LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
March 04/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint John 4,43-54. After the two days, he left there for Galilee. For Jesus
himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came
into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in
Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then he
returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a
royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had
arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and
heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see
signs and wonders, you will not believe." The royal official said to him,
"Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son
will live." The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While he was on
his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked
them when he began to recover. They told him, "The fever left him yesterday,
about one in the afternoon." The father realized that just at that time Jesus
had said to him, "Your son will live," and he and his whole household came to
believe. (Now) this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from
Judea.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
America's Big Stick Off the Lebanese Coast, By: W. Thomas Smith Jr.
03/03/08
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for March 03/08
Roed-Larsen Hands
Mubarak 'Personal Letter' from U.N. Chief-Naharnet
Saudi Warning to Citizens Based on Threats Received by Embassy in Beirut-Naharnet
Citizens Urged to
Refrain from Opening Fire to Celebrate Politicians' TV Appearances-Naharnet
Protests in Lebanon
Against Israel's Assault on Gaza-Naharnet
Lebanon Survives Despite Political,
Security Instability-Naharnet
Moussa: Lebanon Will be Invited to
Damascus Summit-Naharnet
Arabs Mull Meeting in Cairo Ahead of
Damascus Summit-Naharnet
Egypt: Cole's Deployment Points to
Repercussions of the Lebanese Crisis-Naharnet
Doll Demonstration in Ain al-Hilweh,
Hizbullah Protest at Border Fence-Naharnet
Mitri: Saudi Decision Prompted by Specific
Threats-Naharnet
Kurds Demonstrate at EU Headquarters in
Beirut-Naharnet
Iran is the Source
of Threat That Invites Fleets-Naharnet
The Tueni Initiative for Defusing Regional
Tensions-Naharnet
Ahmadinejad's Challenging Visit to Iraq-Naharnet
Saudi Police Arrest
28 Militants Over Links with Zawahri-Naharnet
Ahmadinejad Accuses U.S. of Fuelling Iraq
Violence-Naharnet
Israel Withdraws from Gaza After Deadly
Offensive-Naharnet
Cairo blames opposition for logjam in Lebanon-Daily
Star
Kuwait vows to deport foreigners who joined in
mourning for Mughniyeh-AFP
Sfeir lashes out at leaders' 'negligence' in
deadlock-Daily
Star
UN secretary general's sixth report on the
implementation of Resolution 1701-Daily
Star
Beirut stocks ride roller-coaster with
political crisis-Daily
Star
Report illustrates negative impact of political
crises on tourism sector-Daily
Star
No damage as aftershock rumbles through South-Daily
Star
Volunteers get ball moving on study of air
pollution in Lebanon-Daily
Star
Local demonstrations flay Israel over Gaza
onslaught-Daily
Star
Taking an impish shot at Lebanon's voyeur
culture-Daily
Star
Iranians join widening boycott of Paris book
fair over tribute to Israel's 60th anniversary-Daily
Star
Sfeir lashes out at leaders'
'negligence' in deadlock
Patriarch says politicians looking for 'excuses'
By Maroun Khoury -Daily Star correspondent
Monday, March 03, 2008
BKIRKI: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir denounced on Sunday the
"negligent" attitude of Lebanese politicians toward the country's 15-month-old
political logjam. "Leaders are relying any excuse to keep the country in its
actual deteriorating situation" Sfeir said during his Sunday sermon at the Notre
Dame Church in Bkirki. He stressed the importance of fulfilling citizens'
growing needs, since no "honorable Lebanese" can accept seeing his country fall
apart as it is, adding that the Lebanese should work "hand in hand in order to
restore Lebanon's historical position among nations." Following the Mass, Sfeir
met with an array of social and political figures. The prelate also received the
vice president of the Lebanese Forces, MP Georges Adwan, with whom he discussed
current developments on the Lebanese political scene as well as the presidential
vacuum. "Despite all the efforts to avoid it, the presidential vacuum turned
Lebanon into an arena open to everyone but the Lebanese and to all kinds of
conflicts and tensions" Adwan told reporters following the meeting. The MP
insisted on the importance of saving the country from the "greedy interests of
foreign powers" by electing a president who would bring all the Lebanese
together. He also denounced those who want to keep Lebanon in a "paralyzed"
situation by showing no will to elect a president and accused them of increasing
their demands and conditions in order to "weaken the president's role before his
election." As for those who "truly" want to solve the crisis, Adwan urged them
to resort to Parliament "as soon as possible and hold a vote."When asked about
the conflict on the electoral law, Adwan said that the ruling coalition refused
both the 1960 and 2000 laws and were trying to find a fair solution that will
benefit all the Lebanese "especially the Christians, who are not well
represented at all."Adwan said the government has been trying to help the
country recover economically for three years, however, every attempt was
answered by a "slap."
