LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 18/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 12:1-8. At that time Jesus was going through a field
of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads
of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your
disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath." He said to them,
"Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he
went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor
his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in
the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the
sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is
here. If you knew what this meant, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would
not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Pakistan, India provide an example for the Middle East on how to hold a dialogue-
The Daily Star 17/07/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July
17/09
Nasrallah:
Don't Pressure Hariri; We Do Not Want Guarantees for Weapons or
Tribunal-Naharnet
Bellemare's
Office: Progress in Investigation into Hariri's Murder; Siddiq No Longer Central
to Probe-Naharnet
Kfarshouba Residents Tear Down
Barbed Wire in Protest of Israeli Violation-Naharnet
Qabalan Calls for Vigilance to
Israeli Danger; Wants Government of Specialists-Naharnet
Sfeir: Bkirki's Doors Open to
Everyone-Naharnet
Shura Council Rules on Power
Struggle between Telecom Ministry and TRA-Naharnet
Egypt Holding 25 People,
including Hizubllah Members-Naharnet
Washington: Full Implementation of Resolution 1701 Still a Priority-Naharnet
Signs of Worsening Crisis between
Jumblat, March 14 Forces-Naharnet
International Tribunal Team in Beirut-Naharnet
Opposition Wants Active Participation in Government or No Participation-Naharnet
Sami Gemayel Takes Extra
Security Measures after Threats-Naharnet
Israel: Iran, Syria
Continue to Transfer Arms to Hizbullah, Tougher U.N. Action Needed-Naharnet
Shibani Says Iran Supports
Hariri in his Cabinet Formation Mission-Naharnet
LEBANON: Different sides tell different stories
regarding explosion-Los Angeles
Times
UNIFIL
Submits Film to U.N. on South Lebanon Blasts-Naharnet
Canadian soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan.The
Canadian Press
Israel:
Iran, Syria Continue to Transfer Arms to Hizbullah, Tougher U.N. Action Needed-Naharnet
Sultanov: Russia Opposes Tribunal's
'Politicization' and Will Not Interfere in Cabinet Shape-Up-Naharnet
Lebanese Druze leader calls for opening new page
with Syria-Xinhua
Russia not to interfere in formation of Lebanon's
cabinet, says envoy-Xinhua
Khalifeh: 70 Swine Flu Cases Confirmed, but Virus Not Serious-Naharnet
Geagea: Jumblat's Call for
Muslim Gathering Aims to Erase May 7 'Traces'-Naharnet
Lebanese Customs Denies
Embezzlement Claims-Naharnet
Moscow will not interfere in cabinet formation - Sultanov
-Daily Star
Israeli war planes violate airspace
-Daily Star
Baroud, Karam meet quarry owners
-Daily Star
Syria's support for Hizbullah
'stands in way' of ties with US
-Daily Star
Israel: Arms depot blast shows
flagrant violation
-Daily Star
A Lebanon devoted to democracy has
a friend in the US - Clinton
-Daily Star
UNDP: Lebanon is still dominated by
foreign states tied to sectarian parties
-Daily Star
Slow internet driving foreign
companies away from Lebanon
-Daily Star
No Lebanese hurt in Ivory Coast
riots -Daily Star
Tele Liban to open new station
-Daily Star
One dead after clashes in Bekaa
-Daily Star
AUB Medical Center earns Magnet
designation -Daily
Star
Number of swine flu cases hits 70
-Daily Star
Nasrallah: Don't Pressure Hariri; We
Do Not Want Guarantees for Weapons or Tribunal
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gave the designated premier a boost
Friday cautioning against pressures to form a government and pledging to endorse
a future cabinet even if it did not include the Shiite party. Nasrallah was
speaking in a televised speech to mark the 1st anniversary of a prisoner swap
with Israel in which five Lebanese prisoners were freed in return for the
remains of two Israeli soldiers. On the government formation, he said: "Any
missed step or uncalculated pressuring is unnecessary… the country experienced
dangerous division and is facing great challenges." "We are required to
cooperate to put and end to the division, there is an open window for that. I
advise against using the element of time to pressure the premier designate to
form a government. "The (shape-up) deserves to take its time and we remain open
to dialogue and partnership," he said.
Nasrallah denied reports that Hizbullah has been hampering the formation by
asking for guarantees concerning the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the
party's weapons arsenal as pre-conditions. "I told Hariri, during our meeting,
that we do not want guarantees for the resistance's arsenal from the government
or anyone else in this world. We both agreed that the issue is part of the
national dialogue," he said. "Now I speak for myself: even if the opposition and
Hariri agree on a government that does not include (Hizbullah), I, Hassan
Nasrallah will endorse and support it and will not be dismayed."
Nasrallah also said that Hizbullah has never asked for guarantees with regards
to the tribunal, which was set up to investigate the bombing that killed former
premier Rafik Hariri.
"We are not asking for guarantees concerning the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
The issue is not and has never been a topic of discussion with the other team.
We are not asking for guarantees from the government either with regards to the
tribunal," Nasrallah said. Nasrallah criticized those who want to disturb the
calm atmosphere in the country advising them to "reevaluate their positions
because the people want dialogue and understanding." He said Hizbullah supports
meeting between "any side of the opposition with any side of the pro-government
forces." "We will not be provoked at this stage," he insisted, adding the
opposition was "open-minded and will facilitate the government formation."
