LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِDecember
21/2010
Bible Of The
Day
Paul's Letter to the Romans
03/10-18: "3:10 As it is written, “here is no one righteous; no, not one. 3:11
There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. 3:12 They
have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one
who does good, no, not, so much as one. 3:13 Their throat is an open tomb.
With their tongues they have used deceit. The poison of vipers is under their
lips; 3:14 “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 3:15 Their feet are
swift to shed blood. 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways. 3:17 The way
of peace, they haven’t known. 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Free Opinions, Releases,
letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Did Hague have to be so
vague?/Now Lebanon/December
20/10
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for December
20/10
Canadian soldier, Cpl. Steve Martin, killed in a roadside bomb in
Afghanistan/The Canadian Press
Egypt uncovers Israel 'spy
ring'/Israeli News
Ahmadinejad cuts subsidies, frees
$20 bn for nuclear program, prestige boost/DEBKAfile Exclusive
Iran's Khamenei says any STL ruling
is null/Now Lebanon
Syria, Saudi Arabia scramble to defuse tensions/Daily Star
Gemayel accuses Hizbullah of disobeying state/Daily Star
Roknabadi says matters in Lebanon moving in positive direction, invites Jumblatt
to visit Iran/Daily Star
UN special coordinator: Ghajar withdrawal won't bring Israel into compliance
with Resolution 1701/Daily Star
Judge charges detainee with
collaboration/Now Lebanon
Erdogan Calls against Politicizing
STL: Maintaining Lebanon's Stability is Very Important for the Region/Naharnet
Fatfat Hits Back at Berri, Says
Cabinet Minister Resignations 'Welcomed/Naharnet
WikiLeaks: Israel Believes Hizbullah-Leb. Army Cooperation a 'Matter of National
Policy'/Naharnet
WikiLeaks: Kouchner
Prepared to Give Berri Key Role that US Didn't Think is Deserved/Naharnet
Huge Blaze Erupts at Talet
al-Khayyat Building Facing Tele Liban/Naharnet
Bulgarian Prime Minister
Arrives in Lebanon/Naharnet
Erdogan Calls against
Politicizing STL: Maintaining Lebanon's Stability is Very Important for the
Region/Naharnet
Ahmadinejad, Qatar's Emir
Discuss Hariri Tribunal/Naharnet
$75 Million USAID to
Lebanon Schools/Naharnet
No Cabinet Meeting Unless
Opposition's False Witnesses' Demand is Met, Report/Naharnet
Jumblat: Syria-Saudi Initiative
Progressing Confidentially/Naharnet
Lebanon Government
Paralyzed ahead of Hariri Indictments/Naharnet
Saniora Lauds Nasrallah's
Remarks on Averting Strife/Naharnet
Hague Reiterates UK
Support for STL, Voices Concerns over Possible 'Outbreak of Violence'/Naharnet
Raad: We're Extending Time
Limits to Reach Agreement before Israel Overtakes Us via STL Puppets/Naharnet
Houri Slams Bassil
'Insolent' Remarks on Suleiman, Hariri, Asks Him to Resign/Naharnet
Qobeissi Hits Back at
Gemayel: Arab Efforts to Yield Solution Soon, Lions, Wolves to Return to Cages/Naharnet
Mustaqbal to Hold Press
Conference Next Week to Respond to Raad's 'Legal Errors'/Naharnet
Syrian Sources: Syria
Exercising Great Effort to Support Lebanon's Stability/Naharnet
Spanish Defense Minister
from Beirut: We are Committed to Helping Lebanon Overcome its Problems/Naharnet
Iran's Khamenei says any STL ruling is null
December 20, 2010 /Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday
dismissed as "null and void" any ruling by the UN court probing the 2005 murder
of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, state television reported. "This
tribunal is receiving orders from elsewhere and whatever ruling it hands down is
null and void," Khamenei told visiting Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani
in a meeting, state television reported. The UN-backed Special Tribunal for
Lebanon said on December 9 that it will "very, very soon" file indictments for
the February 14, 2005 killing of Hariri and 22 others in a Beirut bomb blast. It
is reportedly set to indict high-ranking members of Hezbollah, which is backed
by Tehran and Damascus.
Iran's English-language Press TV also reported on its website that "Khamenei
says any ruling by the US-sponsored Special Tribunal for Lebanon is null and
void."
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Erdogan Calls against Politicizing STL: Maintaining Lebanon's Stability is Very
Important for the Region
Naharnet/Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called against the
politicization of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, urging the need to maintain
national unity and dialogue.
He told SANA that he had informed Lebanese officials of the importance of
Lebanon's stability to the region during his recent trip to Lebanon, saying that
Turkey supports Lebanon's independence and sovereignty and its national unity
government. The Turkish official also voiced his support for the Saudi-Syrian
initiative aimed at ending the Lebanese political crisis.
