LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
June 22/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 6,24-34. No one can serve two masters. He will either
hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not
life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the
sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by
worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about
clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But
I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of
them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown
into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little
faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?'
or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father
knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry
about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its
own evil.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
From the Lebanese Doha Agreement to the Indirect Negotiations in n Istanbul.
By:
Raghida Dergham 21/06/08
Nothing should get in the way
of forming a new Lebanese cabinet-
The Daily Star 21/06/08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for June
21/08
Opposition Gives Saniora 2-Day Deadline to Form
Cabinet-Naharnet
MP Nicola: U.S. Interested in Shebaa Farms to Target the
Resistance-Naharnet
Qassem
Hits Back at Saniora: Free Shebaa First, Then We Will Discuss Defense Strategy-Naharnet
Israel
Army Joins Swap Deal…Bodies in Return for Bodies-Naharnet
Assad to Send Invitations
to Lebanon Once Cabinet is Formed-Naharnet
Iraqi Official: Hizbullah
Behaving as though it is a Neighboring State-Naharnet
Opposition Pressures
Majority … Electoral Law before Cabinet-Naharnet
Liberated Shebaa … An
Exile's Dream-Naharnet
Rice: Time to Put Lebanese
Track Into Motion-Naharnet
Haaretz: Israel Seeking to
Block U.S.-Lebanon Weapons Deal-Naharnet
Saniora Snubs Hizbullah's
'Shameful Behavior'-Naharnet
National Bloc Criticizes
Doha Accord and Aoun-Naharnet
MP Bazzi Preaches New
Cabinet-Naharnet
MP Atallah: Hizbullah Does
Not Want to Discuss the Fate of its Weapons-Naharnet
Hardan Heads SSNP-Naharnet
Tueni Advises Saniora to
Quit Cabinet-Forming Mission by Tuesday-Naharnet
Two Pilots Wounded in
Helicopter Emergency Landing-Naharnet
Rice: Time to Put Lebanese Track Into Motion-Naharnet
Lebanese PM describes Hezbollah behavior "Shameful"-Xinhua
Israel's peace efforts widen-Los Angeles
Times
Exiles dream of returning to Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms-AFP
Berri Offers New Cabinet Line-Up Basket to Please Aoun-Naharnet
Israeli exercise sends 'signal'
to Iran of possible attack - US-AFP
Syrian source: We won't opt for immidiate solution to Shebaa Farms-Ynetnews
Feuding camps move dispute from
cabinet to electoral law-Daily Star
Shebaa moves into local,
international spotlights-Daily Star
Europe raises contribution
ahead of Vienna donor conference-AFP
Immortalized in stone Baabda
ceremony commemorates Hajj-Daily Star
Limited clashes break out in
Aley and Ain al-Hilweh-Daily Star
Media, potential donors get
tour of battered Nahr al-Bared-By
Colin Chazen, Daniel Phillips and Jay Heisler-Daily Star
Dearth of nurses alarms
Lebanese medical practitioners-By
Willy Lowry-Daily Star
Lebanon prepares for
beatification of priest known for prolific school works-Daily
Star
Barak raises doubts over swap
if captured soldiers are actually dead-Daily
Star
LAF helicopter has
crash-landing in Bekaa-Daily Star
LOG head blames Hizbullah for
rocks thrown at Sison's convoy-Daily Star
Women 'have to force' their way into the political
system-Daily Star
MP Allouch: governmental vacancy to target President
Sleiman’s mandate
By George Eid
iloubnan.info - June 21, 2008 /BEIRUT - MP Dr. Mustafa Allouch of the Future bloc stated today : ”The
presidential vacancy became a governmental vacancy in an attempt to target the
launching of President Sleiman’s mandate,” adding that “some are trying to
portray the conflict as a conflict on the portfolios, but the truth is that the
dream of presidency is still tempting General Michel Aoun, who thinks that by
obstructing the system the door to the presidency will be opened to him again”.
On the other hand, he declared that “Hezbollah’s bets are regional not national,
in other words they are tied to the Iranian strategy”.
Opposition Gives Saniora 2-Day Deadline to Form Cabinet
Naharnet/The Hizbullah-led opposition on Saturday reportedly gave Prime
Minister-designate Fouad Saniora 48 hours to form a new cabinet.
The daily As Safir said the opposition threatened Saniora that if a national
unity government was not formed within the next 48 hours, he better apologize.
It said the opposition threat came following a "comprehensive assessment" of
development results since the conclusion of the Doha agreement last month.
But sources close to Saniora quoted the premier as saying that "apologizing" is
out of the question since he is carrying out his mission upon the ruling
majority's request.
Meanwhile, the ruling majority held the opposition, particularly Free Patriotic
Movement leader Michel Aoun, responsible for hindering the cabinet process.
Aoun, for his part, was reportedly not willing to give up his right to a top
cabinet post, saying he enjoys support of "all" opposition's leaders.
