public can access it by
car.
We had asked Abu Ali if the opening of the road meant “turning a new page” on
the years of violent resistance. “No page will be turned on resistance as long
as there are aggressors on our borders,” he answered defiantly. “This land and
this people can never be beaten.” There are three old mills in the valley. Two
have been rehabilitated and a third, the 400-year-old Mathanet al-Ain, or spring
mill, provides water and grinding services. Abu Mohammad, who inherited the mill
from his grandparents, hopes it will become a tourist destination. As we spoke,
UNIFIL officers dropped by for some refreshment. “They come once or twice a day
for water,” Abu Mohammad said. “I sell it to them for a $1/m3. They sit and
chat.”
Abu Mohammad recalled all the nationalities of the UNIFIL soldiers since 1978:
the Finns, the Indians and the Indonesians. “During occupation, they used to
accompany me to my mill so I could pick out my pomegranates and they could
collect their water,” he said. He also recalled how back in 1948 the valley was
a trade route between Lebanon and Palestine. “With the opening of this new road,
we hope that activity will be revived again. It used to take an hour to get from
Bint Jbeil to Nabatiyeh. Now, it takes 15 minutes.” He paused. “Plus all those
passing will eventually stop to take a look at the mills.” We followed
directions given by Abu Mohammad to the new road. As we took pictures, a car
pulled up. “They’re going to come and take you and your camera,” said the driver
before speeding off.
Geagea and Sison discuss Mitchell peace plan
August 21, 2009 /Now Lebanon/On Thursday, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea
and US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Sison met at Maarab to address the Middle
East peace proposal of US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell, a
plan he will soon present to the Israelis and Palestinians prior to discussing
it with the rest of the region. Geagea and Sison also discussed renewal of
UNIFIL’s mandate in South Lebanon, especially given that an Israeli withdrawal
from al-Ghajar villages and the Shebaa Farms is currently nowhere in sight.
Zoghbi: Aoun, a barricade for Hizbullah
Date: August 21st, 2009/Future News
Elias Zoghbi, a member of the March 14 coalition said Friday that Hizbullah is
the real obstructer of the cabinet formation, and it was hiding behind Free
Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun’s demands for regional considerations
related to Syrian-Iranian relations, media outlets reported. “Hizbullah is
taking advantage of Aoun’s personal hostility toward President Michel Sleiman
and his family considerations in order to cover up its attempt to procrastinate
the cabinet formation until it detects the results of the visit of the Syrian
President Bashar Assad to Iran,” he said. “Aoun will not attain a great
political gain if his demand was fulfilled. On the contrary, Hizbullah would
offer his mentors in Tehran and Damascus a big favor by grasping full control
over security in the country when it attains the Interior and Telecommunication
ministries,” he added. “It is amazing that despite the fact that Aoun was only
reaping political and popular losses since his alliance with Hizbullah four
years ago, he is still providing his ally with gains at his own expense,” he
added.
Mahfoud: Aoun the disruption puppet
Date: August 21st, 2009/Source: future news /Change Movement leader Elie Mahfoud
accused Friday Syria of impeding the formation of the Lebanese government. “Free
Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is the major puppet in the disruption
of the cabinet formation, however Hizbullah would not agree on forming the
government without the Syrian consent,” Mahfoud asserted. He revealed that Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri and President Michel Sleiman would hold a joint
meeting soon to announce the official formation of the cabinet, especially since
all the rival parties agreed upon the names except MP Michel Aoun. Mahfoud said
“the PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt did not visit Damascus so far despite his new
political orientation which in any case is better than the General Aoun.” “At
least he respected his people and audience unlike Aoun who blew up all
principles,” he argued in reference to Aoun’s visit to Syria in December 2008.
Mahfoud noted that PSP leader’s visit to Diman is aimed at stabilizing the great
relations with the Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, and to
reassure the resumption of the reconciliation that Sfeir sponsored in the
mountains previously. He hailed the comments of the former Prime Minister Omar
Karami in response to General Michel Aoun, stressing on the repositioning of
Karami within the opposition ranks. Karami’s position has proved that the men of
the State and independence still exist and are largely appreciated by the entire
Lebanese population.
