LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 09/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 16:24-28. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever
wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For
whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my
sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son
of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay
everyone according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing
here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his
kingdom
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Why Syria has Samir Geagea in its
sights. By: Michael Young, 08/08/09
Interview with
Walid Jumblatt/Now Lebanon 08/08/09
Jumblat The chameleon/By: Ana Maria
Luca, NOW Lebanon August 5, 2009
Lebanon: Who turned on who?By: Abdul Rahman al-Rashed 08/08/09
Lebanon’s Reversal of Fortune. By Barry Rubin/August 08/09
Summertime gives the Lebanese a chance to do what they do best-Daily Star
08/08/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
08/09
Hezbollah No. 2 says group ready for war with
Israel-Ha'aretz
Hezbollah says planned ILA reform 'perpetuates
Nakba'-Ynetnews
US State Department: US
policy toward Hezbollah has not changed-Now Lebanon
Abou
Assi: March 14 will overcome any blow-Future
News
Beydoun: Jumblatt’s new slogans are
excuses-Future News
Harb:
Jumblatt’s position confused but did not surprise March 14-Future
News
Second Nasrallah-Jumblatt meeting
and a controversial Jumblatt-Aoun reconciliation-Future
News
Aoun:
To grant Sleiman state’s ministries only-Future
News
Aoun Wants to Meet Jumblat in
One of the Chouf's Maronite Churches-Naharnet
Aoun:
March 14 Could Absorb Shock, But Jumblat Departure Over and Done With-Naharnet
Egypt Worried over Syria, Opposition Support for Hariri Premiership-Naharnet
Jumblatt says Palestinian
issue a priority for the Arab nation-Now Lebanon
Tripoli's Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Disappears-Naharnet
The Jerusalem Post: Israel
Fears Hizbullah Has Advanced Air Defense Systems-Naharnet
Adwan: LF Wants to
Strengthen Christian-Druze Ties, Will Not Comment on Jumblat-Naharnet
State Department: U.S.
Policy toward Hizbullah Has Not Changed-Naharnet
Wahhab: Syria Will Welcome
All Forces, with Exception of Geagea-Naharnet
Soaid to Jumblat: No One
has Right to Put Conditions on March 14-Naharnet
Hariri's Vacation
Continues, No Two-Way Contacts-Naharnet
Qassem: We Won't Accept
Anyone to Change the Cabinet Formula-Naharnet
PSP suspends membership in March 14
council-Daily Star
Australia’s reversal of ban on Al-Manar
angers Jewish groups-Daily Star
Lebanon’s 2008 trade deficit grows
41 percent to $12.66 billion-Daily Star
Port town of Jbeil sees record
levels of summer tourism-Daily Star
New TV calls for solidarity with presenter Eid-Daily Star
State Department: U.S. Policy
toward Hizbullah Has Not Changed
Naharnet/The U.S. State Department stressed on Friday that its policy toward
Hizbullah has not changed and reiterated that the Shiite party was "a force of
instability in the region."
"U.S. policy toward Hizbullah has not changed. We do not make any distinction
between the political and military wings," the Department's Deputy Spokesman,
Robert Wood, said during a press briefing. "Until Hizbullah decides that it's
going to change and stop carrying out the acts of terrorism and other acts that
are causing instability in the region, there's no reason for our policy to
change," he said in response to a question on President Barak Obama's chief
counterterrorism advisor John Brennan, who has said that a lot of Hizbullah
members are renouncing terrorism and are trying to participate in the political
process in a very legitimate fashion. Wood said it "remains to be seen whether
there are" some moderate elements in Hizbullah. "I'm not an expert on Hizbullah
and the inner workings of that terrorist organization."He also called the Shiite
group "a force of instability in the region" even if Brennan claimed "there are
people inside of that organization that may want to take a different approach."
Beirut, 07 Aug 09, 22:53
The Jerusalem Post: Israel Fears Hizbullah Has Advanced Air Defense Systems
Naharnet/Increasing tensions between Israel and Hizbullah are the result of
growing concern that Syria will transfer "balance-altering" weaponry to the
Shiite group, a top defense official has told The Jerusalem Post. "Our
assumption is that whatever Iran and Syria have, Hizbullah could one day also
have," the official said this week. According to the Post, Israeli surveillance
planes fly at higher altitudes out of fear that Hizbullah has obtained advanced
air defense systems, and navy ships patrol further from the coast out of fear
that the group would use advanced anti-ship missiles that it has put its hands
on. The Israeli navy also recently tested an upgraded version of the Barak
missile defense system - which can intercept anti-ship missiles - amid concern
that Hizbullah may soon receive an advanced anti-ship missile system, the
newspaper said. Beirut, 08 Aug 09, 15:22
Beydoun: Jumblatt’s new slogans
are excuses
Date: August 8th, 2009/Source: radio orient
Former Minister Muhammad Abdul Hamid Beydoun said on Saturday that MP Walid
Jumblatt, leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, refused the Lebanon fist
slogan to adopt the Druze first slogan. The recent stance of MP Walid Jumblatt
in which he did a political repositioning towards centrism was said to hinder
the government formation which consultations are still held by Premier-designate
Saad Hariri. In an interview with Radio Orient, Beydoun added that Druze leader
Jumblatt is getting rid of the fact that he is a March 14 leader to adopt fake
slogans, noting that the March 8 camp gave the impression that Lebanon is ruled
from foreign powers and that the Lebanese government has a marginal role.
