LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
October 16/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint Luke 11:47-54. Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom
your ancestors killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the
deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute' in order that this generation might
be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the
world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and
the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their
blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You
yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter." When he left,
the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to
interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at
something he might say.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Dignity and the news/By: Ziad
Majed/15.10.09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for October 15/09
Lebanon elected for two-year
non-permanent seat in UN Security Council/Now Lebanon
Houri sees positive
aspects in cabinet formation, although not yet finalized/Now Lebanon
Hizbullah
Video Contradicts Israel's Story as Jumblat Urges Nations to Provide Army with
Anti-Aircraft Guns/Naharnet
Suleiman to Judges: It's your Responsibility to Restore Confidence in Judiciary/Naharnet
Israel:
Syria to Move Weaponry in its Possession to Hizbullah/Naharnet
Geagea:
March 8 Seeking Opposition-controlled Government/Naharnet
French Proposal to Give
Telecoms to President/Naharnet
Rockets, Gunfire Heard in
Baablek/Naharnet
Report: Turkey Seizes
$18.5 billion from Iran to Hizbullah/Naharnet
Deal between INTERPOL and
Hariri Tribunal Goes into Effect/Naharnet
U.S.: Hizbullah Danger to
International Peace, Teir Felsay Blast Violation of 1701/Naharnet
Aoun: Telecom Ministry is
Our Demand, Marginalization Period Over/Naharnet
Hizbullah Tyre video refutes IDF'/Jerusalem
Post
Israeli army says video shows Hezbollah
blast site was weapons cache/Los
Angeles Times
Kuwaiti paper: Syria transferred 1/4 of its missile arsenal to Hizbullah/Jerusalem
Post
'Syrian long-range missiles
in Lebanon'/Jerusalem
Post
Despite Violating UN Resolutions, Lebanon
to
Get Security Council Seat/CNSNews.com
Hezbollah: Israeli footage of southern Lebanon blast 'fabricated'/Ynetnews
Indonesian military appreciates China's medical assistance in Lebanon/Xinhua
Hizbollah
accused
of stockpiling weapons/National
Israel to use Hezbollah against
Goldstone report/Ynetnews
Iraqi Foreign Minister: 'No Opening' in Relations With Syria/Wall
Street Journal
Cabinet
deliberations stall as Aoun reiterates demands./Daily
Star
Qabalan says Shiite community's
'sole allegiance is to Lebanon'./Daily
Star
Phalange, Tashnag agree to resolve
issues through dialogue./Daily
Star
Israel claims spy drone video reveals Hizbullah arms cache/AFP
Lebanon plans $500m Eurobond issue
within weeks./Daily
Star
Murr refuses to tolerate security breaches similar to Ain al-Remmaneh./Daily
Star
Women are entitled to equal
decision-making roles./Daily
Star
30 Mideastern towns form League of
Phoenician, Canaanite, Punic cities./Daily
Star
Lebanon's youth must play key role
in global fight against climate change./Daily
Star
Spanish UNIFIL troops prepare for Zapatero visit./Daily
Star
Organizers press charities
to participate in Marathon./Daily
Star
U.S.: Hizbullah Danger to
International Peace, Teir Felsay Blast Violation of 1701
Naharnet/The continuing presence of armed groups, including Hizbullah, in
Lebanon is a "danger to international peace and security," U.S. Deputy Permanent
Representative to the United Nations Alejandro Wolff said. "Armed elements,
their assets, and their weapons in South Lebanon pose a similar threat to those
who work diligently for peace and security in that country," he said in a
statement to the Security Council on Wednesday. The explosion in Teir Felsay
earlier this week and the blast in Khirbet Selm in July are a violation of
Security Council Resolution 1701, Wolff told the Council. "It should be a source
of deep concern to all of us," he said, adding the U.S. looks forward for
detailed information from the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations "on
this latest serious incident." Wolff reiterated that the U.S. continues to
strongly support the full implementation of Resolutions 1701 and 1559, including
their calls for all arms to be brought under the control of the state and the
delineation of Lebanon's borders. "The people of Lebanon deserve to reap the
benefits of a government whose services and authority extend throughout the
land," he added. Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 10:05
Lebanon Elected Non-Permanent Security Council Member
Naharnet/The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday elected Lebanon as a
non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year term starting Jan.1,
2010. Brazil, Nigeria, Gabon, Lebanon and Bosnia-Hercegovina were elected
Thursday as non-permanent members of the U.N. Security Council for 2010-2011,
the president of the General Assembly announced. The five will take their seats
on the 15-member council on January 1, replacing Costa Rica, Libya, Uganda,
Vietnam and Croatia who will complete their two-year mandate on December 31.