"Be sure that no government will be formed unless the FPM is an inseparable part
of it," As Safir quoted Aoun as telling guests.
Al Manar television agreed, saying Hizbullah and Berri's AMAL movement reject
any cabinet make-up that "upsets" Aoun.
In the meantime, President Michel Suleiman pushed toward finding a speedy
formation of the cabinet before the spiritual summit next Tuesday and before
Saniora's trip to Vienna next week. Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 09:04
MP Nicola: U.S. Interested in Shebaa Farms to Target the Resistance
By Dalia Nehme
Naharnet/MP Nabil Nicola said raising the issue of Shebaa Farms at present reflects a
U.S. effort to eliminate the concept of resistance from Lebanon's political
parlance and shift to discussing directly the issue of Hizbullah weapons.
Nicola, in an interview with Naharnet, said discussing the Shebaa Farms issue at
the United Nations is an effort carried out by U.S. Secretary of State
"Condoleezza Rice because the only issue of interest to the United States at
present is omitting any reference to the resistance weapons in the cabinet's
policy statement so that Hizbullah weapons could be the topic of discussion and
these weapons would be the main problem in Lebanon and not the Israeli
occupation."
Placing Shebaa Farms under the guardianship of the United Nations "does not mean
regaining Lebanese sovereignty over" the area, Nicola said.
Lebanon would regain its "legitimacy in Shebaa Farms only when the Lebanese Army
has the right to deploy in the territory," he added.
Nicola insisted that the Free Patriotic Movement and Hizbullah would "not stay
out of the (forthcoming) cabinet. Any attempt to prevent them from participation
is a war recipe," he said.
Nicola called for "implementing the Doha Accord in detail," emphasizing that any
attempt to "beat about the accord would disclose the side that is blocking its
implementation."He said the forthcoming cabinet "could be formed tomorrow morning if there is a
real intention to form it, but if we are following the American agenda there
would be no cabinet."Nicola reiterated the demand by Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement to hold
the finance portfolio.
However, "If they have any other proposal let them declare it. Let them propose
any 'sovereign' ministry and we would accept it. All 'sovereign' ministries are
important," he explained."Those who reject giving Michel Aoun the rights are targeting the president,"
Nicola charged.
Nicola claimed that Aoun's foes had spent 300 million dollars on media campaign
to confront the FPM leader.
He also said such foes have allotted 1 billion dollars to prevent Aoun from
winning the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Nicola said the prime minister illegally controls 55 public institutions that
are not mentioned in the constitution, saying such institutions should follow
respective ministries.Nicola said the FPM is part of the Hizbullah-led opposition "but the opposition
is not one party, it is several parties."
He said his bloc should have five ministers in the forthcoming cabinet.
Nicola said the alleged American agenda in Lebanon is to "naturalize
Palestinians."
Blocking the cabinet formation, which Nicola blamed on the majority, would lead
to "security problems in Lebanon and some sort of disintegration until we reach
a situation by which naturalization becomes a fact."He accused the majority of seeking to avoid ratification by parliament of the
election law adopted in Doha because they know that they would not control
parliament." Beirut, 20 Jun 08, 21:02
Berri Offers New Cabinet Line-Up Basket to Please Aoun
Naharnet/Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday reportedly pushed toward finding a
settlement to the deadlock in the cabinet line-up – a new "basket" to please
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.
The pan-Arab daily Al Hayat, citing information obtained by the paper, said
Berri's proposal sought to expand the cabinet with top posts such as the
ministries of energy, telecommunications, public works and justice will be
attached to the defense, foreign and finance ministries.
Berri, according to Al Hayat, suggested an "understanding" around a new basket
different from that of the two baskets earlier offered by Saniora.
It said Berri's offer came in coordination with President Michel Suleiman and
Prime Minister-designate Fouad Suleiman.
Al Hayat said Berri dispatched Friday evening his political advisor MP Ali Hasan
Khalil to Qoreitem where he met with parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri
to get his opinion regarding the speaker's intentions to come out with a new
cabinet blend that would speed up formation of the government.
Al Hayat said Hariri expressed willingness to facilitate the cabinet formation
and suggested to Khalil that the opposition come out with a final vision
statement on the cabinet line-up.
Khalil also met with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun in this regard.
Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 09:56
Naharnet/Qassem Hits Back at Saniora: Free Shebaa First, Then We Will Discuss Defense
Strategy
Hizbullah's second in command Sheikh Naim Qassem hit back at Prime
Minister-designate Fouad Saniora, saying the party has no problem with an
internationally supervised pullout from the Shebaa Farms area.
"We have no problem if the whole of Shebaa Farms is returned to Lebanese
sovereignty," Qassem said in a statement published by several Beirut dailies on
Saturday.
Saniora on Friday hinted that Hizbullah is behaving as if it wants Israel to
remain in Lebanon, emphasizing that this is "shameful."He did not mention Hizbullah by name. But the party had criticized government
efforts to achieve a peaceful Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa by placing the
territory under the guardianship of the United Nations.
