LCCC NEWS BULLETIN
JULY 7/2006
Below News From the Daily Star for
0707/06
France's top anti-terror judge says his country has 'duty' to find Kassir's
killers
Aoun plays down impact of breakaway faction
Jewish state maintains 'high alert' on Lebanese border
Arab officials scramble to bridge Lebanon-Syria gap
Dialogue: Berri focuses on implementation
Prerequisites pose obstacles for Beirut I
Cabinet delays casino decision
Edde says Lebanese learned nothing from Civil War
Maliki calls for review of foreign troops' immunity
Israeli onslaught kills at least 18 as tanks reclaim northern Gaza
Egyptian priest sets up alternative Coptic Church
Lebanese among 8 new Arab Women Goodwill Ambassadors
'Excellence is our passion,' says LAU president
Below News From miscellaneous
sources for 06/07/06
Hizballah: Learning to Live with Resolution 1559-Washington Institute for Near
East Policy
Head of Defunct Constitutional Council Asks Members to Convene-Naharnet
Central Bank Licenses First Russian Bank to Operate in Lebanon-Naharnet
IDF commander: We can't make buffer zone in Gaza-Ynetnews
Assyrian Church Leaders Come Together-Assyria Times
Ferrero-Waldner to visit Lebanon, 7 July 2006-EUROPA (press release)
Gul calls on Syria to help defuse Israeli-Palestinian tension-New Anatolian
Israel's 'overuse of power'-Middle East North Africa Financial
Excerpts: Egypt's free press fights back. Syria in Gaza 6 July-IMRA
IDF takes swath of north Gaza in bid to end rocket fire-Ha'aretz
Syria pulled its army but left us its secret services and friends ...
We need a Nasrallah-Ha'aretz, Israel
Wrong approach to Middle East-Baltimore Sun
Lebanon trade with UAE and Saudi Arabia-Al-Bawaba
PolicyWatch #1119:
Special Forum Report
Hizballah: Learning to Live with Resolution 1559
Featuring Nicholas Blanford and David Schenker
July 6, 2006
On June 21, 2006, Nicholas Blanford and David Schenker addressed The Washington
Institute’s Special Policy Forum. Nicholas Blanford, Beirut-based correspondent
for the Christian Science Monitor and Time, is the author of the forthcoming
Killing Mr. Lebanon: The Assassination of Rafik Hariri and Its Impact on the
Middle East. David Schenker is a senior fellow in Arab politics at The
Washington Institute; he served until 2005 as Levant country director in the
office of the Secretary of Defense. The following is a rapporteur’s summary of
their remarks.
NICHOLAS BLANFORD
Hizballah has been deployed along the blue line, the internationally accepted
border between Lebanon and Israel, since May 2000 when the Israeli army left
southern Lebanon. Hizballah’s fulltime strength is 500–600 well trained, combat
experienced fighters, but in an emergency the organization can also call upon
thousands of other fighters with elementary training. Training continues in the
eastern Bekaa valley, although at a much reduced rate compared to the 1990s. At
present, Hizballah uses Shebaa Farms to justify its military operations and
continued weapons possession, a rationale based on the claim that the Shebaa
Farms are Lebanese territory occupied by Israel, even as the United Nations
considers this territory to be Syrian.
Hizballah’s overriding goal within Lebanon has been to safeguard its resistance,
in particular its weapons and military capability. In response to the call for
its disarmament in UN Security Council Resolution 1559 (and the pressures to
that end after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq
Hariri), Hizballah made tactical political alliances to shift discussion away
from disarmament. Hizballah’s confidence grew in December 2005 with the
emergence of an anti-Western axis centered on Damascus and Tehran. This axis
prefers defiance to accommodation. Syria is a geostrategic linchpin connecting
Tehran to Hizballah; Damascus facilitates the transfer of Iranian weapons to
Hizballah.
Although Hizballah has admitted to possessing more than 13,000 short-range
katyusha rockets, it remains tightlipped about the presence of longer range
missiles. Although no clear evidence has emerged to back Israeli claims that
Hizballah has long-range rockets, these missiles almost certainly exist. Most of
them will be dispersed throughout south Lebanon in small batches close to their
firing positions, rather than in large ammunition dumps, enabling quick launches
in the event of hostilities with Israel.
Hizballah struggles to balance two conflicting agendas: one that serves a
pan-Arab and pan-Islamic audience based on anti-Israel resistance; and another
that consists of Hizballah’s obligations as a Lebanese political player.
Hizballah is no monolith, but rather is a diverse organization with broad
ranging worldviews. The organization’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah,
adroitly balances diverging views within Hizballah to maintain party unity. On
paper, Hizballah, adheres to its core ideological pillars including the
destruction of Israel, the liberation of Jerusalem, and the establishment of an
Islamic state in Lebanon, but the party has been “Lebanized” by its important
domestic political role. At the same time, non-Shiite Lebanese see a militarized
Hizballah as providing unfair leverage for Shiites in Lebanese politics.
Hizballah’s long-range rockets tacitly serve as part of Iran’s deterrence
against a U.S. or Israeli strike against Tehran’s nascent nuclear weapons
project. In fact, though, Hizballah would lose domestic Lebanese support if it
intervened militarily on behalf of Iran and dragged Lebanon into war with
Israel. Israel may be considering a preemptive strike on Hizballah to degrade
Iran’s retaliatory options, but were Israel to take such a step, it would
justify Hizballah’s claim that its militia protects Lebanese sovereignty and
strengthen Hizballah’s position in Lebanese politics.
The domestic debate over Hizballah’s arms has broadly pit Lebanon’s Shiites
against the rest of society and has contributed to a large degree of sectarian
polarization. The worsening relations between Sunnis and Shiites—fueled by the
situation in the broader Middle East and especially the insurgency in Iraq—has
led to some militarization of Sunni groups in poor areas in northern Lebanon,
Beirut, and Sidon. These tensions only complicate the process of disarming
Hizballah.
DAVID SCHENKER
The headline in An Nahar last week read, “Muqawama lildawla or dawla muqwama?”—which
roughly translates as, “Resistance for the country or resistance country?” The
question highlights the ongoing debate in Lebanon concerning the disposition of
Hizballah’s weapons, a topic that dominates much of the political discussion in
Lebanon today. In part the focus on Hizballah is so sharp because two if not
three of the four provisions of Resolution 1559 concern Hizballah: the
disbanding of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias; the extension of government
control over all Lebanese territory; and respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty,
territorial integrity, and political independence.
During the recently completed eighth round of the Lebanese National Dialogue,
two topics were on the table. The first topic was the Pact of Honor, in which
leaders of Lebanon’s various sectarian groups vowed to adhere to a more civil
public discourse following the airing of a television program on June 2 that
satirized Nasrallah. The second issue on the table was a “national defense
strategy”—a code word for Hizballah weapons. During the Dialogue, the March 14
coalition–those who rallied after Rafiq Hariri’s assassination to demand Syrian
withdrawal from Lebanon—proposed that international forces deploy to south
Lebanon to defend the border with Israel. Nasrallah rejected the proposal as
unrealistic.