Beydoun, a former member of the March 8 Amal Movement led by Speaker Nabih Berri,
explained that the opposition is always imposing conditions, and noted that this
political side blocked the dialogue due to the suspension of the constitution
after the May 7 events. As for the Lebanese Syrian relations, the former
Minister said that the normalization of these relations should pass through the
Lebanese state represented by all three presidents, noting that the failure of
these relations are due to its restriction with some communities in the country.
Beydoun also called on Hizbullah to take into consideration the fact that its
arms are considered to be directed against the Lebanese communities.
Aoun: To grant Sleiman state’s ministries only
Date: August 8th, 2009/Source: Sawt Al Mada
Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun said Saturday the President of the
republic Michel Sleiman does not bear responsibility towards the voters because
he is a consensual president, therefore he shall be granted state’s ministry not
sovereign portfolios. During an interview with Sawt al-Mada radio, Aoun said
regarding the cabinet formation that he had asked Prime minister designate Saad
Hariri for five ministerial seats but refused to specify names before finalizing
portfolios. He believes the proportional representation “is the most appropriate
method in cabinet formation,” stressing on the importance of granting President
Sleiman some seats in the cabinet provided it would be state’s ministries.
Aoun expressed that President Sleiman’s constitutional authority and
responsibility do not lie in bearing responsibility towards the voters; instead
it is the ministerial candidate’s duty. “The President can participate in the
government through state’s ministers because he is a consensual president and
does not need sovereign seats,” he explained in reference to the defense,
Interior, foreign and Justice Ministries. “If the President is determined to
acquire votes, there are 6 ministerial seats in his disposition,” Aoun noted.
He warned “if the Interior Ministry was Sleiman’s share and something incorrect
went wrong in the ministry or in any other ministry pertaining to Sleiman then
“he will hold the responsibility.”
Aoun also said the time was ripe for a meeting with Jumblatt and that his party
was using the same methodology it used in dealing with Hezbollah, which is “to
discuss principles and not conditions.”
Abou Assi: March 14 will overcome any blow
Date: August 8th, 2009/Source: Free Lebanon
National Liberal Party (NLP) Secretary General Elias Abou Assi stressed Saturday
that March 14 alliance has always been committed to its principles and slogans
since its inception.
Abou Assi told Radio Free Lebanon that the alliance received a harsh blow lately
in the aftermath of Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblatt’s announcement
in which he declared “his alliance with the March 14 was out of necessity and
should be terminated.”“The country is undergoing a bitter quandary triggered by
Jumblatt’s recent stances that instigated the different parties, the Druze
community as well as Jumblatt’s devotee to recalculate their political
considerations based on his positions and the regional changes,” he explained.
He stressed the need to inspect the regional changes that occurred recently,
while reports indicate alterations in Syria’s policies. Abou Assi confirmed that
neither Jumblatt nor his partisans in the PSP or Democratic Gathering ever
raised concerns during the March 14 internal meetings. “PSP leader might disband
the alliance but we will definitely maintain our amiability because we are all
partners in the homeland,” he said fervently. NLP member Abou Assi expressed
adamant determination to dub the March 8 coalitions as “coup-movement backed by
weapons and money,” pointing out that the opposition recognizes the results of
the June 7 parliamentary elections. Lebanon's opposition conceded defeat against
the March 14 alliance in pivotal polls in June 7 after months of fierce
campaigning.
Second Nasrallah-Jumblatt meeting and a controversial Jumblatt-Aoun
reconciliation
Date: August 8th, 2009/Source: Al Anbaa
Al-Anbaa Kuwaiti newspaper reported that a second meeting was held in secret
between Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and head of the
Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt, after the two previously met after the
parliamentary elections. During one of the meetings, Nasrallah grilled Jumblatt
over his previous political stances, and the latter answered him frankly that he
sensed , a danger threatening the Druze sect he represents and that the western
world is trying to topple the Syrian regime and that there will be drastic
changes in Lebanon. According to Al-Anbaa, MP Jumblatt said: “I messed up, and I
am in a period of calculations, because I do not want to clash with anyone
especially the Shiites.”
However, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper pointed that MP Michel Aoun insists to meet
Jumblatt in a location of a “Maronite symbolism” while the latter refuses. The
newspaper mentioned that the two were supposed to meet at the residence of a
common friend, but Aoun changed his mind and requested to meet Jumblatt at the
Maronite Patriarch of Beirut. Head of the Democratic Gathering refused this
request in order not to provoke the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, and
suggested meeting him at the parliament or Baabda castle in the sponsorship of
President Michel Sleiman. The paper added that Aoun insisted on his suggestion.
In the same context, Minister of Public Works Ghazi Al-Aridi denied his
knowledge of a close meeting and told the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that “the situation
hasn’t changed yet, and there is no agreement for the date or location between
Aoun and Jumblatt till today.”
Harb: Jumblatt’s position confused but did not surprise
March 14
Date: August 8th, 2009/Source: Voice of Lebanon
MP Boutros Harb considered that outing an end to the struggle in Lebanon must
not be achieved by the policy adopted by head of the Democratic Gathering MP
Walid Jumblatt but through reviving the parliamentary system, pointing that
Jumblatt “did not suspend his membership from March 14, but had some remarks
over its structure.”
