LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
October 24/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint Luke 12:54-59. He also said to the crowds, "When
you see (a) cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to
rain--and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the
south you say that it is going to be hot--and so it is. You
hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Why do you not judge for
yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a
magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your
opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the
constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not
be released until you have paid the last penny."
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
New Opinion: The arch staller/Now
Lebanon/October 23, 2009
Crashing the party/By: Matt
Nash/Now Lebanon/October 22, 09
When will Aoun, Hariri meet?/Now
Lebanon/October 23, 2009
Gemayel: I am in direct and
indirect contact with Syria/Now Lebanon/October
23/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for October 23/09
Anniversary of Attack on US Marine Barracks in
Beirut, Lebanon/US
Department of State
France 'worried' by Lebanon government void/AFP
Israeli and Lebanese mobilization
at Fatimah Gate/now Lebanon
National Bloc: Aoun between Syrian
indulgence and Iranian rigidity
Marouni says Aoun is obstructing
cabinet formation/Now Lebanon
Allouch says Future Movement
refrains from commenting on FPM demands/Now
Lebanon
Opposition Holds Geagea Responsible for Provoking Aoun/Naharnet
Hariri Won't Step Down
Again, Will Carry on Cabinet Talks/Naharnet
Paris, fearful of Lebanon
double movement/Naharnet
Williams: Planting
Wiretapping Devices in Southern Lebanon Serious Violation of 1701/Naharnet
Jumblat: Internal,
External Wills Not Wanting Damascus Summit to Succeed/Naharnet
Berri: Satisfy Aoun with
Portfolios of Your Own Share, Not Others Share/Naharnet
Assad Rushes Lebanon to
Form a Cabinet/Naharnet
Geagea: Aoun Either
Accepts Conditions or Joins the Opposition/Naharnet
Abul Gheith: Priority for
Lebanese State Sovereignty, Respecting Institutions/Naharnet
Shibani: Iran Won't Spare
Any Effort to Support Hariri/Naharnet
Franjieh: Government to
See The light in a Few Days/Naharnet
Jumblat Discusses Cabinet
Formation Efforts with Suleiman/Naharnet
Kouchner to Convey
France's Dissatisfaction over Delay in Cabinet Lineup/Naharnet
Harb Says Sfeir Concerned about Lebanon Future/Naharnet
TMA Flies On/Naharnet
Turkish FM: Lebanon
Creates Balance in the Region/Naharnet
US: Joint drill with Israel will
help Europe missile shield/Daily
Star
Berri hails UAE demining efforts in
south Lebanon/Star staff
Baroud vows to get cracking on
country-wide prison overhaul/Star
staff
UN chief urges Hizbullah to
relinquish weapons/Star staff
Lebanon balance of payments surplus
hits record $4.8bn/Star staff
Hariri remains silent following Aoun's cabinet demands/Star staff
Abboud calls for gas supply from
Egypt, Syria/Star staff
ICT-goods exports growth struggles
to keep pace with world economy/Star
staff
Soccer program determined to level
Lebanon's gender playing field/Star
staff
Rediscovering Lebanon through
letters long forgotten/Star staff
Pop star Nancy Ajram named UNICEF
Goodwill Ambassador for MENA/Star
staff
LAU discusses importance of
technology in learning/Star staff
'Anti-green' accusations for Saudi
Arabia/Star staff
Switzerland accuses Libya of
kidnapping two businessmen/AFP
Turkey censors television series
after row with Israel/AFP
France signs defense agreement with
Kuwait/AFP
Anniversary of Attack on U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut,
Lebanon
US Department of State/Office
of the Spokesman/Washington, DC
October 23, 2009/Today marks the 26th anniversary of the October 23, 1983
bombing of the United States Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. The United
States honors the sacrifices of the 241 American servicemen who lost their lives
that day in service of their country while protecting the stability of Lebanon.
The Marine barracks memorial on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut reads,
“They came in peace.” So too have the troops of the current UN peacekeeping
mission in southern Lebanon come in peace. On this somber occasion, the United
States also commends the brave men and women of that mission and of all
international peacekeeping missions who work to protect civilians and prevent
the outbreak of conflict.
Opposition Holds Geagea Responsible for Provoking Aoun
Naharnet/Opposition forces have accused Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea for
provoking MP Michel Aoun following indications that he and PM-designate Saad
Hariri would not agree to give the telecommunications ministry to the Change and
Reform bloc. Geagea urged President Michel Suleiman and Hariri on Wednesday not
to surrender to blackmail when it came to the distribution of ministerial seats.