On another note, Nasrallah said Hizbullah remained committed to "recovering or
freeing" prisoners or bodies of martyrs that are still in Israel's possession in
the absence of state effort to do so. He said Hizbullah supported claims by the
Skaff family that its son Yehia remained alive in Israeli prisons.
"We will not give in to Israel's claims it returned (all prisoners and bodies)
and will continue to work to recover those bodies," he promised. "If the next
government takes over these files, Hizbullah will be at its service. Let it bear
the responsibility. "We do not want to substitute the government in any issue. I
am asking it to assume responsibility and we will be helpful," he added.
Nasrallah said the government had a responsibility to uncover the fate of four
Iranian diplomats who went missing in Lebanon in 1982. Iran accuses Israel of
holding the diplomats.
"Not because they are Iranian nationals, but because they are diplomats in
Lebanon," Nasrallah said. He also called on the future government to follow up
the files of Lebanese missing in Syria and Syrians missing in Lebanon. "Let
their fate … be uncovered. Put an end to the misery of their families,"
Nasrallah said. He thanked President Michel Suleiman for pardoning last week an
innocent Palestinian who spent 15 years in prison after he was convicted of
assassinating a Jordanian diplomat in Beirut. "I do not know if there are other
cases like that of Youssef Shaaban in Lebanese jails. But we have a
responsibility … to address this issue," he said. Nasrallah also called for an
end to administrative detention asking the authorities to release prisoners, who
have not been convicted of a crime. Beirut, 17 Jul 09, 20:47
Pte. Sebastien Courcy, 26, killed in combat in
Afghanistan
By The Canadian Press -Naharnet/KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Another Canadian soldier has been killed in combat in
Afghanistan.
Pte. Sebastien Courcy was killed this morning during an operation in a village
in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province, about 17 kilometres southwest of
the city.
Twenty-six year old Courcy was a member of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e
Regiment, also known as the Van Doos.
July is shaping up as one of the deadliest months on record for international
forces in Afghanistan.
There have been at least 47 deaths among NATO nations this month, including five
Canadian deaths.
Cpl. Nick Bulger was killed July 3 by a roadside bomb, Master Cpl. Pat Audet and
Cpl. Martin Joannette were killed July 6 in a helicopter crash, and Master Cpl.
Charles-Phillippe Michaud died July 4 from injuries suffered during a foot
patrol in June.
Since 2002, 125 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died as part of the
Afghan mission
Sami Gemayel Takes Extra Security Measures after Threats
Naharnet/MP Sami Gemayel has unveiled that he is taking extra security measures
after police informed him that his life was under threat. Gemayel told LBC's
Kalam al-Nass talk show Thursday night that security forces have informed him
that he was threatened and should improve security measures. When asked by talk
show host Marcel Ghanem if the threats came as a result of his latest stances at
a time when other officials, including MP Walid Jumblat, reduced security
measures, the young MP said: "Let's let the security forces work calmly to know
the reasons for these threats." Beirut, 17 Jul 09,
Israel: Iran, Syria Continue to Transfer Arms
to Hizbullah, Tougher U.N. Action Needed
Naharnet/Israel accused Iran and Syria on Thursday of sending weapons to
Hizbullah in violation of a U.N. cease-fire after it said one of the group's
arms warehouses in south Lebanon blew up. Israel also demanded tougher action by
United Nations peacekeepers against Hizbullah arms stockpiles.
Lebanese officials say explosions Tuesday in a supposedly abandoned building on
the outskirts of the village of Khirbet Selm were caused by a fire in a
Hizbullah weapons storage facility.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Thursday that the incident was
evidence of "Iranian and Syrian efforts to continue to transfer weapons to
Hizbullah in direct and flagrant violation" of the U.N. cease-fire that ended
the 2006 war between the Jewish state and the Lebanese group.
The Israeli foreign ministry called on UNIFIL and France, Italy and Spain,
participants in the force, "to act more energetically following information
about Hizbullah stocks of weapons."
In a statement, the ministry also asked U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to
find out the "results of the U.N. investigation" following Tuesday's explosions.
A senior Israeli officer told reporters the warehouse contained short-range
rockets that were smuggled from Syria. The warehouse was one of dozens of
similar Hizbullah arms depots across south Lebanon and part of a "buildup" of
the group's strength there, the officer said. The Israeli army circulated photos
of a building severely damaged by the blasts, taken by an unmanned Israeli
aircraft. The U.N. peacekeeping force in the south called the incident a
"serious violation" of the cease-fire. "UNIFIL considers this incident a serious
violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, notably the provision that
there should be no presence of unauthorized assets or weapons in the area of
operations between the Litani River and the Blue Line," UNIFIL said Wednesday.
Hizbullah has not commented on the explosion. Also Wednesday, the head of the
Israeli military's operations branch, Brig. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said: "This
epitomizes the problem that we are facing in south Lebanon.""This nonstate
terror organization is growing and becoming a semi-military organization. It
poses a major threat to the state of Israel," he said in a telephone briefing
for foreign journalists.(AP-AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 16 Jul 09, 19:57
Washington: Full Implementation of Resolution 1701 Still a
Priority
Naharnet/A State Department official has said the full implementation of U.N.