Even though Hizballah seems to be in the driver’s seat with its preponderance of
weapons and political influence, the organization has lately been on the
defensive because of the intense international and domestic focus on
disarmament. Some examples of this focus include:
Television satire. The June 2 episode of LBC’s Basmat al-Watan program parodied
Nasrallah, focusing on Hizballah’s unwillingness to disarm under any
circumstance.
Resolution 1559. The UN issues periodic reports on the progress of the
resolution’s implementation. The April 19 update contained a detailed section on
Hizballah that said, among other things, “a group engaged in the democratic
political process of opinion formation and decisionmaking cannot simultaneously
possess an autonomous armed operational capacity outside the authority of the
state.”
The March 2006 Arab Summit in Khartoum. Syrian appointed Lebanese president
Emile Lahoud attended the summit and pressed for an article in the concluding
communiqué supporting “the resistance.” Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora
attended the summit as well and tried to block the article. Though Siniora
failed to prevent the summit from adopting Lahoud’s article, the move focused
attention on disarmament.
Hizballah’s November 2005 walkout from the government. Hizballah ministers went
on strike for a few months in November 2005 to protest the government’s
discussion of the formation of an international tribunal for the Hariri
assassination trial. Hizballah ministers only returned to the cabinet after
Siniora affirmed that Hizballah was a “legitimate resistance” organization.
Hizballah is loath to dispense with its military capability. In part, the
rationale is ideological—Hizballah needs the weapons to continue its war with
Israel. On another level, though, Hizballah likely sees these weapons as
necessary to protect itself against the Sunnis. Indeed, the National Dialogue
has consented to allow Palestinian Sunni militias to retain their weapons in
their camps. And so long as the Palestinians remain armed, Hizballah has little
reason even to consider disarmament.
This dynamic highlights a larger issue, namely the increasing tensions between
Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon. Sectarian tensions have been palpable for some
time, but there are on the increase. Sunni fundamentalism is on the rise,
especially in the north, in places like Tripoli and Akkar, where it appears that
al-Qaeda is taking root. Likewise, the Lebanese government’s recent decision to
legalize the Sunni fundamentalist pro-Caliphate organization Hizb ut-Tahrir is
also no doubt a source of concern for Lebanese Shiites.
It appears that the Sunnis in Lebanon—consciously or otherwise—are preparing for
an eventual conflict with Lebanese Shiites. There are many reasons why Hizballah
opposes disarmament, including Iranian opposition, fears of diminished political
influence, and loss of stature in Lebanon. As a minority among a sea of Sunnis,
a perceived need for protection may also fit into Hizballah’s calculations.
This rapporteur’s summary was prepared by Rana Shabb.
Aoun plays down impact of breakaway faction
By Rym Ghazal -Daily Star staff-Friday, July 07, 2006
BEIRUT: MP Michel Aoun dismissed the first public signs of dissent within his
Free Patriotic Movement on Thursday as nothing more than "personal differences"
with two members with their own agendas.
The FPM's Central Office for National Coordination broke away on Wednesday after
its founders, Roger Azaam and Najeeb Zowayn, accused Aoun of having betrayed the
party's principles.
The office had coordinated demonstrations supporting Aoun during his stay at the
Presidential Palace and during his 15-year exile in France. It is widely
credited with having maintained the former general's popularity in his long
absence.
Aoun's office issued a statement Thursday, saying Azaam and Zowayn "have no
right" to claim the office as their own for "suspect personal agendas.""The
office that was established in 1989 acted under the orders of Aoun and continued
its work after the general left for France ... but was dissolved upon Aoun's
return as it was viewed as no longer necessary," the statement said. "We
consider this announcement part of a campaign to discredit the FPM and its
leader, Aoun," it added.
Azaam and Zowayn called a news conference on Wednesday to announce the office's
independence from Aoun, whom they accused of "working for Syria." They added
that Lebanon's battle for independence "has been won, but the battle for
sovereignty is ongoing." "It is Aoun and not us who deviated from the original
path of Lebanese freedom, sovereignty and independence," they said.
The news conference was attended by several March 14 Forces members, including
Future MP Walid Eido and MP Elias Attallah. "Do we drink coffee with the
criminals who killed 117 soldiers with bullets to the back of their heads?"
Azaam and Zowayn asked in response to comments last month by Aoun regarding his
efforts to improve Lebanese-Syrian relations.
Jewish state maintains 'high alert' on Lebanese border
By Nada Bakri -Daily Star staff
Friday, July 07, 2006
BEIRUT: Israel is on "a high state of alert" along the Lebanese border and has
been for the past two weeks, according to sources close to the Lebanese-United
Nations joint security forces at Naqoura.
"The Israeli Army has been on a high state of alert for two weeks and has
resumed its violation of Lebanon's airspace," the sources told The Daily Star on
Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity. The sources added that the joint
security forces are closely monitoring the situation and frequently patrolling
the area in accordance with the directions of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and
the Interior Ministry. "We gave our directions to the security forces to take
extra precautions and patrol the region as much a possible to prevent any
violation from eitherside," sources close to Siniora told The Daily Star.
The governmental sources said they were worried "anonymous internal parties"
might take advantage of the situation to launch rockets against Israel. The
security sources expected the United Nations to renew the mandate of the UN
peacekeeping forces in South Lebanon, UNIFIL, in light of the situation. The
sources added that UNIFIL will build a military base in Naqoura to accommodate
100 troops. They also said that UNIFIL was urging the Lebanese authorities to
take control of these "sensitive Southern areas to prevent any clashes with the
Israelis."
Arab officials scramble to bridge Lebanon-Syria gap
Sudanese foreign minister leaves Beirut as moussa heads for damascus
By Leila Hatoum - Daily Star staff
Friday, July 07, 2006
BEIRUT: Extensive regional moves are under way in an attempt to bridge the gap
in Lebanese-Syrian relations, as Sudan's foreign minister wraps up his three-day
visit to Lebanon and Arab League chief Amr Moussa heads to Damascus on Sunday.
Sudan "is trying to bridge the differences between Lebanon and Syria and to set
the course of their bilateral relations on the right path," said Sudan's Foreign
Minister Lam Akol Ajaween on Thursday.
Ajaween, who visited President Emile Lahoud at Baabda Palace with his Lebanese
counterpart Fawzi Salloukh, said he was "optimistic" Sudan's initiative "would
lead to laying down solid grounds between Lebanon and Syria. Our efforts have
not stopped, and we believe we have made some progress." He added that even
though his country "can help both parties [Lebanon and Syria] to reach an
agreement, the final decision is not in Sudan's hands."
Ajaween also presented Lahoud with an official invitation from President Omar
al-Bashir to visit Sudan "to strengthen the ties," between both countries.
Lahoud "welcomed any Arab initiative aimed at mending Lebanese-Syrian bilateral
relations," according to a Presidential Palace statement issued after the
meeting.
