LCCC ENGLISH
DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
October 19/07
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10,1-9. After this the Lord
appointed seventy (-two) others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town
and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but
the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for
his harvest.
Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money
bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house
you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives
there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in
the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer
deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town
you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it
and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'
Free Opinions & Special
Reports
Lebanon's Abandoned Role.Elias
Bejjani. FrontPage.com. October 18/07
Anxious for
Dhimmitude.By: Mark D.
Tooley. October 18/07
Islamberg, British style. By
Judi McLeod. Canada Free Press. October 18/07
For Lebanon,
caring about Palestinians means protecting its own.The
Daily Star. October 18/07
What form of mass murder
is Al-Qaeda preparing for?
By David Ignatius.
October 18/07
Recalling what 'realism'
did to Iraq.By
Michael Young. October 18/07
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for October 18/07
Gen.
Suleiman Denies Alleged U.S. Request to Set Up Military Base in Lebanon-Naharnet
Hizbullah: Aoun is the Opposition's 'secret" Presidential Candidate-Naharnet
Lahoud
Invited to a Sports Event in Cairo-Naharnet
U.S. Suggests Formation
of Global Team to Guarantee Fair Election-Naharnet
Bkirki Supervises Intra-Maronite Dialogue
Between Majority and ...Naharnet
Aoun
Advocates Formation of Interim Government-Naharnet
Jumblat Accuses Hizbullah of Establishing Relations with Israel-Naharnet
Moallem: Syria Shares
Interest in Safeguarding Lebanon Security-Naharnet
Nasrallah's victory.Ha'aretz
Barak sees Israeli anti-rocket system by 2010.Reuters
Israel maintains demand that Hezbollah supply info Ron Arad.Ha'aretz
Hoss Initiative to End Presidential Standoff.Naharnet
Geagea: We Will elect a President by Simple
Majority-Naharnet
U.S.-Israel Discuss Nuclear Iran, Hizbullah-Hamas Rockets-Naharnet
Hizbullah Buries Swapped Fighter-Naharnet
Christian Opposition Rejects Names Proposed By March 14 for Bkirki-Backed
Meetings-Naharnet
Berri
Accuses Jumblat, Geagea of Seeking to Hinder Lebanon Settlement-Naharnet
US 'will support' any freely elected Lebanese
president-Daily
Star
Israel impeding effort to clear cluster bombs-Daily
Star
Hoss suggests solution to presidential crisis-Daily
Star
Domestic violence remains hidden in shadow of
tradition-Daily
Star
Abbas says Jewish state
is sabotaging peace talks, threatens to stay home.AFP
Bush 'serious' about state for Palestinians-Daily
Star
Tehran's nuclear
negotiator to meet with EU official.AFP
Gates moves to control
security contractors in Iraq.AFP
Detained Iranian woman
found dead in cell.AFP
Syria renews ban on Lebanese potatoes-Daily
Star
Lebanon 'needs to remove obstacles' if it wants
to give business a chance-Daily
Star
Families of Fatah al-Islam fighters leave for
Syria-Daily
Star
Students voice growing frustration with MPs'
inability to elect president-Daily
Star
Syrian show leaves many Lebanese nostalgic for
early 20th-century life-Daily
Star
Movie about Sidon dump wins first prize at
ecological film festival in France-Daily
Star
Rights group says end to Palestinian
discrimination would benefit all-Daily
Star
U.S.
Suggests Formation of Global Team to Guarantee Fair Election
The United States has reportedly suggested the formation of an international
team to guarantee fair presidential elections in Lebanon.
The daily An Nahar said on Thursday that the idea appeared to have been
crystallized at the end of meetings in Washington between Druze leader Walid
Jumblat and senior U.S. officials. It said the proposal also seemed to have been
tackled with other Arab and foreign states.
The suggestion coincided with a statement by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey
Feltman in which he said Washington would support a Lebanese presidential
candidate who is elected freely without foreign interference or pressure. "Our
policy is simple and clear: The United States will support a president who is
freely elected - without threat, interference or intimidation from any regional
or international power," Feltman told reporters following a meeting with House
Speaker Nabih Berri, only days ahead of a scheduled parliamentary session to
elect a new head of state.
He said Washington has full confidence in the Lebanese Parliament to elect a
president committed to "democracy, unity, and independence and respects
international resolutions.""Given the importance of the presidency to Lebanon's
unique power-sharing formula and to the role of the Christian community in
Lebanon, we hope all members of Parliament will heed the appeals of religious
and political leaders who have emphasized the importance of attending the
parliamentary session to elect the president," Feltman said."The United States
has a firm, enduring, and non-negotiable commitment to the people of Lebanon,"
he said. "The U.S. looks forward to joining with other international and
regional friends of Lebanon in supporting the new president and in working with
him and a new government in building a strong, united, and prosperous Lebanon."