Security Council resolution 1701 remained a priority for the U.S., in the first
American reaction to a series of blasts caused by stockpiled ammunition in
southern Lebanon. "The presence of the Hizbullah arms depot is a dangerous
threat to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and
contradicts with resolution 1559," the official told An Nahar newspaper in
remarks published Friday. "The full implementation of resolution 1701 remains a
priority for the U.S. government and the international community," he said. "We
are still very worried about the role that Hizbullah is playing in Lebanon. Its
efforts to rearm itself constitute a violation of various Security Council
resolutions," the State Department official added. He reiterated the U.S. stance
that Hizbullah poses a danger to peace and stability in Lebanon and the region.
Reminding that resolution 1701 imposed a strict embargo on weapons destined for
militants in Lebanon, the official told An Nahar that the Obama administration
was continuously expressing its worries to the U.N.'s general secretariat, the
Lebanese and Syrian governments and UNIFIL about arms smuggling. Beirut, 17 Jul
09, 08:44
Opposition Wants Active Participation in Government or No
Participation
Naharnet/Latest proposals for a new Cabinet lineup included a possible
compromise on a 15-10-5 formula with a "neutral" minister, in addition to
granting the Opposition the finance ministry given that it is the "main body"
that no decisions can be made without the minister's signature. This measure,
according to the daily An Nahar, would give the Opposition the equivalent of
veto power. An Nahar, however, said a "bundle" of other proposals were also
being mulled. Well-informed sources, meanwhile, told pan-Arab al-Hayat that
agreement has been reached such as President Michel Suleiman names a Shiite
minister accepted by Hizbullah, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM-designate Saad
Hariri. Hariri met Hizbullah official Hasan al-Khalil Thursday night. The two
men discussed developments related to government formation. As Safir newspaper,
for its part, quoted a Hizbullah official as saying that the Opposition "would
not accept any guarantee except via active and clear participation.""Otherwise,
the Opposition will not stand in the way of government formation without
participation of the opposition," said on source from March 8 forces. Beirut, 17
Jul 09, 10:39
International Tribunal Team in Beirut
Naharnet/Sources following up on the probe into the assassination of former
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and related crimes said the U.N. committee has
stepped up its investigation. Pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, which carried the report,
said Friday an "important team" from Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare's office was
already in Beirut to follow up on this issue.
Signs of Worsening Crisis between Jumblat, March 14 Forces
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat continued to ratchet
up his rhetoric against March 14 Forces, reflecting a growing crisis within the
Parliamentary majority.
In newest remarks to the daily Al-Akhbar published Friday, Jumblat criticized
March 14 leaders as living in another world. "It seems that the youngsters are
(living) in a different world," Jumblat said. "(As if) they did not hear of
Israeli violations or about U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's call on
the Arabs to normalize relations with Israel and what this means," he added.
"Arab states have a responsibility to support the Palestinian Authority with
words and deeds, to take steps to improve relations with Israel, and to prepare
their publics to embrace peace and accept Israel's place in the region," Clinton
said in a foreign policy address on Wednesday.
"The Saudi peace proposal, supported by more than twenty nations, was a positive
step. But we believe that more is needed," she noted.
"So we are asking those who embrace the proposal to take meaningful steps now.
Anwar Sadat and King Hussein crossed important thresholds, and their boldness
and vision mobilized peace constituencies in Israel and paved the way for
lasting agreements," Clinton added. Jumblat's criticism came as the Druze
leader's call for a "solid" gathering with Hizbullah, al-Mustaqbal Movement and
Speaker Nabih Berri drew outrage from March 14 leaders. "This was a slip of the
tongue," Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel said of Jumblat's recent statement.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, however, disagreed with Jumblat on his
reasoning that the Muslim arena was the "foundation."
"This is not true. The political arena is national and not religious," Geagea
believed. "We cannot talk about any alliance in Lebanon's interest in isolation
from the Christians," Geagea stressed.
MP Sami Gemayel, for his part, said in an interview with LBC's Kalam el-Nass
talk show late Thursday that he does not mind a rapprochement between Jumblat
and Syria "provided we would not pay a price for this rapprochement." As Safir
daily, meanwhile, said sources from the "Lebanon First" parliamentary bloc have
accused Jumblat of trying to weaken Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri
"through the state of confusion caused by his rhetoric." Jumblat had said that a
"solid gathering was most essential" for the Muslim political arenas both in
Beirut and its environs, but asked Christian political leaders not to "be
displeased with his call and to understand that the U.S. conservative policy and
the Israeli policy aim to separate the Palestinian track from that of the
(Arab-Israeli) conflict in order to break up the Arab world." On Thursday,
Jumblat clarified that his comments "have nothing to do with reviving the
Quartet Alliance." He said the purpose behind his call was to "address the
sectarian repercussions of the previous phase in Beirut and its environs."
Beirut, 17 Jul 09, 08:37
Shibani Says Iran Supports Hariri in his Cabinet Formation Mission
Naharnet/Iranian Ambassador Mohammed Reza Shibani lauded the designation of Saad
Hariri as prime minister and said his country was ready to help him achieve his
goals.
"Hariri is a respectable person. Our relationship with him wasn't cut under any
circumstances. Choosing him for the formation of a cabinet was good. We stressed
during our last meeting with him that we are fully ready to help him in making
his mission a success," Shibani told al-Manar TV on Thursday.