According to the statement, Lahoud said: "Sudan currently presides over the Arab
Summit, and has always believed in achieving Arab solidarity ... Lebanon and
Syria are part of the Arab world, and their bilateral ties should always be
positive."
"Good relations [with Syria] would certainly have positive repercussions on
[both countries]. Strained ties would have a negative impact on interests of
both countries," Lahoud added.
Ajaween had held a meeting with Salloukh earlier Thursday at the Foreign
Ministry, where they "discussed bilateral Lebanese-Sudanese relations and the
latest developments in the region," said Salloukh. The Sudanese official will
hold a news conference Friday morning to describe his three-day visit to
Lebanon. Meanwhile, prominent Druze leader and Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt returned
from a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. He has yet to comment on his trip. As The
Daily Star went to press, Jumblatt was heading a meeting for the Progressive
Socialist Party and members of his his parliamentary bloc.
But as regional powers scurried to fix relations between the two countries, the
March 14 Forces accused Damascus on Thursday of being behind the verbal abuse
from several pro-Syrian Lebanese politicians.
The March 14 Forces follow-up committee convened Thursday and issued a statement
in which it said: "We are sure these assaults are the direct result of Syrian
orders in a desperate attempt to topple the government and hinder the formation
of the international tribunal that will try the suspects in the killing of
former Premier Rafik Hariri."
The statement added: "There are continuous attacks by Syria's allies here which
manifest themselves in the form of programmed violence - such as the incident in
Jahliyeh - and the foul language used against the March 14 Forces and Lebanon's
martyrs, and the Maronite Church."Rival Druze forces clashed in Jahliyeh late
Tuesday over loyalties to Syria and earlier this week, former Interior Minister
Franjieh verbally attacked the Hariri family, its current MP Saad Hariri and his
late father, saying he was more honorable than they were.
Franjieh also took a swipe at influential Maronite Bishop Youssef Beshara.
Dialogue: Berri focuses on implementation
By Mohammed Zaatari -Daily Star staff
Friday, July 07, 2006
MOSEILEH: Speaker Nabih Berri said Thursday that the national dialogue session
to be held on July 25 would not be the last, but would actually be the starting
point for new talks aimed at implementing the decisions being made. "What will
be the aim of the decisions being made during the sessions if they are not
implemented?" Berri asked during a luncheon held at his residence in Moseileh in
honor of senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah. The meeting
focused on developments in the Lebanese arena as well as the situation in the
Occupied Territories. Berri expressed his concern regarding Israel's military
offensive in Palestine, calling on all Lebanese to promote national unity. "I do
not want to scare the Lebanese about an Israeli escalation in Lebanon. I just
urge them to be aware and cling to their national unity," he said. "Lebanon has
preserved its unity as well as Arabs' dignity," Berri added. Asked about his
expected visit to Saudi Arabia, Berri said he would visit the kingdom "on the
first occasion I get." "This visit is more than necessary, especially during the
current situation," he added.
As for the latest security incidents, notably the clashes late Monday night
between supporters of rival Druze leaders in the Chouf region of Jahliyeh, Berri
said security depends on the political atmosphere."We cannot talk about pure
security but rather political security," he added.
Prerequisites pose obstacles for Beirut I
By Zeina Abu Rizk -Special to The Daily Star
Friday, July 07, 2006
Promised reforms of Lebanon's state institutions and the economy will
undoubtedly face countless obstacles, most of which are directly related to
political affiliations. On of the most awaited events is the convening of a the
Beirut I international donor conference. However, a number of difficulties seem
to be standing in the way of this event, despite reported assertions by Premier
Fouad Siniora during the last Cabinet session that the conference would be held
in September. The fact that the premier gave no further details left some
ministers with a strong impression that nothing has been finalized.
This skepticism has been reinforced by several other factors, including the fact
that the economic reform paper prepared by Finance Minister Jihad Azour, on the
basis of which the Beirut I conference will eventually be held, still needs to
be approved by the government before being submitted to Parliament. This latter
step in particular is likely to take time, considering the inevitable debate
among the various parliamentary blocs.
By contrast, when the Paris II conference was held in November 2002, all the
necessary steps were done two months prior to the specified date. Preconditions
imposed on Lebanon by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are
substantial hurdles to clear before the conference can be convened. According to
senior political sources, officials from these two institutions have two
prerequisites for Beirut I. First, internal consensus must be reached on the
reform paper to avoid later disputes. Second, Lebanese officials must make sure
to obtain Arab support for the conference. According to the sources, neither of
the two conditions have been met, which is why official declarations about the
conference have not yet been made.
Meanwhile, a series of appointments are needed in various government sectors,
including diplomatic posts. The urgency of these latter appointments has only
been increasing in light of vacancies in the diplomatic corps.
According to a local diplomatic source, 11 ambassadors retired this year and
four are expected to do so next year. But while diplomats from within the
Foreign Ministry are available to replace most of the outgoing ambassadors, four
posts require the appointment of Sunni candidates from outside the ministry due
to a lack of qualified public servants from this sect.
Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh continues to say that he is waiting for Siniora
to provide a list of four Sunnis candidates. Names circulating at the moment
include AUB professor Nawaf Salam, a member of the committee tasked with
drafting a new electoral law; Mohammad Shatah, Siniora's adviser and a former
ambassador to Washington; Marwan Zein, a former director general of the Internal
Security Forces; and Ambassador Ramez Dimashkieh.
Since a diplomatic appointment requires a decree signed by the president,
premier and foreign minister, political turmoil over the issue seems guaranteed.
Edde says Lebanese
learned nothing from Civil War
By Karine Raad -Daily Star staff
Friday, July 07, 2006
BEIRUT: Former Minister Michel Edde said Thursday that he regretted the
continuing verbal attacks among politicians and religious leaders, suggesting
that "the Lebanese did not learn anything from the catastrophe that struck the
country in 1975."
"We all fully fathom the dangers threatening Lebanon with extinction, yet we
keep heading toward death," a statement from the Maronite League quoted Edde as
saying in refernce to an ongoing dispute between former Minister Suleiman
Franjieh and leaders of the Maronite Church and the Future Movement, including
Edde. Franjieh earlier this week criticized Edde for not sponsoring
reconciliation talks between the Zghorta leader and Lebanese Forces leader Samir
Geagea and failing to unite the Maronite community. "Edde might be forced to
make certain compromises to please some parties because he is still aspiring to
become president, even when he is 90 years old," Franjieh said Wednesday.
In response, Edde quoted Jesus Christ's calls on Christians to forgive their
brothers "70 times seven" and to "love your neighbor as you love yourself." "It
is high time to stop twisting the teachings of Christ and the Bible in our
individual and group practices in Lebanon, while we brag about being
Christians," Edde said. "One is not a Christian orally or formally but in the
true and honest exercise of Christ's teachings."
Meanwhile, Franjieh met with Lebanese Tawhid Movement leader Wiam Wahhab, who
described Franjieh as a "leading national reference," saying: "Franjieh acts
when others loiter. ... He fears for Lebanon when others conspire against it."
