LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِNovember
16/2010
Bible Of The
Day
Peter's Second Letter
03/01-18/the promise for God's return
3:1 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in
both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you; 3:2 that you should
remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the
commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior: 3:3 knowing this first,
that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, 3:4 and
saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers
fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the
creation.” 3:5 For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of
old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God; 3:6 by
which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 3:7
But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored
up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of
ungodly men. 3:8 But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with
the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 3:9 The Lord is
not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us,
not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with
fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 3:11
Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of
people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 3:12 looking for and
earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning
heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 3:13 But,
according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which
righteousness dwells. 3:14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these
things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his
sight. 3:15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved
brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; 3:16 as
also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there
are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled
twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 3:17
You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being
carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.
3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To
him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Free Opinions,
Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Canada Concerned by Reports of
Death Sentence for Blasphemy in Pakistan/November
15/10
State of injustice/Now
Lebanon/November 15/10
Loyalty to the Resistance bloc
leader MP Mohammad Raad threatens the Lebanese/NNA/November 15/10
Latest News
Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for November
15/10
American-Saudi Movie Accuses Hizbullah of Hariri's Murder/Naharnet
Hariri holds talks with Russian
officials/Now Lebanon
Sfeir:
Allowing Obstruction of STL is Like Exonerating Criminal/Naharnet
Hezbollah's Nawwaf Moussawi:
Hezbollah ready to confront STL indictment/Now Lebanon
5-Point Compromise in Which Hariri
Likely to Declare Hizbullah Innocence/Naharnet
MP, Adwan: Syrian-Saudi efforts are
not harmful/Now Lebanon
Sami Gemayel: We must not allow
March 8 to drag us wherever they want/Now Lebanon
Top Secret Report Submitted by
Police Intelligence to UN Investigation Committee/Naharnet
King Abdullah Advisor in Damascus
Soon to Draft Final Solution to STL Crisis/Naharnet
Berri:
Should Follow up on Saudi-Syrian Efforts and Stay Away from Tense Political
Rhetoric/Naharnet
Sayyed: Hariri Made
Incorrect Statements on False Witnesses/Naharnet
Hizbullah: Feltman,
Kouchner Informed Lebanese Officials that Israel is Serious in its Threats/Naharnet
Moussawi: No One Can
Threaten Nahhas, Whoever Harms him Harms us/Naharnet
Jumblat, Aoun on Same
Plane to Paris/Naharnet
Harb: We Won't Accept a
Politicized Indictment against Hizbullah/Naharnet
Hariri to Discuss
Tribunal, Arms with Russian Officials/Naharnet
Mitri: Cabinet Vote on
False Witnesses is Not Possible/Naharnet
Muallem: No One Can
Sabotage Syrian-Saudi Effort to Maintain Lebanon Stability/Naharnet
Muslim Cleric Omar Bakri
Arrested in Tripoli/Naharnet
Hizbullah-Saniora Battle
Rages On over 2006 War/Naharnet
Cassese: I'll Submit
Report on Nasrallah's Stance to Ban, He Decides How to Approach Security Council/Naharnet
American-Saudi Movie
Accuses Hizbullah of Hariri's Murder
Naharnet/An influential side in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia as well as in an Arab
and European state has decided to provide assistance in the production of a
documentary on former PM Rafik Hariri's assassination. Al-Akhbar newspaper on
Monday classified as "a professional act" the film which accuses Hizbullah of
Hariri's murder. It said the London-based Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed company ORTV
was entrusted with producing the film which was completed in 2009 after more
than a year of work. Al-Akhbar said the documentary revolves around the same
idea: Hizbullah's involvement in the crime. Beirut, 15 Nov 10, 11:08
Sfeir heads to Vatican
November 15, 2010 /Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir flew to the
Vatican on Monday morning to participate in the promotion of new cardinals
appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.-NOW
Lebanon
Sfeir: Allowing Obstruction of STL is Like Exonerating Criminal
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir stated on Monday that allowing the
obstruction of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is like exonerating the criminal
and granting him permission to continue his murders because justice will not
apprehend him. The patriarch had also met with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura
Connelly during which current developments were discussed. She left the meeting
without issuing a statement. Beirut, 15 Nov 10, 13:34
Sami Gemayel: We must not allow March 8 to drag us wherever they want
November 14, 2010 /“We must not allow the [March 8 coalition] to drag us
wherever they want to,” Kataeb bloc MP Sami Gemayel told MTV on Sunday. “We
should no longer be engaged in arguments related to the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon (STL),” Gemayel also said, adding that the issue of “false witnesses” is
an STL matter. The MP called on President Michel Sleiman, Lebanese army
commander General Jean Kahwaji and Defense Minister Elias al-Murr to give their
orders to the related authorities to be decisive in confronting any attempts to
sabotage security in the country. March 8 politicians have called for the
cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the issue of witnesses
who gave unreliable testimonies to the investigation of former Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination, however, March 14 figures have said that the
regular judiciary should handle the matter.
