LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
May 14/09
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus
Christ according to Saint John 15:1-8. I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and
everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned
because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just
as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so
neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you
can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a
branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they
will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever
you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you
bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Syrian heresy/Future
News 13/05/09
Is there a ray of hope for Middle East peace?Times
Online/
May
13/09
Obama has earned to goodwill of
Arabs, but what will he do with it?
The Daily Star
May
13/09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for May
13/09
Cabinet Failed to Approve
Administrative Appointments-Naharnet
Court Charges Six Lebanese with Spying for Israel-Naharnet
Suleiman: The Opposition Will Be Stronger in Raising Votes-Naharnet
March 14: Raising the Slogan of Third Republic Is a Dangerous Development-Naharnet
Hizbullah Launches
Electoral Campaign in Batroun-Naharnet
Israel Fears Hizbullah
Control, Says No Decision on Ghajar Pullout until Polls-Naharnet
Syria denies country is route for al-Qaida-United
Press International
Lebanon charges six in widening spy
investigation-Reuters
Qassem: Hizbullah is Giving 'Every Type of Support' to Hamas-Naharnet
New
York Court Convicts Lebanese-Swede in Terror Camp Trial-Naharnet
Hizbullah collect database in
Hadath-Future
News
Mufti Kabbani: campaign against the
President is shameful-Future
News
'Syria willing to resume talks as soon as Israel
is ready'-Ha'aretz
Geagea: Syrian Intelligence Interfering in Lebanon Polls-Naharnet
Edde: Aoun lost his credibility-Future
News
Karami responds to Aoun’s attacks-Future
News
Sleiman receives a message from
Jordanian King-Future
News
Lebanese
Cabinet Meets Wednesday over
Election-Related Appointments' Crisis-Naharnet
Report: Two Alleged Spy Rings Uncovered in Ain Ibl, Aitaroun-Naharnet
Bellemare Did Not Meet Siddiq-Naharnet
Kesrouan: Decisive Days for Independents-March 14 Electoral List-Naharnet
Dalloul Awaits Hariri's
Response Amid LF and Phalange Vetoes-Naharnet
Berri, Hariri for
Implementation of Doha Accord in Beirut 2-Naharnet
Saniora: Cabinet Voting or
Consensus on Administrative Appointments-Naharnet
Gul: Rockets From Lebanon
and Gaza Not Exalting-Naharnet
Lavrov Urges World to
Accept Lebanese Poll Results Even if Hizbullah Wins-Naharnet
Syrian Chief of Staff in
Beirut Says Damascus Ready to Offer Military Assistance-Naharnet
Mitri Worried about
Violent Rhetoric Against Media-Naharnet
Baroud to Investigate
Claims of Municipalities' Interference in Elections-Naharnet
Bassil: 2009 Saw the End
of March 14-Naharnet
Pope
comes under Israeli criticism during pilgrimage-Daily
Star
Baroud outlines preparations taken ahead of elections-Daily
Star
Tueni
urges youth 'to play effective role in society-Daily
Star
iano
says 'UNIFIL still has a lot to do-Daily
Star
Conflicting reports on Israel pullout from Ghajar-Daily
Star
Lavrov urges states to accept Lebanon poll results-Daily
Star
UN,
UK officials take aim at Hizbullah's weapons during Security Council debate-Daily
Star
Syrian army chief says Damascus ready to offer military assistance-Daily
Star
Malaysia to send 150 peacekeeping troops to join UNIFIL force-Daily
Star
Activists hope MPs will debate nationality law-Daily
Star
Media
report false news of Carter visit-Daily
Star
Metn
district set to witness fiercely contested race in upcoming elections-Daily
Star
Can
Beirut become the Marbella of the Middle East?