Coming first as a reaction regarding Lebanon's election was Caretaker Fouad
Saniora. After announcing Lebanon as a non-permanent member in the U.N. Security
Council Saniora said that our country has the support of its Arab brothers and
of considerable friends in the rest of the world.
"Getting 180 votes out of 190 proves that Lebanon's election comes as a vote of
confidence. Lebanon is considered an example of common living and of having
democratic system," said Saniora. Saniora added that "Lebanon's position as a
non-permanent member will allow it to play an effective role in the UN Security
Council" regarding Arab issues and will defend total world peace. In the Latin
America and Caribbean group, Brazil -- which already has served nine terms on
the council, most recently from 2004-2005 -- was the only candidate.
Brazil was elected with 182 of the 190 votes cast, with seven abstentions, Ali
Triki, the president of the 192-member General Assembly, said. In the Africa
group where two seats were up for grabs, Nigeria was elected with 186 votes,
along with Gabon, which received 184 votes. Nigeria, Africa's oil giant and the
continent's most populous nation previously served three terms -- most recently
in 1994-1995, while Gabon has never served. One seat was at stake in the Asia
group, which Lebanon won with 180 votes.
In the Eastern Europe group, Bosnia, which has never served, was elected to the
seat that will be left vacant by Croatia with 183 votes. Citing his country's
painful war experience from 1992 to 1995, Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj
said "we are going to be a strong voice for preventive diplomacy." He
highlighted the fact that Bosnia was endorsed by the full 23-member Eastern
Europe group. "Although we will act in our national capacity, we are going to be
a part of a broader consensus that is growing in our neighborhood, where all the
countries share the same desire of peaceful and prosperous life," Alkalaj said.
The Security Council is the most important UN decision-making body, with its
five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States
-- each having veto power over its decisions. It is tasked with maintaining
international peace and security. The council's 10 non-permanent seats are
filled by the General Assembly, with five countries elected each year to
two-year non-renewable mandates. To secure a seat, a candidate nation has to win
two-thirds of votes cast in a secret ballot. Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 10:18
Geagea: March 8 Seeking Opposition-controlled Government
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Thursday that the opposition
does not intend to help form the government unless it gains total control over
it. Geagea was speaking after the visit of Palestinian Liberation Organization
representative in Lebanon Abbas Zaki to Maarab on the occasion of Zaki's
diplomatic mission ending. The Lebanese Forces leader criticized the
distribution of roles among the opposition factions where if one party was
satisfied the other would set obstacles. Geagea added that the opposition does
not have one negotiator like March 14 forces who are represented by PM-designate
Saad Hariri. Geagea stressed that the opposition does not have a political
decision to form the government whether it is labeled as a national unity
government or any other form. "The matter is again in the President's and PM-designate's
hands," added Geagea. Regarding the 70's bloody past between the Lebanese and
the Palestinians, especially during the years 1975-1976, Geagea said that PLO
representative in Lebanon Abbas Zaki managed to put that past behind the two
sides backs. Geagea concluded "even though we did not forget (those years) but
we took the examples and transcended towards a better future." On his part, Zaki
stated that "the Palestinians and the Lebanese were the victims of huge
conspiracies being both sharing the Mediterranean sea and threatened by Israel".
Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 19:02
Suleiman to Judges: It's your Responsibility to Restore Confidence in Judiciary
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman told Lebanese judges on Thursday that it was
their responsibility to restore public confidence in the judicial system. "If it
is the state's responsibility to come up with a future plan for the judiciary in
Lebanon, it is also your responsibility to restore public confidence in it,"
Suleiman told judges during a ceremony at the Justice Palace to celebrate the
opening of the judicial year. The ceremony was attended by Speaker Nabih Berri,
Caretaker PM Fouad Saniora and other top officials. Suleiman called for
supporting the judicial system's reform. "The right thing to do is to support
the judiciary and its reform. It would be wrong to defame it for our (personal)
reasons." "The judiciary's independence is the essence for the consolidation of
independence. I have taken oath to protect the constitution and I stress that I
am keen on making the judicial authority strong and protective of freedoms," he
said. Suleiman also described Lebanon's expected election as a non-permanent
member of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday an "important event" that would
help the country defend itself and stress the right of return for Palestinian
refugees. With its Security Council member status, Lebanon will keep a close
watch on "suspicious" draft resolutions, the president added. Beirut, 15 Oct 09,
16:11
Hizbullah Video Contradicts Israel's Story as Jumblat Urges Nations to Provide
Army with Anti-Aircraft Guns
Naharnet/Hizbullah produced and aired a video tape which contradicted Israeli
claims that Hizbullah fighters were removing dozens of rockets out of the house
of a Hizbullah member after an explosion ripped through his garage and urged the
United Nations to look into the video footage. The video segment aired on Al-Manar
television Tuesday evening showed a door and some furniture being removed from
the house of Nasser Issa in Teir Felsay. The Israeli army Tuesday showed a video
in which what were said to be Lebanese militants are seen removing dozens of
rockets out of Issa's home after the blast. Army spokeswoman Avital Leibowitz
said the video was shot by an unmanned drone. He said the video showed militants
removing the rockets in two trucks before allowing in U.N. investigators. Also
removed was a particularly large piece of equipment that could be a large rocket
or a type of launcher.
As-Safir daily, meanwhile, citing an official Lebanese version, said Thursday
that what happened at the garage of the three-story building in Teir Felsay was
the result of direct contact of electrical wire with flammable materials which
caused a blast that ignited the fire. It said following the explosion, a group
of residents (between 7 and 8) came to the scene and began picking up pieces,
including the iron garage door which was wrapped in a white sheet and put in a
pickup truck for transport. Several other pieces, according to the story, were
also put in a similar truck for transport to an empty lot in Deir Qanoun al-Nahr
while the Israeli drone was monitoring the area. In a related development,
Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh was reading to file a complaint with the
Security Council to protest repeated Israeli violations to the Lebanese
airspace. Druze leader Walid Jumblat also called on nations to provide the
Lebanese army with anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns.Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 08:34
Williams: The New Challenges Need a New Government
Naharnet/United Nations Special Coordinator Michael Williams voiced his support
for the open dialogue between the different parties in Lebanon which he hoped
will soon lead to a government formation. After meeting with Free Patriotic
Movement leader MP Michel Aoun in Rabieh on Thursday, Williams confirmed that
this week is crucial to reach solutions. He added that essential steps should be
taken for the Cabinet formation now that the attitudes are positive. Williams
described his meeting with Aoun as excellent and considered that the reforms and
challenges that the country is facing need a new government. United Nations
Special Coordinator Michael Williams pointed out that the bottom line of his
meeting with MP Aoun was to discuss the recent developments in the South
stressing on the importance of regaining calmness and stability in the region.
Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 19:30
Israel: Syria to Move Weaponry in its Possession to Hizbullah
Naharnet/Israel has considered the Teir Felsay explosion as an extremely
dangerous development and warned of Hizbullah's growing military strength.
Israel is charging Iran and Syria with "direct and flagrant" violations of U.N.
resolutions after a Hizbullah arms warehouse blew up in south Lebanon this week.
Government spokesman Mark Regev said Iran and Syria were still providing
Hizbullah with arms in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 which
ended the summer 2006 war between Israel and the Shiite group. Haaretz newspaper
quoted a senior Israeli military source as saying Syria has "taken a strategic
and clear decision to transfer all the weaponry in its possession to Hizbullah."