The LF leader emphasized that his party did not demand any particular portfolio,
adding that no ministry should be exclusively allotted to any group. Aoun
snapped back at Geagea and demanded that his party be granted six portfolios and
be allowed to maintain the five ministries in the caretaking cabinet– including
the telecommunications ministry. On Thursday, the LF leader stressed that Aoun
had the choice to participate in the upcoming cabinet based on Hariri's terms or
remain in the opposition.
Sources involved in ongoing contacts to form the government told An Nahar daily
that intense negotiations could lead to some developments on Friday. They said
setting a date for a new meeting between Hariri and Aoun could be among the
latest developments. Meanwhile, Change and Reform bloc sources stressed that the
FPM leader's latest statement did not break contacts with Hariri, "rather it
repaired the track of cabinet formation." Caretaker Telecommunications Minister
Jebran Bassil said the FPM is with the quick formation of a government.
"However, we have a minimum level of demands which the PM-designate knows and we
won't relinquish them," he said. "Let him give us our rights and the cabinet
would be formed tomorrow," Bassil told An Nahar, stressing that the principle of
rotating ministerial portfolios should be implemented on everyone or portfolios
should be left to each side in their current form in the caretaking cabinet. MP
Suleiman Franjieh was also on Thursday among opposition leaders who accused
Geagea of provoking Aoun. "Some behaved as if they were victorious and as if the
opposition team and the FPM were defeated" in the parliamentary elections, he
said. However, he still believed that the cabinet would be formed within days.
Beirut, 23 Oct 09, 08:28
Hariri Won't Step Down Again, Will Carry on Cabinet Talks
Naharnet/Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was said to have no intentions of
abandoning efforts to form a new government, but on the contrary, he plans to
carry on with talks on a Cabinet lineup, the daily As-Safir reported Friday.
Citing Hariri circles, As-Safir said that the premier-designate has asked all
MPs from the Future bloc not to respond to comments made by Free Patriotic
Movement leader Michel Aoun. It said Hariri's request coincided with a
"political attack" on Aoun from Christian leaders of the March 14 coalition.
Well-informed sources, meanwhile, told pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat that the Cabinet
crisis is moving toward a settlement. They said statements issued from here and
there were "nothing more than efforts to improve Cabinet demands."Al-Hayat
newspaper, for its part, said political circles from both the majority and the
Opposition camps stressed that the "pessimistic mood," which followed remarks
made by Aoun in which he insisted he was holding onto the telecoms ministry, did
not close the door on talks between Hariri and Aoun. It quoted a source involved
in the Cabinet formation process as saying that Aoun's demands for a
comprehensive Cabinet deal and his rejection to make concessions did not derail
a meeting that was expected to take place between the former army general and
Hariri, despite being postponed. The source added that the Hariri-Aoun meeting
will be held soon. Beirut, 23 Oct 09, 08:21
Paris, Fearful for Lebanon, Doubles Efforts to Avoid
Security Shake-Up
Naharnet/A French Cabinet minister close to President Nicola Sarkozy described
the Lebanon situation as "alarming and must be contained." His remarks came
during a meeting he held with a senior Lebanese political leader who was in
Paris recently, the daily An-Nahar reported Friday. The French official also
cautioned that the current political vacuum can lead to a "higher risk" unless
the Cabinet crisis was "quickly settled."He told his Lebanese guest that "Paris
was fearful for Lebanon." The French official said that France was seeking
through presidential envoys and the diplomatic activity led by Arab states
alongside Washington to "speed up the formation of the government and avoid any
security shake-up in Lebanon."
Beirut, 23 Oct 09, 09:13
Williams: Planting Wiretapping Devices in Southern Lebanon Serious Violation of
1701
Naharnet/U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams has reportedly
said if it was proved that Israel had planted wiretapping devices in south
Lebanon after the 2006 war then such an act would be a serious and clear
violation of resolution 1701. Pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat quoted Williams as
saying following talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheith in Cairo
on Thursday that the U.N. was concerned about several incidents in the south in
the past few weeks. The U.N. official said it was still not clear whether Israel
planted the devices before or after the 2006 war with Hizbullah adding UNIFIL
and the Lebanese army were still investigating the matter. The army has said
that the Israelis destroyed two wiretapping devices themselves with
remote-controlled explosive charges once they had been uncovered in south
Lebanon Saturday and Sunday. A third device was blown up by Lebanese troops.
Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Husam Zaki said that Abul Gheith stressed to
Williams Egypt's keenness to intensify contacts with involved parties to
facilitate the formation of a Lebanese cabinet headed by PM-designate Saad
Hariri as soon as possible. The Egyptian foreign minister also stressed that
Lebanon should quickly regain sovereignty over all its territories. Williams met
with Arab League chief Amr Moussa on Wednesday. Beirut, 23 Oct 09, 10:48
Jumblat: Internal, External Wills Not Wanting Damascus
Summit to Succeed
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Leader MP Walid Jumblat commented on the course
of forming the new cabinet by saying "there seems to be both internal and
external wills not wanting for the Syrian-Saudi summit to succeed". Al Manar TV
network quoted Jumblat describing his meeting with President Michel Suleiman as
"good". On the other hand, LBC TV network quoted well-informed sources about
Baabda's meetings as saying that Jumblat agreed on giving Free Patriotic
Movement leader MP Michel Aoun important portfolios in the anticipated
government. The sources also said that Jumblat does not mind giving Aoun the
Telecoms ministry. Previously, Jumblat, accompanied by his son Taymour, visited
President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace. Jumblat discussed the current
political situations with the President as well as the contacts conducted by
Jumblat with a number of political parties to trespass obstacles regarding the
formation of the anticipated government. Beirut, 22 Oct 09, 20:48
Berri: Satisfy Aoun with Portfolios of Your Own Share, Not Others Share
Naharnet/Al-Afkar Lebanese weekly magazine quoted the visitors of Speaker Nabih
Berri as saying that the house speaker told them that those working on
satisfying Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun with certain cabinet
portfolios will have to deduct them from their share not from others share.
Berri told the magazine that he has never talked about rejecting the idea of
appointing elections losers as ministers and that he did not name any candidates
for the first cabinet lineup presented by PM-designate Saad Hariri "except for
talking about keeping the Health ministry in the hand of its current minister
Dr. Mohammad Jawad Khalifeh". Friday's issue of Al-Afkar magazine will have
Berri's explanation for the reasons that made him abstain from naming Hariri for
the second designation. Regarding re-designating Hariri, Berri said: "It is true
that I work in politics, but my dignity comes first and I was the first to
announce my intention to re-designate Hariri in case he apologized. Despite
that, al-Mustaqbal bloc MPs started to attack me, and some of them reminded
about electing me head of Parliament." Berri revealed that he asserted a lot of
efforts to thwart Hariri from apologizing during the first designation and that
Hariri surprised everyone by apologizing.
Answering a question regarding the Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid
Jumblat, Berri described Jumblat as the pacification and salvation partner.
Beirut, 22 Oct 09, 18:23
Assad Rushes Lebanon to Form a Cabinet
Naharnet/The Syrian President Bashar Assad said that the Syrian Arab Republic is
with rushing the formation of a national unity government as it will bring
Lebanon back to its normal status after years of division and conflicts. After a
meeting with the President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen in the
People's Palace in Damascus, Assad said that the importance of sticking to
national legislative decisions is important to achieve peace in the Middle East.
Beirut, 22 Oct 09, 19:13
Geagea: Aoun Either Accepts
Conditions or Joins the Opposition
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea declared that his party is not
willing to demand any specific portfolio as he does not think this is the right
way towards forming a government. "The right of each parliamentary bloc to have
a portfolio does not mean that a certain portfolio is rightfully his or belongs
to any specific bloc," he added. Geagea disapproved Aoun's stance which
contradicts the positive outcome of his previous encounters with PM-designate
Saad Hariri. LF Leader revealed a pre-scheduled meeting to be held today between
Aoun and Hariri. He pointed out that "bribing the premier designate and the
Lebanese president should not become a habit. Matters do not occur this way
especially that we have been without a government for four months now".
According to Geagea, Aoun faces two options "either to accept these conditions
and bear the responsibility of his participation or to join the opposition".
Beirut, 22 Oct 09, 18:58
Abul Gheith: Priority for Lebanese State Sovereignty, Respecting Institutions
Naharnet/Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Gheith stressed on Thursday after
meeting U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams in Cairo that
Egypt is fortifying its connections with the concerned Lebanese parties to help
in facilitating the formation of the new government. "The priority is for the
sovereignty of Lebanon and the respect for its constitutional institutions,"
said the Egyptian Foreign ministry spokesman. The spokesman also said that "Abul
Gheith was keen to point to the importance of moving faster to restore Lebanon's
sovereignty on all of its occupied territories, with working on halting the
continuous violations against its land and airspace in conjunction with U.N.'s
related resolutions".