"The invitation for him to visit Tehran is still on," the ambassador added.
Shibani also said that Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat is an
old friend of Iran, adding that the Druze leader's latest stances are
politically important and impressive. The Iranian ambassador told the TV station
that Tehran encourages agreement among Lebanese but will interfere in the
country's internal affairs. Beirut, 17 Jul 09, 09:05
Sultanov: Russia Opposes
Tribunal's 'Politicization' and Will Not Interfere in Cabinet Shape-Up
Naharnet/Visiting Russia's deputy foreign minister Alexander Sultanov said
Thursday that Moscow opposed the "politicization" of the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon and will not accept a regional settlement at Lebanon's expense. Sultanov,
who is also Russia's special envoy for the Middle East peace process, arrived in
Beirut early Thursday for a two-day visit as part of a regional tour that
includes Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and Israel. After talks with
Premier-designate Saad Hariri, Sultanov said Russia wanted the identity of
former premier Rafik Hariri uncovered. On the government, he said the formation
task "was not easy" and stressed that Russia will "not interfere." After earlier
talks with President Michel Suleiman, Sultanov voiced hope for the "smooth"
formation of a government "especially that all sides have accepted the outcome
of the (June 7) parliamentary elections. Sultanov said U.S. President Barack
Obama's policy was "driven by a new appreciation of the situation in the region
and of the approach to find a solution" to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The new
U.S. administration's attitude "forms a very useful element in the serious
search for a way to push forward the peace process," Sultanov said. He renewed
an invitation for Suleiman to visit Moscow and said "diplomatic channels were
working on a schedule" for the trip. Sultanov also met Hizbullah MP Mohammed
Raad and discussed the current situation in the country. Earlier, al-Mustaqbal
newspaper said Sultanov's visit was not liked to the formation of the Lebanese
cabinet. However, he will stress during his talks with Lebanese officials on
government formation as part of national dialogue and away from regional
interference. The newspaper added that the envoy's mission was to encourage
parties concerned with resuming peace talks. Consequently, he will listen to the
lebanese leaders' viewpoints on efforts to achieve peace in the region. Beirut,
16 Jul 09, 11:09
Israel: Iran, Syria Continue to Transfer Arms to Hizbullah, Tougher U.N. Action
Needed
Naharnet/Israel accused Iran and Syria on Thursday of sending weapons to
Hizbullah in violation of a U.N. cease-fire after it said one of the group's
arms warehouses in south Lebanon blew up. Israel also demanded tougher action by
United Nations peacekeepers against Hizbullah arms stockpiles. Lebanese
officials say explosions Tuesday in a supposedly abandoned building on the
outskirts of the village of Khirbet Selm were caused by a fire in a Hizbullah
weapons storage facility. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Thursday
that the incident was evidence of "Iranian and Syrian efforts to continue to
transfer weapons to Hizbullah in direct and flagrant violation" of the U.N.
cease-fire that ended the 2006 war between the Jewish state and the Lebanese
group. The Israeli foreign ministry called on UNIFIL and France, Italy and
Spain, participants in the force, "to act more energetically following
information about Hizbullah stocks of weapons." In a statement, the ministry
also asked U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to find out the "results of the
U.N. investigation" following Tuesday's explosions. A senior Israeli officer
told reporters the warehouse contained short-range rockets that were smuggled
from Syria. The warehouse was one of dozens of similar Hizbullah arms depots
across south Lebanon and part of a "buildup" of the group's strength there, the
officer said. The Israeli army circulated photos of a building severely damaged
by the blasts, taken by an unmanned Israeli aircraft. The U.N. peacekeeping
force in the south called the incident a "serious violation" of the cease-fire.
"UNIFIL considers this incident a serious violation of U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1701, notably the provision that there should be no presence of
unauthorized assets or weapons in the area of operations between the Litani
River and the Blue Line," UNIFIL said Wednesday. Hizbullah has not commented on
the explosion. Also Wednesday, the head of the Israeli military's operations
branch, Brig. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said: "This epitomizes the problem that we are
facing in south Lebanon." "This nonstate terror organization is growing and
becoming a semi-military organization. It poses a major threat to the state of
Israel," he said in a telephone briefing for foreign
journalists.(AP-AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 16 Jul 09, 19:57
UNIFIL Submits Film to U.N. on South Lebanon Blasts
Naharnet/UNIFIL submitted Thursday a film to the United Nations documenting a
series of blasts two days ago in the Lebanese south, al-Markaziya news agency
reported. UNIFIL has said Tuesday's explosions in the village of Khirbet Selm,
20 kilometers (12 miles) from the border with Israel, were probably caused by
ammunition stored in an abandoned house. A security source told the news agency
he expected more weapons caches to be discovered "since the army and UNIFIL are
still investigating the explosion." "Stockpiling illegitimate weapons in Lebanon
threatens the state's interests (with other countries) and endangers public
peace," he said. He added the Khirbet Selm incident will not be "buried or
overlooked" by Lebanon or the outside world. UNIFIL has also said the explosions
marked "a serious violation" of U.N. Security Council Resolution
1701.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 16 Jul 09, 19:47
UNIFIL Submits Film to U.N. on South Lebanon Blasts
Naharnet/UNIFIL submitted Thursday a film to the United Nations documenting a
series of blasts two days ago in the Lebanese south, al-Markaziya news agency
reported.