"Now, the crisis has hit what's left of the tourism in Lebanon," he added. Adwan
blamed the weakening of the sector of tourism in Lebanon opposition's camp that
has been going on for more than a year now in Downtown Beirut.
About US warship deployment in Lebanese waters, Adwan said that this would
become a "matter of importance if it interfered with Lebanon's sovereignty and
independence," describing it as yet another attempt to turn Lebanon into an
"international arena."The United States said on Thursday it had sent the USS
Cole, a guided-missile destroyer, to the waters off Lebanon. The Cole was the
target of a bombing by Al-Qaeda extremists in October 2000 in the Yemeni port of
Aden that killed 17 US sailors. It is "a show of support for regional stability"
because of "concern about the situation in Lebanon," a US official said on
condition of anonymity, declining to say that the show of force was meant for
Syria or Iran.
Iran is the Source of Threat That Invites Fleets
Naharnet/Two issues prompt the deployment of U.S.
navy vessels in the Mediterranean: Strategic threats to Israel and to the oil
sources. Iran reflects both threats, according to an-Nahar's Ali Hamade. "Past
experience shows that fleets do not come for Lebanon," Hamade wrote. He
criticized forces that "invite occupation like what happened in 2006 when
Hizbullah dragged Lebanon and the whole region into war that resulted in a
catastrophe for the whole of Lebanon."Gaza, Hamade added, is going through an
experience similar to Lebanon's during the 34-day war between Hizbullah and
Israel that claimed the lives of around 1.300 Lebanese civilians and devastated
the nation's infrastructure and ailing economy, leaving it in shambles.
Stressing that Israel is "committing a horrible massacre in Gaza" Hamade
concluded by warning against spreading the example throughout the Middle East.
Beirut, 03 Mar 08, 14:14
The Tueni Initiative for Defusing Regional Tensions
Naharnet/Lebanon's leading columnist MP Ghassan Tueni on Monday urged Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Fouad Saniora to set aside their differences and
represent Lebanon at the forthcoming Arab Summit in Damascus. Tueni, in an
editorial published by the daily an-Nahar, also proposed the formation of a
cabinet of technocrats made up of six-to-ten ministers who enjoy "minimum
harmony" to tackle security, economic and development issues of interest to the
people. He predicted that a Russian Fleet could suddenly cruise international
waters of the Mediterranean off the Lebanon, Palestine and Syria coastlines,
recalling that the Russian Fleet has a base in Syria since the Soviet era. Tueni
explained that the deployment of such naval forces is a reminder of the old
"cold war in warm waters that prevents the outbreak of any war, including the
war that prompted" the naval missions.
"The Russian fleet would not hoist war banners … it would be on a normal cruise
to outline its right to enter Mediterranean waters and Gulf waters," he added.
Berri and Saniora, should they represent Lebanon at the Damascus Summit, must
propose a "comprehensive pan-Arab stand, call for regaining intra-Arab entente …
then ask the Arabs to adopt a decisive stand regarding developments in Gaza,
even at the cost of embarrassing some major Arab states," Tueni wrote.
Such a stand should result in the immediate adoption of an "international
resolution that sponsors the deployment of international troops in Gaza under
chapter seven of the U.N. Charter," he noted. Such "an initiative" Tueni
concluded, could lead major powers to invest the deployment of their fleets in
the interest of non-super powers for the first time ever. Beirut, 03 Mar 08,
13:14
America's ‘Big Stick’ Off the Lebanese Coast
By: W. Thomas Smith Jr.