The source said UNIFIL "remains idle with regard to this issue for fear of
entering Shiite villages." Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to the U.N. Gabriela
Shalev told the Security Council that southern Lebanon "is occupied by
terrorism."She stressed that Hizbullah continued to build up weapons and
military infrastructure in the midst of the civilian population, openly
threatening UNIFIL and obstructing the mission's mandate. Beirut, 15 Oct 09,
09:01
French Proposal to Give Telecoms to President
Naharnet/It seemed difficult to anticipate when the new government would be
announced due to rapid fluctuations in the political climate. Information
obtained by An-Nahar daily said PM-designate Saad Hariri has made significant
progress in talks regarding names and distribution of ministerial portfolios,
raising hopes that a Cabinet lineup could be completed in as many days. But
although some ultra-optimists talked about three or four days to reach a final
Cabinet makeup, government formation process hit snags that publicly emerged on
Wednesday – the telecoms ministry which appeared that Change and Reform bloc
leader Michel Aoun was not willing to compromise. Aoun on Wednesday announced
that he was holding onto the telecommunications portfolio. Opposition sources
believed Aoun's statement indicates that the obstacle over the telecoms ministry
had not been removed, which means that the majority team had also refused to
give this key portfolio to the Opposition. Sources from the majority March 14
coalition, however, believed that Aoun's position appeared to be an attempt to
"swap the telecoms portfolio for a quality portfolio." Al-Liwaa daily quoted
Opposition sources as saying that the telecommunications ministry remains the
major obstacle. The sources spoke of a French proposal that suggested giving the
telecoms portfolio to one of the ministers who fall within the share of
President Michel Suleiman, provided that person is accepted by both Hariri and
Aoun. Suleiman has been allotted five seats in the new government. Hariri on
Wednesday visited Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel in Bekfaya who hosted
dinner for him.
Press reports on Thursday said talks between the two men focused on the Phalange
share in the new Cabinet. Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 11:37
Rockets, Gunfire Heard in Baablek
Naharnet/The sound of intense automatic gunfire and exploding rocket-propelled
grenades could be heard in Baalbek overnight, the daily An-Nahar said Thursday.
State-run National news agency said the shooting was the result of a clash
between Ali Rajeh Jaafar, Ali Izzat Jaafar and Abbas Mohammed Jaafar over
sharing of the looted goods. An-Nahar said two of them are wanted by the police.
Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 08:44
Deal between INTERPOL and Hariri Tribunal Goes into Effect
Naharnet/The International Criminal Police Organization approved a deal cut
between INTERPOL and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during a meeting of the
INTERPOL general assembly in Singapore. INTERPOL and the STL concluded last
month an interim agreement on INTERPOL's assistance to the international
tribunal with regard to its investigations and other proceedings that pertain to
the crimes that fall under its jurisdiction. The approval came during a session
that was attended by Lebanese police chief Gen. Ashraf Rifi. "It is time to hold
dangerous criminals accountable so that the innocent can enjoy a peaceful life,"
Rifi said. Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 10:31
Aoun: Telecom Ministry is Our Demand, Marginalization Period Over
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said Wednesday that the
telecommunications ministry is a demand for FPM and that the period of
marginalizing people has ended. Aoun added that he is still waiting for the end
of discussions with PM-designate Hariri to see if the cabinet's lineup is in
accordance with what he negotiated with him. Speaking after the weekly meeting
of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, Aoun stressed that the period of
marginalizing people has ended, and that FPM represents a plan for development.
On the other hand, Aoun considered that through the same promptness that Ain al-Rummaneh's
incident was treated, security tensions can be controlled. "People realize now
that their security and safety are provided through their official armed forces
especially the Lebanese Army," Aoun pointed out. Answering a question about
Israel's will to take Lebanon back to the stone age, Aoun said: "If Lebanon goes
back to the stone age, then Israel will go back to the Roman age. They (Israel)
are arrogant regarding their military capabilities, and I hope that they don't
interfere in Lebanese internal issues." Aoun also added that Israel is
presenting the best way to enforce Hizbullah because the more Israel talks about
Hizbullah, the more FPM sticks to its ally. Aoun wondered if the Noble prize
given to U.S. President Barrack Obama was for his declared good intentions or
for a later act that he intends to do. He also expressed that he did not
understand all the prize's justifications that may have aimed to push Obama
forward towards peaceful choices. Beirut, 14 Oct 09, 19:37
French Proposal to Give Telecoms to President
/Naharnet/It seemed difficult to anticipate when the new government would be
announced due to rapid fluctuations in the political climate
Information obtained by An-Nahar daily said PM-designate Saad Hariri has made
significant progress in talks regarding names and distribution of ministerial
portfolios, raising hopes that a Cabinet lineup could be completed in as many
days. But although some ultra-optimists talked about three or four days to reach
a final Cabinet makeup, government formation process hit snags that publicly
emerged on Wednesday – the telecoms ministry which appeared that Change and
Reform bloc leader Michel Aoun was not willing to compromise.