UNIFIL has said Tuesday's explosions in the village of Khirbet Selm, 20
kilometers (12 miles) from the border with Israel, were probably caused by
ammunition stored in an abandoned house. A security source told the news agency
he expected more weapons caches to be discovered "since the army and UNIFIL are
still investigating the explosion." "Stockpiling illegitimate weapons in Lebanon
threatens the state's interests (with other countries) and endangers public
peace," he said. He added the Khirbet Selm incident will not be "buried or
overlooked" by Lebanon or the outside world. UNIFIL has also said the explosions
marked "a serious violation" of U.N. Security Council Resolution
1701.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 16 Jul 09, 19:47
Khalifeh: 70 Swine Flu Cases Confirmed, but Virus Not Serious
Naharnet/Health Minister Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh said Thursday Lebanon has so
far registered 70 cases of swine flu and announced he will participate in next
week's Arab health ministers emergency conference. "In my opinion the number is
likely to multiply because the virus spreads quickly," he told the National News
Agency. However, he said, research has showed that the virus was "not serious
because death rates were limited around the world and it affected patients who
already have health issues." The emergency conference will convene on Wednesday
in Cairo to discuss contingency plans ahead of the Muslim pilgrimage season in
addition to the Arab health ministry budget. Beirut, 16 Jul 09, 17:42
Geagea: Jumblat's Call for Muslim Gathering Aims to Erase
May 7 'Traces'
Naharnet/The Lebanese Forces leader said Thursday MP Walid Jumblat's attempt to
finally turn the page on the May 7, 2008 clashes was behind his call for a
grouping with Hizbullah, Speaker Nabih Berri and al-Mustaqbal movement. "Jumblat
is definitely trying to erase the traces of May 7 events, which is a beneficial
step for Lebanon and the Lebanese," Samir Geagea told Voice of Lebanon radio in
an interview. "As such, I understand his call for the formation of a kind of
gathering with al-Mustaqbal bloc, Hizbullah and Speaker Nabih Berri," he said.
Jumblat's calls came in an interview published Thursday with the Kuwaiti al-Awan
daily. Excerpts of the interview were also made public on Wednesday. Geagea,
however, singled out Jumblat's description of the Muslim political arenas in
Beirut and the southern suburbs as "the most essential" in Lebanon. "This
statement is incorrect. What is essential in Lebanon is the national arena. It
is more important than the Muslim and Christian (political) arenas," he said.
Geagea saw no need for such a move in Christian areas, which "did not witness
events similar to those of May 7." On the government, the LF leader ruled out a
final shape-up "in the coming days, because there was still the problem of veto
power" as demanded by the opposition. Beirut, 16 Jul 09, 16:02
Lebanese Customs Denies Embezzlement Claims
Naharnet/Lebanese customs denied Thursday press reports that some of its
employees have embezzled money from public funds. In a statement, it said: "What
happened was that one of the clearing agents had evaded paying regular tariffs
owed by the trade companies he worked for."
It added that investigations were ongoing into the matter. Beirut, 16 Jul 09,
18:49
Syria's support for Hizbullah
'stands in way' of ties with US
By Dalila Mahdawi
Daily Star staff
Friday, July 17, 2009
BEIRUT: Syria's support for Hizbullah remains a point of contention with the US
as the two countries inch toward warmer relations after more than three years of
political stand-off, a senior US official said on Thursday. US Assistant
Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said Washington was
attempting to turn the page on "deeply paralyzed" relations with Damascus but
that there were still some problems to be ironed out.
"We simply do not agree with Syria over the nature of Hizbullah and whether
Hizbullah has a positive or negative element in the region's security," Feltman
told the pan-Arab newspaper Ash-Sharq al-Awsat in an interview that also touched
upon US relations with Iran. "Syria defends Hizbullah while we consider it to be
a terrorist organization. This is a very serious issue that we have diverging
points of views on."
Washington refuses to have any dealings with Hizbullah, with a US State
Department report in May calling the Shiite group the world's most capable
"terrorist group." The report also labeled Syria a state sponsor of terrorism,
saying Damascus "provided political and material support to Hizbullah and
allowed Iran to use Syrian territory as a transit point for assistance" to the
group
The US severed ties with Syria shortly after the assassination of former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005. His truck-bomb killing,
in which 22 others also died, was widely blamed on Syria and led to massive
protests that saw Damascus withdraw its military from Lebanon after a presence
of almost 30 years. Washington's political freeze with Syria has thawed over
recent months as political rapprochement initiated by French President Nicolas
Sarkozy saw Damascus move toward friendlier relations with the West.
"I don't want to focus on the negatives because there are a number of other
issues and I believe there is a possibility for cooperation on issues of
bilateral interest," said Feltman of Syria.
"Let's look at the situation [in Lebanon] now," Feltman said, citing the
establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, a UN-backed court based in
the Netherlands tasked with prosecuting suspects in Hariri's murder. "We should
all work to support the STL but this has nothing to do with bilateral ties."
The former ambassador to Lebanon also pointed to Lebanon's parliamentary
elections on June 7 as another encouraging reason for rapprochement. "Syria, the
US and other regional and international countries agree that they were fair,
legitimate and free," he said.