Tension is high in Lebanon amid unconfirmed reports that the tribunal will soon
issue its indictment in its investigation of the 2005 assassination of former
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. There are fears that should the court indict
Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the 2008 May
Events – when gunmen led by the party took over half of Beirut.
-NOW Lebanon
5-Point Compromise
in Which Hariri Likely to Declare Hizbullah Innocence
Naharnet/edicated efforts by Syria and Saudi Arabia have reportedly produced a
five-point compromise plan in which Prime Minster Saad Hariri is likely to
declare Hizbullah's innocence in ex-PM Rafik Hariri's assassination. As-Safir
newspaper, citing well-informed political sources, said Monday that the plan
allows Hariri to declare Hizbullah's innocence right after issuance of the
indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The sources said the plan, which
is to be carried out after Eid al-Adha holiday, seeks to strengthen calm in
Lebanon so that the Lebanese would absorb the shock of the indictment. It also
calls for the referral of the false witnesses' issue to the ordinary Lebanese
judiciary pending content of the indictment which could allow the expansion of
the false witnesses' issue or have the Government forward it to the Judicial
Council. The plan offers a meeting between Hariri and Hizbullah chief Sayyed
Hasaan Nasrallah that would contribute to defusing tension over the indictment.
Hariri would also adopt a pleasing position hailing the Resistance role in the
liberation of Lebanon and in protecting Lebanon against Israeli aggression.
Beirut, 15 Nov 10, 07:23
Top Secret Report Submitted by Police
Intelligence to UN Investigation Committee
Naharnet/Lebanese police intelligence bureau has reportedly submitted a "top
secret" report to the U.N. investigation committee probing ex-PM Rafik Hariri's
assassination.
The report includes "important" information related to tracking down and
collecting data on Hizbullah leaders published in 2005, al-Akhbar newspaper said
Monday.
It said in addition to the "well-documented" effort to create a vision for the
Resistance's military and security organizational structure, there is a detailed
report about the telecommunications' issue that was handed over to the
international investigation committee which was headed by Judge Serge Brammertz
at the time. Al-Akhbar said the 28-page report, a copy of which was made
available to the newspaper, has been classified as "top secret." It said the
report, which includes phone numbers, was issued by the intelligence bureau of
the Internal Security Forces June 30, 2006. Beirut, 15 Nov 10, 09:05
King Abdullah Advisor in Damascus Soon to Draft Final Solution to STL Crisis
Naharnet/Outcome of Syrian-Saudi mediation efforts are expected to emerge before
the end of November, As-Safir newspaper, citing well-informed sources, reported
Monday.
It said Saudi King Abdullah's advisor is likely to visit Damascus soon to put
the final touches on the solution to the crisis over the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon. Beirut, 15 Nov 10, 11:00
Berri: Should Follow up on Saudi-Syrian Efforts and Stay Away from Tense
Political Rhetoric
Naharnet/House Speaker Nabih Berri called on Monday all Lebanese to prepare the
suitable atmosphere needed to accompany the Saudi-Syrian efforts that are aimed
at affirming stability in Lebanon on all levels.He told reporters that achieving
the right atmosphere requires staying clear of tense political rhetoric that
would serve to deepen the divide among the Lebanese. Beirut, 15 Nov 10, 15:46
Sayyed: Hariri Made
Incorrect Statements on False Witnesses
Naharnet/Major General Jamil Sayyed stated on Monday that Prime Minister Saad
Hariri made incorrect statements on the false witnesses, during which he said
that the witnesses only include four Syrians.He said in a statement General
Prosecutor Saeed Mirza had repeatedly refused to prosecute them, adding that he
had also prevented Judges Elias Eid and Saqr Saqr from doing so as well, which
is a violation of Lebanese criminal law. Beirut, 15 Nov 10, 15:00
Hizbullah: Feltman, Kouchner Informed Lebanese Officials that Israel is Serious
in its Threats
Naharnet/Hizbullah MP Kamel al-Rifai stated that U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State for Near East Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, French Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner, and U.S. Senator John Kerry had informed Lebanese officials during
their recent visits to Lebanon that Israel is serious in its threats against the
country.