“Jumblatt’s stance which caused an imbalance in the government formation held by
Premier-Designate Saad Hariri did not surprise us, but it was confusing due to
its timing” MP Harb said.
He added that Jumblatt’s position came as a result to the choices of Christian
candidates in Mount Lebanon, in addition to his concern for the Druze community
after the events of May 7.
As for the visit of the Democratic Gathering president to Syria, Harb considered
that “Jumblatt must give a clear position after visiting this country,
especially after his insulting declarations towards the Syrian President and
people.”
Adwan: LF Wants to Strengthen Christian-Druze Ties, Will Not Comment on Jumblat
Naharnet/MP George Adwan said Saturday that the Lebanese Forces has decided to
decline comment on MP Walid Jumblat's statements out of keenness to strengthen
Christian-Druze relations following the reconciliation in the Mountain. In an
interview with LBC, Adwan said the government formation process "will not be
dealt with in the same manner as it was before Jumblat's announced positions."
He called on President Michel Suleiman and premier-designate Saad Hariri to
"take into consideration this new reality as they move toward a new government
and new formulas that serve the people's best interest." Adwan suggested the
formation of a government that is either "polarized or one of technocrats in
light of the current developments." The deputy said the LF was "committed to the
Arab causes and considers Israel an enemy state." He cautioned that "any attempt
to insinuate or link ministries to an Israeli aggression will be considered a
cheap move against the Lebanese Forces." He said the LF "was not carrying out
any security-related or armament activities" and asked security services to
"prevent any confusion over the matter." On ties with Syria, Adwan said the LF
wanted "solid" Lebanese-Syrian bilateral relations. Beirut, 09 Aug 09, 13:14
Tripoli's Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Disappears
Naharnet/Authorities found on Saturday the vehicle of the head of the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry in Tripoli, Abdullah Ghandour, who disappeared the day
before. Media reports said authorities found the vehicle in a parking lot near
the northern port city's Haykaliyeh hospital. Forensic experts were on Saturday
examining his car to find the causes of Ghandour's disappearance. Beirut, 08 Aug
09, 14:49
Aoun Wants to Meet Jumblat in One of the Chouf's Maronite
Churches
Naharnet/MP Michel Aoun is insisting on meeting MP Walid Jumblat at a venue that
holds a Maronite "symbolism," a demand that the latter is rejecting, according
to the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat daily on Saturday.The newspaper said that one of
the first suggestions was for the two leaders to meet at the home of a common
friend, but Aoun changed his mind and asked that the encounter take place at
Beirut's Maronite Patriarchy. Jumblat rejected the second suggestion, the paper
said, adding the Druze leader did not want to "provoke sensitivities" with
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. He suggested instead meeting Aoun in
Parliament or at Baabda Palace under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman.
This time Aoun rejected the idea, preferring the meeting to take place in one of
the Chouf's churches, the paper said. According to reports, the paper said, Aoun
preconditioned that Jumblat accompany him on a tour of the Chouf, similar to
that in 2001 when the Druze leader and Sfeir reconciled. The newspaper added
that the meeting will "probably take place in a Maronite church in the Chouf."
As such, Aoun would have repeated the "setting of his meeting with Hizbullah
leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah at the Mar Mekhail Church in Beirut's southern
suburbs." Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi told the paper that "the date and
venue for a Aoun-Jumblat meeting has not been set yet." Beirut, 08 Aug 09, 09:07
Aoun: March 14 Could Absorb Shock, But Jumblat Departure Over and Done With
Naharnet/MP Michel Aoun said Saturday that March 14 forces might be able to
"absorb" the shock caused by MP Walid Jumblat's recent actions but they cannot
"reverse" what happened.
"March 14 forces might be able to absorb the shock caused by Jumblat's
departure, but they cannot absorb the action itself," Aoun told Sawt al-Mada
radio station in an interview.
"The majority is no longer a majority. It is now a group of minorities and
forming a coalition is inevitable in the country," he said on the impact of
Jumblat's move on March 14.
On a possible meeting with Jumblat, Aoun said "circumstances are starting to
ripen. It won't be long before we meet." He added he did not have any
preconditions for such an encounter.
Press reports said on Saturday Aoun was preconditioning that a meeting with
Jumblat take place in one of the Chouf's Maronite churches, a demand the Druze
leader has rejected.
Aoun said Jumblat's move "resembles in general what we did in 2005." He said the
Progressive Socialist Party leader came across the "same vacuum that I found
because the scope of the majority is limited to individuals and does not include
the people as a whole." He said Jumblat can afford to change directions "without
paying the price politically, inside his party and with his public. But this is
not possible with all parties." Aoun said Christian members of the majority "do
not know which direction to go. It is like riding a ship without a compass."
