LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 10/09
Bible Reading of the day
Luke 6/27-40 “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you, 6:28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
6:29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who
takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. 6:30 Give to everyone who
asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.
6:31 “As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. 6:32 If you
love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those
who love them. 6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is
that to you? For even sinners do the same. 6:34 If you lend to those from whom
you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners,
to receive back as much. 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend,
expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children
of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 6:36 Therefore
be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. 6:37 Don’t judge, and you
won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you
will be set free. 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same
measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” 6:39 He spoke a parable to
them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 6:40 A
disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be
like his teacher.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Syria Exports Trouble/Michael
Young/December 09/09
Syria challenges the tribunal/Hanin
Ghaddar/Now Lebanon/December 09/09
Hezbollah's Delusions/By Jonathan Spyer/December 09/09
Where is the state in Lebanon?/The
Daily Star/December
09/09
Europe may add little on the Iranian nuclear standoff/By
Ian Black/December
09/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for December 09/09
Parliament Resumes Vote of Confidence Sessions, Hizbullah Arms Top Debate Issue/Naharnet
Qabalan
to Sfeir: We Are the Main Shield of Preserving Maronites in Lebanon/Naharnet
Shaaban:
No Specific Date Yet for Hariri's Visit to Syria/Naharnet
Suleiman: 'Right of
Return' for Palestinians Gateway to Any Peace Settlement/Naharnet
Justice Ministry receives
Syrian extradition notices/Now Lebanon
Syria
to Go Ahead and Summon Lebanese Officials over Sayyed Case/Naharnet
Hariri
discusses Syrian extradition notices with Franjieh/Now Lebanon
Aoun
Holds Talks with Assad in Damascus/Naharnet
Bellemare Visits
Victims' Families, Says Probe Making Progress/Naharnet
Ammar
Demands Deleting Any Mention to Hizbullah from Parliamentary Session Minutes/Naharnet
Report: Turkish Forces
Foil Hizbullah Plot to Attack Israeli Target/Naharnet
Explosions Rock Majdal
Anjar, Sultan Yaqoub/Naharnet
German Police Dismantle
Lebanese Gang/Naharnet
Soaid: Syria Has its Own
Men in Lebanon, While Iran has Entire Sect/Naharnet
Parliament Finishes First
Day of Confidence Vote Debate/Naharnet
Sfeir Rejects 'Resistance
Army'/Naharnet
Abbas Concludes Lebanon
Visit, Says Security in Refugee Camps to Be Imposed by Lebanese State/Naharnet
Hizbullah Denies Report
about Former South Yemen President Visiting Beirut to Demand Support for Huthis/Naharnet
Hariri: Cabinet Faces Test
of People's Trust/Naharnet
Hariri
urges lawmakers to show responsibility toward citizens/Daily
Star
NGOs
protest against Cabinet position on resistance arms/Daily
Star
Abbas:
Palestinians 'guests' in Lebanon, presence temporary/Daily
Star
UNIFIL
candid about Ghajar withdrawal hopes/Daily
Star
Sayyed
court summons not withdrawn/Daily
Star/Daily Star
Sfeir
rejects presence of two armies in Lebanon/Daily
Star
EIU
forecasts Lebanon's real GDP growth at 5.8 percent in 2010/Daily
Star
Arab
Culture Club announces 53rd book fair/Daily
Star
UN-Habitat inspect south's development projects/Daily
Star
Experts
weigh social costs of economic crisis/Daily
Star
'Their'
textbook about 'our' history/Daily
Star
Sidon
students urge world leaders in Copenhagen to save planet earth/Daily
Star
Syria seeks to quiz Lebanon officials in Hariri case
(AFP) – BEIRUT — A Syrian court has asked 25 Lebanese figures, including the
police chief and top prosecutor, to appear for questioning over the murder of
their country's ex-premier, a Lebanese official said on Wednesday. "The foreign
ministry last night received from the Syrian embassy in Beirut 25 letters
addressed to various (people) sought for questioning in connection with (Rafiq)
Hariri's murder," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The request
came as Hariri's son and political heir Saad Hariri, who was recently appointed
premier, prepares to make his first official visit to Syria, Lebanon's neighbour
and former powerbroker. There have been widespread accusations in Lebanon,
including from the younger Hariri himself, that Damascus was behind the 2005
assassination. A UN commission of inquiry said it had found evidence to
implicate Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services but there are no suspects in
custody. Syria has consistently denied any involvement in the crime..Those
called for questioning include police chief Ashraf Rifi and prosecutor general
Saeed Mirza, as well as several MPs and journalists. The Syrian court acted
after former Lebanese security services director Jamil Sayyed filed a lawsuit in
Damascus in October in connection with his detention for four years over
Hariri's murder. The Hague-based tribunal was set up by a UN Security Council
resolution in 2007 to try suspects in the murder of Hariri.
Sayyed was freed last April along with three other generals after a the tribunal
ordered their release on grounds there was insufficient evidence to indict them.
"We filed the lawsuit in Syria because the Lebanese justice system and the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon decided they had no jurisdiction in the matter,"
said Sayyed's attorney and son, Malek. He added that those sought for
questioning had allegedly lied, along with five Syrian witnesses, about his
father's alleged involvement in Hariri's murder.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Christian
leader in Syria for talks with Assad
Posted : Wed, 09 Dec 2009
Beirut - Michel Aoun, leader of the Christian Free Patriotic Movement, arrived
in Damascus on Wednesday for talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad, a source
close to Aoun said. Aoun, whose movement has close links with the fundamentalist
Hezbollah movement, last visited Syria a year ago, when he predicted a bright
future for relations between the two states.
The latest visit came as the Lebanese parliament was holding a second day of
deliberations expected to end in a vote of confidence for the new government of
Saad Hariri.