Qassem stressed that an Israeli withdrawal "does not mean, however, that we need
to disarm - the question of our arms is not linked to the issue of Shebaa Farms
or a prisoner swap," but to a defense strategy for Lebanon. Beirut, 21 Jun 08,
10:27
Israel Army Joins Swap Deal…Bodies in Return for Bodies
Naharnet/Senior Israeli army officers have joined a deal on a prisoner swap between the
Jewish State and Hizbullah based on the principle: "bodies in exchange for
bodies, meaning considering the release of Samir Qantar in exchange for
information on navigator Ron Arad.
Sources believe that two Israeli soldiers kidnapped in July 2006 were dead and,
therefore, Qantar should be freed in return for an "appropriate price" – at
least information on Arad.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has reported progress in the prisoner swap
deal with Hizbullah.
Olmert, however, said a deal has not yet been reached. Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 13:03
Assad to Send Invitations to Lebanon Once Cabinet is Formed
Naharnet/Syrian Presidnet Bashar al-Assad said he will be sending out official
invitations to President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister
Fouad Saniora to visit Damascus "once the national unity government in Lebanon
is formed."
Assad said the aim of the visit is to announce establishment of "full diplomatic
ties" between the two neighboring countries and "the opening of embassies in
Beirut and Damascus."
Diplomatic sources said French President Nicolas Sarkozy had been informed of
Assad's decision. Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 12:01
Assad to Send Invitations to Lebanon Once Cabinet is Formed
Naharnet/Syrian Presidnet Bashar al-Assad said he will be sending out official
invitations to President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister
Fouad Saniora to visit Damascus "once the national unity government in Lebanon
is formed."
Assad said the aim of the visit is to announce establishment of "full diplomatic
ties" between the two neighboring countries and "the opening of embassies in
Beirut and Damascus."
Diplomatic sources said French President Nicolas Sarkozy had been informed of
Assad's decision. Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 12:01
Iraqi Official: Hizbullah Behaving as though it is a Neighboring State
Naharnet/A senior Iraqi government official believed Hizbullah of Lebanon was acting in
Iraq "as if it was a neighboring state."The official, who requested anonymity, said Iran also believes it has the right
to "directly interfere" in Iraqi affairs despite objection by the majority of
the Iraqi Shiite leaders.
"The problem is with both Iranian and Hizubllah interference in Iraqi affairs,"
the official said.
He said Iran was exerting "strong pressure toward blocking the (security) accord
and preventing it from moving forward, just as Hizbullah which has Shiite
influence in Iraq started to exert pressure against the agreement."
This was a reference to the proposed mutual security agreement between the
United States and Iraq that is intended to serve as a Status of Forces Agreement
after the United Nations Security Council authorization for U.S. troops to be in
Iraq expires in December.
The draft security agreement will reportedly be finalized in early July.
The Iraqi official said the draft will soon be signed "whether Iran agreed or
not." Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 11:40
Opposition Pressures Majority … Electoral Law before Cabinet
Naharnet/Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri will ask the justice committee to intensify its
meetings as of next week to pave the way for a general assembly to ratify the
electoral law in line with the Doha agreement.
"Let them go on with the implementation of the Doha accord," Berri was quoted as
saying.
"The Doha accord did not respect either Hizbullah or AMAL movement wishes, but
particularly respected the historical Christian wish of a balanced division,"
Berri said.
He said Parliament will review the "basket of demands for reforms" involving
amendments to the elections law that were tackled by the National Electoral Law
Commission headed by former cabinet minister Fouad Butros.
Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 11:30
Liberated Shebaa … An Exile's Dream
Lebanese Mohammad Hammudi hasn't seen his home village in the disputed Shebaa
Farms since it was occupied by Israel more than 40 years ago, but says he
remembers every nook and cranny.
"I know every inch of the Farms because I covered every one of them when I was a
teenager. How can they say that they are not Lebanese," asked 56-year-old
Hammudi, whose family fled after Israel seized the territory during the 1967
Middle East war.
The tiny sliver of lush land 25 square kilometers (10 square miles) across is
located at the junction of southeast Lebanon, southwest Syria and northern
Israel. Israel seized the Farms from Syria at the same time it captured the
nearby Golan Heights, which it later annexed.
Ever since, the Farms have been caught in a tug-of-war over ownership. Lebanon
claims them, with the backing of Damascus, while Israel says they are part of
Syria.
The simmering dispute is now back in the international spotlight after U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during a visit to Beirut on Monday, called
for an end to the standoff.
"The United States believes that the time has come to deal with the Shebaa Farms
issue... in accordance with (U.N. Security Council Resolution) 1701," Rice said
after discussing it with Prime Minister Fouad Saniora.
Resolution 1701 brought an end to a devastating 34-day war between Israel and
Hizbullah in summer 2006 and called for the U.N. secretary general to propose a
border demarcation for the Shebaa Farms.