He told the daily Asharq al-Awsat Monday that the latest information indicates
that the American administration gave Israel the green light to do as it pleases
in Lebanon, adding that Kerry sent this message to the Syrian leadership.The MP
interpreted this as a sign of a U.S. agenda against the resistance in Lebanon
and Palestine to be executed through Israel.
"The Resistance will not grant Israel an excuse to launch an offensive, even
though it does not need justifications for its wars," Rifai added. Beirut, 15
Nov 10, 14:33
Moussawi: No One Can Threaten Nahhas, Whoever Harms him Harms us
Naharnet/Hizbullah MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi stated on Monday that the party
supports Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas, saying: "No one can
threaten Nahhas and whoever harms him, harms us."He revealed to al-Manar TV that
Hizbullah will soon issue a statement against the campaign the minister is being
subject to.The MP repeated the party's accusation against former Prime Minister
Fouad Saniora in which it alleges that he sought to prolong the July 2006 war in
order to allow Israel to defeat Hizbullah.Moussawi called on Saniora "to have
the courage to repeat what he used to state before Cabinet during the war."
Beirut, 15 Nov 10, 13:50
Jumblat, Aoun on Same Plane to Paris
Naharnet/Druze leader Walid Jumblat was on the same plane together with Free
Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun who arrived in Paris late Sunday.
On Monday, Aoun is scheduled to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Jumblat
had said in statements made before his visit to France that the situation in
Lebanon is "very critical", which requires all political forces to act
vigilantly and "be aware of the size of the dangers facing Lebanon and the
region." "There are political talks in regional capitals concerned with the
situation in Lebanon, but that does not eliminate the Lebanese' responsibility
in settling disputes and ongoing tensions," Jumblat told the Iranian news agency
IRNA. Addressing the regional scene, he said that despite U.S. President Barack
Obama's positive intentions, the American administration is cornered by Zionist
lobbies, "which makes finding a settlement in the region almost impossible."
Asked about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the Druze leader said: "Justice
and stability cannot be separated and we cannot address the tribunal without
taking into consideration the various regional and international developments."
Assessing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad's recent visit to Lebanon,
Jumblat said: "Iran has stood by Lebanon in the darkest times … and there is no
doubt that economic cooperation can be bolstered between the two sides in
several fields." Addressing his ties with Iran, he stated that he has restored
his old relationship with it after a long period of separation, adding that his
visit to Tehran will take place at the appropriate time. Beirut, 15 Nov 10,
07:01
Harb: We Won't Accept a Politicized Indictment against Hizbullah
Naharnet/Labor Minister Butros Harb stated on Monday that the March 14 forces
"will not accept stabbing Hizbullah in the back", saying that they will reject a
politicized indictment against it.He held the opposition responsible for
paralyzing the government through its policy of imposing its positions over all
else.The minister stressed to Future News that Lebanon cannot be governed in
this manner, adding that it's unfortunate that the government does not concern
itself with pledges it made in its ministerial statement. Beirut, 15 Nov 10,
13:18
Mitri: Cabinet Vote on False Witnesses is Not Possible
Naharnet/Information Minister Tareq Mitri said a Cabinet vote on the false
witnesses' issue was not possible. He said the Lebanon crisis did not reach an
extent where it is going to explode as Free Patriotic Movement leader has
hinted."This is what appears to the public, but we don't know what hidden,"
Mitri said in remarks published Monday by Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. He noted
that despite talk about a crisis "there remains a window for a solution,"
pointing to Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's recent remarks in which
he spoke of "very serious" Syrian-Saudi efforts to mediate a solution to the
crisis over the upcoming indictments in the Hariri assassination. Mitri stressed
the importance of Syrian-Saudi efforts which he said were accompanied by
internal efforts, particularly by President Michel Suleiman. Beirut, 15 Nov 10,
08:06
Muallem: No One Can Sabotage Syrian-Saudi Effort to Maintain Lebanon Stability
Naharnet/Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Sunday confirmed ongoing
Syrian-Saudi efforts to maintain Lebanon stability."Lebanon's stability is part
of the security and stability of Syria," Muallem told a conference. "Syria is
Lebanon's direct neighbor. And President Bashar al-Assad gives Lebanon's
stability great importance," he said, pointing to Syrian-Saudi "coordination" in
this regard. Damascus and Riyadh are engaged in efforts to mediate a solution to
the crisis over the upcoming indictments in the assassination of ex-PM Rafik
Hariri. "Anyone who tries to sabotage this effort will not succeed," he warned.