"Lebanon is a special country for Turkey … and it is an important key to the
Middle East," he added. Beirut, 20 Dec 10, 13:40
Judge charges detainee with collaboration
December 20, 2010 /Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged the detainee Khalil
Wehbe on Monday with collaboration with Israel, the National News Agency (NNA)
reported.
The charges include supplying Israel with certain information, the report said.
However, it did not elaborate further.-NOW Lebanon
Fatfat Hits Back at Berri, Says Cabinet Minister Resignations 'Welcomed
Naharnet/Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat on Monday hit back at Speaker Nabih Berri,
stressing that there is no such thing as a false witnesses' issue. "There is no
judicial dossier titled 'false witnesses', so what is Cabinet going to vote on?
" he told the Voice of Lebanon radio station. Fatfat pointed out that Berri had
in the past crippled government under the title "consensus," saying that if
there is a judicial dossier called "false witnesses," the Opposition would have
brought it forward to the ordinary judiciary.
He believed the best solution was to wait for the indictments by the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon before tackling the false witnesses' issue. In separate
remarks to the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa, Fatfat said resignations of Cabinet
ministers are welcomed. He said Prime Minister Saad Hariri will continue
"positive" efforts to hold a Cabinet meeting out of his responsibility to
address the interests of citizens. He pointed out that the door is open to
Cabinet ministers "who wish to resign, particularly if he (minister) was
involved in (government) paralysis and putting citizens' interests on hold."
Beirut, 20 Dec 10, 08:02
New Opinion: Did Hague have to be so vague?
December 20, 2010
British Foreign Secretary William Hague voiced concerns on Sunday over the STL’s
indictment and the possible instability that might follow. (AFP/ Karen Bleier)
The British foreign secretary, William Hague, sent a firm yet ambiguous message
on Sunday. He told Sky News that the United Kingdom supported the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), then he expressed concern about instability in
Lebanon.
“We are very concerned about Lebanon,” said Hague. “That is one of our concerns
over the coming weeks. We think it’s very important that tribunal does its
work.” The foreign secretary went on to suggest a similarity between Lebanon and
Sudan, where a referendum on independence for South Sudan will be held on
January 9. These are “two areas in January that are most obvious at this stage
to watch for a political crisis or an outbreak of violence,” Hague added.
The United Kingdom must be commended for continuing to back the tribunal, and
the foreign secretary probably wasn’t trying to have it both ways. However,
anyone hearing what he said could have ventured the following question: If the
tribunal’s indictments bring instability, might London readjust its backing for
the institution? Hague didn’t say that, but it would help sometimes if foreign
officials would follow the implications of what they say.
The reason is that the UK has long been adept at pursuing its Lebanon policy in
a dark gray zone. It was the British government that first came up with the
absurd distinction between Hezbollah’s so-called military and political wings.
The idea was that the Foreign Office could ban the military wing, but continue
speaking to the political wing. Not much was achieved thanks to that sleight of
hand, but it does make you wonder: If William Hague is so worried about an
outbreak of violence in Lebanon, who is likely to be behind this?
We can answer that – though we probably won’t go into British subtleties about
which of the party’s wings will resort to violence. And let’s ask something
else: If Hezbollah members are indicted in the 2005 killing of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri, will the UK pursue it’s hairline distinction between
military and political wings?
If it chooses to do so, then it would also have to explain why Hezbollah
officials, most famously the secretary general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, have
remarked that no such distinction can legitimately be made. As Nasrallah implied
months ago, the accusation against any member of the party is an accusation
against all, because Hezbollah is a centralized organization under the tight
control of its leadership. Nasrallah was not admitting guilt, since for him the
STL is just an Israeli-American project to terminate the Resistance. But it’s
probably safe to assume that the British government does not share the secretary
general’s views. Therefore, if there is proof of Hezbollah’s involvement in the
Hariri murder, then the government in London might be advised to revise its
relations with Hezbollah. No Lebanese relishes new violence as a result of the
special tribunal. However, we think the debate is badly presented that way. If
we mention violence every time we discuss the court, then in some respects we
are fulfilling the desire of those who hope to intimidate the Lebanese into
abandoning a trial. Maybe that’s why Hague’s phrase was so jarring. Yes, there
always was the chance that the trial of Rafik Hariri’s killers would destabilize
Lebanon, but we continued to defend the process, because it was our only way of
saying “enough is enough, this time we won’t retreat before the murderers.” So
while we thank William Hague and the British government; and while we understand
that Lebanese stability is an issue that concerns many foreign governments; we
think it useful for these governments to say openly whose violence they fear, in
other words that of which party; and we would hope that they might reconsider
their relations with that party on the basis of such a fear. If Hezbollah
worries Hague, then he should encourage his government to do away with the silly
distinction between its otherwise imaginary wings.
