LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 27/09
Egyptian Court Imposes Islam
on Twin Christian Boys
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 26, 2009) - International Christian Concern (ICC) has
learned that on June 15, an Egyptian court delivered a conflicting ruling to a
Christian mother seeking custody of her twin boys. While the court granted her
custody of the twins, it required that they be considered Muslims despite their
own express desire to remain Christian.
The legal battle over the custody and religious identity of Mario and Andrew
followed the divorce of their parents in 2000. Their father left their mother
for a Muslim woman and converted to Islam because it is easier for Muslims to
get a divorce in Egypt. He asked for custody of the boys in 2007 and changed the
religious affiliation on their birth certificates from Christianity to Islam
without their consent. Andrew and Mario just celebrated their 15th birthday on
June 24 and now face the new legal challenge of getting an ID listing them as
Christians. Their mother, Camilia, told ICC and the Voice of Copts that
officials at the Interior Ministry promised to indicate the twins' faith on
their ID cards, but there is no guarantee that this will happen.
According to Egyptian laws, religious affiliation of citizens must be indicated
on their IDs. Citizens need to carry their IDs in order to get government as
well as private services such as education, employment and to perform bank
transactions. Having Islam listed on the ID card could disqualify a person from
getting Christian education, to cite an example of the importance of religious
affiliation being listed correctly. When ICC asked Camilia if she would go to
court to request Christian IDs for her children, she said she did not believe
the court would honor her request. Mohammed Hegazy and Maher al-Moatassem Bellah
al-Gohary are the only two Christian converts in Egypt to request that their
Muslim IDs be changed to reflect their Christian faith, and the courts refused
both requests. When asked why they decided to remain Christian, Andrew
responded, "I love Christ and I believe in Him." Mario told ICC, "I am born
Christian and I believe in Christianity and I am not going to change my faith."
Jonathan Racho, ICC's Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle East, said, "We
commend the Egyptian authorities for giving Camilia custody of her children, but
we are concerned that Egyptian officials will deny the twins ID cards that
reflect their faith. We call upon Egypt to respect the right of Andrew and Mario
to follow the religion of their choice." Please contact the Egyptian Embassy and
ask Egyptian officials to recognize the right of Andrew and Mario to choose
their own faith.
Egyptian Embassies:
Country Phone Fax Email
USA 202-895-5400 202-244-4319 Embassy@egyptembassy.net
Canada 613-234-4931 (613) 234-4398 egyptemb@sympatico.ca, egypt4931@rogers.com
UK 020-7499-2401 / 499 3304 020-7491-1542 info@egpressoffice.com
Australia (61 2) 9281-4844 612-9281-4344 info@egypt.org.au
Germany 030-477-5470 030-477-1049 Embassy@egyptian-embassy.de
Italy +39-6-8440192/ 0191 +39-6-8554424 amb.egi@pronet.it
# # #
ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help
persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and
Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for
an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC
(International Christian Concern) and include our web address,
www.persecution.org.
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 8:1-4. When Jesus came down from the mountain, great
crowds followed him. And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said,
"Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." He stretched out his hand, touched
him, and said, "I will do it. Be made clean." His leprosy was cleansed
immediately. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one, but go show
yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be
proof for them."
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Release from the
International Christian
Concern (ICC):
Egyptian Court Imposes Islam on Twin Christian Boys 26/06/09
Berri has been re-elected, and now
it's time for his graduation exam-The
Daily Star 26/06/09
The UK seeks business as usual with
Iran-
By:
Michael Glackin 26/06/09
Will Iran's turmoil change the Middle East?Christian
Science Monitor
26/06/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for June
26/09
Canada blasts Iran probe of
post-election arrests-AFP
Nasrallah, Hariri Stress on
Dialogue During Overnight Meeting-Naharnet
Top Iranian legislative body
declares election fair-Reuters
Lebanon's Hariri set to become
prime minister: sources-Reutrs
Suleiman Kicks Off Consultations for PM's Post, Majority for Hariri but
Opposition Hesitant-Naharnet
EGYPT: Calls for action against Iran over elections-Los
Angeles Times
Top U.S. Commander Warns
of Iranian, Hizbullah Influence in Latin America-Naharnet
Top US commander warns of Iran influence in Lat Am-AFP
Hezbollah accuses West of fomenting Iran turmoil-AFP
The calm after the storms-Al-Ahram Weekly
UN tribunal sets up Hariri website for tip-offs-AFP
A new US envoy for Damascus-Asia Times
Online