"The Taif Accord is no longer valid," the Tawhid leader said. "The Taif Accord
turned the president into a small clerk and this is unacceptable.""It's time for
all of us to hold a dialogue about Lebanon's interests and this means not
thinking about erasing the other, something which the illusory and unpopular
political majority is trying to do," he added.
Daoud Sayegh, an adviser to MP Saad Hariri who handles communications between
the Hariri family and the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkirki, also responded to
allegations made earlier this week. Franjieh said Wednesday that "we do not know
to which extent Daoud Sayegh took part in drafting the recommendations" recently
issued by the Council of Maronite Bishops.
In a statement, Sayegh quoted the concerned recommendation's 33rd article: "The
Independence Intifada, which was launched after the killing of former Premier
Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005, was a historic moment; it opened the door of
national salvation by uniting the Lebanese people in an unprecedented way. The
pullout of the Syrian Army from Lebanon on April 26, 2005, after 30 years of
tutelage, was the ultimate reward to the struggle of the Lebanese people here
and abroad, and their unification is the dream that became a reality.""Those who
drafted the text are Maronites, members of the patriarchal council who speak for
the mentality, suffering, expectations and historic experiences of the council
and who show loyalty to its values and future hopes," he said. "I and those whom
I represent had no personal hand in it."
France's top anti-terror
judge says his country has 'duty' to find Kassir's killers
Compiled by Daily Star staff -Friday, July 07, 2006
France's top anti-terrorism judge said Thursday that it was the "duty of the
French justice system to do everything possible" to identify the perpetrators of
Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir's assassination. "Samir Kassir was enormously
respected in Lebanon and France," Jean-Louis Bruguiere told reporters after
meeting with Premier Fouad Siniora. The judge arrived in Beirut on Wednesday to
follow up on the killing of An-Nahar newspaper columnist Kassir, who was killed
by a car bomb in Beirut on June 2, 2005. Kassir was the first Lebanese person to
be targeted and killed in a car bomb after former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's
assassination on February 14 and the Syrian troop withdrawal on April 29.
Bruguiere said Kassir's killing was "atrocious," adding that Paris was committed
to finding the perpetrators of the crime. The judge is on his first visit to
Lebanon since Kassir's widow, Gisele Khoury, last year requested a French
investigation into her husband's murder.
The probe was launched in July 2005.
Khoury, herself a prominent journalist, said in July last year that "the
Lebanese-Syrian security regime" was responsible for Kassir's death. Syrian
officials and their Lebanese allies have been blamed for several acts of
political violence in the past two years. Both deny the allegations. Bruguiere
declined to provide details of the current status of his investigation, but
stressed "what is important is that we are fully committed" and that Paris and
Beirut are "working together to reveal the truth."
An article published by CNN in 2001 said that Bruguiere's famous achievements
include bringing to justice the infamous Carlos the Jackal. He also "convicted
the brother in law of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi for conspiring to blow up a
French airliner in Africa, and a group of Algerian terrorists planning to
disrupt the 1998 World Cup held in France."
The CNN article added that Bruguiere was himself "a target for terrorists." "A
hand-grenade and trip wire was set up at his apartment in 1997 to explode when
he entered the front door, but a policeman discovered it 10 minutes ahead of
Bruguiere's arrival," it said. The French judge, accompanied by a team of
anti-terrorism experts in the French military police, also met Thursday with
Lebanese Justice Minister Charles Rizk.
The meeting was attended by French Ambassador Bernard Emie and the president of
the Higher Judicial Council, Magistrate Antoine Kheir. Bruguiere submitted to
the minister a series of requests, including official permission to question
current and former MPs, media figures and security officials, notably the former
head of the Surete Generale, Jamil Sayyed, and former military intelligence
chief Raymond Azar, who are currently imprisoned for their alleged involvement
in Hariri's murder.
He also asked to meet with the UN team investigating Hariri's assassination.
In addition, Bruguiere held separate talks with Defense Minister Elias Murr.
Meanwhile, Investigating Magistrate Sami Sudqi listened Thursday to the
statements of several witnesses in Kassir's assassination. - Agencies
Beirut to crack down on fundraising in streets
Daily Star staff -Friday, July 07, 2006: Acting Beirut Governor Nassif Qaloush
has requested that the Beirut police department take severe security measures to
stop the collection of contributions to associations in the streets of the city.
In a statement Thursday, Qaloush said that associations should submit a demand
to the governorate in order to receive a permit to collect money. "Otherwise
they will be considered illegal," he said.
AUB scholarship fund sends 12 students to school
Daily Star staff -Friday, July 07, 2006: The Fingerprints Endowed Scholarship
Fund, created in 2002 and currently valued at around $500,000, has allowed 12
students to receive financial aid since 2003. According to a statement from the
American University of Beirut, an AUB trustee and the university's Student
Faculty Committee sponsor Fingerprints by matching every $1 contributed by
students with $2 of their own. Students are usually encouraged to donate about
$25 as they are leaving their alma mater. This year about half the graduating
class made a contribution. Trustees who have sponsored this program up until now
are: Kamal Shair, in 2002, 2003 and 2004, Ali Ghandour in 2005 and Farouk Jabre
in 2006. Ghandi Fala, assistant director of the Office of Development, which
initiated the program in 2002, said that contributions have been increasing year
after year, attributing the rise to students' positive experiences at AUB.
Protocol First launches arts and crafts festival
Daily Star staff -Friday, July 07, 2006: Maroun Balaa, director of Protocol
First, announced Thursday the launching of the Festival of Arts and Crafts for
2006 from July 15 to 23 at the Mar Elias Convent under the auspices of Finance
Minister Jihad Azour. Balaa stressed the need to raise awareness in the local
community about the importance of its role in building society. He said the
festival, which we be held between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., is "one of the pillars of
moral and financial support to artists and craftsmen." Balaa added that Protocol
First was keen on holding regular and seasonal exhibitions in order to encourage
artists and craftsmen to create new hand-made items in accordance with the
seasons and holidays. Paintings, sculptures, pottery and religious wood
engravings from Beit Sahour near Bethlehem are among the items that will be on
display. A rally paper has also been organized.
EDL announces power cuts due to maintenance
Daily Star staff -Friday, July 07, 2006: Electricite du Liban (EDL) announced
Thursday that due to maintenance work on the main Tyre power plant, electricity
supplied to the middle tension power pole in Hamidieh will be cut from July 5 to
August 5 between 8 am and 5 pm. As a consequence, power will be interrupted in
the areas of Abbasieh, Toura, Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, Janata, Maaroub, Barish,
Derdghaya, Bastat, Humeiri, Tayr Filsey and Halloussieh, according to a
statement. EDL deeply regrets the inconvenience which is unavoidable and
promises to complete work as soon as possible. Residents will be informed about
any unexpected development, the statement said.
The Hezbollah Nexus?