Feltman said the political differences that pushed Washington to recall its
ambassador to Syria, Margaret Scobey, in February 2005, were now "being solved
by others or have already been solved." The administration of US President
Barack Obama now considered it "important" to have a US presence in Damascus, he
said, declining to say when a new ambassador would be appointed or who it would
be.
Responding to a question about Lebanese concerns over Syrian-US rapprochement,
Feltman said he saw no conflict of interest. "We have repeatedly assured our
commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty and independence, but we do not see that any
warmth with Syria contradicts supporting Lebanon," he said, adding that
Washington dealt with Lebanon with complete transparency.
As a former ambassador to Lebanon, Feltman said he understood "there might be
some suspicions and fears but a number of politicians have listened to our
reasons for wanting to improve our relationship with Syria and expressed support
for our initiative."
"I can't think of one Lebanese politician that has told me publicly or in
private they wanted a bad relationship with Syria. There is a will in Lebanon to
establish normal but positive ties with Syria, ties based on mutual respect and
acknowledgment of each country's sovereignty. We have seen positive steps in
that direction," Feltman said, citing the establishment of diplomatic ties and
the mutual exchange of ambassadors by Lebanon and Syria.
Obama's envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, was in Syria on Monday for
the most high profile meeting between the two countries yet. Speaking in
Damascus, Mitchell provided words of encouragement, saying Syria had "an
integral role to play in reaching comprehensive peace" in the Middle East.
Mitchell may visit Beirut before the end of this month to discuss Obama's Middle
East peace plan with Lebanese officials, the Central News Agency reported on
Wednesday.
In the interview with Ash-Sharq al-Awsat, Feltman said Syrian policy in Iraq
would also influence developing ties with the US. "I had a chance to visit Syria
twice on March 7 and May 7," he said. "Although we do not reveal the details of
our diplomatic talks, I can tell you Syria's goals for Iraq are to a certain
extent very similar to ours in Iraq."
Damascus has faced repeated criticism for allowing anti-US fighters to cross its
borders into Iraq.
The official also mentioned US efforts to reach out to Iran. "There's a chance
for Iran to play a role that matches its history, culture and religion, while at
the same time respecting international law," Feltman said. He said while Tehran
had not yet responded positively to demands to halt its nuclear program, there
was still time for diplomacy.
Israel: Arms depot blast shows 'flagrant violation'
Friday, July 17, 2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel accused Iran and Syria Thursday of sending weapons to
Lebanon's Hizbullah in violation of a UN cease-fire after one of the group's
arms warehouses in south Lebanon blew up. The Lebanese Shiite group, which is
both a popular political movement and a powerful military organization, is
backed by both Syria and Iran. The conditions of the 2006 cease-fire that ended
Israel's war on Lebanon prohibit weapons smuggling to Hizbullah and forbid the
group from engaging in military activities in south Lebanon.
Lebanese officials say explosions Tuesday in a supposedly abandoned building 16
kilometers north of the Israeli border were caused by a fire in a Hizbullah
weapons storage facility.
Israeli government spokes-man Mark Regev said Thursday that the incident was
evidence of "Iranian and Syrian efforts to continue to transfer weapons to
Hizbullah in direct and flagrant violation" of the UN cease-fire that ended the
war. A senior Israeli officer told reporters Thursday
the warehouse contained short-range rockets that were smuggled from Syria. The
warehouse was one of dozens of similar Hizbullah arms depots across south
Lebanon and part of a "buildup" of the group's strength there, the officer said,
speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with military regulations.
The UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon Wednesday called the incident
a "serious violation" of the cease-fire.
Israel has long charged that the group is rearming and preparing for another
round of fighting despite the presence of the UN peacekeepers. Israel's Foreign
Ministry said Thursday it is weighing an .official complaint to the UN
Hizbullah won support at home and in the Arab world for its perceived
stand against Israel in the summer 2006 war. The group has not commented on the
explosion. - AP
UNDP: Lebanon is still dominated by foreign states tied to sectarian parties
Report presents less independent picture of country’s government
By Stephen Dockery
Special to The Daily Star
Friday, July 17, 2009
BEIRUT: The process of forming Premier-designate Saad Hariri’s new cabinet has
entered the end of its third week since Hariri was nominated for the post at the
end of June. The effort has yet to yield tangible results, but has been referred
to by Hariri and government officials as free from regional influence and a
purely Lebanese affair. But a report released by the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) at the end of June presents a much less independent picture of
the government.
Lebanon has had a long history of foreign occupation and influence and the UNDP
National Human Development Report claims the country is still dominated by
foreign states that are tied to sectarian parties who profit from keeping the
state weak.
The process of cabinet formation comes after the June 7 parliamentary elections
that saw the Western-backed March 14 forces hold on to its parliamentary
majority over the Syrian- and Iranian-backed March 8 coalition. After the polls,
several international representatives have visited Lebanon to voice their
support for the new Parliament and their non-interference in the government
process.
Despite this, the UNDP report calls into doubt the historical sincerity of the
hands-off policies of international governments in Lebanon and describes appeals
to foreign powers as a Lebanese “tradition.” Many analysts agree and have hinged
the cabinet formation on a tripartite agreement between Syria, Saudi Arabia and
Lebanon. Hassan Krayem, a member of the UNDP steering
committee responsible for the report, said the foreign-influence section of the
almost 300-page document must not be overstated and should be in the context of
the report’s primary theme of citizenship. Krayem
added that many small countries like Lebanon come under foreign influence as
well. The majority of the report, subtitled “Toward a citizen’s state,”
addresses other issues concerning confessionalism, economic citizenship rights,
poverty and education. The report also did not directly refer to the current
cabinet formation. Still the wording of the foreign
powers and civil-peace section of the report was harsh. Most critically, the
report said the dominance of foreign powers in Lebanon gives local political
parties an inflated sense of strength that “far transcends their own weak and
divided resources of power.”
