LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 03/09

Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:1-8. He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.   

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
 Elmaleh's case echoes our liberal limits.By Michael Young 02/07/09
 Saad al-Hariri’s Task.By: Randa Takieddine 02/07/09
 A legacy is up for grabs in Lebanon, but will anyone seize the opportunity? The Daily Star 02/07/09

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July 02/09
 Soaid: Hariri's Visit to Syria before a Cabinet Shape-Up Is 'Unacceptable'-Naharnet
 Efforts to Find a Common Ground for New Cabinet Amid Reports about 15-10-5 Formula-Naharnet
 Paris Says Assad Talks Positively About Hariri, Veto Power Not Ideal-Naharnet
 Geagea: Those Calling for Dialogue with Syria are Disregarding Martyrs' Sacrifices-Naharnet
 March 14 warns of ‘obstruction third’ poisoned formulas-Future News
 Sleiman: peace must be based on Arab Initiative and 1701-Future News
 Samir Franjieh: The opposition must admit its electoral defeat-Future News
 Chamoun: Forming the cabinet facilitates decision-making-Future News
 Rizk: Hizbullah-Amal’s logic is devoid of democracy-Future News
 Sakr: Hizbullah accepts a cabinet without obstruction third-Future News
 Hizbullah: Israel Prime Suspect in Lebanon Crimes, Ban Should Have Condemned it-Naharnet
 Efforts to Find a Common Ground for New Cabinet Amid Reports about 15-10-5 Formula-Naharnet
 Army Arrests 21 Over Aisha Bakkar Clashes-Naharnet
 Lebanon: Ban's Report Didn't Stress on Danger of Israeli Spy Networks-Naharnet
 Aoun: Nobody Knows Who Is Forming the Cabinet with the Flood of Diplomatic Visits; the Polls Were a 'Slave Market'-Naharnet
 6 Students Kidnapped and Robbed At Aquora Later Released-Naharnet
 Bringing Syria in from the cold-Boston Globe
 Abducted students released after being stripped of possessions, cars-Daily Star
Sleiman likely to have tipping vote in cabinet-Daily Star
Ban report ignores 'danger of Israeli spy cells'-Daily Star
Reports emerge of Syrian-Saudi summit-Daily Star
 National unity cabinet with president's ministers acting as 'swing votes-Daily Star
Lebanons ranks third in export credit insurance-Daily Star
Deficit spending in Lebanon still on rise-Daily Star
Number of swine flu cases in country rises to 47-Daily Star
Lebanon moves away from being a failed state-Daily Star
AUB alumni announce results of second election-Daily Star
People send letters to Beirut: Will it answer them?-Daily Star
Hundreds of forest fires leave Lebanese countryside in ashes-Daily Star

blaspheming/Commit blasphemy/profanity/curse


Elmaleh's case echoes our liberal limits
By Michael Young
-Daily Star staff
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Much indignation has been voiced in recent days against the actions of the Al-Manar website and television station that pushed the French actor and comedian, Gad Elmaleh, to cancel his performance at the Beiteddine Festival. That this is a free-speech concern is undeniable; however we should not underestimate the political messages also being sent.
Al-Manar accused Elmaleh, a French Jew of Moroccan origin, of having served in the Israeli army, and of otherwise advancing Israel's interests. This prompted a campaign of threats on the internet, as well as calls to boycott the comedian's stand-up show scheduled for July 13-15. Evidence for the accusations was scant and in some cases doctored, while Elmaleh's manager denied that he had anything to do with Israel.
How this reminds us of another craven campaign from several years ago, when Lebanon was still a Syrian protectorate. Back then, implicit threats were passed through a daily newspaper, probably by Syria's intelligence services, to prevent three Arab Jews from traveling to Beirut. Oddly, all were harsh critics of Israel, among them the Lebanese writer Selim Nassib and the Moroccan dissident Abraham Serfaty. Evidently, there are "acceptable" prominent foreign Jews, like Norman Finkelstein and Seymour Hersh, and there are Jews who, for obscure reasons, just don't make the cut.
Much of the reaction to Al-Manar's campaign centered on what it meant for freedom of speech and how Elmaleh's cancellation marred Lebanon's reputation. What Hizbullah's campaign tells us is that if prominent visitors happen to be Jewish, the party has appropriated the right to filter whether they enter Lebanon or not. Why should Hizbullah hesitate when its secretary general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, declared in a September 1992 interview, that "for the resistance to survive there should be a community that adopts it and adopts the resistance fighter. This means that, in order to remain steadfast, that fighter needs to secure all the support he needs politically, security-wise, culturally and economically ..."
Put Elmaleh down as the latest victim of the resistance fighter's right to enjoy cultural sustenance. However, let's bear in mind a key difference that distinguishes the Elmaleh case (like those of Nassib and Serfaty) from other examples of cultural prohibition common to the Arab world, which can be eminently condemnable in their own right: it is underpinned by a forewarning of violence. Hizbullah has effectively granted permission for someone to take a potshot at the enemy if he dares enter our midst.
The logic is little different than Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa against Salman Rushdie, albeit presented in a more devious way: We, the party or the cleric, issue a general justification for killing or harming an individual, and it is up to the faithful, whoever they might be, to implement it. That is very likely why Elmaleh cancelled his trip. Even if Hizbullah was never likely to do anything against the performer, who could guarantee that a zealot, feeling he or she had gained the party's approval, would not?
Politics has also played a role in the Elmaleh affair. In so many words Hizbullah has accused Walid Jumblatt, through the festival organized by his wife, Nora, of wanting to bring an Israeli soldier to Lebanon. On one cheek Jumblatt receives Nasrallah's kisses of reconciliation, on the other he must prepare for his slaps. Hizbullah knows that the Druze leader needs better relations with the Shiites, and so it apparently intends to make him pay a high price for this. It will not soon forget what Jumblatt said about the party during these past three years, and has even accused people around him of collaborating with Israel during the 2006 war. There is not much that Jumblatt can do about it, and his recent positions against privatization and Saad Hariri's "Lebanon first" slogan were surely, in part, efforts to curry favor with Hizbullah.
No less political was the press conference on Tuesday organized by Nora Jumblatt, the tourism minister, Elie Marouni, the culture minister, Tammam Salam, and the information minister, Tarek Mitri. Marouni declared, "[T]he principal enemy of tourism [in Lebanon] is Israel. Every strike against tourism is a gift to Israel." That a Phalangist minister should have sounded something like a Baathist clerk was unfortunate, but the point was unambiguous: Hizbullah, not those who invited Gad Elmaleh to Beirut, was the one serving Israel's interests. Forgetting about politics for a moment, the Elmaleh incident tells us a great deal about the kind of Lebanon that emerged from the 2005 independence intifada against Syria. Four years on there is still no clear agreement, let alone a debate, over what kind of state Lebanon should become. The liberal spaces in the country are many, but those who want to close these down are becoming more aggressive. Hizbullah is a prime culprit, but the party can only thrive in an environment where there is no consensus over what constitutes a red line in curbing our freedoms. Liberal outrage with what happened to Gad Elmaleh has been heartening, but how deep has this been felt among the mass of Lebanese?
The real battle since 2005 has been between Lebanon's liberal and illiberal tendencies, beyond the March 14-opposition dichotomy. We can lament Elmaleh's decision not to come to Beiteddine, but what we really must regret is that we live in a society where threats still have an impact, because no one trusts Lebanon's state and society to make those threats costly. Hizbullah has won this round, and now feels it can win many more.
**Michael Young is opinion editor of THE DAILY STAR.