"Williams, on his part, was keen to inform the FM about the contacts made lately
in the frame of preparing the new report of the U.N. secretary-general regarding
the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701," said the Egyptian
Foreign ministry spokesman. Williams expressed U.N.'s interest in knowing the
Egyptian point of view regarding Lebanon considering the major position and role
of Egypt in the region. U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon was touring Egypt
for discussions with the Egyptian capital and the Arab League regarding the
current situation and political scene in Lebanon. This visit to Egypt is the
second for Williams, knowing that he had visited Cairo for the first time during
November 2008 prior to a previous report about Lebanon which he submitted to
U.N.'s general-secretary. Beirut, 22 Oct 09, 20:19
Franjieh: Government to See The light in a Few Days
Naharnet/Marada Movement Leader MP Suleiman Franjieh said that stepping down for
our country's best interest is not a loss. "No party should consider this
initiative as its own victory and leave the country with the concept of having
winning and losing teams," he added. After meeting with Palestinian Authority
Representative in Lebanon Abbas Zaki Franjieh said that "if the situation
remains as it is now then let them form a government without us". He then added
that the government will see the light in a few days. "There is no preference in
the portfolio that will be assigned to us as we consider PM-designate Saad
Hariri has the best intentions to reach a consensus," he concluded. Beirut, 22
Oct 09, 09:31
UN chief urges Hizbullah to relinquish weapons
By Patrick Galey /Daily /Star staff
Friday, October 23, 2009
BEIRUT: The presence of weapons belonging to Hizbullah and other non-state
organizations is a serious threat to Lebanese security, says UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon.
In the latest Security Council report on the implementation of Resolution 1559,
Ban said that weapons outside the control of the Lebanese Army “constitute a
challenge to the government of Lebanon’s exclusive military authority” and
“could eventually lead to the resumption of hostilities unless immediately
addressed.”
The report is the tenth of its kind and was written by Ban’s envoy on Resolution
1559, Terje Roed-Larsen. The report praised the country’s re-establishment of
diplomatic ties with Syria and deemed the June 7 elections a success, “despite
some shortfalls and minor security incidents.”
The 2004-drafted Resolution 1559 called for all non-Lebanese forces to withdraw
from the country and reiterated the Security Council’s support of full Lebanese
sovereignty. Former long-term UNIFIL adviser Timur Goksel said Ban’s assertion
that “progress continues to be achieved in the implementation of Resolution
1559,” was debatable.
“The only thing that has been implemented [from Resolution 1559] is the
withdrawal of the Syrians [in 2005]. There have been several UN missions that
have come to these borders and obviously nothing has changed. [Ban] is venting
his frustration that nothing has changed on the ground,” he told The Daily Star.
Ban specifically mentioned recent security incidents at Tayr Felsay and Bab al-Tabbaneh
which suggest “a proliferation of extremist groups activities and of arms in
Lebanon” but added that the UN could not “independently verify” their causes.
He called on all states to abide by the existing arms embargo preventing weapons
from entering Lebanon across the Syrian border.
“This is a key factor for stability in Lebanon and the region,” he said.
He lamented the lack of progress in stemming the “dangerous anomaly” of the arms
flow across Lebanon and Syria’s porous border, and urged both countries to speed
up the delineation process.
Ban outlined arsenals still held by Hizbullah and “non-Lebanese armed groups” as
“a direct challenge to the sovereignty of the Lebanese state,” and requested
that Hizbullah comply immediately with relevant Security Council resolutions: a
move he says is “in the best interests of all Lebanese.”
“The threat that armed groups and militias pose to the sovereignty and stability
of the Lebanese state cannot be overstated,” he added. “All arms in Lebanon must
be brought under the sole and unique control of the Government of Lebanon.”
Going further, Ban suggested that the existence of an armed resistance in
Lebanon would continue to undermine stability.
“The maintenance of an independent paramilitary capacity poses … a key
challenge to the safety of Lebanese civilians,” he said. I call upon the leaders
of Hizbullah to complete the transformation of the group into a solely Lebanese
political party.
“Regional parties that maintain close ties with Hizbullah must encourage it in
the same direction,” he added.
Such recommendations were unlikely to yield tangible results within Lebanon,
Goksel said.