USS Cole – the guided-missile destroyer attacked by al Qaeda in the port of Aden
(Yemen) in 2000 – has been back in the fight since 2002. And last Tuesday, the
now-famous warship set a new course from Malta to the Lebanese coast where she
will be stationed just over the horizon, unseen, but within easy striking
distance.
Cole – along with two support ships – soon will be joined (or relieved of her
watch) by a six-vessel U.S. Navy expeditionary strike group: the centerpiece of
which is the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau, capable of landing some 1,900
Marines. The strike group includes a couple of destroyers, a cruiser, and an
attack submarine.
HEZBOLLAH RANTING
Hezbollah, the Shiia terrorist group based in Lebanon, is furious. Friday’s
headline in the group’s newspaper, Al Akhbar, reads: “America repeats the
adventure of ‘82” – a reference to the American deployment to Lebanon that ended
soon after 241 American Marines, sailors, and soldiers were killed in the U.S.
Marine barracks bombing by Hezbollah in October 1983. (Also, notice how anyone
opposed to U.S. military operations refers to those operations as “adventures.”)
Today, despite the fact that Hezbollah (as a political entity) is the only party
in Lebanon that fields a fully standing terrorist army (not the legitimate
Lebanese Army) funded by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah’s
parliamentarians have called the U.S. deployment “an American threat against
Lebanon,” “military meddling,” and an “attempt to attach Lebanon to a joint
Israeli-American scheme for the region.” What they’ve failed to mention is that
Hezbollah has clashed with the legitimate army and police in recent weeks. They
have threatened “open war” with Israel. They have threatened competing
parliamentarians. They have assassinated Lebanese leaders and provided
operational support for assassins operating in Lebanon. They continue to call
for the “death” of America. And Lebanon has been unable to elect a president in
multiple attempts over the past several months, due primarily to the overt
threat of Hezbollah.
THE ADMIRAL’S SIGNALS
Of course, the American Naval presence is a measure of “big stick diplomacy” in
the region. But U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
says the only signals the warships are sending are “that we're engaged and we
are going to be in the vicinity, and that's a very important part of the world."
that we're engaged and we are going to be in the vicinity, and that's a very,
very important part of the world.”
Not denouncing, but distancing himself from the developments, Lebanese Prime
Minister Fouad Siniora said Friday, “We did not request any warships from any
party.” What he did request was “clarification” from the U.S. ambassador.
Members of Lebanon’s pro-democracy movement – both in Lebanon and among the
global Lebanese Diaspora – welcome the “show of force.”
In fact, Dr. Walid Phares, director of the Future of Terrorism Project for the
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, was calling for a similar strike
force (a carrier strike group in fact) back in November 2007 when he told me for
a piece in National Review Online:
“Deploying an aircraft carrier strike group into the eastern Mediterranean could
balance the weight of the Iranian Pasdaran and their missiles deployed in
Lebanon, so that Tehran and Damascus aren't the only powers present in that
small country.”
Today, Phares tells me:
“The U.S. Navy maintains a permanent presence in the eastern Mediterranean, so
the USS Cole is not breaking any existing regional balance of power. It is
simply reaffirming it. Deploying this warship off the coast of Lebanon certainly
has multiple dimensions. First, it is symbolic as the ship that was attacked by
al Qaeda in 2000, thus being deployed close to terrorist bases sends a
significant message. But more practically I see the Cole’s mission – and perhaps
other ships joining her – as a positioning of American assets to face the
enormous Iranian assets deployed in Lebanon, including the missiles.”
According to Phares, the U.S. considered stationing a Naval force off the coast
of Lebanon, last year. But the Lebanese Government and Lebanese Army commander,
Gen. Michel Sleiman, requested a postponement of such an American force until
after the Lebanese presidential elections.
WHY THE BIG STICK NOW?
Phares says:
“Since the elections have been blocked by Hezbollah indefinitely – and as the
flow of weapons from Iran continued – today’s deployment of the Cole is very
normal in pure strategic terms. Of course, the forces of the axis – Iran, Syria,
and Hezbollah – don’t want to see any international or Western force deployed in
their area of operation and hegemony. The U.S. Navy has always maintained a
presence in the region, but Iran's strategic assets are increasing dramatically
[the money and weapons are reaching critical mass]. From that perspective, this
is a message from Washington – and ultimately from NATO – to Tehran and its
allies not to upset the stability of the region. In local terms, the U.S. is
warning Iran and Syria not to launch an offensive against the Lebanese
Government and the UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon]. That's the
bottom line.”