Israel FM rejects new indirect talks with Syria-AFP
Doha agreement achieved its aims -
Qatari premier-Daily Star
Berri re-elected as speaker with 90
out of 127 votes-Daily Star
Germany ratifies convention on
cluster bombs-By
Agence France Presse (AFP)
Israeli Army amasses troops,
military hardware along Lebanese border-Daily
Star
Beiteddine Festival organizers refute reports on Gad Elmaleh-Daily
Star
Hizbullah accuses West of fomenting
violence in Iran-By
Agence France Presse (AFP)
The International Day in Support of
Victims of Torture-Daily Star
Tribunal sets up website to get
information on Hariri killing-Daily
Star
Berri returns as speaker for 5th
time-Daily Star
First National Bank praises
Lebanese resilience-Daily Star
Growing social phenomenon unites Beirut strangers at Gemmayzeh sushi bar-Daily
Star
Fire fighters combat 185 blazes
ravaging forests across country-Daily
Star
Two protests coincide with Berri's
re-election as speaker-Daily Star
Hamas Leader Hails Obama for New Tack-New
York Times
Israel Doubts Unrest Will Transform Iran-Washington
Post
An ambassador to Syria and a message to Iran-The
National
Palestinian peace in our time?-Ha'aretz
Consensus Atmosphere Shaken by Number of Votes for Berri, Makari-Naharnet
Berri:
Celebratory Gunfire is Illegal and Harms People-Naharnet
Alleged
Spy Challenges Court: Send Me to the Gallows if You Find Any Proof-Naharnet
Majority brought Berry and Makary
back-Future News
Sleiman calls to slim down
tension-Future News
Majority sources: Hizbullah and FPM
law-makers voted against Makari-Future News
Controversy shakes March 8-Future
News
Araji: Hariri to chair government
without veto- third-Future News
Who voted for whom?-Future News
Karam: no reconciliation between LF
and Frangieh-Future News
Hariri and Nasrallah emphasize the
rhetoric of dialogue-Future News
Statement by Minister Cannon on Investigation
into Post-Election Arrests in Iran
June 25, 2009 (7:40 p.m. EDT) /No. 177
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, today made
the following statement regarding reports that Saaed Mortazavi is leading the
investigation into those arrested in the post-election aftermath in Iran:
“We are deeply concerned by reports that Saaed Mortazavi has been put in charge
of the investigation of detained reformist leaders and party officials in Iran.
On several occasions, most notably the detention and murder of Canadian
journalist Zahra Kazemi, Mr. Mortazavi has clearly demonstrated his disregard
for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“Two official Iranian government investigations confirmed that Mr. Mortazavi
ordered the illegal arrest and detention of Ms. Kazemi, which led to her torture
and death in June 2003. There have also been reports that Mr. Mortazavi
falsified documents to cover up his involvement in her case.
“Canada continues to call upon Iran to conduct a credible investigation that
will bring justice to those responsible for the murder of Ms. Kazemi.
“While we will not get involved in internal matters, Canada will continue to
call for the release of all political prisoners and journalists—including
Canadians—who have been unjustly detained following the Iranian presidential
elections. We continue to call upon the Government of Iran to uphold all of its
human rights obligations, both in law and in practice.”
Canada blasts Iran probe of post-election arrests
OTTAWA (AFP) - Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Thursday
he is "deeply concerned" by the appointment of Saaed Mortazavi to investigate
those arrested in Iran's post-election unrest.
Canada has fingered the former Tehran prosecutor as bearing responsibility for
the death of Canadian-Iranian journalist Zahra Kazemi in 2003.
"We are deeply concerned by reports that Saaed Mortazavi has been put in charge
of the investigation of detained reformist leaders and party officials in Iran,"
Cannon said in a statement.
"On several occasions, most notably the detention and murder of Canadian
journalist Zahra Kazemi, Mr Mortazavi has clearly demonstrated his disregard for
human rights and fundamental freedoms," he said. Cannon also said Iran's own
probes confirmed that Mortazavi ordered Kazemi's "illegal" arrest and detention,
and that he "falsified documents to cover up his involvement in her case."
Kazemi, 54, was detained in June 2003 for photographing a demonstration outside
Tehran's notorious Evan prison. She was beaten in custody, and died from a
cerebral haemorrhage after more than two weeks under arrest. The case
contributed to a souring of relations between Iran and Canada.
In 2006, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called on the international
community to use "all manner of law available" to bring Mortazavi to justice
over Kazemi's death.
To this day, Ottawa continues to press Tehran "to conduct a credible
investigation that will bring justice to those responsible for the murder of Ms
Kazemi
Lebanon's
Hariri set to become prime minister: sources
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A large majority of members of Lebanon's parliament will
nominate U.S.-backed Saad al-Hariri for the post of prime minister, paving the
way for his appointment later this week, political sources said on Friday.