Muallem did not rule out an Egyptian role in trying to find a solution to the
Lebanon crisis. Beirut, 14 Nov 10, 10:53
New Opinion: State of injustice
November 15, 2010
Now Lebanon/Last week General Security beat and then deported an Iraqi refugee
after holding him in detention for months, even after a judge had ordered his
release. Sadly, this is neither the first time, nor likely the last, that such a
shameful turn of events comes to pass. General Security’s policy of detaining,
beating and deporting refugees – seemingly endorsed by a government that has yet
to condemn the policy or censure those who execute it – violates Lebanon’s
constitution and makes a mockery of the judiciary.
NGOs that monitor and work with refugees report that on November 10, General
Security officers beat Ala As-Sayed, a 24-year-old Iraqi refugee who was
recognized by UNHCR, until he lost consciousness. When he came to, they put him
on an airplane and sent him home to an uncertain future in his war-ravaged
country. Sayed was forcibly deported after repeatedly refusing to sign
“voluntary” repatriation documents while he was in General Security’s custody.
Parliament’s Human Rights Committee is supposed to be writing a national action
plan to improve the way the country treats refugees, but the committee has not
met for months, and recognized refugees and asylum seekers languish in
detention, enduring beatings and deportation like Sayed.
Defenders of Lebanon’s treatment of refugees note that because Lebanon never
signed the UN’s 1951 Convention on Refugees or its 1967 protocol, it is not an
asylum country. Therefore, Lebanon is allowed to treat asylum seekers as illegal
immigrants. While it may be true that Lebanon did not sign the convention,
Paragraph B of Lebanon’s constitution says the country “abides” by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
Article 9 of the declaration says “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary
arrest, detention or exile.” The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – which
has condemned Lebanon – partially defines arbitrary detention as “when a person
is kept in detention after the completion of their prison sentence.”
The Lebanese Judiciary ordered Sayed’s release in March of this year, but he was
not released until his forced deportation last week. As of mid-September, there
were 45 refugees and asylum seekers detained in Lebanon beyond the completion of
their sentences, six of whom, like Sayed, had Lebanese judges specifically order
their release, according to UNHCR.
That General Security thumbs at its nose at the judiciary should give us all
pause. Not only do these policies clearly contradict Lebanon’s commitment to
upholding human rights – and by extension violate the country’s constitution –
they also undermine the concept of the Rule of Law, a fundamental base on which
any functioning state must be built.
How do those in power expect the people to have any respect for a country where
judicial authorities and the constitution are simply disregarded?
General Security – and the political class who refuse to reign it in – must not
be allowed to continue acting above and beyond the law. Giving a security
apparatus carte blanche to overrule the judiciary is a recipe for disaster.
Without laws and a respected – as well as respectable – judiciary, there is
little hope for building the state so many claim they want to build.
It is surprising and supremely disappointing that the opposition – which claims
to value resistance against “Israeli-American projects” – has not said a word
about Lebanon’s deplorable treatment of the victims of the American-led invasion
of Iraq, thought it never misses a chance to condemn the war. It is equally
reprehensible that the majority, which talks ceaselessly about respecting state
institutions, sits idly by as law and order are treated with such disdain.Until
General Security submits to the law – and begins to treat human beings with the
rights and dignity the constitution recognizes they all deserve – this is yet
one more reason to be despondent about this country’s chances of becoming a
state.
Nawwaf Moussawi: Hezbollah ready to confront STL indictment
November 15, 2010 /“Hezbollah has prepared various options to confront fallout
from the [Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)] indictment, and we are fully
prepared to confront any possibility,” Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf
al-Moussawi said Monday. “Whoever arms himself with a forged indictment is
threatening Hezbollah, and whoever calls for dialogue must first leave the
counterfeit and oppressive accusation,” Moussawi told Al-Manar television.