Aoun, who spoke at the opening of the debate on Tuesday, said an abolition of
confessionalism in Lebanese politics could be reached through educating young
people and fighting corruption. "Sectarianism doesn't produce corruption. But
corruption encourages sectarianism," he told the legislature. House Speaker
Nabih Berri, a member of the Hezbollah-led opposition, has also called for the
abolition of sectarianism, but his proposal has stirred debate, with Christian
parties the most vocal opponents of sectarianism.
According to analysts, Berri's call has little hope of being adhered to as
confessional divides in politics run deep. Under the current sectarian system,
the president is a Maronite Christian, the speaker of parliament a Shiite Muslim
and the prime minister a Sunni Muslim. In addition, all parliament members and
key government positions are based on religious affiliation.
Sfeir rejects presence of two armies in Lebanon
Maronite Patriarch calls for transferring Hizbullah’s weapons to army
By Elias Sakr
/Daily Star staff
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir stressed his rejection on
Tuesday of the presence of two armies in the country, a reference to Hizbullah,
while urging the transfer of the party’s weapons to the Lebanese Army. The
patriarch’s call came ahead of scheduled talks during national dialogue
sessions, under the sponsorship of President Michel Sleiman, aimed at reaching
an agreement over a defense strategy that defines the resistance’s role, its
relation to the Lebanese Army and the state’s authority over war-and-peace
decisions. Following the formation of the new national-unity Cabinet, a heated
debate arose between March 14 Christian parties and opposition groups over a
clause in the ministerial statement on the resistance’s right to liberate
occupied territories independently from the state.
The Lebanese Forces and the Phalange Party along with several independent MPs
said article six in the statement conflicted with international resolutions and
the state’s monopoly of authority by granting the resistance an independent
status.
Article six of the statement highlights “Lebanon’s right to liberate its
occupied territories by means of its army, resistance and people.”
“The conventional army is alone to defend the nation and the resistance along
with its arms should join the Lebanese Army when everyone resists the enemy,”
Sfeir said.
Sfeir’s statement preceded talks with Sleiman at Baabda Palace during which they
tackled the issue of Hizbullah’s weapons, upcoming discussions over a national
defense strategy, the abolishing of political sectarianism and the Palestinian
refugees’ right of return.
Sfeir, heading the Maronite Bishops Council, had earlier held talks with Free
Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun after a break in contact between both
men in the previous months.
The meeting, which was described as positive, did not, however, lead to an
agreement over the issue of Hizbullah’s weapons, though the bishops called for
the restriction of arms to the Lebanese Army.
The issue of Hizbullah’s weapons and Aoun’s alliance with the party has been the
source of tensions between the patriarchy and the FPM leader in recent months.
On Tuesday, Sfeir argued that a party which works for its personal interests at
the expense of nation’s would “be working toward the destruction of the nation.”
“Is it possible to have a conventional army and another one not compliant with
[the state’s] legitimacy directing its arms one day toward the enemy and another
day toward domestic parties?” Sfeir asked, referring to Hizbullah’s role in the
May 7, 2008, clashes.
Bloody clashes broke out on May 7 between pro-opposition and government
supporters in Beirut following a Cabinet decision to dismantle Hizbullah’s
telecommunication network.
Tackling Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s call to abolish political
sectarianism, Sfeir reiterated his earlier statement, stressing the need to
abolish political sectarianism from souls before records. “The implementation of
the Taif Accord necessitates the discussions of its articles step by step,”
Sfeir added.
Sfeir also emphasized that “democracy dictated that a majority rules and a
minority opposed but today they joined in a national unity Cabinet;
nevertheless, there are still obstacles which have not been removed yet.”
Christian leaders rejected Berri’s call to form a national committee tasked with
abolishing political sectarianism in the current circumstances, saying it would
instigate a schism among the Lebanese while others tied it to the full
implementation of the Taif Accord.
Sayyed court summons not withdrawn
Daily Star staff/Wednesday, December 09, 2009
BEIRUT: The summons for former head of General Security Jamil Sayyed to appear
before the Syrian prosecution have not been withdrawn, according to a statement
released by the media office in charge of the case on Tuesday. The statement
dismissed media reports that Syria had withdrawn the summons. It said that State
Prosecutor Judge Said Mirza received the orders on November 26 after they had
been submitted by the Syrian judiciary according to judicial protocol between
the two countries. It added that the summons were still active because the
lawsuit Sayyed filed was personal and not political and therefore only Sayyed
had the right to withdraw the case or transfer it to the International Criminal
Court. Sayyed had earlier filed lawsuits against several Lebanese officials for
slander, depriving him of his freedom and falsifying witnesses in the case of
the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
NGOs protest against Cabinet position on resistance arms
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
BEIRUT: Civil society groups gathered outside Parliament on Tuesday to call on
lawmakers to refrain from legitimizing weapons not subject to the state’s
authority, saying it threatened civil peace and national unity “Moultazimoun,”
Arabic for “Committed,” and other groups rallied near the Parliament in downtown
Beirut’s Riad al-Solh square while lawmakers were discussing the government’s
policy statement. Moultazimoun were protesting against article six of the
Cabinet’s policy statement, which grants the resistance the right to liberate
Lebanese territories occupied by Israel. Addressing MPs in a statement issued on
Tuesday, “Moultazimoun” stressed the state’s right to monopolize the possession
of arms, as well as power over war and peace decisions rather than “a state
within the state with personal and regional interests.” “Do not legitimize
weapons outside the state’s authority since this threatens civil peace and
national unity, and opens the domestic scene to foreign conflicts at the expense
of Lebanese security, safety and future,” a Moultazimoun statement said. The
statement also urged MPs not to surrender their constitutional right since such
a step would harm Lebanon and the principles which the parliamentary democratic
regime was founded upon. – The Daily Star
Where is the state in Lebanon?