Beirut, 18 Oct 07, 08:10
Aoun Advocates Formation of
Interim Government
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun said he advocates the formation
of an interim government that would be in charge of preparations for the next
Presidential Election. In an interview with the daily An Nahar published
Thursday, Aoun said he was willing to name a "friend" close to the FPM to the
Christian committee that has yet to see light. The committee, if established,
would follow up on the separate meetings that took place last week between
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and Christian politicians from the opposition
and the majority in an effort to reach consensus on a presidential candidate.
Aoun said he renewed a proposal that the committee be made up of himself as well
as Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, former President Amin Gemayel and former
cabinet minister Suleiman Franjieh. "A direct confrontation is the only way to
settle issues of importance," Aoun said. Aoun wondered why Geagea did not name a
candidate for the follow-up committee. Aoun said that establishment of an
interim government was an intermediate opt out of the crisis.
He said the interim government would be assigned to establish a new electoral
law which it would supervise.This government would also be overseeing the
election of a new president, Aoun said. Beirut, 18 Oct 07, 11:42
Gen.
Suleiman Denies Alleged U.S. Request to Set Up Military Base in Lebanon
Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman categorically denied Thursday news reports
alleging that the United States had requested establishing an advance military
base for its forces in Lebanon. Suleiman, contacted by Naharnet, stressed that
the topic "has not been discussed with the Lebanese Army." He said in the
telephone dialogue that the Lebanese Government is not aware of such an alleged
request. Had the issue been discussed at the political level, the Army Command
would have been informed of it, Gen. Suleiman added. Lebanon, he noted, is in
the custody of the Lebanese Army. The nation's political and military decisions
are the responsibility of the nation's constitutional institutions.
He stressed that neither the United States nor any other power can violate such
a decision-making process. Cooperation with friendly states, the United States
included, is restricted to military assistance and training on the use of such
equipment in line with Lebanon's interest, lacking any political conditions,
According to Gen. Suleiman. This has been a standing procedure for quite a
while, the army commander explained. He stressed that what governs the relations
between Lebanon and friendly states is strict respect of the nation's
sovereignty and the Lebanese Army's system of values, topped by respect of
democracy, human rights as well as public and individual freedoms in addition to
combating fanaticism and confronting terror. Beirut, 18 Oct 07, 17:36
Hizbullah: Aoun is the
Opposition's "secret" Presidential Candidate
Hizbullah MP Nawar al-Sahili said Thursday that Free Patriotic Movement leader
Michel Aoun is the opposition's official candidate for the presidential office.
Sahili was also quoted as adding that Hizbullah and Aoun are bound by a "secret
agreement not to announce this issue (Aoun's candidacy) officially."Sahili made
the remark in an interview with the state-run Tele Liban, excerpts of which were
also distributed by the National News Agency (NNA).He stressed that the
Hizbullah-led opposition "will not leave the country in the hands of a side that
monopolizes power and leads the country to the unknown." Sahili stressed that
the opposition would "coordinate" its future steps with President Emile Lahoud
to "safeguard unity of the country and avoid vacuum" in the presidential office.
He said that electing a president by simple majority "would be as if no election
has taken place and the president will not leave the Baabda Palace in the hands
of vacuum."Lahoud, according to Sahili, "would take the proper decision on time.
What is important is that we, the opposition, will not stand idly by if the
majority rejected consensus" on a presidential candidate. Beirut, 18 Oct 07,
17:02
Lahoud Invited to a Sports Event in Cairo
President Emile Lahoud on Thursday received an invitation from his Egyptian
counterpart Husni Mubarak to visit Cairo just 13 days before his extended term
in office expires. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Egypt's
ambassador to Lebanon Ahmed Fouad Bidewi delivered Mubarak's invitation to
Lahoud to take part in the opening of the 11th Arab games, scheduled for Nov.
11. Lahoud's extended term in office expires on Nov. 24, just one day before the
Arab Games –in which Lebanon participates- conclude competitions in Egypt. The
text of the invitation stated that Mubarak "looks forwards to President Lahoud's
participation in this important pan-Arab gathering." The NNA report said Lahoud
Thanked Mubarak for the invitation, but failed to disclose whether the Lebanese
Head of state would actually leave for Cairo at such a critical time for the
presidential race to elect the first head of state after withdrawal of Syria's
troops from Lebanon.
Lahoud's term was extended for three years by a controversial constitutional
amendment in Sept. 2004, when the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad was
the sole power broker in Lebanon. The extension was a direct challenge to U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1559 of Sept. 2004, which called for the election of
a successor to Lahoud without foreign intervention and in line with the nation's
constitution.Beirut, 18 Oct 07, 18:17
Jumblat Accuses Hizbullah of Establishing Relations with Israel
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt continued his attacks against Hizbullah, this time
accusing the Shiite group of establishing relations with Israel.