Saad al-Hariri’s Task
Wed, 01 July 2009
Randa Takieddine
We used to hear a lot about Saad al-Hariri being the heir of his father, the late Premier Rafiq al-Hariri, but that he was not like his father. He is young (39 years old) and was born rich; he inherited a role that he was not ready to play. Today, Saad al-Hariri has become the prime minister-designate of Lebanon, after a big election win, and we can say that he won the elections thanks to his efforts and those of his election campaign. He did not “inherit” the election campaign; it was his campaign, thanks to a democratic path that everyone acknowledges, including the opposition, which lost in the polls. Today, Saad al-Hariri has truly gained the status of political leadership in Lebanon and he can, through his personal and rising level of political experience, take the path of his father. There are huge obstacles before him. However, al-Hariri has a legacy from his father – constant optimism and a drive to overcome the roadblocks, even in the direst of circumstances, as was the case on the terrible day of 7 May 2008, when Hizbullah attacked the city of Beirut.
Saad al-Hariri is assuming the post of prime minister in conditions that differ from those that prevailed for his father. He and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman enjoy a relationship of trust and respect, built on their attachment to Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and freedom, while the relationship between former President Emile Lahoud and Rafiq al-Hariri was completely different. The former was the ally of Damascus in Lebanon and the elder al-Hariri had a profound dispute with him. Today, Saad al-Hariri is trying to form a government of national unity that truly wants to build a state and get the country out of the socio-economic crisis. The way ahead is full of pitfalls, with an influential opposition that is awaiting al-Hariri’s failure. The developments in Iran and consolidation of the Ahmadinejad regime through fraud, in addition to Israel’s policy of rejecting any concession that would facilitate the peace track with the Palestinians and Syria, all boost the influence of Hizbullah and Syria’s allies on the local scene, despite the Lebanese parliamentary elections, which showed the world that the majority chose moderation, openness and democracy, and rejected an alliance with the logic of dictatorship and the single party.
Certainly, al-Hariri’s task is extremely difficult. However, he is optimistic by nature. And he has relations in the Arab world that he inherited from his father, led by his second country, Saudi Arabia, along with Egypt and the UAE and also Qatar, which helped bring about a solution when the situation in Lebanon had reached a stalemate. What many people do not know is that Saad al-Hariri has family ties with Iraq, as his mother is Iraqi, and he has relations with many Iraqi leaders and closely follows developments in this country, which he knows.
Internationally, al-Hariri has the support of the US, France and Russia; he has been received in these countries at the highest levels, and is the head of the Future Movement. Certainly, these ties will help him overcome the obstacles, if there is true inter-Arab reconciliation. Lebanon will greatly benefit from such a development. He is now trying to form a national unity Cabinet that will build the state and help the country exit its socio-economic problems. Of course, Arab assistance for al-Hariri will be crucial and international assistance will help him considerably. All of the major powers are determined to help Lebanon and the government of al-Hariri.
Saad al-Hariri wants to strengthen the Lebanese Army, and he believes in a free market economy that is open to the world; he wants to continue his father’s drive to make Lebanon a leading regional economic center in the Middle East, attract foreign investment, and keep the country safe from wars and destruction. However, al-Hariri wants the opposition to take part, since he is determined to overcome the obstacles and pitfalls. The question today is whether an inter-Arab reconciliation has truly come about, and will Syria keep its promise to Saudi Arabia to allow Lebanon to live free, without political paralysis and obstacles. Will Syria’s ally Iran refrain from using the Hizbullah card in its confrontation with the west? All of these questions are on the table, and were on the table during the elections, when al-Hariri and his allies achieved a victory. He can, once again, through partnership with President Suleiman and anyone who truly wants the best for the country, to form a government of national unity, which will begin the urgently-needed efforts for the sake of Lebanon. Saad al-Hariri’s legacy is tantamount to a treasure that was left by his father to his children and to Lebanon, and there is great hope that the young prime minister-designate will complete the path of rebuilding the country, as sought by his late father, who paid for Lebanon’s independence with his blood. We can only wish him the best and also hope that God protects him from the hand of treachery, which has killed the martyrs of Lebanon.