By J. Peter Pham & Michael I. Krauss
The Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah has enjoyed a respite in Western news of
late, even though it continues to augment its considerable weapons stockpile
despite being required to disarm by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 and by
anti-Syrian factions in Lebanon. The United States, the driving force (along
with France) behind 1559, is preoccupied with Iraq and with Iran's nuclear
program. Israel, whose northern border remains vulnerable to Hezbollah "kill an
Israeli soldier" incursions, has its hands full dealing with the elected
Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and with its own political debate about the
determination of borders. But there is reason to believe that all these issues
-- the insurgency in Iraq (which is certainly being fanned by Iranian meddling),
Iran's nuclear ambitions, Palestinian terrorism, and Israeli security -- are
interrelated, and that their nexus is in fact Hezbollah.
Last year, Hezbollah's "spiritual" leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, computed for
the first time the scope of his group's arsenal: "They say [we have] 12,000
rockets...I say more than 12,000 rockets." Most of these fire 107mm and 122mm
Katyusha missiles supplied directly from Iranian army stocks. These devices have
small payloads and short effective ranges. But an increasing number of
Hezbollah's rockets are of a more lethal variety. Intelligence analysts report
that Iran has made large scale deliveries of Fajr-3 and Fajr-5 rockets to its
Lebanese clients, shipping them via passenger and cargo flights to Damascus
International Airport where, with the approval of Bashar al-Assad's Ba'athist
regime, they are collected by Iranian Revolutionary Guards and delivered to
Hezbollah installations in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.
Iran builds the Fajr missiles with Chinese and North Korean assistance. Fajrs
are fired from hard-to-destroy mobile launchers, and can carry up to 200 pounds
of explosives from 25 (for the Fajr-3) to 45 miles (for the Fajr-5). Israeli
intelligence estimates that several hundred Fajr rockets have been delivered so
far. Most are aimed at Israel's third largest city, Haifa, home to one of the
Jewish state's two oil refineries and to Matam Park, the hub of its high-tech
industry. To help with targeting, Hezbollah has access to Iranian-controlled
Mirsad-1 unmanned aerial vehicles which can transmit live video footage.
Why is Iran so generous to its Lebanese friends? In addition to the obvious
ideological affinities (a hatred of Jews and a desire to increase Shia
influence), recent international pressure on Tehran has increased Hezbollah's
value to the mullahs as a bargaining chip. As Eli Karmon of Israel's
International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism elaborated to the Jerusalem
Post recently, Iran has the flexibility to "use Hezbollah either before pressure
is put on them, in order to deter the United States -- or else afterwards, once
there are aggressive policies or actions by the Security Council, Hezbollah can
be used to strike back." One might add that the Hezbollah arsenal also acts as a
deterrent against an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities (an option that
is, in any event, fraught with logistical difficulties).
To this point some object that, while Iran's interests in arming Lebanese
militants are clear, Hezbollah has no interest in raising its international
exposure at a time when it has achieved unprecedented political power. But this
objection misunderstands Hezbollah's raison d'être. As it continues to leverage
military force for political power in Lebanon, its impressive arsenal adds to
Hezbollah's strategic and ideological luster. For example, the group can now
literally use its rockets to shoot its way into the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, where its muscle contrasts starkly with the feckless Palestinian
Authority. Consider Hezbollah's reaction to Israel's targeted killing of
Palestinian Islamic Jihad chieftain Nidal Majdoub on May 26: "Three days ago
Zionist intelligence services murdered the military commander of Islamic Jihad,
along with his brother, in Sidon, Lebanon, without being aware that this would
be reflected in the rapid fall of missiles of resistance."
While the Israel Defense Force has, in cooperation with Northrop Grumman and
smaller Israeli and U.S. contractors working for the U.S. Space and Missile
Defense Command, developed sophisticated anti-missile defense systems, it will
be years before these can effectively counter Fajr rockets. Time is not on
Israel's side here. Eventually, Israel may feel compelled to exercise its
sovereign right to self-defense by preemptively attacking in a manner that not
only eliminates the Fajr rockets, but also prevents Tehran from easily
reestablishing them. While such a unilateral move will no doubt meet with
publicly expressed consternation, the fact is that the nature of threat makes it
hard to argue that there is a framework that legally binds the Jewish state to
seek prior authorization to effectively defend itself against foes who revel in
genocidal fantasies. And the fact is that should it take strong action, Israel,
the U.S., and all those who fear a nuclear Iran will all be able to breathe a
bit easier. For all our sakes, it's high time to bring Hezbollah back into the
international limelight.
***J. Peter Pham is director of the Nelson Institute for International and
Public Affairs at James Madison University. Michael I. Krauss is professor of
law at George Mason University School of Law. Both are adjunct fellows of the
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.
We need a Nasrallah
By Aluf Benn -Haaretz
What is more frightening: a Syrian Scud missile with a chemical warhead that can
hit Tel Aviv and kill thousands of people with poison gas, or a Palestinian
Qassam missile full of primitive explosives, which hits Sderot and sometimes
Ashkelon, and causes a small amount of damage? The destructive power of the
Syrian missile is far greater, and yet few, if any, Israelis think about its
existence. The Qassam, however, is seen as a serious security threat, which is
of concern to the prime minister, the security services, the media and the
Israeli public.
There is a simple explanation for the inverse ratio between the performance
capability of the enemy's missiles and the level of anxiety about them: The
security threat does not stem from the technology of weapons systems, but from
the finger on the trigger. Israel's leaders portray Syrian President Bashar
Assad as the principal inciter of terror in the region and as the person
responsible for the kidnapping of soldier Gilad Shalit. But they were not afraid
Assad would launch Scuds, even after Israeli warplanes buzzed his palace. He may
be a terrorist, but he is not crazy. If he presses the launch button, he will
risk a harsh reaction from Israel that will endanger his rule and his country.
That is why Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz can
irritate him without fear.
As opposed to Assad, the Qassam operators in Gaza cannot be deterred by an F-16
fighter plane, and their hand does not tremble when they launch another missile
over the fence. Their strength stems from the weakness of the Palestinian
Authority and from the absence of a central security force in Gaza.
Israel has suffered from this problem since its earliest days: Terror develops
in a place where the Arab government is weak. That was the case in Jordan in the
1950s and 1960s, in Lebanon in the 1970s and 1980s, and now in the PA.
Centralized governments with a strong army, like Syria, Egypt and Jordan today,
are able to ensure quiet on the border, and their behavior is predictable.
Wherever there is chaos, there are problems of "ongoing security."
It is enough to see what is happening in Lebanon. The moment Hezbollah took
control over the south of the country and armed itself with thousands of
Katyushas and other rockets, a stable balance of deterrence was created on both
sides of the border. The withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from Lebanon in
2000 was made possible not only because of the daring of then prime minister
Ehud Barak, but also thanks to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who conducts a
policy of "one law and one weapon" on the other side.
Nasrallah hates Israel and Zionism no less than do the Hamas leaders, Shalit's
kidnappers and the Qassam squads. But as opposed to them - he has authority and
responsibility, and therefore his behavior is rational and reasonably
predictable. Under the present conditions, that's the best possible situation.
Hezbollah is doing a better job of maintaining quiet in the Galilee than did the
pro-Israeli South Lebanese Army.