Responding to the prisoner swap between Hizbullah and the Jewish state, Jumbtat,
who has met in Washington with Democratic and Republican congressmen on
Wednesday said: "It is like Israel is saying there is no Lebanese state, but a
Hizbullah state.""This is sad and it proves a certain reality that there is some
sort of a relation between Hizbullah and Israel," Jumblat told reporters in
Washington. Congress on Monday proposed a resolution condemning Syria, Iran and
their Lebanese allies for their meddling in Lebanon and for acting against
national interests. Hizbullah criticized the resolution as "interference" in
Lebanon's affairs. Beirut, 18 Oct 07, 09:27
Moallem: Syria Shares
Interest in Safeguarding Lebanon Security
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem stressed that Syria supports Lebanon's
consensus march and said his country shares an interest in safeguarding
Lebanon's security and stability, the state-run Syrian News Agency, SANA, said.
It said Moallem received a telephone call from French Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner, adding that the two leaders "discussed bilateral relations and the
situation in Lebanon."SANA said Kouchner also briefed Moallem on a visit to
Lebanon this weekend along with the foreign ministers of Italy and Spain. It
said Kouchner revealed his intention to urge the warring Lebanese political
sides to agree on a consensus presidential candidate who is able to "unite the
Lebanese." SANA said Moallem expressed Damascus' willingness to open dialogue
with France in an effort "to consolidate and develop bilateral relations and
contribute toward finding political solutions to the ongoing problems in the
region to guarantee security and stability there." Beirut, 18 Oct 07, 09:24
Hoss Initiative to End
Presidential Standoff
Former Prime Minister Salim Hoss called on House Speaker Nabih Berri to set up a
ballot box where legislators can vote on four "neutral" candidates for the
presidential seat. "There is a common feeling of hopelessness among the people,"
Hoss told a news conference on Wednesday. "So let's give them some concrete
steps toward finding a settlement to the ongoing (presidential) crisis." Hoss
called on Berri, MP Saad Hariri and Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to agree
on four candidates who do not belong to either the pro-government March 14 camp
or to the opposition March 8 coalition. Subsequently, the 128 lawmakers would
vote for one of the four nominees at the informal ballot box before heading for
Parliament. Hoss said that the chosen candidate will be the consensus candidate
who would be officially elected at a parliamentary session Beirut, 18 Oct
07, 07:31
Geagea: We Will Elect a
President by Simple Majority
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the March 14 majority alliance would
elect a president by simple majority. The opposition, according to Geagea, would
be sorry because "we will select a candidate whom they consider to be farther
away" from their political stand. The state-run National News Agency (NNA)
distributed excerpts of Geagea's interview, scheduled for publication Thursday
by an-Nahar's Youth supplement. Geagea rejected arguments that failure by
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to unify the Christians' stand on a
presidential candidate would weaken Bkirki's status. "The Patriarch noted the
need for an intra-Christian agreement on a president. They may, or may not,
reach an understanding, and both cases won't result in a catastrophe," he said.
He voiced objection to electing Army Commander Gen. Michael Suleiman for
president, stressing that the "constitution states that senior public employees
should resign two years before running for elections."Commenting on obstacles
facing intra-Christian reconciliation, Geagea said "The problem is not with
(Free Patriotic Movement leader) Michel Aoun, and it is not in his alliance with
Hizbullah, but in the regional depth of this agreement." He was obviously
referring to Hizbullah's links to Syria and Iran. He said reconciliation with
ex-minister Suleiman Franjeih "would have been achieved long ago had he been
free to act and take his own decisions." Beirut, 17 Oct 07, 17:27
U.S., Israel Discuss Nuclear Iran, Hizbullah-Hamas Rockets
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has held talks in Washington with his U.S.
counterpart Robert Gates on the joint development of a missile interception
system, his office said on Wednesday. On his first trip since taking office in
June, Barak and Gates also discussed regional issues on Tuesday, including
Iran's controversial nuclear program, which Israel and the United States say is
cover for the development an atomic weapon, something Iran strongly denies.
The two men discussed the continuing cooperation in the development of a
"multi-layered missile interception system," seen as a measure to counter any
Iranian attack on the Jewish state, Barak's office said in a statement. Israel
has already successfully tested and deployed its Arrow anti-missile system, also
jointly developed with its key ally, which is said to be able to deflect most
missile strikes against the Jewish state. During his six-day visit, the former
Israeli chief of staff is also scheduled to meet Vice President Dick Cheney and
National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Israel, widely seen as the region's sole though undeclared nuclear power,
considers Iran its chief enemy after repeated statements from President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad that the Jewish state should be wiped off the map. Barak was also
expected to discuss the development of a joint US-Israeli system aimed at
countering rocket fire of the sort regularly directed at Israel by Palestinian
militants based in the Gaza Strip and also used by the Shiite militants of
Hizbullah during last year's war in Lebanon.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 17 Oct 07,
20:39