"They are against Hizbulah's weapons arsenal but they do not have any blueprint,
at the same time they want to negotiate with Israel," he added. Beirut, 09 Aug
09, 12:08
Wahhab: Syria Will Welcome All Forces, with Exception of Geagea
Naharnet/Former minister Wiam Wahhab said Saturday that Damascus was ready to
welcome "all Lebanese forces and figures," including Phalange party leader
President Amine Gemayel, but with the exception of Lebanese Forces head Samir
Geagea. In an interview with al-Manar TV, Wahhab said: "Geagea must resolve the
files concerning the assassinations of Prime Minister Rashi Karami and MP and
Minister Tony Franjieh. He must also carry out the necessary reconciliations in
this regard."Wahhab said there have been reports that "Geagea was trying to
create security cells in some regions." He warned the LF leader against "acting
as fuel for any Israeli aggression and carrying out a third adventure for the
sake of his Christian allies." He reiterated that MP Walid Jumblat has
"reconciled with himself, Kamal Jumblat and the Progressive Socialist Party
through his recent positions."Jumblat believed he was "in the wrong place and
was pushed to be there by certain circumstances," Wahhab said. "For political
and religious considerations, we, the Druze, cannot but be close to the Shiites
and Syria, which is a second Mecca for us," he added. He insisted that
reconciliation between Jumblat and Syria has been "achieved." On
Premier-designate Saad Hariri, Wahhab said Damascus "encourages and supports
Hariri and Syria will embrace him based on the idea that Lebanon is an ally and
a friend." Beirut, 09 Aug 09, 10:48
Why Syria has Samir Geagea in its sights
Michael Young, NOW Contributor , August 7, 2009
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Syria’s latest target
Amid the ruckus over Walid Jumblatt’s comments last Sunday on his differences
with the March 14 coalition, relatively little attention has been paid to
another consequence of the broad realignment taking place in Lebanese politics
today: the targeting of Samir Geagea.
The ambient momentum to define a new relationship with Syria is building. Saad
Hariri, whether he likes it or not (and we can be sure he does not), will have
little choice as prime minister but to ascend to Damascus for a photo-op with
Syria’s president, Bashar Assad, whose involvement in the assassination of Rafik
Hariri is little doubted by the Hariri faithful. Walid Jumblatt’s acrobatics
lately have been in large part efforts to reposition himself advantageously with
respect to Damascus. And even Amin Gemayel, whose son was very likely murdered
by Syria or its local agents, recently opened a conduit to Damascus through the
former minister Wiam Wahhab, even as he was reconciling, or reconciling again,
with Sleiman Franjieh, another close Syrian ally.
But not Geagea. Last week, Franjieh indicated that the time for a rapprochement
with the Lebanese Forces had not yet come – a sign that Syria disapproves of
such an initiative. Officials in the Syrian Social Nationalist Party are saying
that containing Geagea is their next priority. Jumblatt, a perennial bellwether,
has focused his recent criticism on the Lebanese Forces leader, showing perhaps
that his efforts to patch things up with Syria require that he join in a mood
hostile to Geagea.
What’s the reason for this? After all, Geagea, while he is getting stronger
politically, is still rejected by very many Christians. The Maronite leadership
is divided, and though Geagea is the most disciplined of the lot, for now it
seems unrealistic that he will become a truly national figure, someone who can
unify the community around him.
Several things make Geagea threatening to Syria. First of all, he is a natural
organizer, a former militiaman, someone who has to be taken seriously when it
comes to mobilizing his followers. Armed with a past of rejecting Syrian
hegemony, having spent 11 years in prison on the orders of Damascus, he could
emerge as a solid Christian cornerstone of an effort to deny Syria the political
restoration it seeks in Lebanon.
More importantly, such a role would be doubly reinforced by the second thing
making Geagea threatening to Syria: his close ties to Saad Hariri, therefore to
the Sunni community. In some regards the Lebanese Forces have taken on an
interesting function in the past years, namely that of a militant vanguard in
the partnership between those Sunnis and Christians most opposed to a Syrian
comeback. Syria’s Lebanon policy has always been about containing both the
Sunnis and its Maronite adversaries. So the Assad regime is keen to break the
Geagea-Hariri connection, and particularly to suffocate the Lebanese Forces, the
weaker link in that connection but also its more cohesive component.
It’s not clear how the Syrians and their local acolytes might do so. To turn the
judicial system against Geagea, as they did in the 1990s, is almost impossible
today. However, the Syrians can isolate him, whether by ordering their partisans
to concentrate their attacks on the Lebanese Forces leader, or by using the
desire of Lebanese politicians to deal with Damascus as leverage to push Geagea
into the corner and turn him into a burden for Hariri. But that strategy, too,
is fraught with risks. If everybody gangs up on Geagea, Christians could rally
to his side.
The Syrians might also conceivably try to dialogue with Geagea, so as to split
him off from Hariri. But what would the Lebanese Forces leader gain by
surrendering a valuable affiliation that bolsters him politically, in exchange
for an invitation to Damascus that, in the end, would only disguise a yearning
to make Lebanon subservient to Syria again?
We should watch what happens to Samir Geagea in the coming weeks and months. The
Lebanese Forces, whatever they do, don’t quite fit into the prevailing mood
emerging in Lebanon today – a mood of fake consensus amid deep disagreements and
changes. Geagea and Saad Hariri will probably remain close, but going after the
first is an indirect way of undermining the second. That is why Syria has Geagea
in its sights.
**Michael Young is opinion editor of the Daily Star newspaper in Beirut.
Interview with Walid Jumblatt
August 7, 2009
Now Lebanon
On August 7, the left-wing As-Safir daily carried the following report by Imad
Marmal:
Yesterday, Jumblatt visited the offices of As-Safir newspaper where he met its
family of journalists and gave the following interview. Jumblatt indicated that
the slogans which brought him together with the March 14 forces following the
assassination of Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri were almost entirely
implemented, whereas the arms of the resistance should be the object of dialogue
to see how they could be absorbed at the appropriate regional moment, saying: “I
prefer the absorption formula over the crossing into the state… As for the truce
agreement with Israel that was stipulated in the Taif Agreement, we cannot
accept it because it imposes restraints on the Lebanese army. What is important
to us in this truce is to see the freezing of the war.