Lebanon has been under almost continuous foreign influence sense its
independence. The state was recognized as independent in 1943 after being part
of a French mandate. Since then the country has seen American, Syrian, Israeli,
French and Italian forces occupy its land during the country’s turbulent
history.
The country has been historically unstable and has suffered long periods of
internal conflict in which foreign patrons played a large role. Lebanon’s
geographic location in a volatile region and demographic diversity has made
Lebanon a magnet for world powers to project their influence.
The UNDP report called the foreign influence “significant and ongoing”
and that national political parties were so dependent on the foreign actors,
“turning the call to sever the connection into something absurd.”
The report said political parties have fought over the state to “protect
its weakness” so the state’s power can be indirectly used to benefit those
political groups and confessions. The foreign-powers
section of the report concluded that the overall impact of foreign influence was
the harming of citizenship in Lebanon. It said freedom has been reinterpreted to
mean “concluding contracts in parallel to the state and exchanging political
services with foreign powers, where ‘legitimate’ foreign financing of political
parties and media, in exchange for their loyalty to a foreign power, is
permitted and people are supplied with arms that flow across the border.”
According to the report this could only change with the strengthening of
the state. “Citizenship, meanwhile cannot become stable unless a state based on
the law becomes stable, along with the loyalty of citizens to this state and
their compliance with its sovereignty
NAM summit sees flurry of Arab-Iranian diplomacy
Compiled by Daily Star staff ظFriday, July 17, 2009
Arab ministers engaged in a flurry of diplomacy with their Iranian counterparts
this week on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned Movement summit in Sharm
el-Sheikh, Egypt.Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met Secretary
General of Arab League on Thursday. The two officials
exchanged views on regional developments including Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon,
the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) reported. The
two sides called for unity among Palestinian groups in order to boost Palestine
nation's stances, the ISNA report added.
Mottaki has also held talks with his Omani, Lebanese, Egyptian and Syrian
counterparts on sidelines of the summit. During these meetings they discussed
regional and international issues, the Tehran Times reported.
Egyptian and Iranian diplomats told the Associated Press on Tuesday that
the foreign ministers of the two countries had met three times during the
summit, signaling a thaw in the tense relations between the two Muslim
nations.An Iranian diplomat told AP that this week's talks between Egyptian
Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit and Mottaki, took place in "a positive and
cordial atmosphere." An Egyptian diplomat confirmed the men had met three times
since Mottaki arrived in Egypt on Sunday. On Sunday,
Abu al-Gheit's spokesman Hossam Zaki said the two countries have had their
differences but expressed hope that they could work together for "stability in
the region." Iran will take over NAM chairmanship in 2012. - The Daily Star,
with AP
A Lebanon devoted to democracy has a friend in the US - Clinton
Secretary of State acknowledges difficult tasks ahead
By Nicholas Kimbrell ظDaily Star staff
Friday, July 17, 2009
BEIRUT: A Lebanon devoted to independence, equality and democracy has a strong
friend in the United States, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday
during a highly anticipated address at the Council on Foreign Relations. Clinton
who visited Beirut earlier this year ahead of the June parliamentary polls,
which were won handily by the March 14 coalition, devoted much of her speech to
outlining a reformed US diplomatic approach highlighting the importance of
partnership, engagement, democracy and empowerment."Whether in Latin America or
Lebanon, Iran or Liberia, those who are inspired by democracy, who understand
that democracy is about more than just elections - that it must also protect
minority rights and press freedom, develop strong, competent and independent
judiciaries, legislatures and executive agencies, and commit for democracy to
deliver results - these are the people who will find that Americans are their
friends, not adversaries," Clinton said.The US has provided Lebanon with
hundreds of millions of dollars in aid in recent years, and the country is seen
as pivotal in Washington's push for a regional dŽtente. But while the speech
paid homage to Lebanon's democratic experience, the former first lady and
senator's chief aim was to lay out a series of initiatives to enhance the
effectiveness of Washington's diplomatic efforts.Although Clinton appeared to
voice a tentative optimism, she also acknowledged the difficult tasks ahead.
The international agenda today is unforgiving: two wars, conflict in the Middle
East, ongoing threats of violent extremism and nuclear proliferation, global
recession, climate change, hunger and disease, and a widening gap between the
rich and the poor," Clinton said. "All of these challenges affect America's
security and prosperity, and they all threaten global stability and
progress."Despite its broad and comprehensive range, Clinton's address did give
a certain prominence to the Mideast. US President Barack Obama has chosen to
focus heavily on the region, reaching out to allies and foes alike, and the
speech echoed the president's initiatives.