Sleiman likely to have tipping vote in cabinet
Army makes arrests over clashes
By Elias Sakr /Daily Star staff
Thursday, July 02, 2009
BEIRUT: The upcoming Cabinet formation process will most probably grant President Michel Sleiman the tipping voice, well-informed sources close to Prime Minister- designate Saad Hariri said on Wednesday. The sources said discussions between the opposition and the March 14 coalition have so far centered on the distribution of ministerial portfolios among the various political parties. "The formation of the next Cabinet should be based on the Lebanese Constitution and in light of the win of the March 14 coalition by a majority of parliamentary seats following the June 7 elections," the sources told The Daily Star. The sources stressed that the make-up of the next government will neither grant the opposition a blocking third nor the March 14 coalition a two-third majority but will award Sleiman the tipping vote. "The tipping vote will be granted to the president but no agreement has been reached on the exact number of ministerial portfolios to be allocated to the opposition or majority," the sources added.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Armed Forces Command issued a statement on Wednesday announcing the arrest of all perpetrators who took part in Sunday's clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar. The LAF statement said 21 people have been arrested. One woman, Zeina al-Meeri, 30, was killed and 11 wounded on Sunday night when clashes broke out between Future Movement and Amal supporters in the mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar.  Media reports on Monday said Hariri is expected to hold talks with Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, media reports mentioned the possibility of a Syrian-Saudi-Lebanese summit taking place in Damascus after the formation of a national-unity cabinet in Lebanon. According to An-Nahar newspaper, the summit is scheduled for July 16. The reports surfaced following an overnight meeting on Monday between Saudi Information Minister Abdel-Aziz Khoja and Hariri concerning the formation of the next government. According to the Syrian state-run agency SANA, Saudi Prince Abdel-Aziz bin Abdullah accompanied by Khoja held a meeting on Monday with Syrian President Bashar Assad and discussed the recent political developments in Lebanon and the region.
When asked about the repercussions of the recent Syrian-Saudi dialogue on the overall political situation in Lebanon, sources close to the March 14 coalition refrained from commenting.
In other news, the March 14 Forces condemned the clashes in Aisha Bakkar on Wednesday and called for a "firm response from the Lebanese security forces and judicial authorities."
Following their weekly meeting on Wednesday, the coalition demanded that Beirut becomes "a safe city free of arms."
Concerning the formation of the next Cabinet, the March 14 stressed that the shape of the government should not include a blocking third.
Commenting on the same topic, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun told reporters that the next Cabinet "has yet to mature."
"Talks about government formation are in limbo," he said following a meeting of his Reform and Change parliamentary bloc.
Aoun slammed the interference of ambassadors in the government formation process. "We are not sure who is in charge of this whole process of government formation given the current crowd of visiting ambassador and diplomats," he said.
Aoun's ally, Hizbullah's deputy Sheikh Naeem Qassem said on Wednesday that Lebanon's parliamentary elections resulted in "a delicate political balance in Lebanon that requires real partnership between the opposition and the March 14 coalition." Qassem stressed that it was in Lebanon's best interest to "put more effort towards promoting collaboration and reconciliation among various political factions." He also urged Lebanese groups to seize "favorable circumstances" to form a national-unity cabinet and warned of ongoing Israeli threats.  In other news, President Michel Sleiman stressed on Wednesday that any peace process in the Middle East should be based on the Arab Peace Initiative and the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the summer 2006 war with Israel. Following talks with China's special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike, Sleiman emphasized that in order to reach a just peace agreement, the Palestinian refugees should be granted the "right of return." The president urged Israel to withdraw from Lebanon's occupied Shebaa Farms, the Kafar Shuba Hills and the northern part of the village of Ghajar. "Israel should also halt its threats and violations of Lebanese territories and refrain from carrying spying operations," Sleiman said.
Given China's permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, the president urged it to exert pressure on the state of Israel to implement UN Resolution 1701, and highlighted the necessity to promote Lebanese-Chinese bilateral ties. Sleiman, who thanked China for its support during the summer 2006 war, announced that Lebanon's participation in Madrid's peace summit was tied "to favorable circumstances."
Meanwhile, the Chinese envoy stressed his country's support for implementing all UN resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701 and reiterated China's endorsement of the Arab Peace Initiative. Sike also hoped for more stability in Lebanon and expressed his country's support for the Lebanese people. "Solving the Palestinian refugees' issue is of great importance toward achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East region," Sike said. Maronite Bishops urge prompt government formation BEIRUT: The Maronite Bishops urged political leaders in a statement on Wednesday to facilitate Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's task concerning the formation of the upcoming national-unity Cabinet. The statement was issued after the bishops held their monthly meeting, headed by Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, in Bkirki, the seat of the Maronite Church.
The bishops stressed the need for the "prompt formation" of the next government so as to put an end to the country's political divide and tackle the Lebanese people social and economic issues.The council also praised the peaceful process of the June 7 parliamentary elections and hoped the polls "would be a step toward practicing a healthier and more profound democracy."Concerning the summer season, the bishops hoped that it would be "a promising one, free of any security incidents." - The Daily Star

Paris Says Assad Talks Positively About Hariri, Veto Power Not Ideal
Naharnet/Syrian President Bashar Assad has expressed readiness to meet with Premier-designate Saad Hariri during talks with two top aides to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a French source said. The source told As Safir newspaper that Assad told Sarkozy's political chief of staff Claude Gueant and his chief diplomatic adviser Jean-David Levitte that he was ready to hold talks with Hariri in Damascus. Official French sources also told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that the Syrian president talked "positively" about the Lebanese prime minister-designate and President Michel Suleiman. As Safir's source said Paris encourages Hariri's participation in any summit, a reference to a meeting that reportedly could take place between Assad, Suleiman, Saudi King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The newspaper said the decision to hold the summit hasn't been finalized yet but Assad welcomed Hariri's participation in it. The official French sources also added that Lebanon would "benefit" from the positive regional atmosphere and from normalization of relations between Syria from one side and Saudi Arabia and Egypt from the other.
The meeting between the French envoys and Assad in Damascus on Tuesday came ahead of a planned visit by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to Syria and Lebanon, which could take place possibly as early as next week. Gueant and Levitte also met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, said foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier on Wednesday.
"These talks, which took place in a very constructive spirit, are part of the regular contacts that we have with Syrian authorities and provided an opportunity for exchange on bilateral and regional issues," he added. Kouchner was expected to travel to Damascus and Lebanon to preside over a regional conference of French ambassadors.
"Bernard Kouchner is scheduled to meet with Syrian authorities. His schedule has not been finalized," Chevallier said. Al-Mustaqbal daily said that during Kouchner's visit to Beirut, France will not only be informed about Lebanese consultations to form a new cabinet, it will also express readiness to offer any assistance in this regard. The newspaper added, however, that Paris does not intend to interfere in cabinet formation, an internal matter that should also apply to Damascus. Such a stance was made during the French envoys' visit to Syria. In a position that contradicts al-Mustaqbal's report, the French official sources told al-Hayat that veto power "wasn't the ideal formula" for a Lebanese cabinet. As Safir's French source also said that Syria wasn't insisting on veto power, adding that Assad was keen on the formation of a national unity government in Lebanon. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 08:40

Geagea: Those Calling for Dialogue with Syria are Disregarding Martyrs' Sacrifices
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday criticized those calling for dialogue with Syria as Lebanon makes attempts to form a new cabinet, saying such efforts undermine Lebanon's martyrs."Where are the sacrifices made for Lebanon?" Geagea wondered, saying all those calling for dialogue with Damascus every time there is an internal political event are disregarding the sacrifices and the blood spilled by martyrs. "We will let the Lebanese citizen lose hope in an independent nation," he told a visiting delegation from Koura residents.
He also criticized those who allegedly behave as if the March 14 forces didn't win the June 7 parliamentary elections. "The elections that took place in Lebanon are the best elections since 50 years. (They) led to the victory of the March 14 team." Geagea accused the opposition of making demands that obstruct democratic and political life in the country and urged the March 8 forces to oppose in a democratic manner and not like Sunday's fighting in Beirut's Aisha Bakkar neighborhood. "Let them oppose as people usually oppose in parliament and democratic institutions," the LF leader said. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 11:06