Moussawi also called for “the formation of an Arab investigative commission, to
which all information will be given about the background of the Israel-American
aggression in July 2006, and about the collusion that happened in the false
witnesses plot.” He added that he has written a three-page response to former
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, but “one of the higher leaders asked me not to
stoop to this level.” Moussawi also said that implementation of the Taif Accord
is being hampered by the fact that “33 percent of the Sunnis are not represented
in parliament, because the Future Movement at most represents 66 percent [of the
Sunnis], and even this is an exaggeration.” Tension is high in Lebanon amid
unconfirmed reports that the STL will soon issue its indictment in its
investigation of the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
In a Thursday speech, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said
that Hezbollah will "cut off the hand" of anyone who tries to arrest any of its
members in the case. In the same speech, Nasrallah also said that former
Siniora’s cabinet colluded with Israel and worked to delay the July 2006 war’s
end. Siniora said Friday that Nasrallah’s statements were inaccurate, then fired
back again on Saturday when Moussawi repeated the allegation.-NOW Lebanon
Loyalty to the Resistance bloc leader MP Mohammad Raad threatens the Lebanese
November 15, 2010 /On November 14, the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA)
carried the following report:
Hezbollah organized two ceremonies in the Mleeta Jihadist touristic site and the
town of Adchit in Nabatiyeh where the memorials of Martyr Ali Saleh, the
defeater of the legend of the Israeli Merkava tank, and the other martyrs of the
town were unveiled in the presence of the families of the martyrs. During the
ceremony, Loyalty to the Resistance bloc leader MP Mohammad Raad stated, “Those
conspiring against us and against our country and people are aware of the extent
of our commitment [to the resistance course] and are trying to undermine our
Jihad and our path using terrorization and incitements at times, strife at
others or even fabricated accusations which are acting as knives in our backs.
However, these methods will not undermine our commitment to the resistance
because this choice protected our existence, forced the enemy to fear us and
taught all the arrogant powers to take into consideration the fact that the
Lebanese people cannot be harmed or their determination diminished with
pressures, invasions and occupation. We are masters in our own land. We are free
and honorable and it is the resistance which upheld all this glory. And since
the resistance is the one feared by the enemy who always takes its reaction into
account, it constitutes a defense power for our country, dignity and independent
national decision.
[Those seeking sovereignty and independence in the diplomatic hallways of the
Western and arrogant powers] are linking Lebanon to the will of these states and
powers that want to pillage our wealth and control our fate. However, the one
wagering on the will of its resisting people is the one capable of imposing the
equation that would serve the interests of the Lebanese and the populations of
the region with all confidence and modesty. The Resistance in Lebanon toppled
the New Middle East project and buried it during the July War. It is the one
that defended all the capitals of the Arabs and Muslims. Had the enemy been able
to use Lebanon as a gateway for the New Middle East project, the entire
political map in our Arab and Islamic world would have changed. However, the
Resistance fighters blocked the way before humiliation and submission which
would have been seen due to the collapse of the wills of the regimes in our
region, but also due to political powers that wagered on humiliating settlements
and infertile negotiations to regain their dignity and some of their occupied
lands.
[All those who relied on direct talks failed to even get] a commitment from the
enemy to discontinue the settlement activities during the negotiations.
Consequently, the Israeli enemy is trying to impose new facts on the ground, is
expanding the settlements and building new ones and calling on the Arab
negotiators to resume the talks and recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli
occupation of Palestine to get the recognition of the Jewish character of the
state of Israel. In the meantime, the Resistance deterred the Israeli enemy
which has no regard for any power around the world except for the resistance in
Lebanon.
Neither the international resolutions and the UN charters nor human principles,
morals and values are preventing the enemy from attacking Lebanon. Today, the
only ones deterring it are those who defeated its attack and the readiness of
the Resistance which is awaiting the joyful moment in which the enemy will
commit any foolish act against Lebanon. The enemy is probably taking into
consideration the fact that any war might be the last step in the history of its
entity since it will not be able to assume its failure once again. The
Resistance will certainly come out victorious from any new confrontation and
this is a promise from God. It would not harm the Resistance if some of those
wagering on Western projects to control Lebanon’s fate were to cast fabricated
accusations affecting its reputation, because our resistance is way too
honorable and pure to see the blood of its fighters and martyrs soiled by those
collaborators.