OTHER NAVAL FORCES
Lebanon maintains a very small navy composed primarily of a few patrol boats,
and a small but very tough corps of Naval commandos, which technically falls
under the organizational control of Lebanese special operations forces.
UNIFIL also operates the Maritime Task Force (MTF), which is responsible for
assisting the Lebanese Navy with coastal defense and preventing seaborne arms
smuggling operations. The MTF has been commanded by German Navy participants of
UNIFIL since October 2006: just after the Israeli-Hezbollah war, and the first
time German Naval forces have been stationed in the Middle East since World War
II.
SPEAKING SOFTLY
On Saturday, command of the MTF was transferred to Italian Naval forces. During
the change-of-command ceremony, Italian Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziano, commander of
UNIFIL, was reportedly asked about the American Naval force steaming close to
Lebanese waters. “I cannot comment on this,” Graziano responded, adding that
such operations had nothing to do with the MTF.
Publicly, Adm. Mullen has said that the three-ship deployment (and the probable
addition of the six ships packed with enough guided missiles, jump-jets, attack
helicopters, and Marine riflemen to send every blustering Hezbollah commander
breaking and running for the Syrian border) should not be seen as “threatening
or in response to events in any single country.”Mullen is speaking “softly,” as Pres. Theodore Roosevelt would have said. And,
yes, he is carrying “a big stick.”
Roed-Larsen Hands Mubarak 'Personal Letter' from U.N. Chief
Naharnet/U.N. Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen handed Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak a "personal letter" from U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon concerning the
Lebanon situation. Egypt's press agency said Mubarak held lengthy talks with
Roed-Larsen on the latest developments in Lebanon and Egypt's efforts aimed at
ending the Lebanese presidential crisis. Roed-Larsen told reporters after the
meeting on Sunday that the letter is "related to the situation in Lebanon in
light of difficulties engulfing it and possible repercussions for stability in
the region." Beirut, 03 Mar 08, 11:01
Saudi Warning to Citizens Based on Threats Received by
Embassy in Beirut
Naharnet/Saudi Arabia's warning to its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately was
based on threats received by its embassy in Beirut, Saudi ambassador Abdel Aziz
Khoja said. "We have received information on dozens of threats and these threats
are continuing," Khoja said on LBC television late Sunday. He did not give
further details. Khoja said he had "encouraged families of diplomats to leave
Lebanon" and some of them had already done so.
"The Saudis have specific reasons. They have received specific threats,"
Lebanon's acting Foreign Minister Tareq Mitri told LBC earlier, also without
elaborating.
Lebanese and Saudi officials on Saturday said Saudi Arabia was advising its
citizens to leave Lebanon immediately or exercise extreme caution because of
heightened political unrest. A Saudi diplomatic source said the car of a Saudi
diplomat was hit by gunfire on Friday night in Beirut, but the occupants of the
car escaped unharmed. The incident occurred as supporters of opposition
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri fired into the air to celebrate a television
interview that he was giving, the source said. Several Saudi nationals in
Lebanon on Saturday also reported receiving calls or mobile text messages (sms)
from their embassy, urging them to leave the country. One Saudi citizen said he
was told by the embassy that women and children in particular were advised to
leave within 48 hours.
Last month Saudi Arabia had advised its citizens against traveling to Lebanon
and in August 2007 threats against the embassy had forced Khoja to leave the
country, although he later returned. Khoja had been involved in efforts to
broker an end to the political rift between the ruling parliamentary majority
and the Hizbullah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran. Fears of civil
strife have mounted over a political crisis that has left Lebanon without a
president since November and warnings of wider conflict after the February 12
killing in Syria of top Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal warned last month that the country
was "on the verge of civil war."
Tensions have also risen in the past weeks as the Arab League, which is
mediating a solution to the Lebanon crisis, has been trying to organize an
annual Arab summit due to be hosted in Syria March 29-30. A decision by
Washington to send the USS Cole guided-missile destroyer to waters off Lebanon
amid concerns of regional stability has also added to the tensions and triggered
criticism by the two feuding camps in Lebanon.