Hizbullah: Israel Prime Suspect in Lebanon Crimes, Ban Should Have Condemned it
Naharnet/Hizbullah on Thursday criticized U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for not condemning Israeli spy networks in his 10th report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701. "Through its spy networks in Lebanon, Israel is not only responsible for crimes and attacks committed during the July 2006 war and subsequent wars, it is also the prime suspect in many crimes against Lebanon's internal security," Hizbullah said in a statement. It said the party hoped that the report would clearly indicate the danger of such Israeli acts and their violation of Lebanese sovereignty. Hizbullah described the decisions and positions of the U.N. chief and Security Council resolutions as biased in favor of Israel, accusing them of covering up the Jewish state's crimes. "It would have been appropriate for the Secretary General to condemn the Israeli acts and hold the Jewish state fully responsible for these crimes and their consequences," the statement said. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 13:06

Efforts to Find a Common Ground for New Cabinet Amid Reports about 15-10-5 Formula
Naharnet/Amid ongoing consultations to form a new Lebanese cabinet, the formula that will most likely be adopted is a 30-member government in which the majority would get 15 seats, the opposition 10 and the president 5. Political sources following up formation of the cabinet told An Nahar newspaper that it is too early to discuss about contacts aimed at finding a solution because a common ground hasn't been found yet. However, an opposition source told the newspaper that the government could be born in the next few weeks.
Beirut dailies said Thursday that the 15-10-5 formula would give the pro-government forces the majority and not monopoly. The opposition wouldn't be given veto power and the president would get a minister from the March 8 forces and another from the March 14 coalition, in addition to three loyal to him. Premier-designate Saad Hariri's sources, however, refused to disclose which formulas are being discussed, saying things are going in the right direction and it is too early to talk about obstacles. An Nahar said that the opposition seeks to get an essential ministry and Hizbullah and Amal do not mind keeping the foreign ministry with them because it is obvious that the interior and defense ministries will remain with the president while the finance portfolio would go to the majority. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 09:53

Army Arrests 21 Over Aisha Bakkar Clashes
Naharnet/The Lebanese army said on Thursday it has arrested 21 people over a street battle in the Beirut neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar that left a woman bystander dead. "All 21 participants in the riots and shootings that led to a casualty, injuries and property damage in the district of Aisha Bakkar were arrested," the army said in a communiqué.
Supporters of Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal movement and backers of prime minister-designate Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement fought with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. A 30-year-old mother of five was killed in the clashes while she was standing in her apartment's balcony. The fighting came only a day after Hariri was named prime minister and after Berri's reelection as speaker last Thursday. Berri told An Nahar newspaper in remarks published Thursday that he was ready to fully "cooperate with transparent investigations," stressing that the has informed Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji about the issue.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 09:13

Lebanon: Ban's Report Didn't Stress on Danger of Israeli Spy Networks
Naharnet/The foreign ministry criticized U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon's latest report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, saying it didn't consider the discovery of Israeli spy networks a violation of Lebanese sovereignty. The ministry said in a statement that Ban's 10th report only said that the alleged networks could threaten the delicate ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. The statement criticized the report for not considering such networks in violation of Lebanese sovereignty and resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 11:31

Aoun: Nobody Knows Who Is Forming the Cabinet with the Flood of Diplomatic Visits; the Polls Were a 'Slave Market'
Naharnet/MP Michel Aoun indirectly criticized Wednesday foreign meddling in Lebanese affairs by pointing to a flurry of diplomatic activity that has been accompanying the government formation process. After his bloc's weekly meeting, Aoun said: "We were unable to identify who was forming the government amid a flood of visits by the U.S., Saudi and French ambassadors. "We postponed discussions on the matter till next week because we no longer know where the center of gravity is in the formation process.
"Everything we have read about guarantees and shape-ups is a waste of time," he added. He said the Lebanese president's jurisdictions were defined by the constitution and "everything outside that framework is a matter of debate." The president "cannot give guarantees to anyone beyond what is prescribed in the constitution." He said he planned to nominate deputies from his bloc to the new government and slammed political rivals for "running away" from endorsing a law that separates parliament from cabinet. Aoun also said a rule not to nominate ministers who lost in the elections as deputies "has been violated." The Free Patriotic Movement leader said the June 7 polls were "a market for slave trade" adding he will "challenge the results in places where there is clear evidence" of irregularities. He voiced "regret" over the loss of life in Sunday's clashes in Aicha Bakkar and in celebratory gunfire following the reelection of Speaker Nabih Berri and the designation of Saad Hariri as premier. Aoun urged party leaders to be "stricter" with partisans in this regard. Aoun also criticized U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon for "designating" his 10th report on implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 to Hizbullah's weapons arsenal. "As usual, he (Ban) forgot to mention the Shebaa Farms and Israel's repeated aggressions," Aoun said. On living conditions, Aoun said the high prices of petrol were "no longer acceptable." He added that the finance ministry, not the energy ministry, was in charge of setting the prices. Beirut, 01 Jul 09, 19:09

Gunfire Targets Hariri Educational Complex in Sidon
Naharnet/The Hariri Educational Development Complex was targeted by gunfire on Wednesday evening by some individuals. The incident was the result of a personal conflict between some at the Palestinian refugee camp and an employee at the Hariri complex. The incident causes remain unknown. Two complex employee parked vehicles were destroyed and bullet holes were visible at the complex exterior wall. Police and the military rushed to the scene. An investigation is underway. Beirut, 01 Jul 09, 20:32

Cyprus police say Canadian man bludgeoned to death and thrown into gorge
By The Associated Press
NICOSIA, Cyprus - Cypriot police say a Canadian man has been found bludgeoned to death at the bottom of a gorge near a southern coastal resort.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounodos said Thursday the victim has been identified as 39-year-old Sergy Nalyvaisky, a Canadian citizen of Ukrainian descent.
The coroner's office says Nalyvaisky suffered multiple head injuries caused by a blunt instrument before his body was thrown into the 330-foot (100-meter) gorge.
Katsounodos says Nalyvaisky arrived on the island June 27 and was staying at a hotel in the southern coastal resort of Limassol. He had been due to leave Thursday.
His body was discovered by a hiker Wednesday 34 kilometres (21 miles) east of Limassol, near the Aphrodite's Rock tourist attraction.