By The Daily Star
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Editorial/More than one local comedy program in Lebanon uses the old stand-by line, wayn
hiyya al-dawleh [where is the state?] in its sketches, to portray the average
Joe, or Youssef, as he complains about a lack of something: traffic control,
infrastructure, social services, and the list goes on. The problem is when all
you get out of a live session in Parliament, to debate the new government’s
policy statement, is a version of this lament. There are some exceptions, but
the overwhelming feeling after hearing the litany of problems and demands, and
the policy statement itself, is that we have little in the way of a state, and
that our institutions suffer from innumerable defects, and that the country
can’t person on the corner, telling us how bad things are.
As MP Najib Mikati remarked, our political class is losing public confidence.
One big reason is because the question of how to fix the state is the elephant
in the room that no one seems to want to talk about. The solutions have to be
workable ones, since we’re not awash in funds. The policy statement, which took
more than an hour to read, is great, as a description of a utopia. Given our
constraints, can we really expect significant parts of it to be implemented?
Some consider the government as a non-functioning entity, because the way in
which it was put together signals that it will make no crucially important
decisions. This new Cabinet, and Parliament, don’t necessarily mark a new phase.
The divisions of the last few years remain, despite all the talk about an
“atmosphere of accord.”
Our politicians argue about Taif, the weapons of the resistance, the Palestinian
presence, and their stances vis-à-vis regional and global alliances. They care a
lot about voters during elections, but they do little to turn them into citizens
during the other three years and nine months of the time. As for the “less
divisive” issues, we can talk about the traffic problem, the electricity
situation, the environment, or education. But is there any collective political
will to do continue in this fashion.
While accurate, the net result – where is the state? – is being said by people
who should be telling us how to put it together, and not sounding like the
anything serious about these matters? Is our political class agreed on any kind
of functional blueprint?
Enumerating the tasks at hand isn’t enough; the real world of resources and
priorities needs a hearing as well. Making a coherent and feasible plan of
action out of this cacophony of wish lists and lofty aspirations will be a key
challenge for Saad Hariri’s management skills.
It’s not enough to spend most of the time asking, “where is the state?”,
especially when it’s your job to shape it and run it.
Report:
Turkish Forces Foil Hizbullah Plot to Attack Israeli Target
Naharnet/Turkish forces have foiled a Hizbullah plot to attack an undisclosed
Israeli target in the country, Israeli daily Haaretz quoted Deputy Foreign
Minister Daniel Ayalon as saying. Defense sources told Haaretz that the planned
attack was aimed at avenging the killing of Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh
in a car bombing in Damascus in February 2008.
The plot was uncovered over a month ago, with Turkish media publishing a warning
issued by the local police's senior command to its officers to take steps to
prevent a Hizbullah attack on American and Israeli targets, according to Haaretz.
According to the Israeli daily, Turkish reports said Hizbullah had set up a
network of Iranian agents posing as tourists in Istanbul, with the cooperation
of Iranian security agencies. Haaretz said U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation
director Robert Mueller visited Ankara last month asking for access to the
country's biometric database, in order to identify "terror activists" moving in
and out of Turkey. "Israel believes the organization would like to carry out an
attack against a distant Israeli target, without dragging Lebanon into another
war with Israel," Haaretz said. Beirut, 09 Dec 09, 07:42
German
Police Dismantle Lebanese Gang
Naharnet/German police have arrested two key suspects believed to be part of a
Lebanese gang to smuggle people into Germany. They were detained in the Ruhr
region which lies within the federal state of North Rhine. Federal police in
Essen said the suspects have "illegally" smuggled 52 Lebanese, Syrian and
Palestinian nationals into Germany. Investigation indicated that the gang
receives between 5,000 and 6,000 Euros in exchange for each smuggling. Beirut,
09 Dec 09
Soaid: Syria Has its Own Men in Lebanon, While Iran has Entire Sect
Naharnet/March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid said the
difference between Syria and Iran is that "Syria has its own men in Lebanon,
while Iran has an entire sect."
In an interview with MTV late Tuesday, Soaid pointed that the period of
political assassinations in Lebanon was "not yet over." He warned that the
region will "enter into the unknown months after temporary stability." Soaid
said Premier Saad Hariri was visiting Syria in his capacity as prime minister
and not as son of ex-PM Rafik Hariri. Beirut, 09 Dec 09, 09:03
Explosions Rock Majdal Anjar, Sultan Yaqoub
Naharnet/Two explosions echoed overnight across the Bekaa Valley towns of Majdal
Anjar and Sultan Yaqoub. While the cause of the explosions was not known,
state-run National News Agency said a huge blast rocked a training camp used by
Ahmed Jibril's Palestinian group at 10:15pm Tuesday. NNA said Lebanese troops
cordoned off the area, preventing anyone from approaching the scene. Beirut, 09
Dec 09, 08:22
Aoun Holds Talks with Assad in Damascus
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun met with Syrian President
Bashar Assad at the People's palace on Wednesday, Syria's state-run news agency,
SANA, reported.
The agency did not provide further details. Aoun returned to Beirut following
his trip that lasted only a few hours. Aoun traveled to Syria in December last
year. During his visit to Damascus exactly a year ago, the MP predicted a bright
future for ties between Lebanon and Syria. Beirut, 09 Dec 09, 11:30
Bellemare Visits Victims' Families, Says Probe Making Progress
Naharnet/Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare has visited
the families of four victims who lost their lives in terrorist attacks in
Lebanon, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. The prosecutor paid
separate visits to Samir Antoine Chikhani and Noha Emile Azar, the parents of
Charles Chikhani who was killed in the bombing that targeted MP Antoine Ghanem
on September 19, 2009. Bellemare also visited Aida Eido, the widow of MP Walid
Eido, and his sons, Zaher and Mazen Eido. Eido was killed with his son Khaled in
a targeted attack on June 13, 2007. The prosecutor paid a visit to Abdelhakim
al-Ghalayini, the brother of Abdul Hamid Mohamed al-Ghalayini, who was one of
the victims of the bombing on February 14, 2005 that targeted former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri. Furthermore, Bellemare visited Laudy al-Hajj, the widow
of Maj. Gen. François al-Hajj and his son and daughter, Elie and Rasha al-Hajj.