“[Ban] has to say that [about Hizbullah],” he said. “But this is not a realistic
goal for the UN. What is the UN going to do about it? Are they going to disarm
these non-state groups? Of course not.”
Ban said that living conditions for the estimated 400,000 Palestinians in
Lebanon needed improving “in the best interest on the wider security situation
in the country.”
“I remain convinced that it is imperative that progress be made not only toward
disbanding and disarming Palestinian militias, but also toward improving the
conditions in which the refugee population lives,” he added.
Goksel said that the UN was powerless to carry out many of Ban’s
recommendations. “They should have thought that the Lebanese can’t do anything
about these weapons when they wrote the resolution.”
Ban praised Lebanon’s execution of democratic elections and urged the country’s
politicians to facilitate a cabinet formation which “should transcend sectarian
and individual interests and promote the future and the interests of the nation”
as soon as possible. “All Lebanese must work together in the spirit of
coexistence and democracy,” he said. As for regional diplomatic relations, Ban
said that recent Saudi-Syrian rapprochement was “widely perceived to have
contributed to ease the political situation in Lebanon.”
Ban added he was pleased that Lebanon and Syria had renewed diplomatic ties with
the resumption of ambassadorial communication between Beirut and Damascus.
“I am glad to report that Lebanon and Syria have completed the establishment of
full diplomatic relations between the two countries,” he said.
On the issue of Israeli violations, Ban noted that breaches were continuing
undiluted.
“Israel has still not withdrawn from the northern part of Ghajar in violation of
Lebanon’s sovereignty,” he said and added that diplomatic efforts to reach a
solution over the Shebaa Farms had yielded little.
Israel’s daily overflights were also criticized: “I deplore these violations and
call on Israel to cease such overflights.”
Ban condemned September’s exchange of rocket fire across the Blue Line and
commended the efforts of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces in launching an
investigation into who instigated the attacks.
“Sometimes you have to say these things to help people take action,” said Goksel.
“But on the other hand everyone is already aware of [the security situation] and
they know that all these weapons are dangerous.”
Hariri remains silent following Aoun's cabinet demands
Geagea urges FPM leader to join opposition if proposals not satisfactory
By Elias Sakr /Daily Star staff
Friday, October 23, 2009
BEIRUT: Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and the Future Movement party
offered no response Thursday to Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel
Aoun’s statement on Wednesday as Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea
called on Aoun to join the opposition if he disapproves of Hariri’s proposals.
Meanwhile, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stressed that no progress had been
made on the cabinet front as majority and opposition groups are playing a tug of
war to determine the power balance on the domestic scene while also being
influenced by foreign players.
In Damascus, Syrian President Bashar Assad urged on Thursday the quick formation
of a national unity government, saying it would put Lebanon back on the right
track after years of division and conflicts. Geagea called on Wednesday for
President Michel Sleiman and Hariri not to surrender to blackmail when it came
to the distribution of ministerial portfolios so as to prevent the setting of
new precedents regarding the cabinet formation. “The formation process should
not be dealt with in this manner, particularly following four months without a
cabinet,” he said.
The LF leader emphasized that his party did not demand any particular portfolio,
adding that each party had the right to put forward its requests but no ministry
should be exclusively allotted to any group.
In response to Aoun’s stance, Geagea stressed that Aoun had the choice to
participate in the upcoming cabinet according to Hariri’s terms or remain in the
opposition.
“If general Aoun dislikes our proposals and considers them not to suitable for
his bloc’s representational size then let him join the ranks of the opposition,”
Geagea said.
On Wednesday, Aoun defiantly demanded that his party be granted six portfolios
and be allowed to maintain the five ministries – including the
Telecommunications Ministry – being handled by his Reform and Change bloc in the
current caretaker cabinet.
Geagea stressed that the former general was free to take stances he deemed
appropriate but could not enforce his logic upon other parties.
As for the principle of rotating ministerial portfolios, Geagea said it was not
constitutionally binding but could be adopted if agreed upon by all parties.
When asked about the reason behind Aoun’s damands, Geagea tied the FPM leader’s
stances to one of two possibilities, either to meet the request of a “major
player” or as an attempt to gain political leverage.”
“If it is deemed impossible to form a national unity Cabinet, then it is better
to form a majority government than not forming one at all,” Geagea concluded.
Meanwhile, downplaying the odds of cabinet formation, Future Movement MP Ahmad
Fatfat said optimism over the formation of cabinet was “unfounded,” and stressed
that Hariri would not step down again.