Hammudi is now an official with the Shebaa Farms "municipality-in-exile," which
runs an office in the nearby Lebanese village of Shebaa.
"We are optimists. It is the first time that attention has been seriously
focused on the issue," Hammudi said of Rice's comments.
For Hammudi and other people from Shebaa Farms, there is no doubt that the
stretch of land belongs to Lebanon, even if Israel disagrees.
"Our farms, our land and our animals used to be our lifeblood," Hammudi said.
"There are thousands of people originally from Shebaa who own properties in the
Farms," Hammudi said, adding they had documentation to support the claims, some
of which dated back to the Ottoman period.
Israel occupied southern Lebanon for nearly 20 years until withdrawing its
troops in 2000, but it remained in the Shebaa Farms. The United Nations ruled
that the withdrawal from Lebanon was complete and that the Farms were Syrian. It
has not revisited the issue despite protests from Beirut.
In March 2008, Lebanese geographer Issam Khalif published a report replete with
documents he said proved the Farms were Lebanese, including a 1946 deal in which
Damascus recognized Lebanon's sovereignty over the territory.
A Lebanese source close to the issue told AFP that minutes from the meetings
held between Lebanese and Syrian officials in 1946 have been translated and sent
to the United Nations and the superpowers.
Attached to the report was a map with 48 border markers but Syria refused to let
the paperwork be sent to the United Nations, a crucial step in recognition of an
international border, Khalif told AFP.
"Syria wants to use the Shebaa Farms as a pawn in negotiations to recover the
Golan Heights," Hammudi said.
And last week, newly elected Lebanese President Michel Suleiman also spoke of
"new documents which proved the Lebanese ownership of the Shebaa Farms."
Confusion over the borders dates back to 1923 when Britain and France, who held
League of Nations mandates over the territories now comprising Israel, Lebanon
and Syria failed to clearly outline their borders.
"I would really love to go there," said Ali Nabaa, an electrician in his 30s.
"If there were a withdrawal (by Israel) we would go back straightaway, even if
there were mines."
"Israel has probably transformed the countryside, which will pose some problems
because even if the people have old documents, their farms were never officially
registered," he added.
Farmer Qassem Kaadan, 71, adores his little orchard in Shebaa but it pales into
insignificance compared with the two hectares (five acres) of land in the Farms
that he inherited from his father.
"We planted olives, plums, almonds, blackberries and corn. It is a very rich
soil," Kaadan said.
Lebanon has accused Israel of refusing to return the Farms in order to benefit
from the region's bountiful natural resources, particularly the water which is a
scarce commodity.
According to officials, there are 23 natural water sources in the Farms.
The area which rises to 2,000-meter (6,600-foot) peaks also holds strategic and
military importance, Khalif said.
Despite the problem remaining unresolved for decades, Hammudi has new hope that
a solution will be found.
"We have much hope. Some people even think that a withdrawal could take place
this summer."(AFP) Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 11:18
Rice: Time to Put Lebanese Track Into Motion
Naharnet/U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said it was time to put into motion
the "Lebanese track" after the start of discussions between Israel and Syria on
the one hand and the Jewish state and Palestinians on the other.
"Once you had the beginnings of Israeli-Syrian discussions and you have
Palestinian-Israeli discussions going on, I don't think you want to be in a
position in which the Lebanese track is the one that's left out," Rice said in
an interview with CNN.
In answering a question as to why she has said that it was time to resolve the
Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms issue, Rice said: "Part of our concern that Shebaa
be addressed now is because…you don't want Lebanon to be left to the side. And
so that's one of the reasons, the principal reason, for bringing it to the floor
now."
She said that in accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon is supposed to have a cartographer's report on the Lebanese
claims about Shebaa Farms.
"The U.N. had declared Shebaa as Syrian. And so that work needs to be
completed," Rice told CNN.
In another interview with the Wall Street Journal, Rice said Israel should use
its talks with Damascus to raise the issue of arms transfers to Hizbullah
through the Syrian border since Syria is "the land bridge."
"It would be very good to tell the Syrians that to make the neighborhood more
peaceful, maybe they should take responsibility for sealing their border with
the Lebanese," she said.
In answering a question about reports that Hizbullah increased its rockets from
17,000 to 40,000 after the end of the July-August 2006 war, Rice focused more on
positive developments by saying: "For the first time the Lebanese army is in the
south. And I don't think that Hizbullah has returned to the south in the
strength that it once held there."
"When you have international forces in the south and you have Lebanese forces in
the south, that's an important change from 2006," she said about the deployment
of U.N. peacekeepers and the Lebanese army in south Lebanon under Resolution
1701 which ended the Israel-Hizbullah war.
She called the army "an important national institution" and said President
Michel Suleiman "seems to be a very strong figure."