In the territories there is no such Nasrallah today. PA Chair Mahmoud Abbas (Abu
Mazen) is opposed to terror and wants diplomatic negotiations, but he operates
as a tortured intellectual and a commentator, rather than as an authoritative
leader. The Hamas government, which at first showed promising signs of
organization and discipline, has behaved like him and shrugged its shoulders
during the kidnapping crisis. The weapons in Gaza are split among organizations,
gangs and clans, which Israel has difficulty deterring.
The events of the past weeks in Gaza have once again demonstrated that the
essential condition for a quiet border is a responsible finger on the trigger on
the other side. The conclusion we must come to is that until the appearance of a
factor that will take control of security and weapons on the West Bank - Israel
will not be able to withdraw from there. Negotiations with Abbas are not
sufficient, nor is an agreement with him. It is more important that his
statement about "one law and one weapon" be implemented on the ground. Even if
it is implemented by a Palestinian Nasrallah
Wrong approach to Middle East
By Mark Matthews
Originally published July 6, 2006
WASHINGTON // Addressing the U.N. Security Council last week after the capture
of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants, U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton
said: "The United States is of the firm view that a prerequisite for ending this
conflict is that the governments of Syria and Iran end their role as state
sponsors of terror and unequivocally condemn the actions of Hamas, including
this kidnapping."
Mr. Bolton's "prerequisite" offers a justification for the Bush administration
to sit on its hands and delay indefinitely any resumption of America's
once-powerful role in Middle East peacemaking.
Right now, Washington is not in a position to make Iran or Syria do much of
anything. The regime in Tehran has deftly managed to stall U.S. and European
efforts to halt its nuclear program. Iran also retains its capacity to foment
trouble for the United States in Iraq. Syria, meanwhile, has regained some of
its regional footing after a humiliating retreat from Lebanon last year and the
suspected role by Damascus in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri.
For both Tehran and Damascus, support for Palestinian militants and for the
Lebanese group Hezbollah provides a cost-effective way to keep pressure on
Israel and extort potential concessions from the West.
The election of a Hamas-led Palestinian government, the subsequent U.S.-led
financial squeeze and the violent chaos in Gaza all serve to increase Iran and
Syria's influence with Palestinian militants.
An ominous sign was the June 25 Palestinian military operation that killed two
Israeli soldiers and resulted in Cpl. Gilad Shalit's capture. The sophistication
and careful planning evident in the construction of a tunnel and attack on an
Israeli army position suggest the attack was inspired by the tactics of
Hezbollah, even if there was no direct outside involvement.
Like Hezbollah in its war against the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon,
the Palestinian militants who planned the attack apparently know where Israel is
most vulnerable emotionally. Israelis have endured suicide attacks on civilians
with courage and resilience, but they are torn apart by having a 19-year-old
soldier held hostage. His plight is a reminder of the anxiety shared by many
Israeli parents of teenage conscripts.
But if Iran and Syria have increased their influence, Mr. Bolton has the
situation backward if he thinks they hold the key to ending the conflict.
Such an argument overlooks the essentially homegrown nature of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and implies that if Iran and Syria weren't pulling
the strings from afar, Palestinian terrorists would go out of business. Not so.
Palestinian fighters are not a high-priced army reliant on outside sponsorship.
Mostly, they use AK-47s, locally manufactured explosive vests and crude rockets.
Waiting for a change in behavior in Iran and Syria could doom Israel and the
Palestinians to a new and dangerous escalation, with ripple effects likely to be
felt throughout an unstable region. Further, it removes the United States from
any meaningful role. In a telling sign of how Washington's leverage in the
region has declined, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was in Moscow this
week pressing Russian President Vladimir V. Putin for help in freeing Corporal
Shalit.
The Bush administration needs to tackle this problem at its homegrown core: by
making its first sustained effort at promoting Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
and assuming a central U.S. role. It should begin by grasping several newly
available levers to resurrect the lifeless international "road map" toward
peace:
• The current crisis has focused new global attention on the conflict, drawing
in not only Russia but also Egypt, Turkey and the Europeans. Moreover, Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appears to appreciate this outside help and be
willing to listen and respond to entreaties from foreign leaders.
• Chaos in Gaza will likely weaken Israeli popular support for any more
unilateral Israeli withdrawals from occupied territory, forcing Mr. Olmert to
enlist international and Palestinian cooperation in fulfilling his top priority
of settling Israel's borders.
• The latest version of the Palestinian "prisoners' document" attempting to
craft a unified political platform explicitly gives Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas authority to conduct negotiations with Israel.
• There are signs of division within the Hamas leadership and disenchantment
with its politburo in Damascus. The initial U.S. aim ought to be a cease-fire
between Israel and the Palestinians, one that both Mr. Abbas and the elected
Hamas government - if it survives - would have to enforce.
A halt to the violence should take priority over a demand for Hamas' recognition
of Israel - a symbolic gesture that would have little credibility anyway.
An active U.S.-led peace effort would restore a measure of hope to Israelis and
Palestinians while invigorating U.S. allies in the Middle East and beyond. This
is the only way to undercut the terror sponsors in Iran and Syria.
Mark Matthews, a former diplomatic and Middle East correspondent for The Sun, is
at work on a book about the United States and Israel. His e-mail is mmath2112@aol.com.
Syria pulled its army but left us its secret services
and friends, says Cardinal
Speaking about Hezbollah, he said that when some movements are armed and others
not, there is “a situation of inequality that is contrary to the constitution”.
Beirut (AsiaNews) –Syria might have pulled its army out of Lebanon, but it has
left its secret services. It has “friends” in the country and anyone can draw
his own conclusions from that, said Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir who
answered US reporters’ questions in Chicago yesterday about developments
following last year’s assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri and Syria’s withdrawal under international pressure.
The cardinal, who is in the United States on a visit to local Maronite
communities, reiterated his views about Hezbollah, namely that when some
movements are armed and others are not, there is “a situation of inequality that
is contrary to the constitution”.
Even so the patriarch said once again that he was convinced that “a just peace
for the Palestinians” is the key to unlocking the whole Middle Eastern
situation.
In his stay in Chicago, Cardinal Sfeir presented the conclusions of the Maronite
Synod that was recently held in Bkerke, Lebanon, insofar as it touched on the
diaspora, Christian-Muslim dialogue and the role of the Church in society.
In his views, the Church must be the “conscience of society” and must take
courageous stances against political authorities and economic elites when they
seem corrupt.
What is more, the dialogue with the Islamic world is at the heart of the
Christian presence in the East. Similarly, the fate of Christians in Lebanon is
tied to that of the entire Middle East.
Lebanon trade with UAE and Saudi Arabia
06-07-2006- Statistics issued by Lebanon's Foreign Trade Ministry rank the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the fifth largest importer country from Lebanon.
According to the Beirut-based Assafir newspaper, the value of Lebanon's exports
to Saudi Arabia hit $59 million in the first five months of 2006, which is
equivalent to 6% of Lebanon's total exports in the same period.