WikiLeaks: Israel Believes Hizbullah-Leb. Army Cooperation a 'Matter of National
Policy'
Naharnet/Israeli officials remain pleased with the "quiet" nature of its
northern border -- something they attribute to the deterrent effect Israel has
built up following OPERATION CAST LEAD and the 2006 war in Lebanon, the
whistleblower website WikiLeaks said. However, according to Israeli officials,
the leaked document said, it is a "foregone conclusion that strong cooperation
exists" between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Hizbullah, said the cable
dispatched from the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv to Washington.
"The level of cooperation far exceeds what many assume is simply the day-to-day
problem of corruption within the ranks. On the contrary, Israel believes that
LAF/Hizbullah cooperation is a matter of national policy," it said. The cable
said Amos Gilad attributed this dynamic to elements of nationalism, stating that
the Lebanese government and military officials choose not to confront Hizbullah
out of patriotic zeal. Moreover, according to Gilad, any information shared with
the United Nations Interim Force-Lebanon (UNIFIL) goes directly to Hizbullah by
way of the Lebanese army. It said Israeli officials have major concerns over
developments within Hizbullah -- specifically, its relationship with Syria and
Iran. General Baidatz spoke of this relationship and drew attention to the
existing supply of Fateh-110 long-range missile that Iran sent to Syria. Israeli
officials believe these missiles are destined for Hizbullah. According to
Baidatz and others, if the delivery were to occur, this would significantly
alter Israel's calculus. Under such a scenario, the looming question for Israeli
policymakers then becomes: "to strike or not to strike." General Baidatz,
according to WikiLeaks, offered an Israeli intelligence assessment that if Syria
were able to achieve peace with security and obtain greater U.S. involvement, it
may pull away from Iran's orbit. He explained that President Bashar Assad used
his "negative assets," namely Hizbullah and Hamas, to make himself relevant and
that ultimately Assad wants it all: the Golan Heights; peace with Israel; better
relations with the U.S.; a strong relationship with Iran; and a continued
relationship with Hizbullah.
Ultimately, Gen Baidatz asserted that if Assad had to choose one thing, it would
likely be peace with Israel.
ASD Vershbow asked if Hezbollah could be sustained without Syrian support.
Baidatz acknowledged the difficulty in answering this question, but stated his
belief that it would be a gradual process before Hizbullah could completely wean
itself from the Syrian support apparatus and that, ultimately, both Hizbullah's
and Iran's flexibility would be significantly reduced. Beirut, 20 Dec 10, 14:38
WikiLeaks: Kouchner Prepared to Give Berri Key Role that US Didn't Think is
Deserved
Naharnet/Former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner surprised many by his
quick plunge into Lebanese politics, organizing a national reconciliation
process designed to secure agreement on a new president and a new national
government consistent with UNSCRs that preserve Lebanon's sovereignty and limit
Syrian (and Iranian) influence, a new WikiLeaks cable uncovered. "Our
partnership with France over Lebanon remains a top priority for the French, but
we have divergent views on the stakes involved (the French fear a return to
civil war more than a rolling back of gains made over the past two years to
limit Syrian interference) and on tactics (the French prefer to press the
Lebanese to seek a candidate of "convergence" and are reluctant to give the lead
to the March 14 majority)," said the cable dispatched from the U.S. embassy in
Paris to Washington.
"Kouchner in particular is wedded to a process that accords parliamentary
speaker Nabih Berri a prominent role in reaching a solution, partly due to
longstanding ties between the two men. He does not seem nave about Berri, but
has been prepared to accord him a key role that we do not think is deserved,"
the cable added.
It said in his last visit to Beirut, Kouchner challenged Berri to enter into
dialogue with the majority March 14 coalition "without preconditions."
"A frank discussion of the limits of our continued partnership is needed as well
as our different views of the stakes and tactics to employ," the embassy said.
