LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِMarch
09/2011
Bible Of The
Day
The Good News According to Matthew
6/5-14: “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love
to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they
may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your
door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret
will reward you openly. 6:7 In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the
Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 6:8
Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before
you ask him. 6:9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept
holy. 6:10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on
earth. 6:11 Give us today our daily bread. 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also
forgive our debtors. 6:13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the
evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. 6:15 But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will
your Father forgive your trespasses".
Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for March
08/11
Hariri after Meeting Sfeir: He
Opposed War and Led Lebanon to Safety
Obama
builds up US-NATO military option for Libya/DEBKAfile
The view from Tehran: Iran's Lebanon policy in
Nasrallah's hands/Daily Star
Lebanon's country-risk ranking slips/Daily Star
Hariri Urges Turnout against 'Coups, Assassinations Tyranny/Naharnet
Williams Meets Hariri,
Aoun: U.N. Expects New Cabinet to Continue on Respecting International
Obligations/Naharnet
Berri:
Army-People-Resistance Formula Exists Despite Hariri's Rejection/Naharnet
Hariri after Meeting Sfeir:
He Opposed War and Led Lebanon to Safety/Naharnet
Hizbullah: March 14
Campaign Against Arms Leads to 'Unlimited Strife'/Naharnet
France Questioning
Lebanese Man over Promotion of Gadhafi's Image/Naharnet
Gemayel Calls for
Participation in March 14 Rally: We'll Never Let the Blood of our Martyrs Go in
Vain/Naharnet
Hariri Urges Turnout
against 'Coups, Assassinations, Tyranny'/Naharnet
Connelly: World to Assess
Relationship with Miqati's Cabinet Based on its Make-up/Naharnet
Lebanon Requests 'Maritime Blue
Line,' Israel Mulling Answer/Naharnet
Miqati Keen on Forming Cabinet
Suitable for the State, Rejects Abandoning Commitment to Tribunal/Naharnet
Lebanon Requests 'Maritime Blue
Line,' Israel Mulling Answer/Naharnet
Jumblat Accuses March 14 of
Taking Lebanon into 'War of Civilizations'/Naharnet
France Questioning Lebanese Man
over Promotion of Gadhafi's Image/Naharnet
Lebanon
Requests 'Maritime Blue Line,' Israel Mulling Answer
Naharnet/Lebanon has proposed the demarcation of its maritime border with Israel
during a tripartite meeting held at the UNIFIL headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura.
"Maintaining peace and stability was the goal of this tripartite meeting and I
am happy that we were able to address all the issues in a constructive
atmosphere," UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas said Monday after
chairing the meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli armies.
However, As Safir daily said Tuesday that the Lebanese army representative, Maj.
Gen. Abdelrahman Shehaitli, called for the demarcation of the maritime border
similar to the U.N.-drawn Blue Line that separates southern Lebanon and northern
Israel.
Shehaitli asked Asarta to carry the Lebanese request to the U.N. to establish a
"maritime Blue Line" that would help Lebanon control any violation of its
territorial waters.
As Safir said that the Israeli army representative promised to reply to the
Lebanese request during the next tripartite meeting. The Central News Agency
quoted a security source as saying that the conferees also discussed the
importance of Israel's pullout from the northern part of the border village of
Ghajar in compliance with U.N. Security Council resolution 1701. "The UNIFIL
representatives stressed during the meeting on the importance of demarcating the
Blue Line," the source said. Beirut, 08 Mar 11,
Hariri after Meeting Sfeir: He Opposed War and Led Lebanon
to Safety
Naharnet/Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri commended on Tuesday outgoing
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir's positions on various national issues in
Lebanon, describing him as "Lebanon's conscience who always gave us advice on
the country's future."He said after holding a closed-door meeting with Sfeir at
Bkirki: "The patriarch blessed the Taif Accord, opposed the civil war and led
Lebanon to safety.""He always supported justice and Lebanon's independence and
sovereignty, never discriminating between the Lebanese," he added."All he wants
is the pursuit of justice, independence, freedom, and democracy for all the
Lebanese, while stressing the accord between Christians and Muslims," Hariri
continued. Beirut, 08 Mar 11,
Miqati Keen on Forming Cabinet Suitable for the State, Rejects Abandoning
Commitment to Tribunal
Naharnet/Premier-designate Najib Miqati expressed regret at the March 14
coalition's decision to boycott the new government but said he would form a
cabinet that is worthy of representing the state. In remarks to An Nahar daily
published Monday, Miqati said he was on the verge of agreeing with March 14 when
the alliance announced it would not participate in the cabinet."They left us –
the president and I – to confront the situation alone," he said. Miqati praised