At least Obama and Mubarak agree on Lebanon
Hussain Abdul-Hussain,
Now Lebanon/ August 20, 2009
Following his meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Washington this
week, US President Barack Obama told the press that the two addressed the
Arab-Israeli situation, a nuclear Iran and making progress in Iraq. Sources
informed on the meeting said that under the umbrella of Iran and Iraq, the two
presidents also discussed Syria and Lebanon.
First on the agenda was the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the word on the street in
Washington is that Mideast Peace Envoy George Mitchell has succeeded in
convincing the Palestinians and the Israelis to resume negotiations.
President Mubarak – who has been playing a key role in bringing the two main
Palestinian groups, Fatah and Hamas, together – has added to this apparent
American success a proposal: Skip trust-building measures and move on to
negotiating a final agreement, which, if ratified, will cut out political
maneuvers and populist public stunts on both sides.
The Egyptian delegation to Washington did not forget, however, to mention to
senior US officials the negative role that Damascus has been playing in
obstructing peace by constantly pressuring Hamas to undo whatever national-unity
agreements it has with its rival Fatah.
And while Syria has been lobbying inside Washington for a long time now to
convince American officials that only Damascus holds the keys to solutions in
the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Iraq, sources report that Egyptian
officials have argued otherwise, as they made the case against the Saudi-Syrian
peace initiative in June, making it harder for a future Washington-Damascus
rapprochement.
After the meeting, some US officials concluded that Syria cannot break with
Iran, and that it is unable to deliver in Iraq or on Hezbollah inside Lebanon.
This does not mean however, according to Washington sources, that America will
slam the door in the Syrians’ face. “The door will remain open for now and it is
up to the Syrians to choose, but as time goes by, there will be fewer and fewer
favors the Syrians can do for America and the world,” a source close to the
administration told NOW Lebanon on condition of anonymity.
In terms of a nuclear Iran – number two on the Obama-Mubarak agenda – there was
a difference in perspective between the two sides. Washington believes it can
push Tehran to a crossroads, making it choose between giving up its nuclear
program and turning a new page with America and the world, or risk “crippling
sanctions.” The Egyptian outlook on Iran, however, is more pessimistic.
Cairo has historically had thorny relations with Iran and its Lebanese proxy,
Hezbollah, the leader of which called for toppling Mubarak. Additionally,
Egyptian security forces uncovered Hezbollah cells inside Egypt in April, which
pushed officials in Cairo into thinking that Iran’s regional aspirations go far
beyond acquiring nuclear weapons, believed by many to be a prerequisite for
securing the regime’s survival. Egyptian officials told their American
counterparts this week that a long-term confrontation with Iran will be
dangerous, but that it may be the only option.
On Iraq, America and Egypt have shared an agenda since 2004, as the two
countries, among other regional players, have kept in close coordination to help
curb the once-spiraling violence in the country. During his meeting with Obama
in the White House, Mubarak, a veteran of Middle Eastern politics, argued that
Iraq was on the right track, and the two men debated on how to move forward in
the country. But the conversation did not end with Iraq. Syria, again, also came
up. So far, several American delegations have visited Damascus to convince their
Syrian counterparts to cooperate on closing their borders with Iraq to stop the
flow of insurgents between the two countries. But despite all the promises, the
flow of militants has not ebbed, and violence, though slowed, still rages in
Iraq. And although while Mubarak was in the White House, Iraqi Prime Minister
Nouri Al-Maliki was meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus to
discuss forming a joint committee to address the problem, Mubarak has been in
power in the region long enough to realize that for the Syrians, “security
committees” mean very little. Unless Syria detaches itself from Iran and sits
down with leaders in more moderate states, such as Egypt and Saudi, all of its
promises to the US will remain hollow.
Finally, while the US budget for the promotion of democracy in Egypt and Syria,
among other Arab countries, has been substantially slashed, both Egyptian and
American officials still believe that democracy in Lebanon should remain a
priority for the world. There will be no bargains over Lebanon’s independence,
Egyptian and US officials agreed, and the two states will do all they can to
empower the democratically-elected government in Beirut.