(RPN)
Lebanon to rake in $14 billion in T-bills, bonds-Daily
Star
Roads
in Achrafieh to be closed for construction-Daily
Star
Army
arrests Palestinian for aiding Al-Qaeda-Daily
Star
Mysterious gas in southern village leaves twelve students, teacher hospitalized-Daily
Star
Disabled citizens unable to access reconstructed buildings in south-Daily
Star
New York Court Convicts Lebanese-Swede in Terror Camp Trial
Naharnet/A New York court on Tuesday convicted a Lebanese-born Swede of trying
to set up a terror training camp in Oregon in 1999, prosecutors said.
Ousama Kassir was found guilty on multiple charges, including supporting
terrorism and al-Qaida, a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor's office said.
Kassir faces a sentence of up to life in prison. He was extradited to the United
States in September 2007 from Prague, where he was jailed after his arrest in
2005 during a stopover while flying from Sweden to Lebanon. Prosecutors said in
the jury trial at a federal court in Manhattan that Kassir, 43, tried to set up
a "jihad" (holy war) camp in Oregon, in the northwest United States. Kassir
declared his innocence when he was charged last year, and his lawyer on Tuesday
said his client had "a big mouth," but was not a criminal.
Prosecutors said he reached the United States in 1999 and spent a year at an
Oregon ranch, imparting religious teachings at a Seattle mosque before returning
to Europe, according to the prosecution.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 13 May 09, 08:48
Qassem: Hizbullah is Giving 'Every Type of Support' to
Hamas
Naharnet/Hizbullah is giving "every type of support" to Hamas, the party's
deputy secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said in an interview with the
Financial Times on Wednesday. "It is one of the secrets of the resistance that
we don't talk about the details of our support, but suffice to say that we are
giving them every type of support that could help the Palestinian resistance,"
he said. "Every type that is possible." Pressed on whether Hizbullah was
supplying arms or training, Qassem said: "We leave this to be seen in time to
come." Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah confirmed last month that a man
held in Egypt on suspicion of planning attacks there was a Hizbullah member
working to help the Palestinian resistance against Israel. "We have always said
that we supported the resistance in Palestine but we have not mentioned how or
given details of such support," Qassem said, in the rare interview at a secret
location in southern Beirut. "But Egypt has now revealed that we have given
military support to Palestine. We have done so for a while but we have not
talked about it."
The Hizbullah official suggested the west had double standards in saying the
party should not be supporting Palestinian resistance groups. "We are asked
about our specific and limited support for Gaza while nobody questions the U.S.
about their total and unflinching support for Israel," he said. "We are always
questioned but nobody questions the U.S."
Beirut, 13 May 09, 07:36
Geagea: Syrian Intelligence Interfering in Lebanon Polls
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused on Wednesday the Syrian
intelligence of interfering in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Lebanon.
"The Syrian intelligence is visiting Syrians who were given the Lebanese
nationality and are residing in Syria," Geagea told LF officials during an
electoral meeting in Maarab. "Such intelligence cannot but to practice its
favorite hobby particularly since it doesn't have the capacity to practice it in
Lebanon," Geagea said. He accused the Syrian intelligence of seeking to
transport those with Lebanese nationalities to Lebanon to vote in the June 7
elections. Such a practice gives an idea of "the extent of interferences in the
polls given their importance," he said.
Beirut, 13 May 09, 11:13
Syrian heresy
Date: May 13th, 2009 Source:
Future News
The policy of the Syrian regime differs from all the world’s conventional ruling
systems. The nature of this policy is quite spectacular and odd.
The last heresy of Damascus’s regime was the visit of Syrian Chief of Staff
General Ali Habib to Beirut leading a delegation of armed forces that had never
undergone one single war against the Israeli army that has been occupying its
land for over four decades. This impudence of this regime is unlimited as it
does not recognize the logic of states and diplomatic affairs. The Syrian army
delegation brashly visits Lebanon, which has requested, a few days earlier, to
be handed the criminals who killed members of the Lebanese army.