"The Americans have tried to show their strength. We were not consulted and we
will not explain their decision but we refuse to allow Lebanon to be an arena to
solve regional differences," Mitri said. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem
on Saturday said the U.S. deployment was an attempt to undermine a solution to
Lebanon's presidential crisis.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 03 Mar 08, 07:51
Citizens Urged to Refrain from Opening Fire to Celebrate
Politicians' TV Appearances
Naharnet/The Interior Ministry on Monday urged Lebanese citizens to refrain from
opening fire every time a political leader makes a TV appearance.
A statement issued by the ministry stressed the need to avoid opening fire or
toss grenades to celebrate a television interview given by a political leader.
It said the shooting "causes panic and inflicts casualties as well as damage to
both public and private property."The ministry called on politicians to
"cooperate" in this respect by asking their supporters to abstain from opening
fire. Beirut, 03 Mar 08, 12:09
Protests in Lebanon Against Israel's Assault on Gaza
Naharnet/Several hundred school children took part in a Hizbullah-organized
demonstration outside U.N. headquarters in Beirut on Monday to protest against
Israel's deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip. Twenty schools participated in the
rally, organizers said. The children presented a letter to a U.N. representative
calling on the world body to take action. The school pupils held aloft pictures
of Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and of some of the children killed
in Gaza since the dramatic escalation in violence last Wednesday. "Where are
children's rights?" asked one banner carried by the demonstrators.
"USA and Israel, the same face of terror," read another. The demonstration came
after an estimated 116 people, including women and children, were killed in the
Israeli offensive in Gaza. Israeli forces pulled out of the Hamas-run Strip on
Monday but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the Jewish state will continue its
military operations in the territory. Palestinians in the northern refugee camp
of Beddawi also held a protest outside the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the National News Agency
reported. It said the protestors presented a letter directed to Arab League
chief Amr Moussa urging him "to condemn the crimes" committed by Israel and
"lift Gaza's blockade." On Sunday, about 1,000 Hizbullah supporters gathered at
the border fence separating Lebanon and Israel to protest against the Israeli
attacks. Thousands of Palestinian refugees also held similar demonstrations in
their Ain al-Hilweh camp near the southern port city of Sidon calling for
escalating attacks against the Jewish state.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 03 Mar 08,
13:58
Lebanon Survives Despite Political, Security Instability
Naharnet/"Poor Lebanon" is a much-loved preface to a litany of the country's
troubles. Parliament has been deadlocked for a year. A quarter of Cabinet
ministers are boycotting meetings. There's been no president since November
because quarreling MPs keep postponing a session to elect a replacement.
In Beirut so far this year, 17 people have been killed and dozens wounded in car
bombs, army gunfire on protesters and clashes between pro- and anti-government
groups. In south Lebanon, many fear new battles could erupt with Israel after
Hizbullah blamed the Jewish state for the car bombing that killed top Hizbullah
commander Imad Mughniyeh in Syria -- a charge Israel denies. It sounds like a
disaster about to happen in a nation where a renewal of the devastating
1970s-'80s civil war is a chronic worry. But Amer Hazime doesn't see it that
way. While not exactly optimistic about the future, the young businessman -- a
Lebanese-Jordanian dual national -- is shopping for an apartment in Beirut where
he can live with his wife and daughter. "The security situation is
deteriorating, the political situation is bad but I am looking to buy a flat. My
wife is Lebanese and I want to live here," Hazime said as he ate pizza one night
at a crowded Italian restaurant in Beirut.
There are many like Hazime. Beirut's hot real estate market is just part of a
crazy quilt of actions and attitudes that allow Lebanon to keep chugging along
in spite of itself, a Middle Eastern magnet even if it can't return to the
storied days of the early '70s when Beirutis boasted their city was the "Paris
of the Middle East."
Among the negatives: the national debt of US$42 billion is 175 percent of the
country's Gross Domestic Product, making it one of the highest in the world.
Economic growth was projected to be 7 percent last year but, amid the nagging
uncertainty, it was only about a third of that. The cost of living has shot up
37 percent since November. And the positives: tourists keep coming -- a million
in 2007, albeit 4 percent less than the previous year -- and the restaurants and
nightclubs are packed. Private bank deposits are up 10.5 percent, the currency
has remained steady for 15 years, taxes are collected, the courts keep
functioning.