Al-Hajj was killed in a targeted attack on December 12, 2007. "The visit of the
prosecutor is part of a standing outreach program he established during his
tenure as Head of the United Nations International Independent Investigation
Commission that involves regular visits by investigators to surviving victims
and the families of the victims," the statement, which was released on Tuesday,
said. "I apologize to the aggrieved families of the victims whom I could not
meet during my short visit. I would have loved to meet personally with all the
victims' families and the victims who survived and I intend to meet as many of
them as possible during my next visits because all victims matter equally
regardless of status, position, rank or any other consideration," the prosecutor
told the families he met. He further stated: "The victims and their families are
the reason why the Tribunal was established and for my team and I, you are not
'cases' or 'files'." "I can assure you that we are making progress and that I am
very optimistic. I sincerely wish I could tell you more about the reasons for my
optimism but unfortunately I cannot because I do not want to give away any
information, or even a hint, that could tip off those we are after," the
prosecutor told the families.
Furthermore, he urged the families of the victims to uphold their faith in
justice and their confidence in the independence, integrity and professionalism
of the tribunal and the ongoing investigation. Beirut, 09 Dec 09, 13:24
Syria to Go Ahead and Summon Lebanese Officials over Sayyed Case
Naharnet/Syria will not withdraw summons it has issued against a number of
Lebanese political and security officials over a lawsuit filed by former head of
Lebanese General Security Jamil Sayyed, insisting on separating the judiciary
from politics. Local media on Tuesday said the issue was being dealt at the
"highest level" as Syria was considering revoking the warrants which included
officials like former ministers Marawan Hamadeh, Charles Rizk and Hasan al-Sabaa
as well as ex-MP Elias Atallah, State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza and magistrates
Saqr Saqr and Elias Eid, in addition to former head of Lebanon's military
intelligence Johnny Abdo. The Lebanese officials were summoned on Monday to
appear before a Syrian court for a lawsuit filed against them by Maj. Gen.
Sayyed accusing them of slander, depriving him of his freedom and falsifying
witnesses in the assassination case of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. A
statement by Sayyed's office denied Syria has withdrawn the summons, saying
State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza received the orders Nov. 26 after they had been
submitted by the Syrian judiciary in line with judicial protocol between Syria
and Lebanon. The statement said the orders are still active because the lawsuit
filed by Sayyed was "personal, not political." "Therefore, only Sayyed has the
right to withdraw the case or transfer it to the International Criminal Court,"
added the statement. Beirut, 09 Dec 09, 08:08
Ammar Demands Deleting Any Mention to Hizbullah from Parliamentary Session
Minutes
Naharnet/MP Ali Ammar interrupted his colleague, Elie Kayrouz, as he spoke
Wednesday during the second day of debate on a vote of confidence to the new
government, demanding to delete any mention of Hizbullah from parliamentary
session minutes. He called on Speaker Nabih Berri to "delete any mention of
Hizbullah …in accordance with Article 76 of the inner system."Ammar criticized
lawmakers from the majority March 14 coalition, saying their speeches were
"similar to those delivered by leaders of the Israeli enemy." Beirut, 09 Dec 09,
14:08
Parliament Finishes First Day of Confidence Vote Debate
Naharnet/The Lebanese Parliament on Tuesday concluded its first day of debate on
a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his 30-member Cabinet.
The debate is expected to end on Thursday by granting the government the
Parliament's vote of confidence with a massive number of trust votes.
The first session had started at 10:30am of Tuesday's morning. PM Hariri opened
the session by presenting his cabinet's Policy Statement to MPs.
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun was the first to speak after PM
Hariri. Former premier MP Najib Miqati then considered that the national unity
government was "in form a partnership government, but in content a government of
opposites." Miqati expressed his sorrow for not reaching the formation of the
government before almost half a year due to the hindering practiced by some
parties and their overruling of the powers of the premier. "This government was
formed without the least consideration for the major headline of democracy:
parliamentary elections," added Miqati. Deputy Speaker Farid Makari was the next
MP to debate the vote of confidence, he declared that he does not approve
article six of the Policy Statement, considering it as derogation to the State
and contradictory to Taef Accord and the Constitution.
Makari stressed that the right to arms should be in State's hand exclusively,
not inside the Palestinian camps or outside them. He considered that the
inclusion of the resistance and its arms article in the Policy Statement was an
attempt to bypass the national dialogue table in order to "deep-root the duality
of army and resistance." "Political sectarianism should be abolished only after
the elimination of all reasons that create fears for every sect on the issue,"
added Makari. MP Tamam Salam said that the ministerial Policy Statement is the
first settlement among many coming settlements in the coming stage, expressing
his optimism. FPM's MP Alain Aoun stressed the will to cooperate with PM Hariri.
"I hope that the priorities of the people will be fulfilled, and here I salute
the government for the promises included in the article about citizens'
priorities," said MP Robert Ghanem. The second session kicked off at 6:00pm of
the same day by the speeches of Al-Mustaqbal bloc MPs Mohammed Qabbani and Ammar
Houry. Next on the list of speakers were MPs Walid Sukkarieh, Robert Fadel,
Gilbert Zouein, Elie Marouny, Marwan Fares, Nawwar al-Sahili, Assem Araji, Emile
Rahmeh, and Bader Wannous. Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the evening
parliamentary session till 10:30am of Wednesday morning and announced that 52
MPs are yet to speak. Beirut, 08 Dec 09, 17:34
Increase the police
Hayeon Lee
December 8, 2009
Now Lebanon/
In a new effort to improve the traffic situation in Lebanon, Interior Minister
Ziad Baroud announced that he will increase the number of traffic police in
Beirut and its suburbs from 500 to 1,757, in addition to implementing stricter
law enforcement. NOW hits the streets to find out what people think causes
traffic, whether or not increased policing is an effective solution, and if they
think Baroud is doing enough to address the problem. While many find the new
measures encouraging, many believe it is not enough.