President Michel Suleiman will hold consultations with parliamentarians later on
Friday and on Saturday to decide on the next prime minister. On Saturday he will
designate the candidate with most support. Hariri, who led a U.S.-backed
coalition to victory over Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies in this
month's election, met Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah overnight. A joint
statement by both men said the leaders, who had only met once before in three
years, had held talks and discussed the outcome of the election and the possible
shape of the new government. "They also agreed on continuing discussions in the
current positive calm atmosphere and stressed the logic of dialogue, cooperation
and openness," it said. Hezbollah had called for the formation of a national
unity government with veto power for the minority alliance after the
parliamentary election, though the group has not repeated the demand since the
vote. Hariri rejects such a veto. Saudi Arabia and western countries including
the United States have been major supporters of Hariri, whose father Rafik was
assassinated in 2005, and his allies in their power struggle with rivals backed
by Syria and Iran.(Writing by Nadim Ladki)
Top U.S. Commander Warns of Iranian, Hizbullah Influence in Latin America
Naharnet/Iran's growing influence in Latin America and its ties with Hizbullah
and Hamas are a "potential risk" to the region, the newly-appointed head of the
U.S. Southern Command, General Douglas Fraser has warned. Fraser, who on
Thursday took charge of U.S. military operations in 31 countries across Latin
America and the Caribbean, expressed "real concern" about the Islamic Republic's
links with what he called "extremist organizations" in the region. "The real
concern is not a nation-to-nation interaction, it is the connection that Iran
has with extremist organizations like Hamas and Hizbullah and the potential risk
that that could bring to this region," Fraser told journalists in Miami ahead of
taking up the post. Commenting on Iran's ties to alleged extremist groups in the
region, Fraser said: "it is a concern, and it is an issue we will continue to
monitor for any increasing activity."
Fraser, who was Deputy Commander at U.S. Pacific Command, said the illicit trade
in arms drugs and people was worrying, and indicated it would be the focus of
his work.
"The major concern is the illicit trafficking and the impact that is having in
the security and the stability especially through the northern part of South
America through Central America and the Caribbean and through Mexico and the
United States." Fraser is the first U.S. Air Force officer to take the helm of
the Southern Command. He replaces Admiral James Stavridis, who has been tapped
to become the NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. Stavridis has also
expressed concern about increasing Iranian and Hizbullah activities throughout
Latin America, accusing the Shiite group of involvement in drug trafficking in
Colombia.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 25 Jun 09, 20:27
Nasrallah, Hariri Stress on Dialogue During Overnight Meeting
Naharnet/Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and al-Mustaqbal movement
leader Saad Hariri agreed on the need for dialogue and discussed options for the
next cabinet during a Thursday night meeting. A statement issued by Hariri's
office on Friday said both leaders discussed the situation in Lebanon in the
aftermath of the parliamentary elections and measures taken to form a new
cabinet. The statement added that the two sides agreed during the four-hour
meeting to continue with dialogue and cooperation and lauded the calm
atmosphere.
They discussed "different options for a new government" and "agreed to continue
their talks," it said. They "hailed the calm and diplomatic atmosphere reigning
in the country and underlined the importance of dialogue and cooperation," the
statement said. The meeting was Hariri's first with Nasrallah since October. The
statement however did not say where the talks took place. Nasrallah has been in
hiding, likely in his south Beirut stronghold, since the 2006 Israel-Hizbullah
war because of Hizbullah fears of assassination by Israeli agents.
Hizbullah secretary general's political assistant Hajj Hussein Khalil, Mustafa
Nasser and Nader Hariri attended the talks. Last Thursday, a meeting was held
between Nasrallah and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat for the
first time in more than three years. Beirut, 26 Jun 09, 11:13
Suleiman Kicks Off Consultations for PM's Post, Majority
for Hariri but Opposition Hesitant
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman kicks off two days of consultations with
parliamentary blocs for the post of prime minister on Friday, a day after
parliament reelected Speaker Nabih Berri for a fifth term. An Nahar daily quoted
sources close to Berri as saying the speaker insists on the "fusion" of March 8
and March 14 forces to form a national unity cabinet.
Majority sources, meanwhile, said the "drills" during Thursday's parliament
session do not give the impression that all opposition parties are committed to
the "positive atmosphere" to help in the formation of a new government. The
sources told An Nahar that MP Saad Hariri will continue in the path of
"consensus atmosphere" that prevailed after the June 7 elections and will hold
consultations after Suleiman ends his talks with parliamentary blocs to appoint
him premier-designate.
Although Berri was reelected Thursday, he didn't get the expected 100 votes, an
indication that many majority MPs didn't cast ballots in his favor. In
retaliation, only four opposition lawmakers voted for Farid Makari as deputy
speaker. Berri got 90 votes while Makari got 70.
Opposition sources told An Nahar that more than half of al-Mustaqbal movement
MPs didn't abide by the agreement reached between Berri and Hariri. This led to
a counter reaction by not giving enough votes to Makari. After his reelection,
Berri met with Suleiman at Baabda palace which later announced the program of
consultations to name a new premier that start Friday afternoon and continue
till Saturday afternoon. As Safir daily said that by late Thursday night,
several opposition blocs hadn't made up their mind on naming Hariri for the
prime minister's post. The newspaper said Change and Reform bloc leader Gen.