 

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 03/09

Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:1-8. He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.   

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
 Elmaleh's case echoes our liberal limits.By Michael Young 02/07/09
 Saad al-Hariri’s Task.By: Randa Takieddine 02/07/09
 A legacy is up for grabs in Lebanon, but will anyone seize the opportunity? The Daily Star 02/07/09

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July 02/09
 Soaid: Hariri's Visit to Syria before a Cabinet Shape-Up Is 'Unacceptable'-Naharnet
 Efforts to Find a Common Ground for New Cabinet Amid Reports about 15-10-5 Formula-Naharnet
 Paris Says Assad Talks Positively About Hariri, Veto Power Not Ideal-Naharnet
 Geagea: Those Calling for Dialogue with Syria are Disregarding Martyrs' Sacrifices-Naharnet
 March 14 warns of ‘obstruction third’ poisoned formulas-Future News
 Sleiman: peace must be based on Arab Initiative and 1701-Future News
 Samir Franjieh: The opposition must admit its electoral defeat-Future News
 Chamoun: Forming the cabinet facilitates decision-making-Future News
 Rizk: Hizbullah-Amal’s logic is devoid of democracy-Future News
 Sakr: Hizbullah accepts a cabinet without obstruction third-Future News
 Hizbullah: Israel Prime Suspect in Lebanon Crimes, Ban Should Have Condemned it-Naharnet
 Efforts to Find a Common Ground for New Cabinet Amid Reports about 15-10-5 Formula-Naharnet
 Army Arrests 21 Over Aisha Bakkar Clashes-Naharnet
 Lebanon: Ban's Report Didn't Stress on Danger of Israeli Spy Networks-Naharnet
 Aoun: Nobody Knows Who Is Forming the Cabinet with the Flood of Diplomatic Visits; the Polls Were a 'Slave Market'-Naharnet
 6 Students Kidnapped and Robbed At Aquora Later Released-Naharnet
 Bringing Syria in from the cold-Boston Globe
 Abducted students released after being stripped of possessions, cars-Daily Star
Sleiman likely to have tipping vote in cabinet-Daily Star
Ban report ignores 'danger of Israeli spy cells'-Daily Star
Reports emerge of Syrian-Saudi summit-Daily Star
 National unity cabinet with president's ministers acting as 'swing votes-Daily Star
Lebanons ranks third in export credit insurance-Daily Star
Deficit spending in Lebanon still on rise-Daily Star
Number of swine flu cases in country rises to 47-Daily Star
Lebanon moves away from being a failed state-Daily Star
AUB alumni announce results of second election-Daily Star
People send letters to Beirut: Will it answer them?-Daily Star
Hundreds of forest fires leave Lebanese countryside in ashes-Daily Star

blaspheming/Commit blasphemy/profanity/curse


Elmaleh's case echoes our liberal limits
By Michael Young
-Daily Star staff
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Much indignation has been voiced in recent days against the actions of the Al-Manar website and television station that pushed the French actor and comedian, Gad Elmaleh, to cancel his performance at the Beiteddine Festival. That this is a free-speech concern is undeniable; however we should not underestimate the political messages also being sent.
Al-Manar accused Elmaleh, a French Jew of Moroccan origin, of having served in the Israeli army, and of otherwise advancing Israel's interests. This prompted a campaign of threats on the internet, as well as calls to boycott the comedian's stand-up show scheduled for July 13-15. Evidence for the accusations was scant and in some cases doctored, while Elmaleh's manager denied that he had anything to do with Israel.
How this reminds us of another craven campaign from several years ago, when Lebanon was still a Syrian protectorate. Back then, implicit threats were passed through a daily newspaper, probably by Syria's intelligence services, to prevent three Arab Jews from traveling to Beirut. Oddly, all were harsh critics of Israel, among them the Lebanese writer Selim Nassib and the Moroccan dissident Abraham Serfaty. Evidently, there are "acceptable" prominent foreign Jews, like Norman Finkelstein and Seymour Hersh, and there are Jews who, for obscure reasons, just don't make the cut.
Much of the reaction to Al-Manar's campaign centered on what it meant for freedom of speech and how Elmaleh's cancellation marred Lebanon's reputation. What Hizbullah's campaign tells us is that if prominent visitors happen to be Jewish, the party has appropriated the right to filter whether they enter Lebanon or not. Why should Hizbullah hesitate when its secretary general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, declared in a September 1992 interview, that "for the resistance to survive there should be a community that adopts it and adopts the resistance fighter. This means that, in order to remain steadfast, that fighter needs to secure all the support he needs politically, security-wise, culturally and economically ..."
Put Elmaleh down as the latest victim of the resistance fighter's right to enjoy cultural sustenance. However, let's bear in mind a key difference that distinguishes the Elmaleh case (like those of Nassib and Serfaty) from other examples of cultural prohibition common to the Arab world, which can be eminently condemnable in their own right: it is underpinned by a forewarning of violence. Hizbullah has effectively granted permission for someone to take a potshot at the enemy if he dares enter our midst.
The logic is little different than Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa against Salman Rushdie, albeit presented in a more devious way: We, the party or the cleric, issue a general justification for killing or harming an individual, and it is up to the faithful, whoever they might be, to implement it. That is very likely why Elmaleh cancelled his trip. Even if Hizbullah was never likely to do anything against the performer, who could guarantee that a zealot, feeling he or she had gained the party's approval, would not?
Politics has also played a role in the Elmaleh affair. In so many words Hizbullah has accused Walid Jumblatt, through the festival organized by his wife, Nora, of wanting to bring an Israeli soldier to Lebanon. On one cheek Jumblatt receives Nasrallah's kisses of reconciliation, on the other he must prepare for his slaps. Hizbullah knows that the Druze leader needs better relations with the Shiites, and so it apparently intends to make him pay a high price for this. It will not soon forget what Jumblatt said about the party during these past three years, and has even accused people around him of collaborating with Israel during the 2006 war. There is not much that Jumblatt can do about it, and his recent positions against privatization and Saad Hariri's "Lebanon first" slogan were surely, in part, efforts to curry favor with Hizbullah.
No less political was the press conference on Tuesday organized by Nora Jumblatt, the tourism minister, Elie Marouni, the culture minister, Tammam Salam, and the information minister, Tarek Mitri. Marouni declared, "[T]he principal enemy of tourism [in Lebanon] is Israel. Every strike against tourism is a gift to Israel." That a Phalangist minister should have sounded something like a Baathist clerk was unfortunate, but the point was unambiguous: Hizbullah, not those who invited Gad Elmaleh to Beirut, was the one serving Israel's interests. Forgetting about politics for a moment, the Elmaleh incident tells us a great deal about the kind of Lebanon that emerged from the 2005 independence intifada against Syria. Four years on there is still no clear agreement, let alone a debate, over what kind of state Lebanon should become. The liberal spaces in the country are many, but those who want to close these down are becoming more aggressive. Hizbullah is a prime culprit, but the party can only thrive in an environment where there is no consensus over what constitutes a red line in curbing our freedoms. Liberal outrage with what happened to Gad Elmaleh has been heartening, but how deep has this been felt among the mass of Lebanese?
The real battle since 2005 has been between Lebanon's liberal and illiberal tendencies, beyond the March 14-opposition dichotomy. We can lament Elmaleh's decision not to come to Beiteddine, but what we really must regret is that we live in a society where threats still have an impact, because no one trusts Lebanon's state and society to make those threats costly. Hizbullah has won this round, and now feels it can win many more.
**Michael Young is opinion editor of THE DAILY STAR.