Jumblat Seeks to Restore Ties with March 14 and Bkirki
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat seems to be making
attempts to restore relations with the March 14 coalition and the seat of the
Maronite church in Bkirki following his controversial speech earlier in the
month. Beirut media said Friday that a meeting was held between Jumblat and the
March 14's secretariat-general, the first such talks between the two sides since
the Druze leader's speech on August 2. An Nahar daily said Wednesday's meeting
kick-started a serious dialogue that requires more meetings.
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat quoted Jumblat as saying during the meeting that his
latest stances were the result of fears on civil peace, which was threatened
during the May 7, 2008 events and their repercussions on ties among the
country's different sects. The Druze leader told the majority coalition that his
Aug. 2 statement was necessary to change political rhetoric and take practical
steps for dialogue and reconciliation. He also urged the general-secretariat to
discuss regional changes and stressed on his special ties with Premier-designate
Saad Hariri.
Al-Hayat quoted a source as saying that the conferees talked about the
possibility of a meeting between all 71 majority MPs to stress cooperation and
coordination with Hariri.
Wednesday's meeting was followed by talks between State Minister Wael Abu Faour
and Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir the next day. Abou Faour conveyed a
message of respect and appreciation from Jumblat to Sfeir on Thursday. The
message also stressed the PSP's commitment to the recent reconciliation in the
mountain. Jumblat's message "stressed commitment to the mountains'
reconciliation which produced many positive results and national achievements on
the level of relations among the Lebanese," Abu Faour told reporters following
his meeting with Sfeir in his summer residence in Diman. Beirut, 21 Aug 09,
08:40
Hizbullah Throws Cabinet Ball in Hariri's Court, Says No Promises Made
Naharnet/Hizbullah has denied that it had made promises with regard to the
demands of its ally Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun on cabinet
portfolios. Hizbullah's Deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said Thursday that the
party expressed its commitment to the 15-10-5 cabinet formula. "We did not make
any other promises." Qassem said Hizbullah cooperated with Premier-designate
Saad Hariri to facilitate an agreement on the cabinet formation, adding that it
was the Mustaqbal movement leader's responsibility to coordinate with majority
and minority blocs in parliament "to agree with them on their shares and their
candidates for the ministries." "It is not true that there were deals,
commitments and promises," the top Hizbullah official reiterated. Hizbullah
sources told An Nahar daily that "it is unacceptable to deal with Hizbullah as a
tool to put pressure on Gen. Aoun." "The party will not interfere in the issue
of portfolios," they added. However, officials involved in the cabinet formation
process said that Qassem's new stance means the Shiite party is officially
backing off from commitments it made to make all efforts to solve problems that
could stem from its allies' demands on distribution of government seats. The
officials added that Qassem's remarks also contradicted the promises of the
Hizbullah leader's political assistant, Hussein Khalil, to make every effort to
facilitate the cabinet formation process. Al-Mustaqbal daily, meanwhile, said
Hizbullah "renounced" its commitment and continued to defend its ally Aoun who
insists on bringing back his son-in-law to the government and on his right "to
demand for the portfolios that he wants, including key" ministries. Beirut, 21
Aug 09, 08:04
Aoun-Hariri Meeting Collapses Amid Escalation of Words
Naharnet/The bickering between the Free Patriotic Movement and al-Mustaqbal
movement that has hampered cabinet formation efforts has also put into doubt the
possibility of holding a meeting between PM-designate Saad Hariri and FPM leader
Gen. Michel Aoun. A source close to Aoun told As Safir daily that the meeting is
on the verge of annulment because the FPM chief "doesn't want to sit with any
person just for the sake of taking a photograph of them." "The ball is in the
premier-designate's court who should first silence his team," the source added.