Michel Aoun took the decision not to name Hariri. MP Talal Arslan's bloc circles
told As Safir that the minister will most probably adopt Aoun's stance.
Zgharta MP Suleiman Franjieh circles told As Safir that his bloc will meet to
announce its stance on Friday, the same day the new Saudi ambassador meets with
Franjieh, the first contact between the two sides in four years. The Loyalty to
the Resistance bloc will also reportedly hold a meeting to take the appropriate
decision on the premier's nomination.
Al-Liwaa newspaper said Hariri might not get the green light from more than 90
MPs. It said the guarantees that Hariri had asked for to facilitate the mission
of his government would be Saudi-Syrian guarantees with an Egyptian blessing and
American-European backing rather than the veto power that the opposition is
asking for. Beirut, 26 Jun 09, 08:20
Consensus Atmosphere Shaken by Number of Votes for Berri,
Makari
Naharnet/Bickering between majority and opposition was clear Thursday after
Speaker Nabih Berri didn't get the votes he was expecting and Deputy Speaker
Farid Makari received mainly majority votes. Majority sources told An Nahar
daily that the "drills" during Thursday's parliament session do not give the
impression that all opposition parties are committed to the "positive
atmosphere" to help in the formation of a new government. Although Berri was
reelected Thursday, he didn't get the expected 100 votes, an indication that
many majority MPs didn't cast ballots in his favor. In retaliation, only four
opposition lawmakers, including Berri and his three independent allies, voted
for March 14 coalition's Makari as deputy speaker.
Berri, a member of the opposition alliance, got 90 votes while Makari got 70.
Opposition sources told An Nahar that more than half of al-Mustaqbal movement
MPs didn't abide by the agreement reached between Berri and Hariri. This led to
a counter reaction by not giving enough votes to Makari. As Safir daily quoted
Berri as telling his visitors that he had helped in speeding up consultations
for the premier's post and was hoping that his understanding with MP Saad Hariri
would not suffer a relapse as happened during Thursday's session.
Opposition leadership sources have also expressed resentment at the way
Mustaqbal bloc acted. They told As Safir that Hariri's non abidance by his
pledge will ignite a new "trust crisis" that would reflect negatively on future
political life, in particular formation of the next cabinet.
However, al-Mustaqbal movement sources told the daily that most of MPs who
directly belong to the Mustaqbal bloc voted in favor of Berri with some
exceptions.
The sources stressed that not getting the 100 votes doesn't mean that the bloc
violated its commitments. They said opposition reprisal by not voting for Makari
was useless and harsh.
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat told As Safir that he wasn't
surprised by the number of votes Berri received because some March 14 members
insisted on not voting for him. But Jumblat stressed that what happed on
Thursday is now from the past, saying "we are now facing a new stage. I hope
there would be harmony between President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri
and Saad Hariri who will be nominated (premier) at the end of consultations."
Beirut, 26 Jun 09, 09:55
Berri: Celebratory Gunfire is Illegal and Harms People
Naharnet/Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday denounced celebratory gunfire,
reiterating the practice was illegal and was causing harm and casualties. "We
remind (the Lebanese) over and over again of our rejection and strong
denunciation of celebratory gunfire on every occasion. This is causing harm,
damage and even death and injury to citizens," Berri said in a statement. The
speaker also said that shooting in the air is illegal. He urged security
authorities to take the appropriate measures to implement the law, hoping
Thursday's incidents would be the last. Celebratory gunfire resounded across
Beirut Thursday and a woman from the Bazzi family died from a heart attack after
getting scared from the gunfire on the occasion of Berri's reelection. Security
sources said 16 people were injured from the gunfire. Beirut, 26 Jun 09, 12:37
Alleged Spy Challenges Court: Send Me to the Gallows if You
Find Any Proof
Naharnet/A man detained for allegedly spying for Israel has withdrawn his
testimony and denied that he planted tapping equipment at Hizbullah's general
secretariat building, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Friday. The military court
began trying Faysal Ghazi Mqalled on Thursday and when the judge asked him why
he has confessed to taking part in acts that carry the death penalty and then
retracted his testimony, the man said: "Fear is the reason and if there is any
proof against me then I ask for the death penalty because my religion prevents
me from cooperating with the Israeli intelligence." Mqalled is accused of
providing Israel with information on Hizbullah bases, bringing in agents and
forging passports and IDs.
Al-Hayat said the man admitted to cooperating with Italian and German
intelligence and carrying out four operations in their favor by monitoring the
activities of members belonging to extremist groups in Europe. However, Mqalled
said the information that he gave during investigation was taken from the
confessions of another alleged spy Mahmoud Rafeh which were printed in
newspapers. He said among his duties were to monitor Hizbullah members in Italy.