"The French concede that the presidential election process will play out until
late November, which argues for Washington and Paris to stay in close and
constant contact as the various Lebanese factions seek to play us off against
the other. Beirut, 20 Dec 10, 12:39
Gemayel accuses Hizbullah of disobeying state
Kataeb leader warns that tampering with the country’s security situation will
backfire
By Elias Sakr /Daily Star staff /Naharnet
Monday, December 20, 2010
BEIRUT: Kataeb (Phalange) Party leader Amin Gemayel has said Hizbullah’s
attempts to end Lebanon’s cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)
are a masked form of disobedience against state institutions, warning the party
against resorting to force to accomplish its objectives. “What is happening
today is undeclared disobedience or preparations for future events. But from
now, we inform those concerned that any tampering with the security situation
will backfire against them,” Gemayel said Saturday. “We are not wolves nor
sheep. We are lions with the near past witnessing our parades and actions. The
arenas yearn to hear our roars. Our commitments will not change, and we will not
strike compromises over our martyrs’ souls,” Gemayel added. The former president
said despite the party’s “escalatory stances, the Kataeb regarded Hizbullah as
an “integral part of this country.” “We do not deny [Hizbullah’s] capacities or
popular representation and we insist that Lebanon cannot be built without all
its factions, including Hizbullah,” he said. “But Lebanon cannot be built along
with the state of Hizbullah. Lebanon as a nation is not seeking to unite with
another nation. Lebanon seeks to unite all its citizens under its wings and
under one Constitution,” Gemayel added. Gemayel was speaking before a large
crowd gathered at the Forum de Beirut to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the
foundation of the Kataeb party. Among the participants were representatives of
Lebanon’s top three officials, the Future Movement, the Lebanese Forces and a
large number of lawmakers, ministers and religious figures. In the front row sat
Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar, MP Nuhad al-Mashnouk and Education Minister
Hassan Mneimneh, who were representing respectively President Michel Sleiman,
Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The event, which kicked off
with the Lebanese national anthem, was followed by the Kataeb Party’s hymn after
which 2120 new members took the party’s oath. Prior to Gemayel’s speech,
representatives of the party’s 27 divisions across the country paraded on stage
while slideshows paying tribute to the party’s “martyrs” were played on giant
screens. A choir of more than 50 children stood in a cedar formation chanting
partisan songs.
Gemayel said Hizbullah, under the pretext of resisting a US-Israeli plot to
build a “new Middle East,” rejected international justice and thwarted the work
of Lebanon’s military and constitutional institutions. He added that justice
goes beyond revenge to put an end to impunity in a bid to stop future political
assassinations.
Gemayel’s eldest son, Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, was assassinated in
broad day light in 2006 in the Jdeideh area, east of Beirut.
Criticizing Hizbullah’s arsenal, Gemayel said an agreement among the Lebanese
that “Israel is an enemy state” was insufficient to build the Lebanese state.
“We should agree on a national pact … the principles of democracy, consensus and
separation of powers as well as Hizbullah’s weapons in the sense that no two
weapons should exist within one state, a state with two armies for one people,”
he said. Though he underscored Hizbullah’s role as a main constituent of
Lebanon’s political and social factions, Gemayel said the party should refrain
from seeking to establish “a state within a state” as well as serving foreign
interests, in reference to Hizbullah’s ties to Iran.
Gemayel said his party has put forward several proposals to break the cycles of
violence and political crises that Lebanon has endured over the past decades,
strategies that focus on positive neutrality. “We call for positive neutrality
without relinquishing Arabism and Arab causes, civic laws without relinquishing
religious values and beliefs, vast decentralization without establishing
confederalism,” he said.
UN special coordinator: Ghajar withdrawal won't bring Israel into compliance
with Resolution 1701
By The Daily Star /Monday, December 20, 2010
BEIRUT: The United Nation’s Special Coordinator for Lebanon said in comments
published Sunday Israel’s planned withdrawal from the northern part of the
border village of Ghajar did not entail full implementation of a UN resolution
which put an end to the 2006 summer war with Lebanon.
In an exclusive interview with Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA),
Michael Williams said while an Israeli withdrawal from northern Ghajar was a
step forward in implementing UN Resolution 1701, it did not mean that the
resolution has been implemented. “Then of course there are other issues, such as
the Israeli overflights. So it doesn’t mean 1701 has been implemented,” he said.
Williams described a potential withdrawal from Ghajar as “insufficient.” “Why is
it insufficient? Because Lebanon is still not able to reassert its authority and
its sovereignty over the northern part of the village,” he said. Willams told
the NNA that Lebanon’s three top officials expressed regrets that at the moment
that the Lebanese Army would not be able to go to the northern part of Ghajar.
In November Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the UN Security
Council of his country’s intention to withdraw from northern Ghajar. Israel
acquired Ghajar when it occupied the Syrian Golan Heights in 1967. While it
withdrew from the northern section of the border village in May 2000, it retook
it following a ground invasion during the 2006 summer war. Asked about a date
for Israel to execute its promised withdrawal from the border village, Williams
said: “As far as I am concerned, the sooner the better. But I think it is still
probably some weeks.”
The village of Ghajar, which straddles the border between south Lebanon and
Israeli-occupied Syrian territories, counts 2,200 residents, the majority of
whom hold Israeli identification papers. Many citizens have voiced concerns that
a division of the village could separate families and businesses.
Williams admitted to the NNA that the issue of residents was a “big issue” that
has yet to be resolved. He said 1,400 residents reside in the northern part of
the village, adding that the mosque and medical facilities were all located in
the southern section of the village. “These people have their rights, their
concerns and their worries, so we find a way of moving forward on this,” the UN
official said. Commenting on the political deadlock in Lebanon, Williams said
Lebanon was going through “another difficult phase.”