Hariri's close circles, in their turn, reiterated that Aoun's insistence on
bringing his son-in-law back to the telecommunications ministry is hindering the
cabinet formation process. His "unfeasible demands could not be met under any
circumstances," they added. One of the most violent criticism to Aoun came from
Tripoli MP Mohammed Abdel Latif Kabbara on Thursday. In response, the FPM issued
a statement accusing several al-Mustaqbal movement MPs of "fabricating lies" in
order to cover up for their political party's scandals. The statement underlined
that Aoun's criticism of Hariri's performance with regard to the cabinet's
formation did not target the Sunnis in Lebanon. Beirut, 21 Aug 09, 09:53
Aoun Presents Declaration of his Assets
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun delivered to the
president of the Constitutional Council on Friday a statement on his assets as
stipulated in the Illicit Wealth Law. The Council said in a statement that Aoun
visited its offices and handed over to its president, Issam Suleiman, a
declaration of his assets. Aoun, similar to other MPs who were elected in 2005,
wasn't able to deposit his financial portfolio with the Council because it had
no president. Beirut, 21 Aug 09, 12:48
Cairo Announces Full Backing for Hariri's Cabinet Formation
Efforts
Naharnet/Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Bedawi stressed on Thursday Cairo's full
support for Premier-designate Saad Hariri's efforts to form a new government.
Bedawi told reporters in Center House that he stressed to Hariri "Egypt's full
support and backing for his efforts to form the government and his plans aimed
at achieving national accord." Consensus is fundamental for Lebanon's stability,
the ambassador said following his talks with the PM-designate. He reiterated
that Cairo does not interfere in Lebanon's internal affairs. Bedawi also visited
Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday. Beirut, 20 Aug 09, 19:54
Karami After Talks with Hariri: All are Putting Sticks in
the Wheel of Cabinet Formation
Naharnet/Contacts made by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri with Opposition
leaders, the first from outside the Opposition triangle – Hizbullah, AMAL and
the Free Patriotic Movement -- broke the deadlock over Cabinet formation. Hariri
has met with Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan whose sources denied
that the Sports and Youth Minister has delivered any letter from any political
side.The sources said the Hariri-Arslan meeting at Center House on Wednesday was
agreed upon in advance and before Arslan's visit to FPM leader Michel Aoun on
Tuesday. Another Arslan source told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that it was
"time to end the boycott and resume dialogue."
He said Arslan accepted Hariri's invitation regardless of the political
bickering between Aoun and the PM-designate. The source acknowledged that Arslan,
together with leadership and supporters, "feels bitter" about the way he was
treated with regards to the Cabinet lineup. Hariri also met late Wednesday with
Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel. He later discussed over the phone the
political situation and obstacles facing government formation with former Prime
Minister Omar Karami. As-Safir newspaper said the Hariri-Karami talks focused on
the powers of the prime minister in the wake of Aoun's latest remarks. It said
Hariri believed that Aoun's demands "hurt the premier-designate and his role" in
achieving a government of national unity. Karami, for his part, said he believed
Aoun's comments were provocation of Sunnis. "Aoun's statement about the presence
of only one president for the state which is the president of the republic
provokes Sunnis in Lebanon," Karami said in remarks published by As-Safir on
Thursday. Karami met Hariri over lunch at the Center House on Thursday,
following a meeting attended by Karami's son Faysal and his office director
Othman Majzoub as well as Hariri's political consultant Hani Hammoud. The
discussion revolved mainly around the ongoing obstruction facing the Cabinet
lineup. Following his talks with PM-designate Hariri, Karami reiterated his
stance related to "the daily violations of the Taef agreement," confirming "the
greatest of all is what occurred in Doha." He commented on the ongoing
circumstances surrounding the Cabinet formation as being a viscious circle of
"irregularities and violations." According to the Constitution, "each political
party has the right to suggest the names of its ministers," Karami stressed,
adding, however, that "the PM-designate has the right either to take into
consideration those names or not." He concluded saying that "the PM-designate is
the one who is entitled to decide ministers names as well as their portfolios."
Regarding those who are causing the obstruction of the Cabinet lineup, "all
are," Karami told reporters. Beirut, 20 Aug 09, 08:34
Faour stresses need for Druze-Christian reconciliation
Daily Star staff/Friday, August 21, 2009 -Naharnet
BEIRUT: Caretaker Minister of State Wael Abu Faour on Thursday conveyed a
“message of respect” from Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt
to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, stressing the PSP’s commitment to
the Druze- Christian reconciliation in the Chouf region, known as the Jabal.