Tony, 45, Verdun
Probably [the new measures] will not be effective, but it is good for people to
know the law and to stop when there is a sign. It’s very important… The solution
would be to create new streets, new roads. [Baroud] is doing his best. I hope
the government will help him. He’s doing an excellent job.
Rupina, 18, Antelias
Maybe [the measures will be effective], but no matter how many laws you make,
it’s not going to decrease the traffic markedly, because people are always going
out… I guess people could use public transportation like buses and taxis, rather
than buying two or even three cars. That could decrease the traffic… I don’t
know, maybe [Baroud] is doing enough, but I don’t believe the traffic will
decrease markedly.
Mustafa, 23, Kesrouan
The measures are not going to be effective because the police themselves don’t
abide by the law. To solve the problem, we need to educate the younger
generation and make them learn that driving is about manners. Plus, we have too
many cars now, and the roads were built in the 1940s for minimum capacity. Ziad
Baroud is doing a good job, but he can’t solve the problem alone.
Noa, 36, Timnin, Bekaa
We don’t have decent public transportation. And every household has probably two
or three cars. So you have to deal with these issues first, rather than
increasing the number of police on the streets and increasing the cost to the
Lebanese people, because in the end, we will have to pay… So they better start
making a better transportation system, which doesn’t exist now at all, to
connect all the regions, and then increase the taxes on cars, because it’s not
logical to have three or four cars per household… I don’t think [Baroud] is
tackling the real problem. They are dealing with symptoms.
Salah, 43, Baalbek
Traffic is a big problem, and it’s not possible to come up with a solution in
one year. The number of cars is very big, while the quality of the cars is very
bad. And the Lebanese mentality is really bad also because nobody respects the
law, and this is the problem. I think we must newly construct the Lebanese
mentality, and after, we can think about the problem of streets… I think [Baroud]
is a very intelligent young man, and I think he has an idea, but he needs help
[from other ministries].
Lea, 28, Beirut
I think the traffic issue in Lebanon is not just about having more law
enforcement. I think it’s definitely part of the solution. I think more planning
has to be done on the infrastructure to be able to cater to the population
within Beirut. And I think an integral part of it is also a proper public
transport system. So I think this measure is a welcomed one, but it’s only part
of the bigger solution… Most of my commute is in Beirut, and during the peak
hours, I actually have not felt that much improvement.
Pascale, 20, South Lebanon
I think what Ziad Baroud has done is effective. It’s really effective. We need
cops on the streets. We need an increased number of cops… And plus, I think Ziad
Baroud should talk more about decreasing the number of road accidents on the
streets… [Baroud] is fixing the problem. He’s doing a lot. He’s great.
Hezbollah's Delusions
By Jonathan Spyer *
December 9, 2009
http://www.gloria-center.org/Gloria/2009/12/hezbollah%27s-delusions
The latest events in Lebanon offer an image in miniature of larger regional
developments. The Iranian-backed Shi'ite Islamist movement Hezbollah is pursuing
a long-term strategy intended to eventually deliver Lebanon into its hands. In
the short term, the greater commitment of the movement's cadres and its public
is delivering impressive results. But at the core of the strategic thinking of
Hezbollah and its patrons lie a series of delusions, which are likely to bring
about the defeat of the movement over time. Between that point and the present,
however, further strife and conflict are likely.
The pro-Western March 14 movement won an unexpected victory in elections in
Lebanon in June. But the subsequent protracted coalition negotiations succeeded
in emptying that victory of most of its content. The composition of the new
Lebanese government will enable the Hezbollah-led opposition to block any
legislation not to its liking. More important, the new government's official
mission statement will include a commitment to maintain Hezbollah's independent,
Iran-facilitated military capacity.
Supporters of March 14 had little choice but to concede to the demands of the
"losing" side in the election. The violence of May 2008 proved conclusively that
they are incapable of resisting the armed might of Hezbollah. Hezbollah may have
paid a price in terms of its legitimacy in the eyes of non-Shi'ite Lebanese for
demonstrating its power, but it acquired the ability to silence any further
dissent on issues it deems of cardinal importance.
But the foundation of the new Lebanese government is ultimately only one small
element within a larger process taking place in Lebanon. This is the way the
power of Hezbollah and its constituency is growing in all areas of life in the
country. The organization recently released a new manifesto. A particularly
notable aspect of the document was the call for an end to "sectarianism" in
Lebanon and the expression of the desire for rule by an "elected majority." This
demand reflects the self-confidence of the movement, rather than a newfound
appreciation for democratic principles.
While it is impossible to carry out accurate demographic surveys in Lebanon,
Hezbollah certainly believes that the Shi'ites are on the rise demographically,
due to their high birthrate and low(er) emigration rate. Senior Israeli
officials who are knowledgeable about the country concur with this assessment.
They also note the growing strength of Shi'ite officers in the Lebanese Armed
Forces, particularly at mid-level. This development, alongside the latest
political moves, is slowly blurring the borders between the official Lebanese
state and the parallel state maintained by Hezbollah.
The slow, full-spectrum advance of the Shi'ite Islamist camp in Lebanon
resembles developments elsewhere. No one situation is exactly like any other, of
course, but it is not hard to detect the common elements in the steady
advancement of Islamic politics in Turkey, the rise of Islamist radicals within
the Iranian clerical regime, the onward march of Hezbollah and the strides made
in recent years by Palestinian Islamism. In all cases, this is not the
delusional, apocalyptic Islamism of Al-Qaida and its ilk. The rising Islamic
forces in the region do not go in for violence-as-gesture, nor do they envisage
the triumph of the rule of righteousness in the immediate future.