The same figures rank the UAE as the third largest importer country from
Lebanon. The value of Lebanon's exports to the UAE hit $67 million in the first
five months of 2006, which is equivalent to 7% of Lebanon's total exports in the
same period.
© 2006 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
PA Interior Minister calls on armed forces to fight IDF
troops
IDF soldier, 21 Palestinians killed in IDF raid in north Gaza
By Avi Issacharoff, Amos Harel, Aluf Benn, Mijal Grinberg and Yuval Azoulay,
Haaretz Correspondents, and Agencies
An Israel Defense Forces soldier was killed Thursday afternoon during an Israel
Defense Forces operation in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.
First Lieutenent Yehuda Bessal was seriously wounded when shot in the head by a
Palestinian sniper who infiltrated the house in the Beit Lahia neighborhood of
al-Atara where his Golani Brigade unit had taken position.
Bessal was evacuated by helicopter to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva,
where he died of his wounds. Palestinian snipers continued to fire during rescue
efforts, delaying the evacuation of the soldier to hospital.
Twenty-one Palestinians were killed and more than 50 wounded Thursday as the IDF
moved inside northern Gaza.
Four Palestinians were killed late Thursday by a missile fired from an Israel
Air Force aircraft in the northern Gaza strip town of Beit Lahia, a Palestinian
security source said. Seven others were injured in the attack.
Palestinian officials said eight people were killed when the IAF fired a missile
and two shells at a group of armed militants in Beit Lahia Thursday afternoon.
Three others were killed in further afternoon clashes. The IDF confirmed that it
had carried out an air strike targeting a group of gunmen.
Six more Palestinians, five militants and a civilian, were killed in Gaza
earlier Thursday, following the start of an Israel Defense Forces incursion in
northern Gaza. The civilian, identified as 20-year-old Mohammed Atat, was killed
by gunfire from an IDF tank. Palestinian Interior Minister Saeed Siyam, of the
ruling Hamas party, issued the Palestinian government's first call to arms since
Israel entered the Gaza Strip last week to press for the release of abducted IDF
soldier Gilad Shalit.
Siyam, who has nominal control of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian security
forces, appealed to all security forces to fulfill their "religious and moral
duty to stand up to this aggression and cowardly Zionist invasion."
Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal said Siyam had declared a state of
emergency, something which only Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has
the authority to do.
GOC Southern Command Yoav Glant said on Thursday that the IDF operation in the
Gaza Strip was coming along satisfactorily. He added that the purpose of the
operation was first and foremost to rescue Shalit.
The IDF aimed to capture a broad swath of territory of about one-and-a-quarter
kilometers into Palestinian Authority territory, close to Beit Hanun in an
effort to hinder Qassam rocket launchers from targeting Ashkelon and to push
them back toward Gaza City and the Jabalya refugee camp. A large contingent of
IDF infantry and armor units moved into the ruins of three former settlements in
northern Gaza in the early hours of the morning, after Qassam rockets fired from
the area hit the southern coastal city of Ashkelon for the second time in two
days.
Eight Qassam rockets fired from Gaza landed in the western Negev on Thursday.
Three landed in Sderot, one landed in the southern town of Kfar Aza, and another
landed near Kibbutz Zikim, south of Ashkelon. Three more rockets landed in an
open field near the Gaza border. There were no injuries reported.
Two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded near Beit Lahia early Thursday afternoon,
one by Palestinian gunfire and the other when a weapon misfired. Beit Lahia is
situated close to the former settlements of Dugit, Nissanit and Elei Sinai,
where troops were to establish a buffer zone to prevent fire on southern Israel.
IDF tanks and helicopter gunships fired at militant positions inside the town.
The gunmen responded with automatic weapons fire. Tanks later moved inside the
western part of the town, where they confronted gunmen from different factions,
including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. IDF spokesman Captain Jacob Dallal on
Thursday called the operation a "limited incursion... to ensure the release of
our abducted soldier and to stop the rocket fire into Israel."
"The purpose of this operation is to remove the threat of Palestinian rockets on
Israeli towns and communities and to provide Israeli citizens with peace and
tranquility as they sit in their homes and go about their daily lives," David
Baker, an official in the Prime Minister's Office, told Haaretz on Thursday.
Before daybreak, IDF troops and some 15 tanks entered the areas where the three
settlements had stood. As ground forces edged forward, artillery and Israel Air
Force aircraft struck targets in the area, aiming at bases and groups of
militants.
The troops also entered the al-Atara neighborhood close to Beit Lahia, from
where the rockets were fired at Ashkelon. "Our presence there doesn't mean that
we intend to remain in the Gaza Strip. We simply want to prevent firing at our
towns," Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer told Army Radio on
Thursday.
The new contingent of troops is preparing for a relatively extended stay, unlike
in other areas of the Gaza Strip where the IDF has been operating this past
week. "We won't sink in the Gaza swamp, but will enter any necessary area to
carry out our missions," Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Wednesday. The
operation, consisting of Golani infantry, armored, and engineering forces, is
under the command of Golani Brigade commander Colonel Tamir Yadai.
At a later stage, the IDF intends to reduce the forces, but to launch raids into
the Gaza Strip, including built-up areas, as required, accompanied by massive
air force activity over the areas from which the Qassam rockets were fired.
At this stage, Israel does not intend to enter densely-populated Palestinian
towns and villages, but if Qassam fire persists, raids into these areas may be
held at later stages. The IDF is concerned by the possible use of anti-tank
missiles or bombs against its troops. Large IDF forces are continuing to act in
three other areas in the Gaza Strip - the Erez pass, the outskirts of Beit Hanun
in the northern strip, and the Dahaniya airport in the southern area.
More Qassams hit Ashkelon
Eight people were treated for shock Wednesday evening after the Qassam strikes
on Ashkelon. One of the rockets slammed into a southern neighborhood and the
second landed in the Zikim area. Magen David Adom paramedics treated the eight,
including two seven-year-old children.
Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for the two Qassams fired at
Ashkelon, which Baker called "a serious escalation taken by Palestinian
terrorists."He said that "Israel will not tolerate these attacks nor any other
attack on its citizens and we will deal with this threat appropriately."
Palestinians first hit Ashkelon with a Qassam on Tuesday evening. Defense
Minister Amir Peretz subsequently instructed the military to intensify its
operations and IAF missiles hit the Palestinian Interior Ministry building in
Gaza City in a pre-dawn strike Wednesday.The decision to move into northern Gaza
came after the security cabinet met Wednesday morning to discuss Israel's
response to the first Qassam strike on the city Tuesday evening, which was
claimed by the Hamas military wing.
Assyrian Church Leaders Come Together
7/5/2006 22:34:00
By AssyriaTimes Staff Writer
A historical meeting between His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of
the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East (ACOE) and the Patriarch
of the Maronite Church, His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir took
place on July 3, 2006 in Chicago. H.H. Mar Dinkha IV was invited as a guest of
honor to meet with H.B. Cardinal Sfeir who is visiting the United States for the
U.S and Canadian Maronite Church conference.