But it was proved that they were only party supporters and not officials.
Asked about his ties with an Israeli officer, he denied such a relation and said
he never visited Israel nor worked for the Mossad. Beirut, 26 Jun 09, 10:42
Top Iranian legislative body declares election fair
By Parisa Hafezi
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's top legislative body said on Friday it had found no
major violations in the June 12 presidential election and called it the
"healthiest" vote since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and
other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to
report, film or take pictures in Tehran.
"The Guardian council has almost finished reviewing defeated candidates'
election complaints ... the reviews showed that the election was the healthiest
since the revolution ... There were no major violations in the election," said
Abbasali Kadkhodai, spokesman of the council.
The council had already rejected a call by moderate former Prime Minister
Mirhossein Mousavi, declared second in the election behind incumbent President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for the vote to be annulled. Its statement is the latest
step in a behind-the-scenes struggle since the election, which has split the
clerical establishment into two camps.
The leadership has quelled mass protests over the election and hardline preacher
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami is expected to reinforce the message that the election
was free and fair when he leads Friday prayers. Mousavi's supporters plan to
release thousands of balloons on Friday with the message: "Neda you will always
remain in our hearts," in memory of the young woman killed last week who has
become an icon of the protests. The last mass protests were on Saturday and a
combination of warnings, arrests and the threat of police action have driven
large demonstrations off Tehran's street with small gatherings dispersed with
tear gas and baton charges.
The worst unrest since the 1979 revolution led to the killing of about 20
people, prompting President Barrack Obama to say he was "appalled and outraged"
by the security crackdown in the world's fifth largest oil exporter. Group of
Eight powers meeting in Trieste plan in a statement to deplore post-election
violence, to urge Tehran to settle the crisis through peaceful, democratic means
and to respect basic rights including freedom of expression, a diplomat said.
The condemnation by Obama, who had been trying to improve ties with Iran before
the election, prompted Ahmadinejad to accuse him of behaving like his
predecessor and say there was not much point in talking to Washington unless
Obama apologized. Mousavi said he was determined to keep challenging the
election results despite pressure to stop. A major rigging has happened," his
website reported him as saying. "I am prepared to prove that those behind the
rigging are responsible for the bloodshed."He called on his supporters to
continue "legal" protests and said restrictions on the opposition could lead to
more violence.
Berri re-elected as speaker with 90 out of 127 votes
Sleiman to start consultations on post of premier
Daily Star staff/Friday, June 26, 2009
BEIRUT: Ninety lawmakers re-elected on Thursday Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri
as Parliament speaker for a fifth consecutive term. Directly following the
election, President Michel Sleiman announced he will carry binding post-election
parliamentary consultations for the post of prime minister starting on Friday.
Addressing the Parliament after his re-election, Berri urged Lebanon's political
leaders to facilitate the formation of the next cabinet, "given the favorable
regional and international circumstances."
"We should seize the regional and international moment to strengthen the
country's peace and stability," the speaker said.
Berri added that during his four-year term, his efforts would be directed toward
lowering the voting age, granting the expatriates the right to vote and
implementing a new electoral law based on proportional representation. He also
stressed the need to implement reforms geared toward administrative
decentralization and privatization, as well as other economic and social issues.
The speaker also saluted Hizbullah's struggle against Israel and called for
strengthening the Lebanese Army.
Berri received only 90 votes out of the 127 ballots cast, obtaining less than
the expected level of support from MPs.
The number of votes Berri received indicated that some MPs of the Future
Movement bloc headed by Saad Hariri and other independent March 14 lawmakers,
alongside the Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Phalange Party blocs refrained from
voting in Berri's favor.
The opposition likewise refrained from voting for MP Farid Makari of the Future
Movement, who obtained only 74 votes to become deputy speaker.
The Lebanese assembly also elected LF MP Antoine Zahra and Democratic Gathering
bloc MP Marwan Hamadeh as Parliament secretaries.
In addition, Future Movement bloc MPs Ahmad Fatfat and Serge Torsarkisian and
Liberation and Development bloc MP Michel Moussa were named as designated MPs.
One citizen was killed and 11 others were wounded when celebratory gunfire
erupted following Berri's re-election. Celebratory gunfire continued
sporadically until late Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Sleiman stressed after closed-door talks with Berri that the current
constitutional events, such as the parliamentary polls and the election of the
speaker, were not subject to foreign or internal pressures.
Sleiman explained that the June 7 polls and the election of a speaker "reflected
the will of the Lebanese."
"We must also prove ourselves competent concerning the Cabinet formation,
particularly under the current favorable security and democratic atmosphere,"
Sleiman added.