The significant differences between these rising forces and the delusional
Salafi fringe has led many in the West to believe that "pragmatic," localized
Islamism can be accommodated rather than confronted. Such a belief ignores a
large part of the picture. Certainly in the case of the regime in Iran - in
particular in the form it has assumed since the disputed election of last June -
and its ally in Lebanon, the political methods may at times be slow and
cumulative, but the ends are serious and sincere, and note should be taken.
Hezbollah's new manifesto condemns the United States as the "root of all
terror," and a "danger that threatens the whole world." The document also
reiterates the call for the destruction of Israel, describing the need to
"liberate Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa" as a "religious duty" for all Muslims. There is
not a shred of evidence to suggest that these sentiments are intended for the
printed page only. Indeed, recent visitors to Lebanon speak of a high, almost
delusional state of morale among circles affiliated with Hezbollah. In the
closed world around the movement, it is sincerely believed that the next war
between Israel and Hezbollah will be part of a greater conflict in which Israel
will be destroyed.
The true balance of power is rather different, of course. And as Hezbollah
slowly swallows other elements of the Lebanese system, the conclusion being
reached in Israel is that any differentiation between the movement and the nest
it has taken over is increasingly artificial - and will not be maintained in a
future conflict.
The history of the region shows that anti-Western ideological waves can indeed
eventually be accommodated and dealt with pragmatically - but this cannot be
achieved at the moment of their rise. The examples of pan-Arabism and
Palestinian nationalism suggest that only following military defeat and
socioeconomic failure are flexibility and pragmatism likely to make an
appearance. Political Islam has not yet reached this stage. Current events in
Lebanon show its local Shi'ite manifestation to be in a state of rude health. It
is brushing aside local foes, marching through the institutions, as tactically
agile as it is strategically deluded. Yet its latest manifesto suggests that it
remains the prisoner of its ideological perceptions. The recent history of the
Middle East, meanwhile, indicates that gaps between reality and perception tend
to be decided - eventually - in favor of the former.
Dr. Jonathan Spyer is a senior research fellow at the Global Research in
International Affairs (GLORIA) Center, Herzliya, Israel
Justice Ministry receives Syrian extradition notices
December 9, 2009
The National News Agency reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on
Wednesday handed over to the Justice Ministry the extradition notices issued by
the Syrian judiciary against Lebanese public figures for perjury against former
General Security Director Jamil as-Sayyed. Sayyed was one of the four generals
that were held in connection to the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri and released in 2009. He has previously filed a complaint to the
Syrian judiciary against those who allegedly falsely testified against him.
-NOW Lebanon
Hariri discusses Syrian extradition notices with Franjieh
December 9, 2009
Now Lebanon/
MTV television reported on Wednesday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri met
Wednesday morning with Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh to discuss the
extradition notices issued by the Syrian judiciary against Lebanese public
figures for perjury against former General Security Director Jamil as-Sayyed.
Sayyed was one of the four generals that were held in connection to the 2005
assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and released in 2009. He has
previously filed a complaint to the Syrian Judiciary against those who allegedly
falsely testified against him.
According to MTV, Hariri said that he would not visit Syria unless he was
accompanied by a delegation including some of the public figures mentioned in
the notices. -NOW Lebanon
Syria challenges the tribunal
Hanin Ghaddar,
Now Lebanon/
December 9, 2009
Jamil as-Sayyed, the disgraced former head of Lebanon’s General Security,
announced on Monday that he had filed a lawsuit against 24 Lebanese individuals,
including government officials, accusing them of slander, falsifying testimonies
and depriving him of his freedom. An-Nahar daily reported that a Syrian court
issued summons against several Lebanese politicians, judges and journalists,
demanding that they stand trial in Syria.
Local media on Tuesday said the issue was being dealt with at the "highest
level" as Syria was considering revoking the warrants, which included those for
officials like former ministers Marwan Hamadeh, Charles Rizk and Hassan al-Sabaa;
former MP Elias Atallah; State Prosecutor Said Mirza and magistrates Saqr Saqr
and Elias Eid; in addition to former head of Lebanon's military intelligence
Johnny Abdu. However, An-Nahar reported Wednesday that Syria will not withdraw
the summons, insisting on separating the judiciary from politics.
The timing and the potential fallout of the incident cannot be ignored. Sayyed
made his announcement one day before the beginning of the three-day
parliamentary sessions prior to the vote of confidence for PM Saad Hariri’s
cabinet, and the latter’s scheduled trip to Damascus after the vote. It is a
visit that will be politically fraught despite the apparent thawing of relations
between the two countries following the Saudi-Syrian rapprochement and the
subsequent formation of the cabinet. Finally, the lawsuit was filed at the same
time as Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare’s visit to
Beirut and must be seen as an attempt to undermine the court by casting doubt on
the senior Lebanese officials. The message is very clear: there is another
judiciary ready to challenge not just international justice but the entire
Lebanese judicial, political and security systems.
It was reported that the warrants were issued to the Lebanese judiciary through
the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council, a humiliating tactic given that the council,
which was formed in the early 1990s under Syrian occupation and serves a wholly
Syrian agenda, is one of the few remnants of Damascus’ influence left in
Lebanon. According to the judiciary protocol agreed upon by the two countries in
1951, the warrants should have come via the Ministry of Justice. That they came
from the LSHC is a snub to the authority and independence of Lebanon’s state
institutions and a throwback to the days when Syria could arrest, detain and try
without the slightest regard for Lebanese legal process.
Damascus appears to be treating the Lebanese institutions as if they were still
under its control. In doing so it is also rehabilitating the standing of the
increasingly irrelevant Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council.
However, after a number of reports questioning the legality of the way these
warrants were delivered, the Syrian judiciary re-sent the summons through the
Syrian Embassy in Beirut.