Tensions have mounted in Lebanon over the indictment to be issued by a UN-backed
court probing the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The
Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is widely expected to accuse Hizbullah of
committing the 2005 assassination. The party has slammed the Netherlands-based
STL an “Israeli project” and blatantly refused to cooperate with the court.
Williams expressed optimism that there was always a way out of the crisis. He
said Lebanon’s two main powerbrokers Syria and Saudi Arabia “want to find a way
forward.” “But there needs to compromise and no one party or one side can
completely monopolize,” said Williams. – The Daily Star
Roknabadi says matters in Lebanon moving in positive direction, invites Jumblatt
to visit Iran
By The Daily Star /Monday, December 20, 2010
BEIRUT: Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi said over the weekend
that “matters [in Lebanon] are heading in a positive direction” regarding the
disputed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). The Iranian envoy made his remarks
after visiting Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt at his
hometown in Mukhatra, Chouf, where he handed him an official invitation to visit
Iran. “I was pleased to visit Mr. Jumblatt, we discussed the latest developments
in the Lebanese arena, Iranian-Lebanese bilateral ties and fields of cooperation
on all levels in light of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to
Lebanon and that of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to Tehran,” said Roknabadi.
“We also tackled regional issues and their impact on Lebanon,” said the
ambassador. “I emphasize what I said earlier, which is that matters are heading
in a positive direction.”
Lebanon is witnessing a political crisis over the STL, established to try the
assassins of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Hizbullah and other March 8 parties have dismissed the court as an “Israeli
project,” designed to foment civil strife in Lebanon. The court is rumored to be
set to hand down its indictment very soon, which is widely expected to implicate
Hizbullah members.
Hizbullah, which strongly denies any involvement in the assassination, considers
that the key to uncovering the truth behind the crime lies in referring the
issue of “false witnesses,” who gave false testimonies to the UN probe and
implicated Syria, to the Judicial Council, the highest judicial authority in
Lebanon.
But the rival March 14 coalition considers the STL as the only means to bring
criminals to justice, and stresses that the issue of “false witnesses” should be
tackled by regular judiciary after the indictment is pronounced. The dispute has
paralyzed Cabinet’s sessions. Powerbrokers Syria and Saudi Arabia are trying to
reach a compromise acceptable to both sides. Iran has expressed its support for
the Arab efforts. Meanwhile, Jumblatt promised to visit Iran at the outset of
next year.
“During the toughest and most delicate circumstances, we always distinguished
between radical internal positions and Iran’s important role in supporting the
resistance and confronting Israel, we reject any comparison between the
important Iranian role and that of Israel,” said Jumblatt.
“I call upon the Arabs to benefit from the advanced positions of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, and I call for the improvement of Iranian-Arab ties … to reach
a joint stance concerning Palestine, for the sake of Muslims and Arabs,” added
the PSP leader. Jumblatt praised Roknabadi’s efforts to enhance national unity
in Lebanon.
The Chouf MP was once a staunch critic of Iran’s role in Lebanon, accusing the
Islamic Republic of turning Lebanon into a proxy battleground in its resistance
to US-led pressure on its nuclear program. Despite his improving relations with
Iran’s ally Syria, Jumblatt said several months earlier he would not visit
Tehran unless such a step was approved by Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdel-Aziz.
Roknabadi and accompanying Iranian diplomats had lunch at Jumblatt’s. – The
Daily Star
Syria, Saudi Arabia scramble to defuse tensions
UK warns deadlock in Lebanon over tribunal could soon erupt into violence
By Hussein Dakroub /Daily Star staff/Monday, December 20, 2010 /
BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia and Syria are scrambling to reach a compromise to defuse
rising political tension before an impending indictment into former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination is issued as Britain warned of
violence in Lebanon next month.
“The Saudi-Syrian bid is making progress toward reaching a major compromise
before the indictment is issued,” a source close to Parliament Speaker Nabih
Berri told The Daily Star Sunday night. Beirut MP Ammar Houri, a member of Prime
Minister Saad Hariri’s Future parliamentary bloc, also struck an upbeat note
about the outcome of the Riyadh-Damascus cooperation to resolve the crisis over
the indictment, saying the two countries’ efforts are expected to achieve
“fruitful results.”
Amid hopes of a breakthrough in the Saudi-Syrian bid, Britain warned that the
Lebanese deadlock over the indictment, which is widely expected to implicate
some Hizbullah members, might erupt into violence.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague told Sky News Sunday that Lebanon “is
one of our concerns over the coming weeks.”
“We think it’s very important that [the] tribunal does its work,” he said,
referring to the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which will
prosecute suspects in Hariri’s assassination.
Lebanon and Sudan are the “two areas in January that are most obvious at this
stage to watch for a political crisis or an outbreak of violence,” Hague said,
referring also to the January 9 referendum on South Sudan independence. “So
across the international community we must be ready to do everything we can to
assist with those countries,” he said.