Later on Thursday, the president's office issued a two-day schedule detailing
the parliamentary consultations for the post of premier. Consultations start
with Speaker Berri on Friday and end with MP Nayla Tueni on Saturday.
According to the Lebanese Constitution, the president is to nominate for the
post of prime minister the candidate who secures the majority of MPs'
nominations during consultations. Subsequent to the deliberations, the premier
is appointed by a presidential decree.
On Thursday, sources close to the March 14 coalition told the Central News
Agency (CNA) that the parliamentary majority is expected to nominate Future
Movement leader Saad Hariri to the post of premier if the opposition avoids
tying Hariri's nomination to a set of conditions.
But Hizbullah deputy Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Thursday that the nomination of
a premier must be "an inseparable part of a package on the formation of a new
government."
In a statement to AFP, Qassem tied the nomination of a candidate to the post of
premier in the upcoming phase to the government structure and distribution of
ministerial portfolios.
He explained that the opposition had agreed not to disclose its standpoint on
its participation in a national-unity cabinet before considering proposals by
the parliamentary majority.
On Wednesday, Berri called for the formation of national-unity government that
brings together the March 14 and March 8 forces "in order to put an end to
divisions."
Media reports predicted that both camps would grant Sleiman the tipping voice in
the next national-unity Cabinet in order to facilitate its formation. But
well-informed sources told the CNA that if the opposition insists on being
granted the blocking third, the Cabinet could be reduced in size to 14
portfolios. - The Daily Star
Berri has been re-elected, and now it's time for his graduation exam
By The Daily Star
Friday, June 26, 2009
Editorial
Nabih Berri was confirmed on Thursday as speaker of Lebanon's Parliament and
while he won election comfortably, now comes the real test. Of course, when any
politician's term begins, one can say the same thing - time for the real test.
In Berri's case, however, we're talking about something more like a graduation
exam.
In his address to MPs following his election, to his fifth four-year term, the
speaker offered a predictable array of promises and platitudes.
Berri committed himself to various things in his speech, under the rubric of
reform. The usual suspects were all there - creating a planning ministry and
abolishing all state councils and higher committees, strengthening the
judiciary, further electoral reform, decentralization, laws on political
parties, monitoring privatization operations, the works.
In short, Berri said the new Parliament's role was to be the bridge in this
journey to a new, modern, reformed state.
Berri also mentioned the need for accountability, so that Parliament can play
its proper role in the political system. On paper, it all sounds fine. We've
heard it before, but let's assume that the intentions here are honest.
The person who made these comments holds the balance in important ways; he's one
of the country's most powerful individuals.
And Berri has had his say. It's his fifth time around, and the excuses of the
past - Israeli occupation, Syrian tutelage - are now gone. During the last four
years, the political excuse was inevitably "critical period following the Hariri
assassination," but membership in a national unity Cabinet negates this excuse
as well.
Will Nabih Berri invest his political capital into making this go-around as
speaker a qualitative leap of progress?
He's certainly built up his credentials in the system, starting off as a lawyer,
then politician, militiaman, militia leader, minister, member of Parliament, and
finally its speaker. His political career has seen a myriad of crises and wars,
with regional and international dimensions.
It's time for Berri to invest all of his experience in our political system and
its legislative machinery, to oversee credible, rapid and successful reform.
He can invest his immense political clout in Lebanon by getting on with the job
of trimming burdens on the state, while ensuring that it intervenes
intelligently in the economy and society.
Berri's personal traits and interests - wit, intelligence, humor and poetry -
have made him a keen student of the political system. But now it's time for the
graduation test. Can he set the political stage for reform, and produce an
independent judiciary, instead of just talking about it?
If he can't, pity Berri, and the nation.
Two protests coincide with Berri's re-election as speaker
Citizens decry working conditions, sectarianism
By Sebastien Malo /Special to The Daily Star
Friday, June 26, 2009
BEIRUT: One group is against sectarianism, another wants better working
conditions. Both picked the time and place of Nabih Berri's re-election to voice
these demands. Around 350 people took part in two protests at Riyadh al-Solh
Square in Beirut Thursday during the re-election of longtime Parliament Speaker
Berri, the leader of the Shiite movement Amal.
Most protesters were employees of the Telecommunications Ministry and of Ogero
Telecom Lebanon, a government-owned telecommunications company.
They were there to demand free university education as an employment benefit.
"This request must be backed by a law, so we are here to ask that deputies pass
that law," said a middle-aged protester, referring to the reason for holding a
demonstration in parallel to Berri's election.
The protesters said they planned on continuing to pressure the state by
demonstrating instead of attending work until their demands were met. "We have
stopped our work in all of Lebanon, and as a result nobody can pay for his
telephone bill now," said another protester, who asked not to be identified by
name.
In a separate event, but only a few meters away, another group of demonstrators
- around 30 youth of the Union of Lebanese Democratic Youth (ULDY) - took
advantage of the occasion to hold another protest in which they objected to
Lebanon's confessional electoral system.