Clinton's words on Iran - notably potential limitations to US engagement with
the Islamic Republic - were quickly taken up by commentators. But the secretary
also spoke about the Obama administration's comprehensive regional peace
strategy, principally, potential ways forward on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
"Now I'm well aware that time alone does not heal all wounds; consider
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. That's why we wasted no time in starting an
intensive effort on day one to realize the rights of Palestinians and Israelis
to live in peace and security in two states, which is in America's interests and
the world's," Clinton said. Pressure from
Washington on Israel's new right-wing government to stop all settlement
construction in the occupied West Bank has strained relations between the
allies, and Israeli officials have yet to commit to the Obama administration's
approach. But Clinton noted that movement needs to be taken by Palestinian
leadership as well.
"The Palestinians have the responsibility to improve and extend the positive
actions already taken on security; to act forcefully against incitement; and to
refrain from any action that would make meaningful negotiations less likely,"
she said. Arab states also feature prominently in any
solution, the secretary asserted, saying that the Arab Peace Initiative was an
important step that needs to be built on. Clinton also
touched on the thawing ties between the US and Syria, noting that although
relations had improved - including a US plan to send an ambassador to Damascus
for the first time since 2005 - Washington would still like to see certain
changes in behavior.One of the sticking points between US and Syria has been the
latter's support for groups like Hamas and Hizbullah.While Clinton did not
mention Hizbullah, which the State Department has listed as a terror group for
over a decade, she said the US would not change its position vis-ˆ-vis Hamas
until the group recognized Israel and renounced violence.
She did, however, note the role that non-state actors can play in the
region, and the opportunities they have to contribute to finding solutions.
what is undermining the
stability of the Christian society?
By: General Michel Aoun
July 15/09
It is without doubt that these days the Christian society is confused! Confused
because of its presence in this historical stage that is bearing great changes
in the international politics, which made it disengage from a traditional West
with which it had human, cultural and educational ties. This West which has
protected the Christian society in the past centuries, during difficult and
dangerous historic moments.
Unfortunately, the Christian community was let down several times by this west,
especially in these days and particularly since 1948. Therefore, the Christian
community must now adjust to new conditions, and be more interactive with its
internal surroundings sharing their joy and anguish, and encouraging a culture
of openness, understanding and constructiveness instead of closure, fear and
confrontation. Especially, when our society is keen about Freedom in all its
form, freedom in our beliefs, either political or religious differences and
respect for the right of those differences.
The relationship between the Maronites and the West dates from before the
establishment of the modern Lebanese entity. This relationship has evolved over
almost nine centuries, allowing the Maronites to keep pace with the Renaissance
in Europe from Italy in the sixteenth century, to France in the seventeenth
century. This relationship has helped them to carry out the roles of the
cultural vanguard of the Arab renaissance in the nineteenth century.
Furthermore, this relationship has taken on various forms, and was intensified
first after the Maronites were massacred by the Druze, such as the 1861 Protocol
which gave European countries the role to protect minorities, like Christians
and the Druze, while the Shiites and Sunnis stayed under the control of the
Ottoman Empire.
This date remains in the subconscious mind of some Christians, who are still
looking back at the past whose components are no longer valid. This prevents new
choices from becoming available in his new societies. This group had had some
recent political choices, sometimes contradictory, and sometimes paralyzed;
reconciling with Syria one moment and alienating it the other, wanting to live
on the border of Israel as a neutral state and yet does not have the power to
enforce its neutrality, not internally nor from abroad...
What the West is doing nowadays is preventing the different factions of Lebanese
society from understanding one another, and striking down national unity to make
it easier for the Israeli solution to be passed. Because a country whose
national unity is built on the complementation between the resistance the people
and the army in one independent state is difficult to penetrate or render it
upon the imposition of solutions the door prize for those who have been short
changed by said global agreement.
Fabricating crises during the formation of the government is the best way to
attack the national unity and prevent the deep understanding between the various
national forces needed to confront the crisis and the creation of a potential
solution. It is on this basis that some of the majority wants the Prime minister
who has been given the charge to create said government to fail by placing
restrictive conditions that will prevent him from forming a national unified
government and forcing him to monopolize the power thus further increasing the
rift and disarray among the people.
The proportional representation in government allows it to achieve broad-based
governance, covering the various segments of Lebanese society, and this
representation is the basis of strength behind the government. And in as much as
this government is strong so is its leader and the same stands true when it is
weak because it then forces its leader to seek outside help which in turn
weakens him even more, for he now has to pay the tribute f h support and that
can only be at the expense of his country’s peace and stability.
Those who objected today objected on proportional representation, in addition to
their greed for absolute control are falling victims to the trap of those forces
that are working towards the destruction of the Lebanese entity, and by doing so
are working towards weakening the Lebanese entity and undermining it with the
excuse of accepting the status quo imposed by the solutions presented to it.
Those external forces who rear their ugly heads whenever there is a political
decision in play, along with those Lebanese individuals who listen to them are
the ones that are interfering with the creation of solutions for controlling the
Lebanese political situation at the expense of Lebanon itself and benefiting
those individuals’ interests and not those of Lebanon.
Against those dangers confronting Lebanon, the Christian society should work on
focusing their efforts against said dangers and to work wholeheartedly in order
to eliminate them instead of running away from them in search of a new identity.
From this honest and clear decision, the primary motive that shall return
stability to the Lebanese community is by directing our energy against those who
deserve it and not against one another. It is not too late unless God forbid
some of them have become too deeply involved and cannot turn back.
Do we have the daring of the independent free so we may make our own rules