Hague’s remarks conform with reports that the indictment, that was widely
expected to be released this month, has now been postponed until next month.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in an interview Friday that the
postponement of the indictment is linked to a new approach in US policy aimed to
defuse political tensions with Iran and other tension spots, including Lebanon.
The STL’s registrar Herman von Hebel told journalists at the court’s
headquarters in the Netherlands December 9 that the office of the tribunal’s
prosecutor Daniel Bellemare will send a draft indictment to the pre-trial judge
for confirmation “very, very soon.”
The report about the looming indictment has heightened political tension in the
country and led to a Cabinet paralysis and a split between the March 8 and March
14 factions over the indictment and the controversial issue of “false witnesses”
before the STL.
The Cabinet failed to settle this issue during its latest meeting Wednesday,
prompting President Michel Sleiman to defer the discussions when the ministers
of the March 8 alliance demanded a vote on the issue that has crippled the
government’s work since November 10.
Hizbullah and its allies in the March 8 alliance have demanded that Cabinet acts
on this issue, either by consensus or by a vote by referring it to the Judicial
Council, the country’s highest court. This demand was rejected by March 14
factions which fear that investigating “false witnesses” by the Judicial Council
would eventually obstruct the STL’s work.
Houri said in remarks published Sunday that the Saudi-Syria mediation bid is
making progress. In an interview with Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, Houri also said
that efforts are under way to convene the Cabinet before the Christmas and New
Year holidays.
Asked to comment on the results of the Saudi-Syrian bid, Houri said, “This bid
is going on and is heading in the right direction. It has made progress and is
heading in a way to achieve fruitful results that will reflect positively on
stability in Lebanon and on relations among internal political parties.”
He said that Hariri told a meeting of the Future bloc last Friday that he will
consult with Sleiman on the possibility of convening the Cabinet before the
holidays to discuss urgent issues, including people’s living conditions.
Speaker Berri, part of the March 8 camp, accused the March 14 factions of
crippling the government’s work by refusing to vote on referring the issue of
“false witnesses” to the Judicial Council. In an interview with the Iranian news
agency IRNA, Berri said that it was agreed to devote last Wednesday’s Cabinet
session to discussing the issue of “false witnesses” either by consensus or by a
vote.
“When consensus could not be reached, the president wanted to avoid this matter
by discussing other items [on the agenda]. The Constitution provides for
contentious issues to be put to a vote … When the opposition [March 8] ministers
proposed putting the issue to a vote, this proposal was rejected and they are
still rejecting it,” Berri said.
Berri added that the current crisis over the indictment is “a blackmail
operation by some big powers abroad and is also being exploited in the interior
to serve interests and purposes of which we are aware.”
Meanwhile, Hizbullah, which has warned that time was running out for the
Saudi-Syrian bid to break the deadlock over the indictment, is giving rival
factions more time to reach an agreement to protect Lebanon against the threat
of strife.
“We want an understanding that protects the country from the evil of strife to
which the Israelis are trying to drag some [Lebanese factions]. Therefore, we
are extending time again and again in order to see an understanding is born
before the [Israeli] enemy, through its tools in the international tribunal and
its procedures, acts to fabricate an indictment [based on] forgery, misleading,
lies and hollow allegations,” MP Mohammed Raad, head of Hizbullah’s
parliamentary bloc, told an Ashura event procession in the southern market town
of Nabatiyeh.
Raad said the indictment was aimed at undermining Lebanon’s national peace and
stability. Rather than serving Lebanon’s unity, independence and sovereignty,
this indictment serves “the interest of the Israeli enemy and the American
project in Lebanon and the region,” he said.
Raad added that Hizbullah, which has dismissed the STL as an “American-Israeli”
tool to incite strife, is extending its hands to the March 14 factions to save
the country.
“Hizbullah’s aim is to save this country from an international conspiracy that
seeks to enslave and humiliate the Lebanese, control their resources and tamper
with their future,” he said. “Our hands are extended to anyone who shares these
aims with us.”
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said he hoped that next year
would be “a good year of prosperity for all the Lebanese.”
“We implore God that the next year will be better than past years and that all
obstacles will be eliminated so that people can live in peace and calm,” Sfeir
told visitors in a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the Lebanese were capable of warding
off the threat of strife. “The Lebanese are keen on preventing strife,” Siniora
said, as reported by the NNA. “Any act that leads to the use of offensive words
or remarks that lead to sectarian tensions is rejected.”
In tandem with the Saudi-Syrian efforts, Siniora, also the leader of the
parliamentary Future bloc, said that rival Lebanese factions should sit together
and talk to each other in order to solve the crisis over the indictment.
“The Arab efforts, exerted by brotherly Syria, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
Egypt or Qatar or by the Arab League, are appreciated and supported, but they
will not replace the Lebanese efforts which are the essential efforts,” he said.