President Michel Suleiman, describing him as a wise man. "The biggest proof of
his patriotism is that both the March 8 and 14 forces are (verbally) attacking
him." Despite the rejection of March 14 to participate in his government, Miqati
said he was confident he would succeed in his mission. "I can wait. I don't want
a one-sided cabinet and I won't announce a government (lineup) that doesn't
include at least 10 or 15 ministers that I would be proud of," he told An
Nahar.Miqati stressed that the cabinet and not parliament is the image of the
state. "An inappropriate government means an inappropriate state."Asked about
the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Miqati said: "We cannot meet all the demands
of the court from the Lebanese government because it could torpedo
stability."However, he stressed that he "rejected Lebanon's abandonment of its
international commitments toward the international tribunal." Beirut, 08 Mar 11,
07:59
Jumblat Accuses March 14 of Taking Lebanon into 'War of Civilizations'
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat accused the March 14
forces of taking the country into a "war of civilizations," saying that
President Michel Suleiman isn't an ally when it comes to government formation or
parliamentary elections.In remarks to al-Akhbar daily, Jumblat described his
relations with the March 8 forces, including Free Patriotic Movement leader
Michel Aoun, as based on an alliance. With this new stance, the Druze leader has
moved himself away from centrism. "The delay in government formation has put
Hizbullah, MP Suleiman Franjieh, MP Michel Aoun and the National Struggle Front
in big trouble," Jumblat said, stressing on the importance of the quick
formation of the cabinet. Jumblat has announced that the PSP will not take part
in Sunday's March 14 rally "as we can only remain in a position that would
protect the peace and Lebanon's unity."He said in his weekly editorial in the
PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: "The party has never prevented the citizens
from expressing their opinions but it knows that the people are responsible
enough to refuse to participate in an occasion where speeches will be aimed at
inciting strife, hatred, and sectarianism." Beirut, 08 Mar 11, 10:30
France Questioning Lebanese Man over Promotion of Gadhafi's Image
Naharnet/France is investigating a Lebanese businessman on suspicion of money
laundering after he landed at a Paris airport with €1.5 million, saying the
money was to promote the image of Moammar Gadhafi. Judicial officials said Ziad
Taqieddine was detained upon his arrival from Libya on Saturday. Taqieddine told
customs officials he was in France to start up a communications campaign for the
Libyan leader. The officials said on Monday that Taqieddine had been freed
pending a preliminary investigation into suspicion of money laundering and the
failure to declare funds. Two French journalists who had interviewed Gadhafi
arrived with Taqieddine but weren't questioned.(AP) Beirut, 08 Mar 11, 08:02
Hizbullah: March 14 Campaign Against Arms Leads to 'Unlimited Strife'
Naharnet/Hizbullah lawmaker Kamel al-Rifai lashed out at the slogan of the March
14 forces 'The People Want to Topple Arms,' saying such a campaign would lead to
an "unlimited strife."
In remarks to pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, al-Rifai said March 14 "does not
know the harm it is causing to a large segment of the Lebanese" society. The MP
accused the alliance of creating strife despite efforts by the March 8 forces to
end friction. He told the newspaper that accusations against Hizbullah were
aimed at disarming the resistance and limiting its capabilities. Al-Rifai hinted
that March 14 was implementing the agenda of the United States which sought to
crush Hizbullah during the 2006 war with Israel and the May 5, 2008 decisions
taken by Fouad Saniora's government. The decisions included the sacking of
airport security chief Brig. Gen. Wafiq Shqeir over his alleged links to
Hizbullah and labeling illegal and unconstitutional a private telecommunications
network set up by the Shiite group on Lebanese territory. "We won't allow anyone
to drag us into a sectarian conflict," al-Rifai said, stressing that the plot
against Hizbullah was not only in Lebanon but also in the Arab world. Beirut, 08
Mar 11, 09:01
Gemayel Calls for Participation in March 14 Rally: We'll Never Let the Blood of
our Martyrs Go in Vain
Naharnet/Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel called on Monday the March 14
supporters to participate in Sunday's, saying: "The demonstration on March 13 is
aimed at informing the East and West that the Lebanese people are always thirsty
for freedom. They haven't and won't despair, they haven't and won't
surrender."He stressed during a press conference: "We will confront the
approaching coup that is demonstrated by Hizbullah's arms … We will never let
the blood of the Cedar Revolution martyrs go in vain.""We will stage a
demonstration on Sunday and we say that no weapons or threats will frighten us
as our faith is strong and our perseverance is stronger," he added.Gemayel
noted: "The coup is aimed at establishing a one-sided political system,
eliminating justice, and abandoning the memory of our martyrs, and we will never
accept any of this."He added: "The resistance cannot be real and nationalistic
unless it cooperates with all sides and operates under the state's authority.