The Syrian regime disregarded the Lebanese state’s request, perhaps until it
perceives the outlook of ‘March 8’ alliance, which will probably employ the
issue in the race to the June 7 elections. It is quite normal for the Syrian
regime to ignore Lebanon’s request, as it basically does not recognize Lebanon
at all. Then again, the blood of a few soldiers of the Lebanese army does not
evoke the “Arab resilience” of Damascus’s regime, which has shed the blood of
the Lebanese of different sects and affiliations with a cold heart and a latent
conscience as its only concern is speculating security and diplomatic bids
hoping it would liberate the occupied Golan heights with God’s help.
Isn’t it about time the Syrian regime starts respecting Lebanon the state not
the battlefield which ‘Thank you Syria’ group has opened for it? How can anyone
believe the Syrian regime’s idiotic claims about “brotherly” relations between
both countries, even as it refuses to demarcate its borders with Lebanon to
plunge Israel’s pretext in occupying Shebaa farms and Kfarshouba hills, while it
offers to demarcate Syrian-Israeli borders? It is not possible to discuss having
special or even normal relations with Syria while dozens of missing and detained
Lebanese remain in Syrian jails, and as hundreds of fighters affiliated with the
Syrian regime are deployed in Kosaya, Ain el Helwi and Naameh Palestinian
refugee camps. All of the initiatives of Damascus’s regime are peculiar and they
are related to politics just as the Syrian regime is to honesty.
Hizbullah collect database in Hadath
Date: May 13th, 2009 Source: lebreports.com
The pro-Iranian Hizbullah militant party had lately conducted an overall survey
of Hadath region in what it said was necessary for electoral reasons.
But inhabitants of Hadath, frustrated by the move, said Hizbullah
representatives were asking for highly precise and exact information that seem
to go beyond the requirements of an electoral survey. The sources in Hadath
region who asked not to be named told Lebreports.com “Hizbullah activists had
lately been visiting the houses in Hadath and neighboring region asking the
residents for information about their annual income, social status, job
addresses, identity cards’ numbers, phone numbers as well as expatriate
relatives and the amount of money they send.”
They said the people who were surveyed fear that such a step is a prelude to a
security operation the party intends to launch when it finishes putting together
the database. Hizbullah’s action in that area, close to its heartland in
Beirut’s southern suburb, arouses suspicions about Hizbullah’s hidden intention
to expand its security zone. Moreover, the sources point to the possibility of
exploiting the statistics in terms of tightening surveillance over the
supporters of March 14 alliance.
Edde: Aoun lost his credibility
Date: May 13th, 2009 Source: voice of Lebanon
National Bloc leader Carlos Edde condemned Wednesday the contradictory stances
of the renegade general Michel Aoun and accused him of lying. Edde told Voice of
Lebanon radio: “Michel Aoun’s paradoxical stances toward Syria have fluctuated
between accusing it of assassinating the late Premier Rafic Hariri and that the
Syrian regime has nothing to do with it. Aoun has lost his credibility.”He
added: “Aoun is afraid to have a debate with me, he is afraid to confront me
because I have information of him that he prefers not to reveal.”On the
electoral battle in the Keserwan region, Edde said: “The electoral list will be
finalized by the week-end. Some details remain to be settled between some
parties and the independent candidates on how to run the electoral battle
Karami responds to Aoun’s attacks
Date: May 12th, 2009 Future News
Former MP Ahmad Karameh considered Tuesday to the attacks of General Michel Aoun
against martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and MP Saad Hariri as immoral. He
also condemned saying that Tripoli is subject to the tutelage of Qoreitem 26
days ahead of the parliamentary elections.
Mufti Kabbani: campaign against
the President is shameful
Date: May 12th, 2009 Source: NNA
Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rachid Kabbani criticized the fierce campaign
against President Michel Sleiman, the Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and political
leaders before that.
Mufti Kabbani described the attack as “shameful. It is an uncomfortable
indication of the manner of dealing with the president who embraces all
political factions at the table of dialogue.”