Siniora indirectly blamed March 8 factions for crippling the work of the
government and other state institutions, saying that the Cabinet must not be
taken “hostage.”
Canadian soldier, Cpl. Steve Martin, killed in a
roadside bomb in Afghanistan
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A Canadian soldier is dead following a bomb blast in the
vicinity of a major road construction project that NATO is pushing in a volatile
district of Kandahar.
Cpl. Steve Martin, 24, from 3rd Battalion Royal 22e Regiment, was killed by an
improvised explosive device, or IED, while on foot patrol early Saturday
afternoon, local time.
He died two days before his 25th birthday.
Martin was serving with Parachute Company of the 1st Battalion Royal 22e
Regiment battle group, based at CFB Valcartier, Quebec.His company deployed to
the volatile Panjwaii district last month."Our thoughts and prayers are with the
families and friends of the fallen soldier during this difficult time," said
Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner, commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan."We will not
forget the sacrifice of this soldier as we continue to bring security and hope
to the people of Kandahar province."Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a
written statement on behalf of all Canadians extending his deepest sympathies to
Martin’s family and friends."Cpl. Martin was a brave Canadian who made the
ultimate sacrifice while proudly serving his country,” the statement
said."Thanks to Canadian Forces members like him, we continue to make real
progress in Afghanistan, rebuilding the country and contributing to the peace
and security of its people.”Governor General David Johnston also issued a
statement offering his deepest sympathies to Cpl. Martin’s loved ones.
"Cpl. Martin displayed an admirable sense of duty to Canada, bringing great
pride to his unit and to the Forces as a whole,” he wrote.Johnston added that
with Martin’s death he now feels the weight of his new responsibilities as
commander-in-chief of Canada’s Armed Forces.Martin was on patrol near a road
that NATO forces are carving in the horn of Panjwaii, an area that until
recently was dominated by the Taliban and used as a staging point for attacks
towards the provincial capital.Although most insurgent fighters fled the area
during an initial American assault, some bomb-laying cells have continued to
operate in the region as tanks and graders lay down the gravel
thoroughfare.There have been daily reports of the Taliban trying to sprinkle the
path ahead of the troops with bombs.Saturday's attack shattered a period of
relative calm in the troubled Panjwaii district, where most of Canada's troops
are based.
It is the first combat death the army has suffered since Cpl. Brian Pinksen died
of wounds in hospital on Aug. 26, four days after being caught in a roadside
bombing.
Although the onset of winter has meant a decline in attacks, the army has still
suffered a number of wounded.The Defence Department, however, refuses to report
on injuries, claiming that information is an operational secret.Anecdotally, it
is known that at least three soldiers have been wounded since the Valcartier,
Que. based Van Doo battle group deployed.
The military would not say if anyone else was wounded in the bombing that
claimed Martin's life.Earlier this month, Canadian and Afghan troops were
hunting a two man bomb-making team in the general area of the attack that killed
Martin. The soldiers conducted a clearing operation meant to flush them out
after two others accidentally killed themselves while hanging an explosive in a
tree.To date, 154 Canadian soldiers have died as a result of the Afghan mission.
The figure includes combat deaths, suicides and one death by natural causes.
The bombing that killed Cpl. Martin preceded a suicide attack Saturday on the
vehicle of an Afghan district chief in the Canadian area of operations.
The attack on District Governor Hamdullah Nazik happened when a car packed with
explosives tried to ram his vehicle as he drove home. The bomber missed and
plowed into bystanders killing two people, including a child, and wounding 11
others.Nazik was unharmed.Last week, a suicide car bomber struck at the gates of
an American outpost in Howz-e-Madad, in Zharey district, killing six soldiers.
That area is just across the Arghandab River from Canadian positions.The Taliban
vowed to keep up a winter campaign against NATO forces in southern Afghanistan
and last month issued a rare appeal for funds.
Ahmadinejad cuts subsidies, frees $20 bn for nuclear program, prestige boost
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report December 20, 2010,
The $20 billion dollars which Western economists estimate are freed up by
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's deep cuts of state subsidies will help cushion
the country's nuclear program against the slowdown caused by the international
sanctions imposed this year by the UN, the US and European countries,
debkafile's Iranian sources report. They will also make more cash available for
the president's personal political plans.
Sunday, Dec. 20, as fuel prices surged 400-900 percent, together with bread and
cooking oil, security forces and police flooded the streets of Tehran and other
cities to ward off protests like the 2007 gas riots against the harsh austerity
program measures Ahmadinejad has introduced to bypass international sanctions.
One of world's richest nations in oil, gas and other natural resources, has an
impoverished population whose standard of living has plunged once again.
Notwithstanding the denials of the rulers of the Islamic Republic, international
sanctions have slashed national income and are pinching the economy.