"We believe that confessions have undermined the security of the country," said
Arabi Andari, a 32-year-old civil engineer taking part in the protest. "If we
want a real political agenda and social identities to be represented, we will
need to go for a different kind of electoral law."
One of the signs of the demonstrators read: "The sawt of the Sunni is known, but
that of the laborer has been kidnapped," a pun playing on the double meaning of
the word sawt - voice or vote in Arabic - to deplore the excessive role played
by the voters' religious sects during the last election to the detriment of
issues of national interest, such as education, infrastructure and poverty.
The group said that their protest was meant to initiate a countrywide campaign,
and they called on other Lebanese to follow the example set by their
demonstration.
Omar Deeb, a 26-year-old ULDY member who co-organized the protest, deplored that
MPs have not delivered on past promises to reform the electoral law.
Berri's record in Parliament, he said, was no exception. "He has repeated for
more than 15 years that he would legislate to make voting proportional, but he
has never actually acted upon that promise," he said.
ULDY initiated the countrywide campaign to lower the voting age to 18, a law
that went into effect several months ago after an 8-year-long campaign, said
Andari.
Protesters faced a tight security apparatus, as around 50 anti-riot policemen
armed with batons and fully clad with body armor stood across the street facing
the square the demonstrators spanned.
Metal fences bordered each side of the street where protesters and policemen
stood. "This is just for security," said a policeman as he surveyed the scene.
The street was kept open to traffic despite the heavy security presence. Drivers
circulating amid the two groups appeared somewhat startled at the view of the
hundreds of protesters.
No incidents between security forces and demonstrators were reported.
Berri returns as speaker for 5th time
Daily Star staff/Friday, June 26, 2009
BEIRUT: Nabih Berri was elected Parliament Speaker for a fifth consecutive time
on Thursday. He heads the mostly Shiite Amal Movement. He was born in Bo, Sierra
Leone on January 28, 1938. He went to school in Tebnine and Ain Ebel in southern
Lebanon and later studied at the Makassed and the Ecole de la Sagesse in Beirut.
He obtained a law degree in 1963 from the Lebanese University, where he had
served as the student body president. During the 1960s, he joined the Arab
Nationalist Movement.
In the early 1970s, he worked in Beirut as a lawyer for General Motors. He also
lived in the Detroit area from 1976 to 1978.
He held a series of positions in the Amal movement during the late 1970s, after
the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr, a Shiite cleric who disappeared under
mysterious circumstances while on a trip to Libya in 1978, and who is thought to
have been killed on the orders of Moammar Gadhafi.
The resignation of Hussein al-Husseini from his post as leader of Amal resulted
in Berri's assumption of full control in April 1980.
Berri was behind the military rise of Amal, which fought bloody battles against
Hizbullah for a time during the Civil War, before later becoming allies. Amal
was also embroiled in a bloody offensive in 1985-87 against Palestinian refugee
camps
He led the Amal movement during the fierce fighting of the Lebanese 1975-90
Civil War. In 1984, he joined the National Unity government as Minister for
Southern Reconstruction, and later, he served as Minister of Justice and of
Electrical and Hydraulic Resources, under Prime Minister Rashid Karami.
Berri again served as a Cabinet minister from 1989 to 1992, when he was elected
speaker of the National Assembly on November 20.
Berri is also one of Syria's closest allies in Lebanon. Berri's Amal is Shiite
Hizbullah's closest ally in the opposition coalition. Amal lost two of 16 seats
in this month's parliamentary election.
Between November 2006-May 2008, he refused to convene legislative sessions in
Parliament for 18 months, after Shiite ministers resigned from government
following a dispute on the opposition's demand for veto power in government.
After rival leaders signed a deal in Qatar to end Lebanon's worst crisis since
the civil war, Berri finally called for Parliament to reconvene in May 2008 to
elect then army commander Michel Sleiman as president. - The Daily Star, with
Reuters
Hezbollah
keeps its eye on the ball
By Sami Moubayed
DAMASCUS - Many years ago, French president Charles de Gaulle said, "France has
no friends; only interests." These words came to mind as Hezbollah leader Hassan
Nasrallah recently met with anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, a man who
has loudly been critical of Hezbollah, for the first time in three years.
Meeting with Jumblatt, head of the Socialist Cooperative Party, raised eyebrows
in Lebanon on whether the leader of Hezbollah had changed after the June 7
elections. Many had expected the Hezbollah-led opposition to sweep parliament.
Gulf states were
holding their breath, preparing to cut off all aid to Lebanon in the event that
happened, believing that then, the small Mediterranean country would become a
launching pad for Iranian activities in the Middle East.
United States President Barack Obama had sent an indirect message to the
Lebanese during his June 4 speech in Cairo, saying that he would respect the
outcome of any democratic elections, even if they brought parties to power that
were at odds with the US.