His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Slewa, Metropolitan of ACOE in Iraq, and Rev. Antwan
Latchen of the ACOE in Chicago accompanied H.H. Mar Dinkha and shared dinner
with 72 Maronite Church Metropolitans and Bishops along with a large crowd of
parishioners of both churches to celebrate H.B. Mar Nasrallah’s 20th ordainment
anniversary.
The Maronites are of Assyrian ethnicity that separated from their mother church,
the ACOE in the 7th century. The Assyrian Maronites are about 5 million in
population and mostly live in Lebanon and Latin American countries.
During Dr. Sargon Dadesho’s regular Tuesday night program on AssyriaSat, Rev.
Antwan Latchen called and reported of this historical meeting. Rev. Latchen
informed Assyrians around the world how pleasant this meeting was and how
thrilled the Maronite church leaders and members present at the dinner were to
meet H.H. Mar Dinkha IV. As a sign of respect, they asked H.H. to recite the
opening prayer in the Assyrian language. The Maronites continued to use their
mother tongue, the Assyrian language after separation from the ACOE but later on
replaced their ancient language with the Arabic language. Today’s church leaders
have decided to slowly incorporate their native holy Assyrian language in their
church services and teach it to their parishioners.
Rev. Latchen recounted the speech of the Maronite Archbishop of New York and
Canada, Francis Mansour who described the opportunity of meeting H.H. Mar Dinkha
as one of those rare but valuable life events and he encouraged the audience to
meet H.H. in person and receive his blessing. Archbishop Mansour praised H.H.
Mar Dinkha for the great history of the ACOE and all the atrocity this church
has endured. The ACOE is known by historians and scholars, also proclaimed by
the Pope John Paul II “The martyrs’ church”. Because, no church has suffered as
much martyrdom for Christianity as the ACOE has. Another speaker admired H.H.
Mar Dinkha IV and called him, “the builder of bridges between the Assyrians of
different denominations”.
H.B. Mar Nasrallah also praised and thanked H.H. Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV for
leading the Assyrian nation through these turbulence times. This brotherly
meeting has warmed the heart of this battered nation scattered around the world.
The Lebanese Broadcasting Channel (LBC) and the Maronite Satellite network TV,
NoorSat interviewed H.H. Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV and his Beatitude Mar Gewargis
Slewa.
H.B. Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir is also scheduled to meet with President Bush
while visiting the U.S.
Ferrero-Waldner to visit Lebanon,
7 July 2006
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will be in Beirut on 7 July where she will meet with
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Faouzi Salloukh,
and other members of the Lebanese government. During her visit, the second since
she took office, she will discuss the European Commission’s commitment to
support Lebanon’s own reform programme and the implementation of the, recently
agreed between the parties, European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan. She
will also sign an aviation agreement with Lebanon that will establish for the
first time a direct air transport relationship between Lebanon and the EU. On
the eve of her official visit, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will receive a
Doctor Honoris Causae by the Lebanese American University.
Before she left, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said: “Since my visit to Lebanon
last September, a lot has been achieved. The Association Agreement has entered
into force and we have concluded an Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood
Policy to support Lebanon on its road to reform. We need to get down to work as
soon as possible, to implement the priorities as set out in the Action Plan!”
She added: “We remain committed to supporting Lebanon in meeting the challenges
ahead. But the success of its own reform agenda depends on Lebanon’s engagement
to translate priorities into concrete actions.”
The ENP Action Plan lays the foundations for a deeper relationship between the
EU and Lebanon. The Plan, yet to be adopted by the EU-Lebanon Association
Council, will not only support Lebanon’s own programme of democratic reform, but
help to boost its economic prospects through new opportunities to access the
European single market.
The degree of cooperation and the volume of financial assistance will ultimately
depend on progress made.
The Commission will support Lebanon in meeting the challenges ahead. In order to
be able to respond to the immediate reform needs, the Commission has put
together a €10 million package to support these reforms. This package forms part
of the over €100 million already committed from the EU community budget for the
period 2000-2006. The EU (Community, Member States and EIB) is already Lebanon’s
leading donor.
The Horizontal Agreement on Air Services between the Commission and Lebanon, to
be signed on 7 July, is an important first step to strengthen the aviation
relations in the framework of the EU-Lebanon Action Plan. It paves the way for
closer integration of Lebanon into the European aviation market. Lebanon is one
of the first countries worldwide and the first country in the Mediterranean
region to reach such an agreement with the EU. Air transport is crucial for
linking Lebanon with the EU and a sound legal framework facilitates the
development of trade, tourism and cultural exchanges which will stimulate
growth.
For more information on the EU's relations with Lebanon:http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/lebanon/intro/index.htm
Central Bank Licenses First Russian Bank to Operate in
Lebanon since Civil War
Naharnet: The Central Bank has given the preliminary go ahead to a Russian bank
to operate in Lebanon marking the first Russian investment in the sector since
the civil war, Al Markaziya news agency said.
Gasprom Bank Invest s.a.l., owned by Gasprom Bank, Quantic company and Lebanese
banker Sami Maroun, will become operational within three months, the agency said
Wednesday.
It said Gasprom Bank is owned by the Russian oil company after which it was
named. Gasprom, the largest oil producer in the world, accounts alone for 25
percent of the world's natural gas. It is partially owned by the Russian
government which holds 51 percent of the company's shares. As Safir newspaper
said the Central Bank's final approval awaits the processing of the necessary
paperwork. The newspaper's sources estimated the bank's minimum capital at
around LL15 million or around $10 million. "Setting up this bank in Lebanon
constitutes a significant and important step because it would be the first
Russian bank operating in the Middle East," Al Markaziya's sources said.
"Choosing Lebanon is proof of Russia's trust in the country as a major banking
center in the region," they added.
The last Russian bank that operated in Lebanon was the Moscow Narodni Bank which
closed down during the war.
Beirut, 06 Jul 06, 11:32
Central Bank Licenses First Russian Bank to Operate in Lebanon since Civil War
The Central Bank has given the preliminary go ahead to a Russian bank to operate
in Lebanon marking the first Russian investment in the sector since the civil
war, Al Markaziya news agency said.
Gasprom Bank Invest s.a.l., owned by Gasprom Bank, Quantic company and Lebanese
banker Sami Maroun, will become operational within three months, the agency said
Wednesday.
It said Gasprom Bank is owned by the Russian oil company after which it was
named. Gasprom, the largest oil producer in the world, accounts alone for 25
percent of the world's natural gas. It is partially owned by the Russian
government which holds 51 percent of the company's shares.As Safir newspaper
said the Central Bank's final approval awaits the processing of the necessary
paperwork. The newspaper's sources estimated the bank's minimum capital at
around LL15 million or around $10 million. "Setting up this bank in Lebanon
constitutes a significant and important step because it would be the first
Russian bank operating in the Middle East," Al Markaziya's sources
said."Choosing Lebanon is proof of Russia's trust in the country as a major
banking center in the region," they added. The last Russian bank that operated
in Lebanon was the Moscow Narodni Bank which closed down during the war.
Beirut, 06 Jul 06, 11:32