In the outgoing year, oil revenues have declined by 40 percent, natural gas
exports are facing growing obstacles and the Obama administration has managed to
seriously curtail Iran's international financial and banking activities. Tehran
faces price hikes for its imports and is driven to drop the prices of its
exports.
Gas for cars is hardest hit, forcing Ahmadijead to order Iran's backward
petrochemical industry to divert production to domestic consumption. The poor
quality of its output has caused spreading pollution and severe wear and tear on
vehicles. The air pollution in Iranian cities is so bad that the government had
to admit it was the cause of 3,500 deaths in 2010 and it is rumored to have
increased the prevalence of cancer in Iran's cities.
The price of gas at the fuel pump has increased fourfold (from 100 to 400 Tuman
per liter) and is rationed to 50 liters a month per private vehicle. Every liter
over this quota costs 700 Tuman (1,000 Tuman equal one dollar). This may sound
cheap but not when compared with an average income of $400 per month and the
vast distances many need to travel to work.
Heavy fuel for taxis, buses and trucks has increased nine-fold for a quota
allocation and 23 times outside the quota. The prices of electricity and water
have soared tenfold. Even medicines have suffered from slashed subsidies except
for the most basic items and the price of breads has risen 400 percent
overnight.
Except for the extremely rich, no class of society has escaped the president's
whirling economic axe.
To quiet the grumbling, he ordered the equivalent of $82 paid out two months for
every family member (of Iran's 75 million inhabitants) to help them overcome
price increases. The government undertook to open bank accounts for citizens
lacking them. Economists say this sum is ludicrous and by January 2011, families
which tend to be large in Iran, will not be able to afford to buy bread.
Will the people rise up against these harsh measures and topple the government?
debkafile's Iranian experts note that the only times popular protests have ever
posed a real threat to the regime were those sparked by economic distress, less
over human rights or political freedoms. At the same time, this regime has
forestalled extreme protests by mass detentions of likely political
troublemakers which are still ongoing.
The clerics have pronounced would-be opponents of the new economic measures
enemies of Islam. Known opposition leaders such as Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein
Mousavi live under house arrest and face worse penalties for any attempt to
raise street protests against the regime. Exiled groups are too cut off to be
effrective.
In addressing the nation Sunday, Ahmadinejad declared that the Iran's oil and
gas resources belong to the Invisible Imam (Messiah), whose coming is imminent,
and must not be squandered.
Two years ago, he sacked all the economists who warned him against reckless
policies which have already plunged Iran into 20 percent inflation even before
the new measures. He now claims he is saving $20 billion with his austerity
program, but the ordinary citizen wonders what he is doing with the saved money.
No answer will be forthcoming because the president forced the Majlis to forego
supervision over this sum, giving him a free hand to spend it at will on his pet
projects – arming Iran with a nuclear bomb and boosting his personal standing to
a degree that no one dare challenge his authority
Egypt uncovers Israel 'spy ring'
Attorney working for Egyptian state security service says two Israelis, Egyptian
businessman established spy ring in order to kidnap tourists, harm Egypt's
economy; adds Israelis fled but Egyptian man in custody
Reuters Latest Update: 12.20.10, 14:34 / Israel News
Egypt has uncovered a spy ring that included two Israelis and an Egyptian
businessman helping them recruit operatives working for telecoms companies,
according to a government official and state security documents.
"State security prosecutors have announced a spying network that included an
Egyptian and two Israelis," said Hicham Badawi, an attorney in the Egyptian
state security service.
According to a document shown to reporters by Badawi on Monday, security
officials arrested the 37-year-old Egyptian, the owner of an import-export firm,
in August on charges of spying for Israel in cooperation with the two Israelis,
who had already left Egypt.
It alleged the Egyptian accepted $37,000 in exchange for providing them with
information about Egyptians working in telecommunications companies who could be
recruited by the spy ring in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon.
"The general prosecutor ordered the transfer of three accused persons, who
included two Israeli fugitives and one detained Egyptian, to be sent ... before
the emergency state security supreme criminal court on the charges of spying for
Israel and harming the country's national interests," Egypt's state news agency
MENA reported.
Israel denied knowledge of the case. "We are not familiar with the charges,"
said Israeli Foreign Ministry Yigal Palmor. "We will have to look into it in
order to understand what this is all about." Earlier an Egyptian security
official said four locals were arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel and
plotting to kidnap of tourists to harm Egypt's economy.
The official revealed that the four suspects allegedly set up offices in Egypt,
Britain, Israel, and Gaza to record officials' phone conversations and collect
information about Japanese and Chinese tourists visiting the Sinai Peninsula.
The plan, according to the official, was for agents of Israel to then briefly
kidnap the tourists, disrupting the Egypt's vital tourism sector and damaging
the economy.
Detained since May, the suspects have given detailed confessions about the case
and authorities have notified Interpol about the two Israeli officers working as
their handlers, the official said.
The suspects are facing charges of espionage and forming a terrorist cell.