""We are not in the position of a traditional opposition because the other camp
is adopting methods that are the farthest from democracy," he noted."The aims of
the March 14 camp are the same as those of the Phalange Party and we cannot
abandon them," he said. "There can be no backing down from international justice
as a state cannot be established without granting justice where it is owed,"
Gemayel continued. "We don't know what will be left of the justice system if the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon is abandoned. Reconciliation can be achieved when
justice is reached and the truth is uncovered," he stated."Our hand is extended
to the other side and we want to reach an understanding on Lebanon's higher
interest," he concluded. Beirut, 07 Mar 11, 17:58
Connelly: World to Assess Relationship with Miqati's Cabinet Based on its
Make-up
Naharnet/U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly reiterated on Monday that the
international community will assess its relationship with Premier-designate
Najib Miqati's government based on the make-up of the cabinet. Connelly made the
remark during talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh, said a U.S.
embassy statement. The assessment will also be based on the government's policy
statement and the actions it takes in regard to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
and Lebanon's other international obligations, the statement said. Connelly
reiterated the continued U.S. "support for Lebanon's sovereignty, stability, and
prosperity, and called on the next Lebanese government to provide stability and
promote justice for the people of Lebanon by honoring its international
agreements." Beirut, 07 Mar 11, 14:42
Lebanon's country-risk ranking slips
Euromoney survey places country in 90th place globally and 12th among 20 MENA
nations
By The Daily Star
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
BEIRUT: Euromoney magazine said Monday that Lebanon’s country risk sank by 14
spots to 90 globally due to the deteriorating political situation. In its
semi-annual country-risk survey of 185 nations, Euromoney ranked Lebanon 90th
worldwide and 12th among 20 nations in the Middle East and North Africa region
in March 2011. Lebanon also came in 25th place among 36 upper-middle income
countries (UMICs) included in the survey. Lebanon had ranked 76th globally and
12th regionally in the September 2010 survey, while it had ranked 82nd globally
and 13th regionally in March 2010, as reported by Lebanon This Week, the
economic publication of the Byblos Bank Group. The survey evaluates individual
country risk by assigning a weighting to six categories – Political Risks,
Economic Performance, Access to Bank Finance and Capital Markets, Debt
Indicators, Credit Ratings and Structural Assessment.
The results of the March 2011 survey reflect the increase in political risks in
the MENA region since the beginning of the year, as the cut-off date of the
survey was Feb. 23.
Globally, Lebanon ranked ahead of Albania, Venezuela and Mongolia, and came
behind Argentina, Ukraine and Macedonia. It also ranked ahead of Venezuela and
behind Argentina among UMICs. The rankings of Lebanon on each of the six
categories regressed from last September, with its rank on the Access to Bank
Finance and Capital Markets declining by 27 spots, followed by Political Risks
with a drop of 12 spots, while its rank fell by 3 spots or less on each of the
other categories.
In parallel, Lebanon got a score of 43.53 points, down 15.7 percent from 51.66
points in the September 2010 survey. Lebanon’s score came below the global mean
of 44.43 points and was lower than the MENA and Arab means of 48.52 points and
46.34 points respectively. Lebanon’s score was also below the UMIC mean score of
47.92 points.
The country’s score dropped on each of the six categories from last September,
with its score on the Access to Bank Finance and Capital Markets falling by 62.5
percent, followed by a drop of 18 percent on Political Risks and a decline of
12.2 percent on Debt Indicators, while its score fell by 9 percent or less on
each of the other categories.
Lebanon posted the fourth steepest drop in rankings and in scores among MENA
countries in the March 2011 survey. The decline in Lebanon’s overall score and
rank had been driven primarily by the drop in the Political Risks score, which
is weighted at 30 percent of the overall score. Lebanon ranked 81st globally and
10th regionally on the Political Risks category. It ranked ahead of El Salvador
and behind Mali, while it came ahead of Tunisia and behind Saudi Arabia
regionally. It also came in 97th place worldwide and in 13th place regionally on
the Economic Performance category. Lebanon ranked ahead of Kenya and behind
Nigeria worldwide, and ahead of Syria and behind Algeria at the regional level.
– The Daily Star
Obama builds up US-NATO military option for Libya
DEBKAfile Special Report March 7, 2011,US President Barack Obama launched a
number of diplomatic and military steps Monday. March 7 pointing toward
preparation for US and NATO intervention in the Libyan civil war -
notwithstanding objections from the Pentagon and US military chiefs. debkafile's
intelligence and Washington sources report that the administration was behind
the appeal Monday by UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan
for UN Security Council protection for the Libyan people. The appeal's purpose
was to extend the sanctions resolution against Muammar Qaddafi to include
military intervention. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded
instantly that Moscow is against any "foreign intervention" in Libya, indicating
a Russian veto would block a new resolution. In Brussels, NATO sources reported
that Awacs surveillance flights over Libya would be extended from 10 to 24 hours
a day. Our military sources report that the US Air Force alone is capable of
this mission, which would be tantamount to preparations for an aerial operation
against pro-Qaddafi forces. White House spokesman Jay Carney denied that the
enforcement of a no-fly zone was planned - only operations against Libyan
helicopter gunships and air control towers. He appeared to be signaling that the
Obama administration was weighing different options for disabling the Libyan air
force without directly intervening in those zones. That limitation was
apparently applied in consideration of the objections of US Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Command, Adm. Mike Mullen and
US Air Force chiefs to putting a large number of US warplanes in jeopardy. They
have warned that Qaddafi has enough up-to-date air force and advanced anti-air
missiles to blow US warplanes out of the sky.