Reactions were low key, but a number of March 14 politicians expressed their
displeasure over the summons, arguing that, given the fact that they target
advisors and officials close to PM Hariri, they are out of step with the current
supposed spirit of understanding between the two nations and undermine the
premier’s upcoming visit to Damascus, the itinerary of which has incensed the
regime. Essentially Hariri is positioning the visit as one stop among many – he
will also visit Riyadh and Copenhagen – and in doing so diluting its historical
significance. In addition, Hariri will be flying, rather than driving, to
Damascus, playing down the geographical proximity and all the political nuances
that go with it.
The legal slap in the face is most likely an indication that Damascus feels it
is owed more respect and perhaps was intended to put pressure on Hariri to
reconsider the topics slated for discussion and the members of his delegation,
or perhaps as leverage to influence future security, militarily and judiciary
appointments.
Hariri’s visit was always going to be a huge hurdle given the litany of
unresolved issues between the two states: border demarcation; the fate of the
Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons; the Shebaa Farms dispute; outdated, but
still valid bilateral agreements; and the presence of armed Palestinian groups
outside the refugee camps, to name but a few. But as far as Damascus is
concerned all these arguably pale – if not in their insignificance, then pretty
close to it – when set alongside the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is
investigating the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri and other politicians
since 2005. Hariri is probably going to stress his government’s support for the
tribunal during the visit.
Syrian and Lebanese opposition media have been working hard to discredit the
tribunal, namely because of fears that it will indict parties close to the
regime or the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Such a scenario would derail
Syrian efforts to end its isolation from the international community and sour
relations with Saudi Arabia, France and the US.
So far, it has been clear that no one can alter the course of the tribunal.
Therefore, no matter how many reconciliatory meetings take place or how much
influence Syria regains in Lebanon, the regime knows that an indictment would
turn everything upside down. Clearly the Syrians want to use Hariri’s visit to
influence the tribunal. They want the world to see it as a tacit admission by
Hariri that the Syrian regime had nothing to do with his father’s murder. The
events of earlier this week were a gentle reminder from the regime of what it
expects.
Michel Aoun
December 9, 2009
On December 8, the website of the Free Patriotic Movement, Tayyar.org, carried
the transcript of General Michel Aoun’s speech during the vote of confidence
session at the Parliament:
Mr. Speaker, your eminences, Mr. Prime Minister, deputy colleagues:
The formation of the government took some time because it was [only] ensured
following a period of major political divergence. There were different
perceptions of many general issues that are discussed by the government. Some
may believe they were all related to the formation and the allocation of the
posts, while in reality, these long sessions went far beyond the allocation of
positions and the appointment of ministers. They aimed at defining the areas of
concord over exercising power and ensuring the minimum level of harmony to
uphold the public interest. I would firstly like to reassure the Lebanese people
that we hope that this stage will pass without any trouble-making or laws. The
security flaw has finally been eliminated from Lebanon and we are determined to
uphold that situation. Despite all that is happening in the region, Lebanon’s
security will not be undermined because we have enough experience, conviction
and immunity to prevent the repetition of the Lebanese [past] events. There is
an issue which was addressed by Speaker Nabih Berri. It is related to political
sectarianism.
For my part, I would never have tackled it had it not been linked to two
important articles in the Cabinet formation. At this point, I am not responding,
but merely pointing to viewpoints and the accumulation of experiences within the
community. I am the son of a mixed community and mixed institutions and I know,
through my experience, that there are many things that should be handled. Had
the goal of the committee been the preparation for the annulment of
sectarianism, I would have immediately approved it. However, seeing as how its
headline is the annulment of sectarianism, I will cite two historical examples
whose results we are witnessing today. A hundred years ago, Ataturk imposed
secularism in Turkey. Today, we find that this secularism has collapsed and
requires protection from the army and the security institutions to continue.
This is due to the fact that it did not meet the popular or societal conviction
in the evolution toward this type of governance. Therefore, we must prepare the
Lebanese people to reach this stage.
This looks easy and impossible at the same time, depending on the means we are
using to prepare Lebanese society. It would be easy if we were to define the
moral standards on which to raise our people - and they are standards of
friendship and ways by which to deal with each other. If we agree over these
standards, true trust will be seen between individuals. However, if we use lies
as our foundation and if there is no respect for the right to be different,
there will be no relations between the sects... The most important issue today
is to ensure an educational preparation and the fight against corruption.
Sectarianism does not produce corruption, rather it is corruption which
encourages sectarianism. There is no religion, denomination or law which
recognizes sectarianism, but when it becomes a refuge and a cause for
segregation, it produces corruption. All these things can be handled by
preparing our youths through an educational program which we have in detail for
all those who wish to take a look at it...
If we do not agree on the values and standards, on which basis will we deal with
each other? Some of the things we have witnessed during the last four years at
the level of political rhetoric, without defining its quality or analyzing it,
does not encourage the building of trust. Most of us held the others accountable
for their intentions and sometimes for non-existing ones, and there was
propaganda built on incorrect things. Such a society cannot build its unity
since it is built on division. Moreover, we would like to know if the government
implemented what it should have in accordance with the Taif Accord before
addressing sectarianism? Do we have a unified interpretation of the
constitution? How many disputes did we endure over the interpretation of the
[coexistence] pact articles and the legitimacy of the government? We cannot open
new debates before settling the previous ones...
In regard to the issue of corruption, the protection of rights is a state
affair. When the citizens are certain that they will get their rights, they will
no longer care who is giving them these rights and whether they are Muslim,
Christian, Sunni or Shia. If I file a case before the judiciary, I should not be
looking for a judge from a certain sect, but rather for an honest and just
judge. Did we lead our judiciary to this stage of autonomy, competence, justice
and integrity? We cannot talk about the annulment of sectarianism before
addressing these issues. We are a secular party whose goal is to reach a civil
state. But we also know that we cannot proceed alone if our people do not follow
us and if this does not become a popular demand...
On the other hand, if we cannot respect competence within the sect, can we
respect it across the different sects? No, and I have the widest experience at
this level. From 1985 to 1989, the military school stopped recruiting due to the
non-respect of competence within the sects. Those who were with me in the
Military Council know that... We all know we could not impose competence in the
sects due to political interference... We want to know the standards on which to
base our work, and thank you.