Leader of the Change and Reform Bloc, MP Michel Aoun has always targeted the
Sunni community and the powers of the prime minister, in his personal campaign
against President Michel Suleiman, and in his targeting the ministerial posts
whose candidates the president believed it was his prerogative to nominate.
Kabbani asked politicians to make moderate speeches, stressing the need to
adhere to the Taid Agreement “which insure the rights of all Lebanese.” The Taif
Agreement of 1989 ended civil war in Lebanon and demanded the disarmament of all
Lebanese militias.
He believed that the June 7 parliamentary elections will contribute to true
democratic representations Martyr Prime Minister drew in his political life.
The Mufti received Mufti of Tripoli and the north, Sheikh Malek Shaar, heading a
delegation of Zakat Fund of Tripoli.
Israel Hands Over Lebanon Cluster Bomb Maps
Naharnet/The U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said the Israeli army
handed over maps of where cluster bombs were dropped during the 2006 war with
Hizbullah.
"UNIFIL received from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) today technical strike
data and related maps on the cluster munitions fired by the IDF over Lebanon
during the 2006 conflict," UNIFIL said in a statement on Tuesday. "Technical
experts from UNIFIL are currently examining and assessing the data received," it
said. The statement added that UNIFIL will pass the maps on to the Lebanese
army. Prime Minister Fouad Saniora said the maps and locations should have been
handed over immediately after the adoption of Security Council resolution 1701
that ended the war. In a statement issued by his press office, Saniora also
thanked UNIFIL commander Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziano and U.N. Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon for informing Israel about Lebanese demands to receive the maps.
Government sources told An Nahar daily that the timing of the Israeli step comes
"as part of messages that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to send
prior to his expected visit to Washington." The U.N. and human rights groups say
Israel dropped about 4 million cluster bomblets during the monthlong war. Up to
1 million failed to explode and can detonate at the slightest disturbance.
Southern Lebanon is also riddled with land mines. Meanwhile, diplomatic sources
told As Safir newspaper Israel informed the UNIFIL command that the northern
part of the border village of Ghajar "will not be handed over to the Lebanese
government" if Hizbullah and its allies win the June 7 parliamentary
elections.(Naharnet-AP) Beirut, 13 May 09, 08:07
Syrian Chief of Staff in Beirut Says Damascus Ready to
Offer Military Assistance
Naharnet/Visiting Syrian chief of staff Gen. Ali Habib on Tuesday delivered a
message to President Michel Suleiman from the Syrian leadership expressing the
country's readiness to extend assistance to the Lebanese army. Habib, who is
heading a military delegation, is the senior Syrian military official to visit
Lebanon since Syria withdrew its soldiers in 2005.
In Baabda, Habib told Suleiman that Syria was "keen to help consolidate security
and stability in Lebanon and was ready to offer all the assistance that the
military establishment requires."
For his part, Suleiman praised the continuous cooperation between the two armies
against "the Israeli army and terrorism." He thanked the Syrian army for its
"assistance, past and present" to the Lebanese army. "The Lebanese army proved
it has become immune against all forms of conspiracies … especially those that
aim to sow disunity. The army no longer submits to political wrnaglings and is
not a tool to achieve personal gains," Suleiman added. Habib later met with
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji who expressed hope the two countries
would "join forces to confront the Israeli enemy's conspiracies and plans to
create incitements that threaten Lebanon and Syria alike."
For his part, Habib stressed Syria's "keenness to support the Lebanese army
considering it is the sole establishment that guarantees Lebanon's unity and
steadfastness."
"Under the instructions of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese
counterpart Michel Suleiman, Syria seeks to support anything that would help
boost Lebanon's force and consolidate security and stability to serve the best
interest of the two brotherly countries," he added. The two military leaders
also discussed joint measures to boost border security and combat terrorism.