Other positive developments in Lebanon according to Rice were "the Lebanese
laying claim to the Palestinian refugee camps as a sovereign state" and the
presence of a "democratic majority" in the country which prevented the
"minority" from blocking the formation of the international tribunal that would
try suspects in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination and related crimes.
She said a new Lebanese government would be formed and prepare for the 2009
parliamentary elections.
"The key for the majority there will be to make its case to the Lebanese people.
And one of the things that I think they can use to make their case is that
Hizbullah's an odd resistance movement if its principal function has been to
turn its weapons on its own people," Rice said.
The top U.S. diplomat also stressed that Lebanon is now better off than it was
under Syrian hegemony "and with Hizbullah in a place in July 2006 where it could
literally be a state within a state and launch a war against Israel."
Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 06:13
Haaretz: Israel Seeking to Block U.S.-Lebanon Weapons Deal
Naharnet/Israel is seeking to block a $400 million arms deal between the United States
and Lebanon that reportedly includes hundreds of anti-tank missiles, the Israeli
daily Haaretz said.
"Israeli authorities have stated that recent events in Lebanon, including
Hizbullah's resurgence in the south, have led them to believe that the arms
transfer could pose a security threat," the daily reported on its website
Friday.
It said that the head of the Israeli defense ministry's diplomatic-security
bureau Amos Gilad has recently held talks with Pentagon officials to convey
Israeli reservations about the deal.
"As a precursor to the weapons deal, the United States has agreed to help train
units of the Lebanese Army and has sent military advisors to the country,"
Haaretz said.
Beirut, 21 Jun 08, 05:15
Saniora Snubs Hizbullah's 'Shameful Behavior'
Naharnet/Prime Minister-Designate Fouad Saniora on Friday hinted that Hizbullah is
behaving as if it wants Israel to remain in Lebanon, emphasizing that this is
"shameful."
"Some factions behave as if they want Israel to remain in Lebanon. This is
shameful," Saniora told reporters.
He did not mention Hizbullah by name. But the party had criticized government
efforts to achieve Israel's withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms peacefully by
placing the territory under the guardianship of the United Nations.
"Why should we behave as if we are scared of Israel's withdrawal from the
farms?" Saniora asked.
"Regarding Hizbullah weapons, President Michel Suleiman would sponsor dialogue
at the Baabda Palace after the government formation to tackle this issue," he
stressed.
"We should not mix up the two issues," Saniora added.
"Israel's withdrawal from the farms and placing the territory under U.N.
guardianship pending border demarcation between Lebanon and Syria is one thing,
and discussing the defense strategy is something to be decided by the Lebanese,"
Saniora said. Beirut, 20 Jun 08, 16:18
Donors to Fund Nahr al-Bared's Reconstruction
Naharnet/International donors will meet in Vienna Monday to collect funds for the
reconstruction of the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, the
Austrian foreign ministry announced.
The conference which convenes at the request of the Lebanese government will be
attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, Arab League chief Amr Moussa,
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Austrian Foreign
Minister Ursula Plassnik.
About 31,000 refugees were relocated from the camp after deadly clashes raged
for more than three months last year between Islamist militants and the Lebanese
army, leaving much of the shantytown reduced to rubble.
The fighting between the army and Fatah al-Islam militants broke out at the camp
on May 20 and many refugees were relocated to nearby Beddawi, around 10
kilometers (six miles) south of Nahr al-Bared, causing tension with people
there.
More than 400 people -- about 300 militants and 168 soldiers -- were killed in
the bloody clashes before the army crushed the rebel uprising and regained
control of the camp on September 2.
According to Lebanese estimates reconstruction could total 249 million dollars.
A first donors conference held in September raked in 55 million dollars in
emergency aid.(AFP) Beirut, 20 Jun 08, 21:13
National Bloc Criticizes Doha Accord and Aoun
Naharnet/The Lebanese National Bloc party on Friday criticized the Doha Accord for
treating both the majority and opposition as even forces, which blocked the
political process.
The stand was outlined in a statement by the bloc's executive committee after a
meeting presided over by its chairman Carlos Edde.
Such a status created by the Doha accord also "allowed any political side to
practice veto" which contradicts democratic norms, the statement noted.
The National Bloc welcomed reconciliation among the various factions, but
emphasized that criminals and culprits in recent acts of violence should be
brought to justice.
It accused FPM leader Michel Aoun and his recently announced Christian gathering
of seeking to "agitate … and split the Lebanese to cover up for his scheme aimed
at limiting the president's powers and blocking the formation of a cabinet with
the aim of harvesting Christian votes in the forthcoming elections." Beirut, 20
Jun 08, 20:49
MP Bazzi Preaches New Cabinet
Naharnet/MP Ali Bazzi, member of the Liberation and Development Bloc, spoke on Friday of
"positive indications to the possible formation of the national unity
government."
Bazzi told members of the AMAL Movement in south Lebanon that the movement's
leader and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is holding a series of consultations
and meetings with both the majority and opposition to facilitate the cabinet
line-up efforts.