Syria Exports Trouble
Michael Young ,
Forbes, December 8, 2009
Paris, July 14, 2008. On the podium of dignitaries at the bottom of the Champs
Élysées one man savors the irony of the moment. He has been invited by President
Nicolas Sarkozy to this celebration of Bastille Day, when France commemorates
the opening shot in its revolution to end absolutism. Yet for the invitee,
Syria's president Bashar al-Assad, this is a consecration, the first major sign
that his regime's isolation is about to end, and that his brand of absolutist
rule is getting stronger.
After the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafiq al-Hariri,
in February 2005, Syria, the only credible suspect in the crime, found itself
accused and was forced to withdraw its army from Lebanon. Its subsequent
rapprochement with Iran widened the rift between Damascus and two major Arab
states, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. But within three years, Sarkozy, who hoped his
efforts would earn France a greater role in the Levant, became the first major
Western state to reverse that trend. Assad had surrendered nothing to warrant
the embrace.
This has become a Syrian habit. Assad has been getting away with murder,
literally. His regime allows foreign jihadists through Syrian territory to carry
out attacks in Iraq. Syria has bolstered Hamas's intransigence over a settlement
with Israel, and has encouraged the Palestinian Islamist movement to scuttle
inter-Palestinian reconciliation. In Lebanon, Syrian meddling has been
unrelenting since the pullout of its soldiers, while Assad has armed or allowed
the rearming of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, violating U.N.
Resolution 1701 that ended the Lebanon war of 2006.
The former U.S. secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, once declared that the
Bush administration did not seek regime change in Damascus, only "behavior
change." It achieved neither, and during his campaign, Barack Obama approved of
a dialogue with Syria (and others) "without precondition," a gesture unlikely to
alter Assad's behavior.
Today Syria continues to export instability in defense of its regime and
interests, and the reality is that no one is doing anything about it--not the
United States, the United Nations, the Arab states or the European Union. To
Assad's dubious credit, he has positioned his otherwise weak country in a
perfect dead spot regionally and internationally, unmolested by any political
will to forcibly curtail Syrian misdeeds.
In Iraq, the Syrians have exploited several parallel dynamics--Sunni displeasure
with the Shiite-led government, divisions in the Iraqi political elite, and
American haste to withdraw--to ensure they have a say in a future Iraq and
access to cheap Iraqi oil. Assad's regime, in addition to offering Al-Qaeda
militants safe access into Iraq, also hosts Iraqi Baathists under its control.
According to an Iraqi security official cited by the Washington Post, Syria
allowed Baathists and Al-Qaeda to co-ordinate actions at a meeting held in
Zabadani, Syria, last July 30.
Syria has also benefited from Obama's impatience to leave Iraq. Following
devastating attacks against Iraqi government targets in Baghdad last August, the
administration was markedly tepid when Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
publicly blamed Syrian-backed Iraqi Baathists.
American military officials leaked that Al-Qaeda in Iraq was behind the
explosions, not Baathists, leaving unmentioned the probability that the
militants had entered through Syria. The State Department spokesman also played
down the crisis, saying that "diplomatic dialogue was the best means to address
the concerns of both parties." The Syrians surely read in that lukewarm reaction
Washington's inclination to look the other way on Syrian transgressions, in
order to facilitate its drawdown in Iraq.
On the Palestinian front, Assad is striving to achieve what his father, the late
Hafez al-Assad, tried for decades to do with mixed results: Hijack the
Palestinian card to use in Syria's own negotiations with Israel. Under Yasser
Arafat, the Palestinians retained what was known as "the independence of the
Palestinian decision." When Arafat died, however, gone was his ability to impose
unity on Palestinian ranks, which allowed the Assad regime to gain the leverage
it sought through Hamas' leader, Khaled Meshaal, who is based in Damascus.
Syrian sway over Palestinian affairs only increased when Hamas won Palestinian
legislative elections in January 2006, and subsequently expelled its Fatah
rivals from Gaza.
Syria has not only used Hamas against Israel, it has also pushed the movement to
thwart Egypt's ability to act as principle Arab mediator between Israelis and
Palestinians. Egyptian officials accused Syria of pressing Hamas to undermine
Egyptian-led negotiations last year to extend the truce in Gaza. Syria has taken
a similar position on inter-Palestinian talks, whose successful outcome would
revive Cairo's influence over Palestinian affairs, to Syria's detriment.
This has exacerbated Egyptian-Syrian hostility, even as Saudi Arabia earlier
this year patched things up with Damascus in an effort to break Syria away from
Iran. The Saudi-Syrian understanding, however, has not affected Assad's close
ties with Tehran. Instead, it has handed Syria more latitude to re-impose its
will in Beirut. The Saudis believe that one way to contain Hezbollah's power,
and therefore Iran's, is to endorse a Syrian resurgence in Lebanon.
The Saudi turnaround vindicated Assad in his view that by destabilizing Lebanon
in 2005 and the following years--during which time politicians, journalists, and
security officials were assassinated--he managed to get his way. Yet nothing
suggests that better Syrian-Saudi relations will end Syria's support for
Hezbollah, which neither the Arab world nor the international community has made
a condition for normalization with Damascus. On the contrary, since 2006
European states with contingents in the U.N. force in South Lebanon, which is
charged with implementing Resolution 1701, have wooed Assad, fearful that his
proxies might harm their soldiers.
After Hariri's murder, the U.N. Security Council set up an investigation and
later a tribunal to identify the guilty. Almost half a decade later, the process
has yet to show results. Assad is confident. Everyone is knocking at his door
while Hariri lies forgotten. The Syrian president knows that in a world
afflicted with amnesia he can do as he pleases.
**Michael Young is opinion editor of the Daily Star newspaper in Beirut.