They also agreed to intensify efforts to uncover the fate of soldiers who have
gone missing over the past years. As Safir daily pointed that Habib's agenda
neither included Prime Minister Fouad Saniora nor Defense Minister Elias Murr.
Beirut, 12 May 09, 16:24
Lavrov Urges World to Accept Lebanese Poll Results Even if
Hizbullah Wins
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged the international community on
Tuesday to accept the results of the Lebanese parliamentary elections no matter
which side wins.
The international community should "accept the results of the Lebanese polls no
matter what. It shouldn't repeat the same mistake made against the Palestinian
Hamas movement when it won" the elections several years ago, Lavrov was quoted
by Interfax News Agency as saying. "Had the international community recognized
Hamas' win at the time, the situation would have been different and the movement
would have had completely different stances" now, Lavrov stressed. The Russian
foreign minister also called for holding transparent, free and fair elections on
June 7 based on democratic standards. He said the Lebanese government will take
part in the conference on Middle East hosted by Moscow if Hizbullah wins the
elections
Beirut, 12 May 09, 20:43
Gul: Rockets From Lebanon and Gaza Not Exalting
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that the launching of rockets from south
Lebanon and Gaza to Israel is not exalting adding, "We believe that all have to
commit to international resolutions, what is important here is the show of good
intentions."
In a press interview with the daily pan-Arab al-Hayat on Wednesday, Gul added
that Turkey has always supported Lebanon's stability and called for an Israeli
withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms. Gul was asked whether Turkey would encourage
Lebanon into entering into in-direct negotiations with Israel, "Everyone has
tried war and arrived at nothing. It is evident that the solution rests in the
commitment by all concerned and major states, including the United States to
settle this issue via dialogue in the Middle East."
He tackled the issue of a possible Iranian-U.S. deal saying he sees no
justification for fearing such a deal stressing that the dialogue between both
countries has not started yet.
Gul called on the Arab world to understand Iranian security misgivings regarding
its regime and called on Iran to convince the west that it is not seeking to
posses a nuclear weapon in the region. Regarding Syria, the Turkish Prime
Minister said that this was one of the most important issues that U.S. President
Barack Obama discussed during his recent visit to Ankara.
Gul who will be visit Damascus within two days added that Syria and Israel were
very close to moving into direct [peace] negotiations last year, if it not for
the Israeli war on Gaza.
He said that the Syrian side was more credible during its indirect negotiations
with Israel. He provided his personal impression saying: "President Assad has a
true and strong intention in opening up to the west."The Turkish President
called on the Netanyahu government to draw itself a new path and move away from
acting as if they are still in opposition at the Kenneset.
Beirut, 13 May 09, 09:50
Cabinet Meets Wednesday over Election-Related Appointments'
Crisis
Naharnet/In the midst of the election race, Cabinet will meet Wednesday in a
desperate effort to resolve the issue of appointments related to the polls.
President Michel Suleiman will likely put forth at the meeting, to be held at
Baabda Palace, a list of names suggested by Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to
fill the vacancies in Category A administrative posts. According to the daily An
Nahar, the list includes Brig. Gen. Nicola Habr, currently Director-General of
the joint management of the interior ministry, for the Beirut mayor post,
Baalbek governor Omar Yassin to become Mount Lebanon governor and retired Brig.
Gen. Hussein Laqqis as Director-General for Political Affairs in the interior
ministry.
It said the opposition – during a Tuesday meeting at the residence of Deputy
Prime Minister Maj. Gen. Issam Abu Jamra -- called for the adoption of a
"comprehensive basket" that would include appointments of the Higher
Constitutional Council (HCC) according to their perceptions and approval of the
2009 draft budget together with that of the Council for the South.