Forming such a national unity cabinet would be "victory for all," Bazzi
concluded.
Beirut, 20 Jun 08, 20:31
MP Atallah: Hizbullah Does Not Want to Discuss the Fate of its Weapons
Naharnet/MP Elias Atallah said Friday that criticism by the Hizbullah-led opposition to
efforts aimed at regaining Shebaa Farms aim at preventing any discussion of the
weapons issue.
"They indicate clearly that the weapons are not related either to the land or to
the prisoners," Atallah told al-Markaziya newsletter.
"If so, it means weapons are meant to serve another agenda not related to the
national cause," Atallah added.
"Therefore, once the government line-up issue is over, we should move to a
serious dialogue regarding spreading state authority and deploying state weapons
throughout Lebanese territory," he stressed.
Atallah made the remark after a meeting by March 14 MPs and some civic society
activists to discuss ways of settling the cabinet issue.
Beirut, 20 Jun 08, 20:18
Hardan Heads SSNP
Naharnet/The Syrian Social National Party (SSNP) on Friday elected MP Assaad Hardan
chairman by unanimous vote.
Hardan is to assume the party leadership from its current chairman Ali Qanso in
15 days.
The party also elected Ex-minister Mahmoud Abdul Khaleq chairman of its higher
council, a statement said.
Beirut, 20 Jun 08, 17:05
Tueni Advises Saniora to Quit Cabinet-Forming Mission by Tuesday
MP Ghassan Tueni on Friday criticized Premier-Designate Fouad Saniora for
seeking to form a new cabinet based on "remnants of the previous (presidential)
term."
Tueni made the remark to reporters after meeting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
He said "all exceptional (presidential) terms started with exceptional
governments."
"Are we in the process of launching a federal frame for cabinet portfolios?"
Tueni asked.
Saniora, Tueni said, should wait for the summit of spiritual leaders, scheduled
for next Tuesday, and if he did not manage to form a cabinet by then "it would
be more honorable for him to apologize" and quit.
Beirut, 20 Jun 08, 16:40
From the Lebanese Doha Agreement to the Indirect
Negotiations in Istanbul:
The US Yields to the Israeli Perspective on Syria's
Role
Raghida Dergham
Al-Hayat - 20/06/08//
Petra -- Russia, China, the US, France and Britain adopt political patterns that
paralyze collective diplomacy and arouse certain instincts that threaten to
revive unilateral diplomacy on the one hand, and to unleash extremism on the
other. This is at a time when the UN suffers limited efficiency at the general
secretarial level and faces many questions regarding the inclinations of its
current Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.
This also coincides with the US presidential elections that prompt a few
countries to exploit the election period when, as they believe, the US is at its
weakest. This election period also suggests to non-governmental players, such as
organizations, militias and quasi-intellectual institutions, that this is their
golden opportunity to have a say in shaping their fate and making history.
Hence, instead of obstructing any Security Council measure to clamp down on
extremism, Russian and Chinese diplomacies must reconsider the outcomes of the
policy of paralysis, not only because it weakens the Security Council while
strengthening those who defy it, but also because such a policy will once again
push the US toward adopting unilateral action.
Similarly, the US must reconsider the consequences of preventing the UN, and the
Security Council in particular, from taking necessary steps towards the Middle
East peace process, such as issuing a resolution against the Israeli settlement
which obstructs and impedes the peace process. Such paralysis strengthens
extremism and systematically weakens the forces of moderation.
France, on the other hand, has recently turned from a tiger inside the Security
Council into a pussy cat by systematically hiding behind the effort to seek
consensus among Security Council members. If it wishes to possess the weight
that distinguishes it as a permanent member of the Security Council, it must
stop escaping forward under the guise of consensus to paralyze international
measures. For this would dispossess it of any influence it gained under former
President Jacques Chirac through the Lebanese crisis.
Britain is also a party to the policy of paralysis since it adopts a hands-off
approach to certain issues as if matters referred to the Security Council are
menu items from which it can choose whatever suits its taste.
In the meantime, the Secretary General has become a direct contributor to the
confusion of the international organization, at times seeming lost in the
vestibules of change that leads to no change and at others awaiting the unknown
that comes after the American elections.
So remarkable is the discrepancy between the needs of the American voters - who
almost urge the presidential candidates to stay away from foreign affairs except
Iraq - and the expectations of international "voters" - who are eager to know
the newcomer to the White House and who may not know the difference between
political game and political positions in the American electoral process. Such
discrepancy is reasonable, despite its many disadvantages, since the American
individual has little interest in international affairs and regional conflicts
and has grown particularly bored with the issues of the Middle East and the
Arab-Israeli conflict.
In return, the "foreign voter" sees the US elections as his direct business
because it impacts his life and fate. For this reason, he watches every move and
scrutinizes, sometimes in an obsessive manner, every word uttered by the
Republican candidate John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama as well as their
aides.