However, Lebanon cannot tolerate any dialogue or settlement with Israel and the
May 17 experience is still vivid with all its lessons.
“Some in March 14 have no problem with what is happening in Palestine, to
Pan-Arabism and with the settlements threat. They have stopped at the limits of
Kherbet Selem and the sovereignty, freedom and independence slogan. We have thus
suspended our membership in the general secretariat until things are clear.
“However, if the guys in March 14 do not wish to see things as they really are,
this is a problem… Some in Lebanon do not care about what is happening in the
region and only wish to see the Palestinian refugees [out of Lebanon].”
Who do you mean?
The Lebanese right wing.
Who does it include?
The Kataeb, the Lebanese Forces and the majority of the March
14 figures. To them, the Palestinian cause is limited to the presence of
Palestinian [refugees] whose burden should be eliminated. Unfortunately, a new
Palestinian-Islamic schism emerged due to the Nahr al-Bared camp war.
Where are you now exactly. You have puzzled us. Are you in or out of March 14?
I am an exceptional case. The previous slogans have expired and I am placing
conditions on the general secretariat of March 14 so that it makes up its mind.
Will it remain the prisoner of the narrow Lebanese horizon or will it speak
Arabic and raise different slogans reflecting its commitment to the national and
Arab causes at the head of which is the Palestinian cause? We cannot continue
like that and the country cannot remain caught between two camps. Centrism is a
necessity to break the acute alignment...
What happened between you and Saudi Information and Culture Minister Abdul Aziz
Khoja?
King Abdullah is insisting on the success of Saad al-Hariri as prime minister
with a Saudi-Syrian cover... Khoja asked me to give up on the designate prime
minister and I assured him for my part that I wished to see Al-Hariri succeed
and wishes to facilitate his mission... I also stressed the importance of the
Syrian-Saudi rapprochement which constitutes a guarantee for the country and
paves the way before a possible Saudi-Iranian dialogue later on. The Iranian
factor in the region cannot be disregarded and it was wrong of us during the
past stage to place hostility toward Iran on the same level as our hostility
toward Israel.
What is the story of the dinner that was never held at the Iranian embassy in
Beirut?
The head of the Tawhid Movement, Wiam Wahhab, conveyed a message from the
Iranian ambassador in Beirut inviting me to dinner. I did not mind in principle
but wished to consult with King Abdullah since he is a friend of the Druze. I
believed it would not be appropriate of me to visit the Iranian ambassador
without consulting with him first. He thus believed I should wait a little which
is exactly what I did. However, if the Iranian ambassador wishes to visit me,
there would be no problem with that.
Has your visit to Damascus become imminent?
The protection of the Druze is only achieved through the wide Arab horizon
overlooking Palestine. Therefore, their protection lies in Pan-Arabism and in
Syria, or else they will be run over in the stampede. I know I have previously
used certain expressions which reached the level of personal attacks and which
had reflections on the regime and the people, and especially the Druze in Syria
who were negatively affected by my rhetoric. However, a person whose identity I
will not reveal, advised me as to what I should do and the way to mend my case
with Damascus. However, I will not visit Syria before Prime Minister-designate
Saad al-Hariri.
Is Wiam Wahhab the one paving the way to Damascus?
In any case, Wiam Wahhab was in the Progressive Socialist Party...
What will be your position this time if Israel were to wage war on Hezbollah.
In this case, we should all stand alongside Hezbollah morally and financially,
as a state and as a people. This requires an interaction on the ground through
the elimination of all the remaining tensions from the May 7 stage. The best
thing would be to have a defensive strategy to face the aggression, but in case
we are unable to secure such a strategy in the near future to absorb Hezbollah’s
military apparatus within the state, we should stand alongside it...
Jumblatt then indicated that the May 6 events came as a shock to him, stressing
the necessity to eliminate the remaining Druze-Shia tensions. He then warned
against the isolationism which spread among the Druze in the face of the Shia
following May 7 and in the face of Pan-Arabism following the assassination of
Prime Minister al- Hariri and his instigation against Syria. “I am trying hard
to place things on the right track and steps have been made in this direction…”
But is the handling of the religious tensions on the Islamic scene conducted by
causing tensions on the Christian scene in light of your recent positions which
made the Christians in both the opposition and March 14 suspicious about you?
I am not seeking tensions with the Christians. There is a problem in the Islamic
arena and I called for the staging of an Islamic meeting to eliminate the
remaining tensions from May 7. Let some on the Christian arena allow me to say
that the tensions are in Aisha Bakkar and Karakol el-Druze and not anywhere
else.
Why has there not been a meeting between you and General Michel Aoun?
We disagreed over the formalities.
Is your life still threatened?
Israel can currently hunt down whoever it wants and I am surprised that the
uncovering of Israeli espionage cells suddenly stopped. [He stops talking when
asked about whether or not this meant that Israel was behind the previous
assassinations, saying] I will not talk about the international court and the
investigation because this is a highly sensitive issue for some. Nonetheless, I
insist on my position regarding what was said by Der Spiegel.