Hariri resigned following his initial designation after he submitted a cabinet
line-up proposal to Sleiman that was jointly rejected by all opposition groups.
Tackling the Telecommunications Ministry, Fatfat said it was “logical” to grant
the specified portfolio to the Future bloc.
The Telecommunications Ministry has been the subject of much debate between the
majority and the opposition, given its significant role in funding the state’s
treasury, as well as its pivotal importance with regard to security issues
related to monitoring phone calls.
Aoun demanded earlier that his party be assigned a sovereign portfolio if he was
to relinquish his request for the Telecommunications Ministry, while
parliamentary majority officials have said repeatedly that sovereign portfolios
were not subject to the principle of rotating ministries among parties.
The four sovereign portfolios include the Finance Ministry (currently handled by
the Future Movement), the Defense and Interior ministries, which are part of the
president’s share, and the Foreign Ministry allotted to the Amal Movement,
headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
In remarks to be published by Al-Afkar weekly magazine on Friday, visitors of
Berri quoted him as saying that those looking to satisfy Aoun by granting him
certain portfolios should subtract them from their own cabinet share rather than
that of other parties, a reference to suggestions to grant the FPM the Health
Ministry in exchange for the Telecommunications portfolio.
The sources added that Berri said he did not name any candidates for the first
cabinet lineup presented by Hariri except for nominating current Health Minister
Mohammad Jawad Khalifeh for the same post.
The sources also quoted Berri as saying that he had never talked about rejecting
the idea of appointing losers in the June 7 election as ministers. Berri
revealed that he asserted a lot of efforts to thwart Hariri from apologizing
during the first designation but Hariri surprised everyone by his move. As for
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt’s role in the current
period, Berri said Jumblatt was his pacification and salvation partner.
On Thursday, Jumblatt, accompanied by his son Taymor, held talks with Sleiman.
The president on Thursday called for maintain political rivalry within legal
norms and the framework of the political game in order to preserve security
stability.
Berri’s ally Hizbullah MP Ali Ammar said on Wednesday that Aoun had made major
compromises to facilitate the cabinet formation on the basis of preserving the
rights of all political parties to a balanced representation.
Crashing the party
Matt Nash , October 22, 2009
Now Lebanon
Hezbollah has significantly stepped up its counterintelligence efforts this
year, shedding light on breaches of what was once thought to be its iron-clad
internal security.
While recent discoveries of Israeli espionage have been hailed as a
counter-intelligence victory for Hezbollah, the fact that the party has been
spied on for years by its arch-enemies has put it into crisis mode, forcing it
to make numerous changes to the way it operates.
The most recent revelation that Israel is closely watching, and listening to,
the Party came over the weekend. Hezbollah apparently discovered that Israel
tapped into its personal, land-line communication network, the same network
Hezbollah launched attacks on Beirut and the Mountain to protect.
According to statements from UNIFIL, the Lebanese Armed Forces and Hezbollah,
there were three wiretapping devices infiltrating Hezbollah’s phone lines
between the border villages of Houla and Mais al-Jabal. These devices were
rigged with explosives, and upon discovery two denoted, apparently remotely
triggered by the Israel Defense Forces. The Lebanese army said it blew up the
third.
UNIFIL said it “appears” the devices were planted during the July 2006 war
though an investigation is continuing. Hezbollah, however, rejects that
conclusion, calling the UN force “biased” and saying the devices were planted
after the war.
The French newspaper Le Figaro reported on Tuesday that Hezbollah found the
Israeli devices by using sophisticated anti-spy equipment France gave Lebanon to
aid the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri. While finding the spy equipment, and the over 70 alleged spies arrested
so far this, counts as an achievement for the group, the fact that Israel has
been listening to its private conversations and apparently had operatives across
the country presents a much more vulnerable image of Hezbollah than was
previously believed to be the case. “Hezbollah will be a little bit deterred,”
said Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese army general. “They’ll be anxious Israel
knows everything, and if Israel knows everything, Hezbollah has to change their
deployments. But when they move, they’re easy to detect […] Since these spy
rings were revealed, Hezbollah has to change. They have to calculate the worst
case scenario that all their secrets have been revealed.”
Hanna’s argument that Hezbollah must change echoes comments earlier this year
from Lebanese security officials speaking to Abu Dhabi’s The National newspaper.
Back in February Nabatiyeh resident Marwan Faqih, a Hezbollah confidant, was
arrested for allegedly planting spy gear in the vehicles he sold to and
maintained for the party.