On the eve of the Conference of Nobel Laureates sponsored by Jordan's King
Abdullah II at the city of Petra to focus on scientific, intellectual,
developmental, economic, and technological matters away from politics, Jordanian
newspapers were laden with news on John McCain's policy towards Jordan.
Considered critical by some politicians and observers, this news, as it turned
out later, was attributed to Robert Kegan, McCain's aide on foreign issues.
Kegan later denied this piece of information, stating that an Israeli website
quoted him as saying that McCain supported a solution under which Jordan would
become an alternative homeland for the Palestinians, especially that the
two-state solution was no longer viable. It later turned out that the remarks
had come from a website close to Hezbollah. Regardless of who made this up, the
buzz it stirred is pretty remarkable.
It is remarkable because it reflects the Jordanian continuous anxiety over the
repeated attempts by Israelis and by American apologists about Israeli extremism
to promote the so-called Jordanian option. It is also remarkable because John
McCain became overnight an enemy for many Jordanians over positions that turned
out not to be his or related to him in any way. The whole affair is worth
considering because the forces of moderation are considerably retreating in the
Middle East, in a significant move that is apparently blessed by the US.
For the record, there is no consensus on moderation or extremism or even on John
McCain or Barack Obama in the Arab region. Rather, some form of schizophrenia
prevails. Obama lost a significant portion of his Arab popularity when he spoke
of Jerusalem as an undivided capital of Israel. But he remains the favorite
candidate for the angry Arabs who support extremism as a response to the US bias
towards Israel. On the other hand, Arabs who admire the American experience and
perceive a positive example in Obama's successful nomination by the Democrats
support him accordingly.
On the official level, the pro-Obama governments belong to the extremist camp,
such as Iran and Syria, whereas the governments known as friendly to the US
prefer John McCain; some of them even fear that Obama may support the forces of
extremism to the detriment of the moderation camp.
Logically, a realistic look at the wide spectrum of American policies reveals
that both American candidates will support the organic relationship with Israel
and neither will give up on the US-Israeli alliance under any circumstances. In
addition, it would become evident that the Democrats have traditionally been
more biased towards Israel than the Republicans - with a few significant
exceptions, such as the George Bush administration.
Logically too, neither Barack Obama nor John McCain will be in a hurry to exit
Iraq. Iraq is the new element in the traditional American policies in the Middle
East, which are shaped by oil and Israel. This new element will no longer be a
matter of discussion over the purposefulness of the American war in Iraq, poor
decisions and mismanagement of the occupation, but will rather enter a
completely new stage that entirely focuses on American strategic interests in
the Gulf. Once this happens, the tone of dialogue will change, and the declared
positions will differ completely.
Ordinary Americans will show no interest in the details that preoccupy ordinary
Arabs. They have no interest in understanding the details of the bilateral
security treaty with Iraq because this is a matter that concerns the
administration and the Congress. Neither are they interested in scrutinizing the
implications of the Grand Bargain, if it materializes, with the Iranian regime.
Details are too much of a hassle for the American individual, unlike the Arab
individual who digs too deep into the details to the point of missing the big
picture, occasionally however, not always.
Arabs dwell on American elections, not for entertainment, but in aspiration,
fear, or desire for change - just as the majority of Americans does for
different reasons although the starting point was common, namely the war in Iraq
and its impact on the American and Arab public opinion alike.
Arabs wonder about the reasons that make the US embrace the forces of extremism
at the expense of the forces of moderation. In mind, they have Iran and Syria as
well as their allies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine. Many
immediately point out to the Turkish sponsorship of the Israeli-Syrian
rapprochement and negotiations in parallel with the Qatari sponsorship of the
Lebanese crisis, a sponsorship that has bred an agreement allowing Hezbollah to
keep its arms without any objection by Israel or the US.
Some condemn French President Nicolas Sarkozy's rush to welcome Syrian President
Bashar Assad on the eve of the French national day celebrations as if nothing
had gone wrong in the French-Syrian relations when in reality Paris was the
driving force behind isolating Damascus over its policies toward Lebanon,
accusing Syrian officials of involvement in political assassinations in Lebanon,
especially the terrorist attack that claimed the lives of former Prime Minister
Rafic Hariri and his comrades.
Arabs also wonder about the reasons behind Syria's success in escaping
international and regional isolation to the state of embracement and almost
total exoneration over the past. Their dialogue revolves around two major issues
when it comes to Damascus, namely its relationship with Israel and Iran.
Remarkably, while Iran is depicted by a few as an enemy of Israel, it implicitly
approves and perhaps even blesses the Syrian-Israeli relationship sponsored by
Turkey and Qatar through negotiations and a form of extraordinary normalization.
During the Conference of Nobel Laureates, and despite the attempts to avoid
politics, one of the American sympathizers with Israel and an advocate of
Israel's interests and supremacy said that Israeli leaders wanted Syria to
return to Lebanon and that they were the driving force behind the friendly
campaigns seeking to embrace the Syrian leadership in the US, France and Europe.