The chameleon
Ana Maria Luca, NOW Lebanon Staff , August 5, 2009
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt. (AFP/ Hassan Ammar)
How many times did Walid Jumblatt change his mind? Even he lost count. The
Lebanese have nicknamed him “the chameleon” and “the weathervane of Lebanese
politics”, but even his fiercest adversaries admit that Jumblatt is a cunning
politician and that he has managed to protect the Druze community over the
decades. NOW Lebanon brings you some of the turning points in Walid Jumblatt’s
political career:
Walid Jumblatt became the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party in 1977
following the assassination of his father, party founder Kamal Jumblatt. The
elder Jumblatt, a notorious critic of Syria, was allegedly killed at the order
of then-Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Eager not to meet the same fate as his
father, Walid Jumblatt reconciled with Assad after the traditional 40-day
mourning period was over.
For 23 years, the Druze leader remained loyal to Damascus and an enemy to Israel
and Lebanese Christian parties. Jumblatt was thus rewarded with ministerial
portfolios after Syrian forces captured Beirut in October 1990.
June 10, 2000
Radical change. The death of Hafez al-Assad and the accession of his son, Bashar,
awakened the anti-Syrian spirit in Jumblatt. He became a vocal opponent of the
Syrian occupation. Surprise? Not at all. When the new Syrian president
liquidated his political adversaries in Damascus, he liquidated Jumblatt’s
allies and friends.
2001
Jumblatt made another stunning reconciliation, this time with the Christians,
his bitter enemies throughout the civil war. He made an electoral alliance with
the Kataeb and National Bloc parties, forming the Mountain Union electoral list,
and he negotiated a charter with Amin Gemayel. Over the next four years,
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir visited the Chouf, and Walid Jumblatt met
with Samir Geagea’s wife, Strida, while the Lebanese Forces leader was still in
jail.
February 14, 2005
Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination rocked Lebanon, forever
changing the county’s political landscape. Adapting to the changing tides,
Jumblatt altered his political stance. Despite leading the opposition to the
Syrians, he cut a deal with pro-Syrian Shia groups Hezbollah and Amal, as well
as with the anti-Damascus Future Movement to protect its quota in parliamentary
elections that summer. The deal only lasted for the summer, though, and Jumblatt
turned around again and accused Hezbollah of supporting Syrian interests in
Lebanon after the assassination of journalist and MP Gebran Tueni.
May 2008
It was time for another major turning point. Faithfull at first to his
anti-Syrian position adopted eight years earlier, Walid Jumblatt pressured the
government to adopt the decree that made Hezbollah’s private telecommunications
system illegal. The bill led to 10 days of fighting between the March 14 and
March 8 forces in Beirut and the Chouf, following which Jumblatt’s attitude
toward the Shia group became milder. After the signing of the Doha Accord,
Jumblatt softened his objections to Hezbollah's arms. When Hezbollah hero Samir
Kantar and other Lebanese detainees in Israel were released in July of 2008, the
PSP issued a statement calling it "a historic victory" and urged the public to
participate in celebrations.
September 2008
Only months after the May events, Jumblatt reconciled with lifelong rival Talal
Arslan, the March 8-allied head of the Druze Lebanese Democratic Party. But the
reconciliation process was hindered by the assassination of Talal Arslan’s
right-hand man, Saleh Aridi, one of the prominent figures in the negotiations
between the two parties. Both leaders spoke about Druze unity at Aridi’s
funeral.
May 2009
Just before the parliamentary elections, a videotape of Walid Jumblatt insulting
his Maronite and Sunni party allies in a conversation was leaked to the press
and appeared on YouTube. Jumblatt later apologized to the Maronite community and
announced his intention to visit the Patriarch. But the rumors about his
distancing himself from March 14 did not cease.
June 18, 2009
Jumblatt met with Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. The meeting was
billed as a rapprochement between the two leaders’ parties after Jumblatt had
softened his stance toward the March 8 coalition.
August 2, 2009
In his latest act of political re-posturing, Walid Jumblatt announced this
Sunday that after four years, he will be distancing himself from March 14.
Lebanon’s Reversal of Fortune
By Barry Rubin
August 06/09
Do you think the moderates—that is the March 14 bloc—won the Lebanese elections,
while Hizballah and its Iranian-Syrian sponsors lost? Well, not so fast.
Negotiations have been going on about what the government will look like and it
appears that the pro-Syrian, pro-Iranian, favorable to Hizballah forces are
going to have veto power over government decisions, to say the least. -Daily
Star
Basically, the plan so far is to have three components in the cabinet. There
will be 15 for March 14, 10 for the Hizballah-led opposition, and 5 for those
chosen by President Michael Suleiman. And Suleiman was—wait for it, as the
British army sergeants say in giving an order—the candidate of Syria.
But there’s more. Now Druze leader and March 14 stalwart Walid Jumblatt has
switched sides. Jumblatt, a master politician, was a critical leader in forcing
Syrian troops out of Lebanon. Now, however, he says the handwriting on the wall.
America is weak; France, Lebanon’s traditional protector, is out to reconcile
with Syria and Hizballah; Hizballah has the strongest militia; and the Syrians
kill people. In the past, Jumblatt has been content to work with Syria, now he
is signaling a return to that strategy.
This could mean that there will be three equal blocs, a formula for anarchy.