For years, the paper reported, Hezbollah vehicles were sending signals to Israel
and likely provided the Jewish state with important information about the way
party officials travel.
“The Israelis now have a clear view of how the group moves, what lines you can
draw from place to place,” a security source told the paper. “It’s just an
unbelievable logistical problem for any army, let alone a secret resistance
group.” In light of all this spying, Hezbollah will probably have to abandon
some of its safe houses, weapons caches and bunkers, and might even be forced to
establish a new communications network or revise battle strategies. The party
has been tight-lipped about the ramifications of the uncovered espionage. In
fact, Hezbollah recently tried spinning the latest security breach as a win.
“Once again, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon thwarts an Israeli plot against
the country and its people,” Al-Manar.com.lb, the website of Hezbollah’s
television station, declared in a recent report. But with Hezbollah’s
underground communications network in the news again – and in light of several
recent explosions in the South – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, took the
party to task on Wednesday. Announcing the release of his tenth progress report
on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1559, he said:
“Hezbollah is violating Resolution 1559 by maintaining a high level of military
power and infrastructure independent from the government.”Ban urged the party to
give up its weapons, but that is one change few believe it will not adopt.
When will Aoun, Hariri meet?
October 23, 2009 /Now Lebanon
The cabinet-formation process slows down as a meeting between PM-designate Saad
Hariri and FPM leader Michel Aoun has yet to be scheduled. (NOW Lebanon)
The cabinet-formation process has slowed down as a meeting between Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun
has yet to be scheduled after the latter’s Wednesday announcement that his bloc
wants to maintain its current ministerial portfolios and demands a fifth. Change
and Reform bloc MPs have been trying to clarify Aoun’s shocking announcement,
while Hariri’s circle remains silent. The FPM leader’s escalating tone seems to
have shocked Hariri, who was reportedly putting the final touches on the
government lineup. In light of Aoun’s latest announcement, informed sources told
An-Nahar newspaper that there will be ongoing communication between politicians
in the coming hours that would lead to “decisive developments.”Meanwhile,
opposition forces yesterday accused Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea of
sparking “provocation,” saying there is obvious indications that he and Hariri
conspired to keep the Telecommunications portfolio “off-limits” to Aoun. Geagea
responded to the opposition’s accusations by voicing hope that President Michel
Sleiman and PM-designate Hariri would not “succumb to extortion, because things
are not done this way, especially given that four months have passed without a
cabinet.”
He also stressed that a meeting between Aoun and Hariri would have taken place
on Thursday if it were not for the former’s latest public announcement.
“Aoun could have simply voiced his requests behind closed doors,” said Geagea,
adding, “If Aoun does not like our proposals, which he states do not fit the
size of his bloc, then why doesn’t he assume an opposing role from outside the
cabinet.” However, Change and Reform bloc sources, in an attempt to clarify
Aoun’s latest statements, said that the FPM leader’s announcement “did not stop
the continuing [efforts] with him and the PM-designate, rather it corrected the
direction of the process of the [government] formation in the face of a campaign
of distortion.”Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil, Aoun’s envoy and
son-in-law, explained to An-Nahar that “the delay is not in anyone’s interests,
but we have a minimum requirement, which the PM-designate knows very well, and
we will not concede it.” He added the government would be formed tomorrow if
Hariri gave the Change and Reform bloc its “right.” An-Nahar reported that
majority sources are skeptical over Aoun’s escalation in his tone, while Aoun’s
ally, Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh has continued to show more
flexibility. A majority source told the daily that “we have in front of us a
well though-out distribution of roles, but Aoun has upped his confrontation with
the majority and also with his ally on the regional level and in particular
Syria,” although the source did not elaborate further. In an attempt to speed up
the cabinet-formation process, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will in
the next two days meet with President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri,
outgoing PM Fouad Siniora, PM-designate Hariri and a number of political
leaders. -NOW Lebanon
Gemayel: I am in direct and indirect contact with Syria, Lebanon and Syria
complement each other
October 22, 2009 /Now Lebanon
Kataeb Party leader MP Amin Gemayel told Iranian television Al-Aalam on Thursday
that his personal relationship with Syria were never “discontinued” and that he
has been frequently meeting with Syrian officials, with whom he is in both
direct and indirect contact. “Any dispute between two brothers has to be fixed
in order for things go back to normal. I am convinced that Syria needs Lebanon,
and that Lebanon needs Syria. We complement each other in different aspects,
especially in facing the Israeli enemy,” he said.