France bluntly said that it would deal with any government, even if it was
packed with members of Hezbollah. The results of the elections proved otherwise,
however, with Hezbollah and its allies maintaining the status quo by winning 57
seats, while the majority went to the pro-Western March 14 coalition.
Nicholas Blanford, the well-informed Beirut-based journalist, wrote: "The March
14 victory is a setback for Hezbollah which had hoped that an opposition win
would provide a protective seal around its military wing. Contrary to
scare-mongering rhetoric from some Israeli and Western officials, Hezbollah had
no desire or interest in assuming control of the state if the opposition had
triumphed."
Shortly after the elections, Nasrallah spoke to his supporters, saying he
accepted the election results "with sportsmanship". He then quickly added that
the results meant maintaining the status quo, and not a defeat for Hezbollah
since the party had won with tremendous ease all of its contested seats. By no
means did this mean that Hezbollah's popularity had waned, or that the party was
starting its long march into history.
Nasrallah warned, as he has repeatedly done since 2006, that any talk about
disarming Hezbollah was a red line that nobody could cross, regardless of the
election results. Members of March 14 - who had tried to tackle Hezbollah
militarily in May 2008, in vain - praised Nasrallah's calmness, which clearly
triggered positive vibrations throughout Lebanon.
A "gentleman's agreement" was seemingly reached in Lebanon, where Hezbollah
would accept the new administration (which will probably see Saad Hariri as
prime minister), while March 14 would incorporate Hezbollah - and its demands -
into the new cabinet.
Lebanese have seemingly grabbed at the perfect opportunity when everybody
generally involved in the Lebanese issue has been focused on the unrest in Iran.
Syria is preparing to turn a new leaf with the US, after Washington announced
this week that it would be sending a new ambassador to Damascus to fill a post
that has been vacant since 2005.
The Lebanese took the chance to settle their problems from within and build on
common ground between conflict parties, thus explaining the Jumblatt-Nasrallah
summit.
This proves that contrary to what many people thought, Nasrallah has not changed
after June 7. In his own mind - and in numbers throughout its constituencies -
Hezbollah did not lose the elections. The coalition, of which Hezbollah was a
member - did not win.
Nasrallah still gets to keep his arms, all 11 seats in parliament (and another
46 seats for his allies), in addition to the post of speaker, which on Wednesday
went to his friend and colleague Nabih Berri. A staunch ally of Hezbollah, Berri
has been head of the Lebanese parliament for nearly 20 years, and legally
speaking, since his group does not enjoy a majority any longer, the post of
speaker should go to a member of March 14.
But again, in the spirit of reconciliation, all parties decided to "side-step"
parliamentary norms and restored Berri to the post with 90 out of 128 votes. His
deputy, Farid Makari, a member of March 14, was also voted into office once
again. Berri's re-election pleased Nasrallah, as did a meeting shortly after the
elections between a Hezbollah parliamentarian and Javier Solana, the European
Union chief negotiator. If anything, this was proof that the EU still takes
Hezbollah very seriously.
Let us pretend that Israel were to withdraw from the occupied Sheba Farms in
what remains of 2009. What would the position of Nasrallah be? Theoretically,
the man would give up his arms - as the West has been calling for years - and
transform into the head of an unarmed political party, just like many Lebanese
leaders did after the civil war ended in 1990.
Anybody who knows Nasrallah well realizes that this is much smaller than the
grand ambitions of the 48-year-old leader. Some claim that he is bent on ruling
Lebanon. Many who know him, and understand Lebanese dynamics, realize that
Nasrallah, a smart and pragmatic man, would never try his luck at such a coup,
because no matter what, a Shi'ite cannot rule Lebanon and Nasrallah would never
think of upsetting the nation's delicate sectarian balance.
He might try to rule by proxy, through a Christian heavyweight like Michel Aoun,
but if this is the case, that dream vanished when Aoun lost his last chance to
become president in 2008. The next time the Lebanese go to the polls, Aoun will
be 78, certainly too old for presidential office, putting a damper on
Hezbollah's ambitions.
Others argue that Nasrallah is like a "lion in a canary's cage". Meaning, his
ambitions and dreams are much larger than the limited borders of Lebanon and the
Sheba Farms. Advocates of this theory claim that Nasrallah wants to become a
modern Saladin, resembling the ancient Muslim sultan who liberated Jerusalem. If
that were the case, the man would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Instead, Nasrallah is prepared to talk to Jumblatt - and practically everyone
else in Lebanon - to peacefully survive in the Lebanese system. Protecting his
weapons then, while also upholding Shi'ite rights, rather than running the
Lebanese state, is the real drive behind Nasrallah.
**Sami Moubayed is editor-in-chief of Forward Magazine in Syria.
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