Lebanon, however, can live with a certain amount of anarchy at the center since
it is today a country only of loosly connected zones controlled by different
ethnic-political forces defined by religious identity. Of course, this is
terrible for the country's economic well-being.
It also means that all the U.S. military aid provided to the Lebanese army is
practically at the command of Syria and Hizballah, including its participation
at least as a supporting force in any future Hizballah-Israel war. Don't worry
about Hizballah stealing the army's U.S.-made weapons, however, as the militia
is so well equipped that it doesn't need them.
In other words, the experiment in Lebanese independence may be at an end, not
because Hizballah has taken over the country but because it has total freedom of
action. Nobody is going to defy Syria and Iran as they have done in the past.
That means Hizballah—unbothered by the weak UN presence which has been unable to
uncover a single one of the thousands of Hizballah missiles in southern
Lebanon—once again owns the south. Syria’s involvement in terrorism against its
Lebanese critics will go unpublicized and certainly unpunished. The United
States and the West cannot count on Lebanon for anything, including, of course,
participation in any regional peace process.
Some seek to portray the Lebanese election results as a victory for the West and
the Obama administration. As of today, that doesn't seem to be a realistic
assessment though things could have been far worse, too.
This situation doesn’t mean another Israel-Lebanon war in the near-term future,
something not on the agenda of Tehran, Damascus, and Hizballah at present.
Hizballah needs to consolidate its Shia base and rebuild from the 2006 war that
it set off. But another round with Israel is certainly possible in, say, three
to five years, more likely if Israel ever attacks Iranian nuclear facilities
So while Hizballah didn’t “win” the election, it along with the radical
Iran-Syria bloc, has won the political situation. It isn’t a total victory but
it is sufficient for the purposes of Hizballah and Damascus at present.
Lebanon’s 2008 trade deficit
grows 41 percent to $12.66 billion
over a third of surge due to high oil prices
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Natalia Nasser
Regional Press Network
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s trade deficit widened substantially by 41 percent in 2008
compared to a year earlier, as imports continued to grow far faster than exports
which posted a 23.5 percent increase during the period.
The figures released by the Finance Ministry this week in its annual “Public
Finance Review” show the trade deficit increasing to $12.66 billion in 2008, up
41 percent from $9 billion in 2007.
High oil costs in 2008 contributed to the 36.6 percent year-on-year surge in
value of imported goods to $16.14 billion from $11.82 billion a year earlier.
During the period, mineral fuels and oils topped the list of imported products
at $4.1 billion, up 56 percent from 2007, followed by imports of vehicles which
reached a total value of $1.7 billion over the same period, the report shows.
Speaking to RPN, president of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI)
Fadi Abboud said the ballooning trade deficit should serve as a warning to the
government to enact much needed reforms of economic and fiscal policies.
“Lebanon’s trade balance is always in deficit, imports are growing at much
higher rates than exports, our growth rates are still low compared to
neighboring countries, and our economy is proving more and more it is a
consumptive one rather being productive,” Abboud said.
Abboud called on the government to adjust its priorities pointing out that 2008
trade numbers are a clear proof that “Lebanon’s economy cannot be built on
Lebanese expatriates remittances alone, and a comprehensive economic plan should
be adopted to improve Lebanon’s industrial sector and its domestic production
rates.”
The review showed that the total size of Lebanon’s exports posted a 23.5 percent
year-on-year increase to $3.48 billion in 2008 from $2.82 billion in 2007,
mainly due to a hike in exports of fertilizers, which increased to $215 million,
up 159 percent from $83 million in 2007.
On a regional trade level, Lebanon’s trading activity with neighboring countries
grew 24 percent in 2008 to $2.17 billion and Lebanon’s exports to Arab countries
equally increased 24 percent to $1.64 billion.
In notable developments in the ranking of trade partners, the United Arab
Emirates moved to the top destination for Lebanese exports, followed by
Switzerland and Iraq. The leading trade partners in selling goods to Lebanon
were the United States, China, and France.
The UAE and Iraq showed major increases in trade with Lebanon. Total value of
Lebanon’s exports to the UAE reached $346 million or 10 percent of total
exports and represented an increase of 42 percent compared to $244 million in
2007. The report attributed the surge in the value of exports to the hike in
exports of natural or cultured pearls and stones to $173 million.
Switzerland was the second largest importer from Lebanon during 2008, receiving
9.5 percent of total exports worth $329 million. Although the Swiss share in
Lebanese trade moved down from 12.8 percent in 2007, the value of Lebanese
exports to the European country in 2008 increased 7 percent to $329 million.
Exports to Iraq achieved the strongest gain in the Lebanese trade statistics,
increasing 82 percent to $269 million in 2008, up from $148 million a year
earlier. Owing to this strong increase, Iraq accounted for 7.7 percent of
Lebanese exports, according to the figures.
The review also cites an increase in the value of Lebanon’s exports to Syria,
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey last year.
Syria received $224 million worth of products over the period and a share of 6.4
percent of Lebanon’s total exports while Saudi Arabia imported $209 million
worth of products, up 11.5 percent from a year earlier.
Kuwait was Lebanon’s only major trading partner to receive a smaller value of
exports in 2008 which dropped 9.9 percent to $96 million from $106 million a
year earlier.