We are giving a chance to an effort to settle the situation and uphold Lebanon’s
stability based on the non-harming of the Resistance and the non-acceptance of
any accusation made against it, and we hope that this effort will lead to
positive results. At the same time, we are very sorry to see this Resistance,
which offered what is most precious to it for this country and the dignity of
all the Lebanese, being targeted at the level of its reputation by Lebanese. We
hope that the effort to spare Lebanon from a crisis with unforeseen results will
be fruitful, but also say – with all confidence – that we will not undertake
prohibited acts and that our options are open and will have specific goals that
will be reached easily and rapidly in order to protect the resistance and spare
the country Sunni-Shia strife or a clash between the Resistance and what the
others want. Still, our options will be clear and decisive if the others were to
conduct any miscalculation, and we hope they will not make that grave mistake.
If our crime is that we faced, resisted against and defeated the occupation, the
others must give us medals of honor, pride and patriotism... We do not trade
with these words on the streets of Beirut which witnessed development thanks to
our steadfastness and our defense of Lebanon and its soil… We did not ask for a
price and we will not ask that we be thanked or compensated. However, we will
not allow some to align behind the project of the enemy – whether intentionally
or unintentionally – and blame us for what we have done as though we implicated
the country when we secured its sovereignty and independence. If they want a
weak Lebanon, they will see it transformed into a tool in the hands of the
arrogant powers and put on sale in their markets. As for the Lebanese people,
they will be transformed into servants for their projects and interests.
We want a strong and powerful Lebanon that holds its own decision-making powers
and can defend its sovereignty, with strong people who are ready to maintain its
existence and role in the regional and international equation… We have offered
pure blood for that purpose and will not allow anyone – no matter how high up he
may be – to soil the purity of this blood, neither with a fabricated accusation
nor with an indictment being used as a knife to stab the Resistance in the back…
We thus warn whoever tries to betray our path or stab us in the back that we are
capable of responding to this stab with a much more painful one.”
Adwan: Syrian-Saudi efforts are not harmful
November 14, 2010 /Lebanese Forces bloc MP George Adwan told LBCI television on
Sunday that the March 14 coalition does not think that Syrian-Saudi relations
are harmful, adding that results from last summer’s summit were reflected
largely by stability in Lebanon. “How can we be upset by an attempt that
contributes to stability?,” Adwan asked, adding that the alliance’s relations
with other countries are based upon Lebanon’s interests. Adwan also said that
the “false witnesses” cannot be tried unless there are certain documents, and
added that it is not possible to attain these documents. March 8 politicians
have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the
issue of witnesses who gave unreliable testimonies to the investigation of
former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination, however, March 14
figures have said that the regular judiciary should handle the matter.
In July, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
held a summit with President Michel Sleiman in Baabda. Abdul Aziz and Assad
urged Lebanese parties during their Lebanon visit to avoid resorting to violence
in the face of mounting political tension in the country.-NOW Lebanon
Hariri holds talks with Russian officials
November 15, 2010 /Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Defense Minister Elias Murr
met on Monday morning in Moscow with Mikhail Dmitriyev, director of Russia's
Federal Service for Military Technical Collaboration, to discuss bilateral
military cooperation and Russian military aid to Lebanon.Hariri also met with
the head of Russian oil giant Lukoil, Sergei Chaplygin, to discuss the company’s
investments and operations in Lebanon, according to a statement from the PM’s
office. Hariri will meet with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday
evening, the statement added. The Lebanese premier is in Moscow on an official
state visit. -NOW Lebanon
Canada Concerned by Reports of Death Sentence for Blasphemy in Pakistan
http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2010/362.aspx
(No. 362 - November 14, 2010 - 5:30 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement expressing
Canada’s concern over reports that a Pakistani woman has been sentenced to death
for blasphemy:
“Canada is deeply concerned over Asia Bibi’s death sentence for blasphemy,
issued by a local court in Pakistan.
“Canada continues to call on Pakistan to repeal laws criminalizing blasphemy,
which restrict freedom of religion and expression and have disproportionately
targeted religious minorities.”
The promotion and protection of human rights are an integral part of Canada’s
foreign policy. Canada stands up for human rights and takes principled positions
on important issues to promote freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of
law.
“Canadian officials will continue to urge the Pakistani authorities to ensure
equal rights and protection for members of minority communities,” said Minister
Cannon.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jacques Labrie
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874