So how does this small nation of 4 million people get by?
To begin with, Lebanese are entrepreneurs. They've never banked on their weak,
fractious governments over the decades. The country's free market, its strongest
asset, and its banking secrecy are an attraction to depositors. Hundreds of
thousands of educated, professional Lebanese have regularly gone abroad during
the country's troubles and -- in a boost to the economy -- sent money home.
During the civil war, about one quarter of Lebanon's population left. Many have
returned, but others remain abroad. The month-long war in summer 2006 between
Hizbullah and Israel also increased the brain drain as much of the
reconstruction from civil war damage was wiped out by Israeli bombing. A World
Bank report said that in 2006, the last year for which figures are available,
Lebanese living abroad sent home US$5.6 billion, or about 25 percent of the
country's GDP. Almost half of that figure came from about 400,000 Lebanese
working in oil-rich Persian Gulf countries. "The high inflow of remittances is
keeping the day-to-day economy functioning," said Nassib Ghobril, head of
economic research and analysis at Byblos Bank Group. Today, many Lebanese still
contemplate leaving. For every Amer Hazime -- the young businessman looking for
a Beirut apartment -- there is probably a Mohammed Kheir, who runs an airport
supply business in the city but fears what will happen to his three children
should wholesale violence return.
"I am thinking about immigrating for good. I don't want my children to live what
I passed through during the war," said the 39-year-old man, referring to the
1975-90 civil war in which 150,000 were killed.
"Our country is very good and I have no problem living here. But the most
important thing for me is that my children live a normal life."
Still, as Kheir travels to other countries on business, he can see what keeps
luring Lebanese and others back to his country.
Rich Arabs visit or buy villas in the Lebanese mountains, whose cool weather
contrasts with the desert heat in much of the surrounding Middle East.
Another draw is the country's rich culture -- a mix of Mideastern traditions and
Western influence -- and its looser social restrictions. Lebanese make
prize-winning wines, and the country's cuisine and fervent nightlife are famed
throughout the region.
Like the brain drain that turns out to provide an economic asset, Lebanon's
assets wind up pumping money into the country. Since the 2006 Israel-Hizbullah
war international donors have pledged more than US$7 billion in soft loans and
grants, and some US$320 million has been paid.
In addition, funds flow to Lebanon's competing political factions, including the
Iranian-backed Hizbullah, from their patrons abroad. In contrast, Saudi Arabia
promised in February to place a US$1 billion deposit in Lebanon's Central Bank
to shore up the government of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora -- a Sunni Muslim
like the Saudi royal family -- against the predominantly Shiite opposition.
Overall, Lebanon's banking system is doing very well. Assets of private banks
have reached US$71 billion, nearly three times the GDP. Foreign currency
reserves in the Central Bank have risen steadily to USS$13 billion in 2007, and
the 9.2 million ounces of gold the Central Bank has now is valued at more than
US$8 billion.
"This confirms the separation between the monetary situation and the security
and political situation," Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh told bankers in
January.
Others, however, fear that if the security situation blows up, it could erode
all the economic pluses.
"Anything that happens now will change expectations, especially in security,"
said Louis Hobeika, an economist.
And Ghobril, the Byblos Bank analyst, warns: "The longer it takes for a
(political) solution, the reforms will be delayed, the trends trying to reduce
public debts will be delayed. This is where it hurts." Still, the appetite for
taking big risks that makes Lebanon's politics a lethal game also is at the
heart of the country's entrepreneurial spirit. Real estate agent Victor Abu
Kheir played to that spirit as he readied thick Turkish coffee for a potential
client and explained that investing now in a Beirut apartment could mean a 100
percent profit before long. "Oil Prices are going up, the dollar is going down,
gold is going up and consumer prices are going up. Real estate prices have to go
up," he reasoned.(AP) Beirut, 03 Mar 08, 13:11
Moussa: Lebanon Will be Invited to Damascus Summit
Naharnet/Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa has said Lebanon will be
invited to an Arab Summit to be held in Damascus later this month.