Despite the improvement in exports to the region, Lebanon’s exporting
capabilities are still constrained by major barriers, according to Abboud who
lamented specifically the lack of governmental support. “Local exporters are
facing stiff competition from neighboring countries where governments are
providing incentives to local companies and supporting their production,” he
said.
“While regional countries move to help local exporters and reduce production
costs, Lebanon has increased production costs on local companies and
astonishingly they have recently increased the income tax,” the ALI president
added.
Lebanon’s top exported item in 2008 was natural and cultured pearl which totaled
$574 million, up 18 percent compared to $488 million in 2007, followed by
exports of electrical machinery and equipment which amounted to $289 million
compared to $235 million in 2007.
In terms of imports, 28.4 percent of all goods brought into Lebanon by value
originated in the US, China and France, supplying mainly fuel products, oil,
cars, vehicles, machinery and other equipment.
Lebanon’s imports from the US totaled $1.8 billion in 2008, up 62 percent from
$1.14 billion in 2007, the report showed. Fuels and oils constituted 80 percent
of total imports from the US at a total value of $971 million, followed by
vehicles which totaled $279 million and boilers and machinery imports which
reached a value of $98 million.
China was the second-largest trading export partner to Lebanon over the year,
with its exports increasing 37 percent in 2008 to $1.4 billion, mainly iron,
steel products and equipment. It was followed by France which supplied Lebanon
with $1.3 billion worth of products, mainly fuels and oils.
Abboud said he holds a pessimistic outlook for Lebanon’s trade capabilities with
no positive signs in the horizon. He also warned that investments in the
industrial sector are likely to decline due to the delay in implementation of
the government’s plan of providing incentives to manufacturers, decreasing
production costs, and lowering income taxes. This, said the ALI president, will
definitely lead to further increases in Lebanon’s trade deficit in the years to
come.
Lebanon: Who turned on who?
Saturday, 08 August 2009
Abdul Rahman al-Rashed
There is an Arabic saying that goes: “Always try to find 1000 justifications for
your brothers.”
In this context, the brothers of the Druze leader Walid Jumblatt are his
partners in the historical political movement, the March 14 Coalition. Because
he broke away from the alliance a few days ago, there is now strong sentiment
against him, almost accusing him of treason even though changing positions is a
natural thing for politicians to do and should not surprise anyone. Now, his
comrades must think carefully before casting accusations against him. The man
served as a pillar to their movement, and pointing the finger at him would mean
pointing the finger at five important years. Moreover, they ought to thank
Jumblatt for being the movement’s sharpest weapon and changing Lebanon’s
political scene for good. They should look at Jumblatt’s departure as
retirement, and that another party accepting him is less practical because it’s
like a military general defecting after the war is over. Believe me, the
Lebanese war is practically over.
" The March 14 Coalition was established to achieve clear objectives, most of
which have been realized for example, the withdrawal of Syria from Lebanon and
the establishment of an international tribunal to investigate the killing of
Rafik al Hariri. Today, we are on the verge of a new regional chapter "Jumblatt
should not be blamed for leaving the coalition. There is a big difference in
politics between the “brotherhood of a party” and the “partnership of a
coalition.” The March 14 Coalition is a coalition, not a party. Its members
represent several parties. Therefore, just like all coalitions around the world,
members change according to the circumstances, and circumstances are subject to
drastic changes on all levels. The Lebanon of today is not the Lebanon of 2005.
It is only natural that alliances break up. Whoever listens to the disputes over
the formation of the next cabinet will see that they are linked to providing
services and local interests rather than strategic issues.
Just like many others, I was not convinced by Jumblatt’s justifications for
leaving the coalition. He claimed that he feared Sunni-Shiite clashes in the
future. Jumblatt is an unrivalled leader of the Druze and is the person who
decides to stay out of every battle. Everyone testifies to the fact that the
Druze society is the most formidable Lebanese group on the outside and the most
cohesive on the inside. But Jumblatt decided to play politics, the fast-pace
game of changing axes and interests.
The March 14 Coalition was established to achieve clear objectives, most of
which have been realized for example, the withdrawal of Syria from Lebanon and
the establishment of an international tribunal to investigate the killing of
Rafik al Hariri. Today, we are on the verge of a new regional chapter. The
transformation has actually taken place within the other camp. Syria, the main
party of the March 8 Alliance, has moved away from the position it was in five
years ago. Syria now wants rapprochement with Washington, an ally of the March
14 Coalition, and to enter negotiations with Israel, an excuse that is always
used for confronting opponents in Lebanon, from taking up arms to supporting
Hezbollah and taking up the positions of the foreign state.
If Damascus gets close to Riyadh and Washington, the main dispute will be over.
Syria took steps towards the March 14 Coalition and not Jumblatt who broke away.
Furthermore, it must be said that the defection of any ally of any party is not
important anymore, because the key issues have been resolved. It no longer
matters how the Hariri tribunal will end because it is away from Lebanese soil.
More importantly, the changing of positions is no longer surprising due to the
multiplicity, and conflicting nature of political axes. General Aoun surprised
everyone by allying with the pro-Syrian axis after having spent 15 years at war
with it. Even though it is rare to see invariable factors within the Lebanese
political arena, the endurance and perseverance of the March 14 Coalition as a
popular current representing various spectrums has become a very interesting
phenomenon, especially as it is the current that is threatened on a daily basis
with assassination and pursuit.
*Published in the London-based ASHARQ ALAWSAT on Aug. 6.