The daily As Safir, for its part, said the conferees tasked Abu Jamra to ask for
a meeting with President Suleiman prior to Wednesday's Cabinet session "in order
to put him in the picture of the joint opposition stance." Al Liwaa newspaper,
however, said the opposition adheres to Laqqis' appointment as interior ministry
director-general. It also demands its share of three of five members in the HCC
nominations, a quorum that can block the Council's decisions, including the
contest of parliamentary elections.
The demand was bluntly made by MP Michel Aoun during a meeting with a popular
delegation that visited him in Rabiyeh on Tuesday.
Aoun stressed he was holding on to four HCC members. He accused the majority
camp of hindering the appointments and renewed allegations that the "President's
team" was interfering in the election campaign in favor of candidates loyal to
Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's government.
Aoun called on Suleiman to "publicly" announce his support for the president's
bloc.
An Nahar said three of the five Council members yet to be elected have been
agreed upon. They include Judge Suheil Abdel Samad (Druze), former cabinet
minister Assaad Diab (Shiite) and magistrate Salah Mukheiber (Greek Orthodox).
It said Tawfik Soubra, a Sunni, is likely to become the fourth candidate, while
the fifth is said to be either former head of the bar association Raymond Eid, a
Maronite, or Issam Suleiman, a professor of constitutional law. On the majority
part, pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat quoted ministerial sources as saying several
leaders within the March 14 coalition have voiced "objection" for Laqqis'
appointment to political affairs, particularly by al Mustaqbal Movement and some
of its allies. The sources also admitted to difficulties in assigning Habr and
Yassin. But As Safir, citing ministerial sources, said the majority was willing
to accept the proposal regarding the appointments of Habr, Yassin and Laqqis. Al
Liwaa also quoted a March 14 Cabinet source as saying that the pro-government
alliance believes that a political breakdown of the five seats in the
Constitutional Council "may not be appropriate for the work of the
constitutional institution." Beirut, 13 May 09, 08:15
Saniora: Cabinet Voting or Consensus on Administrative Appointments
Naharnet/Premier Fouad Saniora hoped on Tuesday that the cabinet would either
vote on the appointment of governors or resort to consensus.
"Maybe we vote on it and maybe we succeed by consensus," Saniora told reporters
after meeting President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace.
He said the appointments of governors would be on Wednesday's cabinet agenda.
"As for the Constitutional Council, consultations continue and we hope for the
best." Asked how elections would be held without administrative appointments,
Saniora said: "There is no doubt that making the appointments is much better.
And we will try that whether for the governors or for the members of the
Constitutional Council." "We will do everything we can so that there is no
obstruction," Saniora told reporters. "It is very useful to alleviate political
rhetoric … and stay away from personal attacks and accusations of treason."
Controversy over the appointments to the Constitutional Council was reportedly
nearing an end. The daily As Safir on Tuesday said the opposition has made up
its mind with regards to two or five members yet to be elected. They are former
cabinet minister Assaad Diab, a Shiite, and Greek Orthodox judge Salah Mukhaiber.
Suleiman, according to As Safir, has recommended Raymond Eid, a Maronite, while
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat is likely to name Druze
candidate Suheil Abdel Samad. It said the Sunni member was left for Saniora to
decide. Parliament last December elected five members to the Constitutional
Council and was yet to elect five others, allowing the highest court to be
operational prior to the forthcoming elections. The Constitutional Council is
the only body that has the power to look into complaints related to election
fraud and challenging results. Beirut, 12 May 09, 21:34
Report: Two Alleged Spy Rings Uncovered in Ain Ibl,
Aitaroun
Naharnet/Lebanese authorities uncovered on Wednesday an alleged two-member
Israel spy network in Ain Ibl and another network in Aitaroun, Hizbullah's al-Manar
TV reported. The TV station said suspect Ghassan H. from Aitaroun works on
recruiting spies while the two other alleged spies from Ain Ibl, Camille and
Rizk A., were able to escape. Authorities on Monday put on public display
equipment used by alleged Israeli spy networks inside the country, including a
water cooler equipped with a mapping device. Beirut, 13 May 09, 12:24
Bellemare Did Not Meet Siddiq
Naharnet/Spokesperson for the international tribunal prosecutor denied that
Daniel Bellemare had met Zuhair Siddiq, key witness in the assassination of
ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.