Carney added: "The option of providing military assistance to the rebels is on
the table." He was responding to earlier reports from British sources that
Washington had asked Saudi Arabia to send weapons to the Libyan rebels.
debkafile reports that there was no such request of Riyadh. However, Monday
night, the Libyan rebels were reported to have taken delivery of a batch of
anti-air missiles. For the first time, Washington and Brussels have received
certain information partially supporting Muammar Qaddafi's claim that al Qaeda
is calling the shots for the Libyan rebellion. If this intelligence is
confirmed, Obama may have to back down from his intended military intervention
on the side of the anti-Qaddafi insurrection.
It was also rumored in Washington Monday, that Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton who had strongly objected to US military action in Libya had
reconsidered her position and informed the president she was now in favor.
The view from Tehran: Iran's Lebanon policy in Nasrallah's hands
By Nadim Ladki /Daily Star staff
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
TEHRAN: Iran is a key player in Lebanon, there is no doubt about that. But if
Lebanese visitors to Tehran are expecting Iranian officials to indulge in
lengthy conversations over the political crisis in Lebanon and the role of their
ally Hezbollah in domestic Lebanese politics then they are in for a surprise.
Government officials respond to questions about the troubled country with
general, brief statements, urging the formation of a Cabinet with wide
representation and expressing satisfaction with the political developments in
recent weeks, namely the ousting of caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
They say they will work with any government that is supported by the Lebanese
people and look forward to implementing economic agreements signed by Hariri
himself during a visit to Iran late last year. They denounce the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) investigating the 2005 assassination of statesman
Rafik Hariri and say they don’t expect an Israeli war with Lebanon soon.
“Lebanon has shown that it is on the road to political maturity,” Foreign
Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a group of visiting Lebanese
journalists and media figures. He said Tehran backed the formation of a new
government by Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati “that represents the various
sectors and political parties of the Lebanese people.”
When told that March 14 groups, who represent a large segment of Lebanese, had
already announced that they would not be taking part in Mikati’s Cabinet,
Mehmanparast said with a smile: “But he [Mikati] was from March 14.”
While the officials speak of the importance of the resistance in the face of
Israel, they rarely discuss in detail Hezbollah’s role.
One official explained why: “The file of Lebanon is in the hands of the supreme
leader [Sayyed Ali Khaminei]. And he entrusts that file to Hezbollah leader
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.”
Iran’s strategic policy in Lebanon goes through Nasrallah, who is a key figure
in actually determining that policy, the official told The Daily Star.
Nasrallah is held in high esteem by the Iranian top brass and their supporters.
At a ceremony marking the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini last June, government supporters stopped
Khomeini’s reformist grandson, Hassan Khomeini, from delivering a speech.
“You are not Khomeini’s son,” they chanted. “Hassan Nasrallah is Khomeini’s
son.”
An Iranian analyst said the regime and its supporters see Hezbollah as an
extension of the Islamic Republic, a powerful and reliable ally. But the Iranian
opposition say Iran was wasting badly needed financial resources on Hezbollah at
a time of economic hardship back home.
Asked what sort of help Iran was providing the Lebanese group, the analyst
pointed to reconstruction projects in Lebanon after the 2006 war with Israel.
Pressed on military help, the analyst said: “Iran did not give Hezbollah a fish.
It taught it fishing.”
Iranian officials’ stand on the STL echoes that of Hezbollah. They see it as “a
conspiracy” against the group and reiterate that Iran will reject it and its
finding.
The tribunal is set to charge members of the group in the assassination.
“This trend and this movement by the Tribunal [toward] indicting Hezbollah
[members] is a conspiracy,” Mehmanparast said.
“Lebanon through its parties and people must be alert and not get dragged into
strife [by the indictment],” he said.
Mehmanparast said it was unlikely that Israel would strike against Hezbollah
soon. “Israel doesn’t see that the circumstances are appropriate for military
operations because it knows it would be met with a strong response,” he said,
explaining that with the fall of the regime in Egypt it was difficult for Israel
to attack Lebanon or Gaza.
“If Egypt is not on its side, Israel can’t launch a war,” the spokesman said.