Jumblatt’s message emphasized commitment to “the fruitful reconciliation in the
mountain,” Abu Faour told reporters after his meeting with Sfeir in Diman, the
summer seat of the Maronite church in north Lebanon. “This reconciliation has
become a reality in the mountain,” he added. On the stalled Cabinet lineup, he
stressed the importance of “forming a government and removing all the obstacles
whether they are personal, public or artificial to clear the way for the Prime
Minister-designate Rafik Hariri to form a government as soon as possible.” – The
Daily Star
Hariri will form cabinet 'based on constitutional norms'
By Elias Sakr /Daily Star staff/Friday, August 21, 2009
BEIRUT: Caretaker Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said Thursday that
Premier-designate Saad Hariri would pursue his efforts to form a national-unity
cabinet in accordance with constitutional norms which governed the formation
process. Following talks with President Michel Sleiman, Siniora told reporters
“matters had not matured enough with regard to the formation of a cabinet”
nevertheless efforts to reach an agreement should be pursued.
Tackling the timing of the cabinet’s formation, Siniora, who voiced hope for the
prompt conclusion of the process, said it could be concluded any day during
Ramadan.
Siniora also urged to halt provocative political rhetoric in order to facilitate
Hariri’s task, adding that obstacles were to be resolved by the
premier-designate given “a will by some parties to facilitate the process.”
Also, speaking during the inauguration of the state’s new criminology
laboratory, Siniora praised the achievements of the Lebanese Army and security
forces as well as the efforts of Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud in securing the
country’s stability and urged them to develop their capacities on all levels.
Separately, Sleiman stressed Thursday on the need to discuss the prisons’
conditions in the government to implement necessary measures to avoid incidents
like last Tuesday’s and improve the prisoners living conditions.
On Tuesday, eight detainees of Al-Qaeda inspired Fatah al-Islam group attempted
to escape the Roumieh prison facility but only Taha Hajj Suleiman succeeded
before he was recaptured in the nearby woods of Bsalim Village by Lebanese Army
commandos.
Following a meeting with US Ambassador Michele Sison, Sleiman called for
providing the Lebanese Army and the security forces with the necessary equipment
to support their mission in establishing domestic security and foreign defense.
In remarks published in As-Safir newspaper Thursday, Sleiman said the formation
of the cabinet had been delayed due to domestic obstacles rather than foreign
intervention. According to As-Safir, Sleiman hinted at “high-level” demands by
some domestic parties regarding the distribution of portfolios and nomination of
candidates.
Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hizbullah’s number two, said Thursday his party expressed
its commitment to the 15-10-5 cabinet formula which guaranteed national-unity.
“Nevertheless Hizbullah did not make any promises with regard to other issues.”Qassem said Hizbullah cooperated with Hariri to facilitate an agreement on the
cabinet’s structure, adding that it was Hariri’s responsibility to discuss the
distribution of ministerial portfolios and the nomination of candidates
separately with each political party. “The task to form a cabinet shifted
completely to the premier-designate who should discuss with each parliamentary
bloc whether in the opposition or the majority an agreement on its share and its
candidates,” he added.
Tackling the timing of the cabinet’s formation, Qassem urged all parties to
benefit from the atmosphere of domestic consensus and political stability to
conclude the process quickly, saying provocative political rhetoric could delay
the government’s formation several months.
“We urge each party to take responsibility for its actions rather than shift
blame on others because accusations hampered the formation of a cabinet which
necessitated dialogue and deliberations,” Qassem said. Meanwhile, March 14 MPs
reiterated on Thursday their accusations to Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader
MP Michel Aoun of hampering the cabinet’s formation.
In response, the FPM issued a statement accusing several Future Movement MPs of
“fabricating lies” in order to cover up for their political party’s” scandals.”
The statement underlined that Aoun’s criticism of Hariri’s performance with
regard to the cabinet’s formation did not target the Sunnis in Lebanon.
Foreign Ministry: Emigrant voting 'out of jurisdiction'
Daily Star staff/Friday, August 21, 2009
In response to recent criticism in the media, the Foreign Ministry issued a
statement on Thursday saying that the drafting of a law to allow Lebanese
emigrants to vote does not fall within its jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Foreign
Minister Fawzi Salloukh also said on Thursday that he is committed to the 2002
Arab Peace Initiative and to the Palestinian right of return. – The Daily Star