He said that the recent Lebanese crisis erupted when Hezbollah controlled the
airport, besieged Beirut, and tried to control the mountain almost a month ago.
Israel perceived all this as an irrelevant "domestic" Lebanese crisis because
Israel's primary concern is the survival and strengthening of the Syrian
leadership such that it can play an effective role on the Lebanese scene. This
is how, according to this close source to the Israeli decision makers, military
supplies to Hezbollah can be cut off.
Regardless of the many flaws in this logic, the fact of the matter is that the
Syrian-Israeli negotiations through Turkey, Qatar and others are not confined to
the fate of the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights. They aim at
rehabilitating the Syrian role in Lebanon and the Middle East through Syria's
role in Palestine, where the Syrian regime supports the Palestinian factions and
the extremist organizations that oppose the moderate Palestinian Authority.
This is not to mention that the Syrian role in Iraq is minor in comparison to
that of its strategic heavyweight partner, Iran.
Consequently, and as the talk in Arab and international circles goes, what will
be next now that the US administration has given in to the demands of Israeli
priorities toward Syria? What will be once the reconsidered relationship with
Iran ensures massive regional influence for the Iranian regime in the entire
Middle East? Why was the decision taken to weaken the camp of moderation and to
ensure the victory of extremism through an American and Israeli strategy, with a
European participation, as well as Russian and Chinese contribution? What stands
behind Israel's enthusiasm to strengthen Hamas and Hezbollah to the detriment of
the forces of moderation?
Such decisions are not taken inadvertently nor are they the outcomes of policies
scattered here and there. Such situations are not the exclusive outcome of
mistakes committed by "moderates" or defiance declared by "extremists." These
are strategic bets; some belong to the fixed primary policies of internationally
and regionally influential states, and some result from the political practices
of different administrations created by the democratic electoral process as the
case was and is in the US and France.
The current victories may be a prelude to illusions that will not last because
of the nature of these victories and the victors, and also because they are
exclusively temporary. The opposite, however, may be true. Still, what is
currently taking place in the Middle East at this point continues to arouse
curiosity and raises questions of an international nature, ones that are not
solely tinged with regional implications and alliances. Since the process of
repositioning during the American elections is practiced by the majority of
Middle Eastern states as well as by permanent Security Council member states,
keeping a watchful eye over developments becomes a necessity… (to be continued).
LOG head blames Hizbullah for rocks thrown at
Sison's convoy
By The Daily Star
Saturday, June 21, 2008
BEIRUT: The head of the Lebanese Option Gathering (LOG), Ahmad Assaad, asserted
on Friday that the people who threw stones at the convoy of US Charge d'Affaires
Michele Sison in the Southern town of Mayfadoun on Thursday were members of
Hizbullah.
"We are positive that the people responsible for the attack are members of
Hizbullah," he said after receiving Sison at his residence in Hazmieh.
Sison's convoy was pelted with rocks after a meeting with LOG member Abdallah
Bitar at his residence in Mayfadoun on Thursday. Dozens of residents gathered in
front of Bitar's house and demanded that Sison to leave the town immediately.
On her way out, the villagers threw stones at her convoy, lightly injuring a
Lebanese security guard, said a US Embassy statement on Thursday.
Mayfadoun lies roughly 4 kilometers south of Nabatiyeh in South Lebanon, an area
devastated by Israeli bombardments during the summer 2006 war and in which
Hizbullah enjoys widespread popularity. The US is widely seen as having
prolonged the 2006 bombardment by blocking a UN cease-fire motion and providing
the Jewish state with munitions which were dropped on the South.
"I hold Hizbullah responsible for any harm inflicted on Bitar or any other
member of the gathering," Assaad said. "Irrespective of all political
differences, such actions are not representative of our values as Shiites and
people of the South."
Assaad said Bitar or any other individual was free to have his own political
beliefs, adding that Hizbullah should know that Lebanon was a diverse country
that tolerates different opinions.
"Lebanon has not and will not change into Iran," Assaad added, referring to an
ally of the Shiite movement.
Assaad said he wondered why similar actions did not take place when any US
official, including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, visits Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri.
Berri, the head of the Shiite Amal Movement, is a close ally of Hizbullah, and
met with Rice during her surprise visit to Lebanon on Monday.
Assaad also criticized Hizbullah for adopting the "Iranian-made 'Death to
America' motto." "Such a motto does not only reflect ignorance, but also serves
Israel the best ... This motto, like many other wrong actions, is giving Israel
more appeal in the West," he said.
Assaad added that the Arabs' only problem with the United States was its "clear
bias" toward Israel.
Assaad called on the United States to act as a fair mediator if it wanted to
achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East, adding that the first step
toward achieving such peace was the establishment of an independent Palestinian
state.
Assaad also urged Washington to exert more pressure on Israel in a bid to
achieve an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Shebaa Farms. - The Daily Star