Saad al-Hariri’s Task
Wed, 01 July 2009
Randa Takieddine
We used to hear a lot about Saad al-Hariri being the heir of his father, the late Premier Rafiq al-Hariri, but that he was not like his father. He is young (39 years old) and was born rich; he inherited a role that he was not ready to play. Today, Saad al-Hariri has become the prime minister-designate of Lebanon, after a big election win, and we can say that he won the elections thanks to his efforts and those of his election campaign. He did not “inherit” the election campaign; it was his campaign, thanks to a democratic path that everyone acknowledges, including the opposition, which lost in the polls. Today, Saad al-Hariri has truly gained the status of political leadership in Lebanon and he can, through his personal and rising level of political experience, take the path of his father. There are huge obstacles before him. However, al-Hariri has a legacy from his father – constant optimism and a drive to overcome the roadblocks, even in the direst of circumstances, as was the case on the terrible day of 7 May 2008, when Hizbullah attacked the city of Beirut.
Saad al-Hariri is assuming the post of prime minister in conditions that differ from those that prevailed for his father. He and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman enjoy a relationship of trust and respect, built on their attachment to Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and freedom, while the relationship between former President Emile Lahoud and Rafiq al-Hariri was completely different. The former was the ally of Damascus in Lebanon and the elder al-Hariri had a profound dispute with him. Today, Saad al-Hariri is trying to form a government of national unity that truly wants to build a state and get the country out of the socio-economic crisis. The way ahead is full of pitfalls, with an influential opposition that is awaiting al-Hariri’s failure. The developments in Iran and consolidation of the Ahmadinejad regime through fraud, in addition to Israel’s policy of rejecting any concession that would facilitate the peace track with the Palestinians and Syria, all boost the influence of Hizbullah and Syria’s allies on the local scene, despite the Lebanese parliamentary elections, which showed the world that the majority chose moderation, openness and democracy, and rejected an alliance with the logic of dictatorship and the single party.
Certainly, al-Hariri’s task is extremely difficult. However, he is optimistic by nature. And he has relations in the Arab world that he inherited from his father, led by his second country, Saudi Arabia, along with Egypt and the UAE and also Qatar, which helped bring about a solution when the situation in Lebanon had reached a stalemate. What many people do not know is that Saad al-Hariri has family ties with Iraq, as his mother is Iraqi, and he has relations with many Iraqi leaders and closely follows developments in this country, which he knows.
Internationally, al-Hariri has the support of the US, France and Russia; he has been received in these countries at the highest levels, and is the head of the Future Movement. Certainly, these ties will help him overcome the obstacles, if there is true inter-Arab reconciliation. Lebanon will greatly benefit from such a development. He is now trying to form a national unity Cabinet that will build the state and help the country exit its socio-economic problems. Of course, Arab assistance for al-Hariri will be crucial and international assistance will help him considerably. All of the major powers are determined to help Lebanon and the government of al-Hariri.
Saad al-Hariri wants to strengthen the Lebanese Army, and he believes in a free market economy that is open to the world; he wants to continue his father’s drive to make Lebanon a leading regional economic center in the Middle East, attract foreign investment, and keep the country safe from wars and destruction. However, al-Hariri wants the opposition to take part, since he is determined to overcome the obstacles and pitfalls. The question today is whether an inter-Arab reconciliation has truly come about, and will Syria keep its promise to Saudi Arabia to allow Lebanon to live free, without political paralysis and obstacles. Will Syria’s ally Iran refrain from using the Hizbullah card in its confrontation with the west? All of these questions are on the table, and were on the table during the elections, when al-Hariri and his allies achieved a victory. He can, once again, through partnership with President Suleiman and anyone who truly wants the best for the country, to form a government of national unity, which will begin the urgently-needed efforts for the sake of Lebanon. Saad al-Hariri’s legacy is tantamount to a treasure that was left by his father to his children and to Lebanon, and there is great hope that the young prime minister-designate will complete the path of rebuilding the country, as sought by his late father, who paid for Lebanon’s independence with his blood. We can only wish him the best and also hope that God protects him from the hand of treachery, which has killed the martyrs of Lebanon.