On cabinet formation, Gemayel said the problem from the beginning was not in
appointing someone as minister or giving a portfolio to a certain party. “We are
still in the same place regarding the formation of the new cabinet, and every
time progress comes upon us, something happens and things remain as they are,”
he said, stressing the importance of waiting.
He explained that there are “three milestones to pass.” The first is internal
balance and distribution of the portfolios as well as ensuring the interests of
both the majority and the opposition. The second is the foreign influences,
because, “It is known that the Lebanese arena is greatly affected by external
influences, which –it is no secret to anyone—are increasing,” he said. The third
milestone is ensuring proper state building and the future of Lebanon, according
to views of “every group.” Gemayel added that these milestones intersect.
According to Gemayel, it is Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s right to set
the standards for his cabinet, because he is in charge of the government, and he
wants to succeed. “The standards Hariri set are logical, and helpful in
accelerating the formation process; everyone should take it easy on him,” the
Kataeb leader added.
He also voiced hope that the Kataeb Party would be given important ministries
after its members successful performance in the previous cabinets. However, the
Kataeb will not be among those who obstruct the formation, he stated. “The March
14 alliance persists, except for Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid
Jumblatt, who saw it best to be independent from the coalition” explained
Gemayel, “ but he remains a loyal friend although not ally, and is still
considered to be in solidarity with Hariri, which means he is still within the
parliamentary majority and not the opposition.” He added, “We must await the
cabinet’s launch, time at which Jumblatt’s position will be clarified.”
-NOW Lebanon
New Opinion: The arch staller
October 23, 2009
Now Lebanon
The opposition is using Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to do its
dirty work. (Archive)
Even the most resilient and upbeat Lebanese must be getting weary of hearing the
endless stream of talking-head politicians forecast the formation of a new
government. “In the coming days,” has the most popular prediction – Wiam Wahhab
has been at his most Delphic in recent weeks – but the truth is that, not only
is the opposition hell-bent on impeding Lebanon’s constitutional process – it
must of course wait for orders from Damascus – it is flagrantly using the Free
Patriotic Movement’s Michel Aoun to do its dirty work.
Aoun is the strategic cat, thrown amid the pigeons of Lebanese politics. His
insistence that his son-in-law, Gebran Bassil, should have the telecom portfolio
because, Aoun says, only the FPM can ensure the rigorous and transparent running
of this most critical sector – despite the fact that in doing so he opens
himself up to charges of nepotism and protecting the interests of his allies,
Hezbollah – was the first obstacle cloaked as a matter of principle.
There was of course an agenda at play. Hezbollah, Amal and the brave ideologues
of the SSNP nearly started a civil war in 2008 because the government had the
temerity to interfere with Hezbollah’s private phone network, so it stands to
reason that they would back Bassil for the job. From Aoun’s point of view, being
seen to dig his heels in was a useful card to play with his supporters, decent
people who have convinced themselves that their leader has been principled
rather than inflexible, a mindset that sits well with their long held belief
that the former army commander offers a genuine alternative to what they see as
a corrupt, feudal and flabby Christian political class.
Now we have his most recent demand, that of a fifth portfolio to reflect his
bloc’s apparently stellar showing in the June 7 elections – a poll,
incidentally, Aoun said he would win for his March 8 allies. It is, if not
proof, pretty damning evidence that he has become March 8’s No. 1 secret weapon.
For Aoun cannot be serious. His rationale is that he doesn’t want to appear
weakened in public by being seen to make “too many concessions.” Does he really
expect us to believe that the same allies to whom he did not deliver election
victory would allow him a 50% share of the opposition’s allotted – according to
the 15-10-5 formula – 10 seats? Such an agreement would leave only five
portfolios for Hezbollah and Amal. Already, cracks are beginning to appear, with
Amal chief and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri saying that he is not going to
give up any of his allocation.
All this nonsense must come as further proof to the professional middle-class,
which put its weight behind Aoun’s so-called reformist agenda, that their man
has lost the plot. He wooed them when he was convinced he would be elected
president, the position he might already hold had he played his cards right.
Now, he has become a hustler, abandoning the ideals of transparency and reform
his supporters so quickly rushed to embrace.
Aoun has lost every battle he has fought in the past 20 years, from taking on
the Lebanese Forces in 1989 to losing the parliamentary elections in 2009 and
everything in between. History, however hard it tries, will have trouble listing
his concrete achievements. We wouldn’t care if it weren’t for the fact that we
are putting our lives on hold while he sows more political destruction.