Moussa, after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday, confirmed
that the next Arab Summit would be held on March 29-30 in Damascus as scheduled.
Moussa said he received guarantees that Lebanon would get an invitation to the
summit. He did not say who would represent Lebanon at the meeting. Beirut, 03
Mar 08, 12:25
Arabs Mull Meeting in Cairo Ahead of Damascus Summit
Naharnet/Arab leaders were considering holding an eight-state Arab summit in
Cairo or Sharm el-Sheikh ahead of the Arab Summit due in Damascus March 29-30.
Arab diplomatic sources in Amman, Jordan, said Monday the Egypt summit aims at
adopting a unified stand toward the Lebanon crisis and the Damascus summit. The
sources said Arab leaders were also moving toward postponing the Damascus summit
to pave the way for Lebanese consensus and the election of army commander Gen.
Michel Suleiman president prior to the Arab conference in Syria. Speaker Nabih
Berri delayed a parliament session to elect a new president for Lebanon till
March 11. According to the Arab sources, two tentative dates for the eight-state
summit were given: in Sharm el-Sheikh on March 9 or in Cairo on March 16. This
meeting is expected to be attended by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, and Jordan.
The sources said the meeting was discussed during talks three days ago between
the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Beirut, 03 Mar 08,
09:40
Egypt: Cole's Deployment Points to Repercussions of the
Lebanese Crisis
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said the deployment of
a U.S. warship off Lebanon's coast "is an indicator to possible repercussions of
the Lebanese crisis." "We should strip foreign powers of their ability to
interfere in Lebanese affairs by implementing the Arab initiative," Abul Gheit
said in an interview with the al-Wafid opposition newspaper to be published on
Monday. Excerpts of the interview were distributed by the state-run Middle East
News Agency (MENA).
Dispatching the USS Cole missile-guided destroyer to the Mediterranean "is not a
good thing … the U.S. fleet has been in the Mediterranean for over 60 years,"
said the head of Egypt's diplomacy. "No doubt, the whole thing raised serious
concern over stability of the region and its future," he added. "Once
again we plead with all the factions to behave in a wise manner that could
defuse the Lebanese crisis," Abul Gheit said.Stressing that the Hizbullah-led
opposition has "rejected the Arab initiative," Abul Gheit said "the Arab
initiative is the real exit" out of the crisis. He said the majority
"accepted the initiative as it is, contrary to the opposition that rejected
it."Settling the Lebanese crisis prior to the forthcoming Damascus summit is
"necessary because its persistence reflects negatively on the summit that should
be held in a sound atmosphere," Abul Gheit added. Beirut, 02 Mar 08, 20:52
Mitri: Saudi Decision Prompted by Specific Threats
Naharnet/Acting Foreign Minister Tareq Mitri said Saudi Arabia's advice to its
citizens to leave Lebanon did not spark fears among other foreign communities.
Mitri said the Saudi move was prompted by "specific threats" related to the
Kingdom. He did not elaborate on the remark. He said Lebanon was "not consulted
in advance" regarding a U.S. decision to deploy warships in the northern
Mediterranean off the Lebanese coastline. "It is not our job to interpret or
clarify their decisions," Mitri said in a televised interview. Beirut, 02 Mar
08, 19:14
Kurds Demonstrate at EU Headquarters in Beirut
Naharnet/Hundreds of Kurds demonstrated in Beirut on Sunday asking the European
Union to investigate charges that Turkey was poisoning jailed Kurdistan Workers
Party leader Abdullah Ocalan. The demonstrators, who failed to reach the EU
offices in downtown Beirut due to intensified security arrangements, claimed
that Turkey was "targeting Ocalan physically through a programmed poisoning for
failing to finish off the Kurdish resistance movement."
Ocalan has been jailed in Turkey for over nine years.
Naharnet/A statement, signed by the Kurdish People in Lebanon, said the EU has
failed to inform the public of Ocalan's blood tests.
The statement did not say when such tests have been conducted, but claimed the
EU's alleged failure to declare their results is tantamount to "practical
participation in the crime." The statement called for a "peaceful settlement to
the Kurdish cause through political dialogue.""Real peace can be achieved
through Ocalan's freedom," the statement concluded. Beirut, 02 Mar 08, 17:10