Sleiman likely to have tipping vote in cabinet
Army makes arrests over clashes
By Elias Sakr /Daily Star staff
Thursday, July 02, 2009
BEIRUT: The upcoming Cabinet formation process will most probably grant President Michel Sleiman the tipping voice, well-informed sources close to Prime Minister- designate Saad Hariri said on Wednesday. The sources said discussions between the opposition and the March 14 coalition have so far centered on the distribution of ministerial portfolios among the various political parties. "The formation of the next Cabinet should be based on the Lebanese Constitution and in light of the win of the March 14 coalition by a majority of parliamentary seats following the June 7 elections," the sources told The Daily Star. The sources stressed that the make-up of the next government will neither grant the opposition a blocking third nor the March 14 coalition a two-third majority but will award Sleiman the tipping vote. "The tipping vote will be granted to the president but no agreement has been reached on the exact number of ministerial portfolios to be allocated to the opposition or majority," the sources added.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Armed Forces Command issued a statement on Wednesday announcing the arrest of all perpetrators who took part in Sunday's clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar. The LAF statement said 21 people have been arrested. One woman, Zeina al-Meeri, 30, was killed and 11 wounded on Sunday night when clashes broke out between Future Movement and Amal supporters in the mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar.  Media reports on Monday said Hariri is expected to hold talks with Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, media reports mentioned the possibility of a Syrian-Saudi-Lebanese summit taking place in Damascus after the formation of a national-unity cabinet in Lebanon. According to An-Nahar newspaper, the summit is scheduled for July 16. The reports surfaced following an overnight meeting on Monday between Saudi Information Minister Abdel-Aziz Khoja and Hariri concerning the formation of the next government. According to the Syrian state-run agency SANA, Saudi Prince Abdel-Aziz bin Abdullah accompanied by Khoja held a meeting on Monday with Syrian President Bashar Assad and discussed the recent political developments in Lebanon and the region.
When asked about the repercussions of the recent Syrian-Saudi dialogue on the overall political situation in Lebanon, sources close to the March 14 coalition refrained from commenting.
In other news, the March 14 Forces condemned the clashes in Aisha Bakkar on Wednesday and called for a "firm response from the Lebanese security forces and judicial authorities."
Following their weekly meeting on Wednesday, the coalition demanded that Beirut becomes "a safe city free of arms."
Concerning the formation of the next Cabinet, the March 14 stressed that the shape of the government should not include a blocking third.
Commenting on the same topic, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun told reporters that the next Cabinet "has yet to mature."
"Talks about government formation are in limbo," he said following a meeting of his Reform and Change parliamentary bloc.
Aoun slammed the interference of ambassadors in the government formation process. "We are not sure who is in charge of this whole process of government formation given the current crowd of visiting ambassador and diplomats," he said.
Aoun's ally, Hizbullah's deputy Sheikh Naeem Qassem said on Wednesday that Lebanon's parliamentary elections resulted in "a delicate political balance in Lebanon that requires real partnership between the opposition and the March 14 coalition." Qassem stressed that it was in Lebanon's best interest to "put more effort towards promoting collaboration and reconciliation among various political factions." He also urged Lebanese groups to seize "favorable circumstances" to form a national-unity cabinet and warned of ongoing Israeli threats.  In other news, President Michel Sleiman stressed on Wednesday that any peace process in the Middle East should be based on the Arab Peace Initiative and the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the summer 2006 war with Israel. Following talks with China's special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike, Sleiman emphasized that in order to reach a just peace agreement, the Palestinian refugees should be granted the "right of return." The president urged Israel to withdraw from Lebanon's occupied Shebaa Farms, the Kafar Shuba Hills and the northern part of the village of Ghajar. "Israel should also halt its threats and violations of Lebanese territories and refrain from carrying spying operations," Sleiman said.
Given China's permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, the president urged it to exert pressure on the state of Israel to implement UN Resolution 1701, and highlighted the necessity to promote Lebanese-Chinese bilateral ties. Sleiman, who thanked China for its support during the summer 2006 war, announced that Lebanon's participation in Madrid's peace summit was tied "to favorable circumstances."
Meanwhile, the Chinese envoy stressed his country's support for implementing all UN resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701 and reiterated China's endorsement of the Arab Peace Initiative. Sike also hoped for more stability in Lebanon and expressed his country's support for the Lebanese people. "Solving the Palestinian refugees' issue is of great importance toward achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East region," Sike said. Maronite Bishops urge prompt government formation BEIRUT: The Maronite Bishops urged political leaders in a statement on Wednesday to facilitate Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's task concerning the formation of the upcoming national-unity Cabinet. The statement was issued after the bishops held their monthly meeting, headed by Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, in Bkirki, the seat of the Maronite Church.
The bishops stressed the need for the "prompt formation" of the next government so as to put an end to the country's political divide and tackle the Lebanese people social and economic issues.The council also praised the peaceful process of the June 7 parliamentary elections and hoped the polls "would be a step toward practicing a healthier and more profound democracy."Concerning the summer season, the bishops hoped that it would be "a promising one, free of any security incidents." - The Daily Star

Paris Says Assad Talks Positively About Hariri, Veto Power Not Ideal
Naharnet/Syrian President Bashar Assad has expressed readiness to meet with Premier-designate Saad Hariri during talks with two top aides to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a French source said. The source told As Safir newspaper that Assad told Sarkozy's political chief of staff Claude Gueant and his chief diplomatic adviser Jean-David Levitte that he was ready to hold talks with Hariri in Damascus. Official French sources also told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that the Syrian president talked "positively" about the Lebanese prime minister-designate and President Michel Suleiman. As Safir's source said Paris encourages Hariri's participation in any summit, a reference to a meeting that reportedly could take place between Assad, Suleiman, Saudi King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The newspaper said the decision to hold the summit hasn't been finalized yet but Assad welcomed Hariri's participation in it. The official French sources also added that Lebanon would "benefit" from the positive regional atmosphere and from normalization of relations between Syria from one side and Saudi Arabia and Egypt from the other.
The meeting between the French envoys and Assad in Damascus on Tuesday came ahead of a planned visit by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to Syria and Lebanon, which could take place possibly as early as next week. Gueant and Levitte also met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, said foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier on Wednesday.
"These talks, which took place in a very constructive spirit, are part of the regular contacts that we have with Syrian authorities and provided an opportunity for exchange on bilateral and regional issues," he added. Kouchner was expected to travel to Damascus and Lebanon to preside over a regional conference of French ambassadors.
"Bernard Kouchner is scheduled to meet with Syrian authorities. His schedule has not been finalized," Chevallier said. Al-Mustaqbal daily said that during Kouchner's visit to Beirut, France will not only be informed about Lebanese consultations to form a new cabinet, it will also express readiness to offer any assistance in this regard. The newspaper added, however, that Paris does not intend to interfere in cabinet formation, an internal matter that should also apply to Damascus. Such a stance was made during the French envoys' visit to Syria. In a position that contradicts al-Mustaqbal's report, the French official sources told al-Hayat that veto power "wasn't the ideal formula" for a Lebanese cabinet. As Safir's French source also said that Syria wasn't insisting on veto power, adding that Assad was keen on the formation of a national unity government in Lebanon. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 08:40

Geagea: Those Calling for Dialogue with Syria are Disregarding Martyrs' Sacrifices
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday criticized those calling for dialogue with Syria as Lebanon makes attempts to form a new cabinet, saying such efforts undermine Lebanon's martyrs."Where are the sacrifices made for Lebanon?" Geagea wondered, saying all those calling for dialogue with Damascus every time there is an internal political event are disregarding the sacrifices and the blood spilled by martyrs. "We will let the Lebanese citizen lose hope in an independent nation," he told a visiting delegation from Koura residents.
He also criticized those who allegedly behave as if the March 14 forces didn't win the June 7 parliamentary elections. "The elections that took place in Lebanon are the best elections since 50 years. (They) led to the victory of the March 14 team." Geagea accused the opposition of making demands that obstruct democratic and political life in the country and urged the March 8 forces to oppose in a democratic manner and not like Sunday's fighting in Beirut's Aisha Bakkar neighborhood. "Let them oppose as people usually oppose in parliament and democratic institutions," the LF leader said. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 11:06