Aoun on Wednesday announced that he was holding onto the telecommunications
portfolio.Opposition sources believed Aoun's statement indicates that the
obstacle over the telecoms ministry had not been removed, which means that the
majority team had also refused to give this key portfolio to the Opposition.
Sources from the majority March 14 coalition, however, believed that Aoun's
position appeared to be an attempt to "swap the telecoms portfolio for a quality
portfolio." Al-Liwaa daily quoted Opposition sources as saying that the
telecommunications ministry remains the major obstacle. The sources spoke of a
French proposal that suggested giving the telecoms portfolio to one of the
ministers who fall within the share of President Michel Suleiman, provided that
person is accepted by both Hariri and Aoun. Suleiman has been allotted five
seats in the new government. Hariri on Wednesday visited Phalange party leader
Amin Gemayel in Bekfaya who hosted dinner for him. Press reports on Thursday
said talks between the two men focused on the Phalange share in the new Cabinet.
Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 11:37
Dignity and the news
Ziad Majed , October 15, 2009
Now Lebanon
With the recent spate of layoffs in the Lebanese media, it seems clear that
journalism in this country is facing a substantial crisis, one driven by a
number of factors those in the industry did not want and cannot control.
But that cannot justify the way some of those who have lost their jobs as of
late have been treated. For all the media’s flaws, there is a core dignity in
the work of putting together the news, one that stems from the dignity of their
profession as a whole. The undermining of this dignity does not bode well for a
field that has overcome many hurdles and deficiencies and managed to foster
truly free and independent forums.
In so doing, this small country has developed a press and media model, the likes
of which are unknown elsewhere in the region; here in Lebanon the powers of
creativity, which are suppressed by despotism in neighboring countries have been
allowed to flourish.
As such, it is difficult to feel anything but sadness and anger at the recent
firing of journalists, who have committed no egregious errors, and exhibited no
unethical behavior.
Sadness, for all those who believe in the power the pen - or the camera or the
microphone – to bridge the gap between the people and the issues they face,
between knowledge and what is not yet known, between events and the readings,
analyses and efforts to understand and inform that follow them. Anger because
the way in which the journalists have been fired demonstrates the absence of
unions and workers’ rights laws, which could have safeguarded them against the
horrors of losing one’s job and one’s engagement.
How can these fired workers — who count among them some of Lebanon’s most
prominent intellectuals, writers and journalists — have been treated in such a
contemptible manner, with management offering only the vaguest excuses, creating
a situation increasingly open to interpretation, as if it were intended to leave
people guessing?
It did not have to be this way. The management of the companies involved – if
they are truly facing a crisis – could have held meetings, behind both closed
and open doors, explaining to their employees the nature of the situation.
Managements could have told those they were firing that while it could no longer
continue to work with them in the same manner as before, they would be given to
choice between taking a pay-cut or resigning with proper compensation.
At the very least, management could have treated them decently and patiently
explained the reasons for the current crisis and its repercussions. In other
words, the companies could have conducted themselves like the western press and
media models they strive to emulate—wherein arrangements are created so that
those about to lose their jobs are afforded the opportunity to depart
voluntarily. Such conduct would result in the companies desired financial goal,
but with the added benefit of not insulting the dignity of those being fired,
thus helping them search for new employment and opportunities, without the angst
of having just been treated abysmally by a company they devoted themselves to.
To chase your employees out, and then spread rumors and attempt to defame them
can only produce bitterness and bad blood, and give credence to suggestions that
the firings were for reasons other than those stated. Such conduct impoverishes
each company that practices it, not just through the loss of valuable employees,
but also because it undermines the values on which their freedom and
professionalism is based.
What is happening in some Lebanese media today is worrisome and deplorable.
Silence on the subject — particularly on the part of those able to do something
about it — is tantamount to support for debasement of our media, for stripping
it of its professionalism and its freedom, plurality and independence, at the
very time these qualities need to be fortified.
This article is based on the original, which appeared on the NOW Arabic site on
October 13.