Hizbullah: Israel Prime Suspect in Lebanon Crimes, Ban Should Have Condemned it
Naharnet/Hizbullah on Thursday criticized U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for not condemning Israeli spy networks in his 10th report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701. "Through its spy networks in Lebanon, Israel is not only responsible for crimes and attacks committed during the July 2006 war and subsequent wars, it is also the prime suspect in many crimes against Lebanon's internal security," Hizbullah said in a statement. It said the party hoped that the report would clearly indicate the danger of such Israeli acts and their violation of Lebanese sovereignty. Hizbullah described the decisions and positions of the U.N. chief and Security Council resolutions as biased in favor of Israel, accusing them of covering up the Jewish state's crimes. "It would have been appropriate for the Secretary General to condemn the Israeli acts and hold the Jewish state fully responsible for these crimes and their consequences," the statement said. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 13:06

Efforts to Find a Common Ground for New Cabinet Amid Reports about 15-10-5 Formula
Naharnet/Amid ongoing consultations to form a new Lebanese cabinet, the formula that will most likely be adopted is a 30-member government in which the majority would get 15 seats, the opposition 10 and the president 5. Political sources following up formation of the cabinet told An Nahar newspaper that it is too early to discuss about contacts aimed at finding a solution because a common ground hasn't been found yet. However, an opposition source told the newspaper that the government could be born in the next few weeks.
Beirut dailies said Thursday that the 15-10-5 formula would give the pro-government forces the majority and not monopoly. The opposition wouldn't be given veto power and the president would get a minister from the March 8 forces and another from the March 14 coalition, in addition to three loyal to him. Premier-designate Saad Hariri's sources, however, refused to disclose which formulas are being discussed, saying things are going in the right direction and it is too early to talk about obstacles. An Nahar said that the opposition seeks to get an essential ministry and Hizbullah and Amal do not mind keeping the foreign ministry with them because it is obvious that the interior and defense ministries will remain with the president while the finance portfolio would go to the majority. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 09:53

Army Arrests 21 Over Aisha Bakkar Clashes
Naharnet/The Lebanese army said on Thursday it has arrested 21 people over a street battle in the Beirut neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar that left a woman bystander dead. "All 21 participants in the riots and shootings that led to a casualty, injuries and property damage in the district of Aisha Bakkar were arrested," the army said in a communiqué.
Supporters of Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal movement and backers of prime minister-designate Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement fought with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. A 30-year-old mother of five was killed in the clashes while she was standing in her apartment's balcony. The fighting came only a day after Hariri was named prime minister and after Berri's reelection as speaker last Thursday. Berri told An Nahar newspaper in remarks published Thursday that he was ready to fully "cooperate with transparent investigations," stressing that the has informed Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji about the issue.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 09:13

Lebanon: Ban's Report Didn't Stress on Danger of Israeli Spy Networks
Naharnet/The foreign ministry criticized U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon's latest report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, saying it didn't consider the discovery of Israeli spy networks a violation of Lebanese sovereignty. The ministry said in a statement that Ban's 10th report only said that the alleged networks could threaten the delicate ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. The statement criticized the report for not considering such networks in violation of Lebanese sovereignty and resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah. Beirut, 02 Jul 09, 11:31

Aoun: Nobody Knows Who Is Forming the Cabinet with the Flood of Diplomatic Visits; the Polls Were a 'Slave Market'
Naharnet/MP Michel Aoun indirectly criticized Wednesday foreign meddling in Lebanese affairs by pointing to a flurry of diplomatic activity that has been accompanying the government formation process. After his bloc's weekly meeting, Aoun said: "We were unable to identify who was forming the government amid a flood of visits by the U.S., Saudi and French ambassadors. "We postponed discussions on the matter till next week because we no longer know where the center of gravity is in the formation process.
"Everything we have read about guarantees and shape-ups is a waste of time," he added. He said the Lebanese president's jurisdictions were defined by the constitution and "everything outside that framework is a matter of debate." The president "cannot give guarantees to anyone beyond what is prescribed in the constitution." He said he planned to nominate deputies from his bloc to the new government and slammed political rivals for "running away" from endorsing a law that separates parliament from cabinet. Aoun also said a rule not to nominate ministers who lost in the elections as deputies "has been violated." The Free Patriotic Movement leader said the June 7 polls were "a market for slave trade" adding he will "challenge the results in places where there is clear evidence" of irregularities. He voiced "regret" over the loss of life in Sunday's clashes in Aicha Bakkar and in celebratory gunfire following the reelection of Speaker Nabih Berri and the designation of Saad Hariri as premier. Aoun urged party leaders to be "stricter" with partisans in this regard. Aoun also criticized U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon for "designating" his 10th report on implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 to Hizbullah's weapons arsenal. "As usual, he (Ban) forgot to mention the Shebaa Farms and Israel's repeated aggressions," Aoun said. On living conditions, Aoun said the high prices of petrol were "no longer acceptable." He added that the finance ministry, not the energy ministry, was in charge of setting the prices. Beirut, 01 Jul 09, 19:09

Gunfire Targets Hariri Educational Complex in Sidon
Naharnet/The Hariri Educational Development Complex was targeted by gunfire on Wednesday evening by some individuals. The incident was the result of a personal conflict between some at the Palestinian refugee camp and an employee at the Hariri complex. The incident causes remain unknown. Two complex employee parked vehicles were destroyed and bullet holes were visible at the complex exterior wall. Police and the military rushed to the scene. An investigation is underway. Beirut, 01 Jul 09, 20:32

Cyprus police say Canadian man bludgeoned to death and thrown into gorge
By The Associated Press
NICOSIA, Cyprus - Cypriot police say a Canadian man has been found bludgeoned to death at the bottom of a gorge near a southern coastal resort.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounodos said Thursday the victim has been identified as 39-year-old Sergy Nalyvaisky, a Canadian citizen of Ukrainian descent.
The coroner's office says Nalyvaisky suffered multiple head injuries caused by a blunt instrument before his body was thrown into the 330-foot (100-meter) gorge.
Katsounodos says Nalyvaisky arrived on the island June 27 and was staying at a hotel in the southern coastal resort of Limassol. He had been due to leave Thursday.
His body was discovered by a hiker Wednesday 34 kilometres (21 miles) east of Limassol, near the Aphrodite's Rock tourist attraction.