News reports on Tuesday said Bellemare met Siddiq in the United Arab Emirates.
Beirut, 13 May 09, 11:58
Kesrouan: Decisive Days for Independents-March 14 Electoral List
Naharnet/Progress has reportedly been made in negotiations between independent
candidates and March 14 forces regarding the Kesrouan election ticket.
The daily al-Liwaa said Tuesday the Kesrouan list is likely to be announced from
Bkriki on Saturday. It said the ticket includes former MPs Mansuor Ghanem
el-Bon, Farid Haykal al-Khazen and Fares Boueiz, in addition to head of the
National Bloc Party leader Carlos Edde and Phalange official Sejaan Qazzi. As
Safir newspaper, for its part, said the Lebanese Forces remains committed to
vetoing Boueiz' nomination in Kesrouan. It quoted sources from the
Boueiz-Khazen-Bon alliance as saying the Kesrouan ticket is expected to be
announced in 48 hours. As Safir also quoted sources in Kesrouan as saying that
the deadline does not give enough time, particularly since former MP Camille
Ziade has not yet decided whether or not to pull out of the election race.
Beirut, 13 May 09, 10:39
Dalloul Awaits Hariri's Response Amid LF and Phalange
Vetoes
Naharnet/Problems over the majority's Shiite seat in Zahle district are delaying
the ticket's announcement, as a meeting between MP Saad Hariri and former
Cabinet Minister Mehsen Dalloul yielded no results for now. Dalloul said that he
is awaiting an answer from Hariri who informed the former minister that the
Lebanese Forces and the Phalange party have vetoed him.
Dalloul said that he asked the LF and Phalange to make their stances clear. The
former minister also stressed that he will remain a candidate for the Shiite
seat in Zahle and reiterated his stance that he will not cut his electoral ties
with Hariri for several reasons, including family ties. Beirut, 13 May 09, 10:16
Berri, Hariri for Implementation of Doha Accord in Beirut 2
Naharnet/Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Saad Hariri agreed to implement
the Doha accord with respect to Beirut 2 electoral district. The two leaders,
who met Tuesday at Berri's mansion in Ain al-Tineh, discussed the mechanism that
should be adopted to guarantee that the Doha agreement is being carried out. The
main interpretation of this consensus would be declaring Hani Qobeissi
"uncontested candidate" in Beirut 2 following the withdrawal of the last Shiite
runner Abbas Yaghi . Contacts were underway, meanwhile, to convince candidate
Adnan Arqaji to pullout of the race in favor of Mustqbal Movement candidate
Nuhad Mashnouq. Tangible results visible from the AMAL-Muastaqbal cooperation
would be exhibited during AMAL's election campaign on Thursday where Mashnouq
himself would be present. AMAL candidate Hani Qobeissi will also attend the
launch of Al-Mustaqbal election campaign on the same day. Beirut, 13 May 09,
09:16
Mitri Worried about Violent Rhetoric Against Media
Naharnet/Information Minister Tareq Mitri said Tuesday that he was worried about
violent political rhetoric in Lebanon and criticized attacks on the media by
some politicians.
"Speech or moral violence in a country like Lebanon is worrying," Mitri said.
"As information minister I have a moral, political and legal obligation to
defend media freedom and at the same time implement the law," he said. Lebanese
media is being pressured by "political and sectarian forces," he added. Beirut,
12 May 09, 20:12
Baroud to Investigate Claims of Municipalities'
Interference in Elections
Naharnet/Interior Minister Ziad Baroud on Tuesday promised to launch an
investigation into reports that some municipalities have been interfering in the
electoral process.
"It is unacceptable to use municipalities or to abuse one's post (for electoral
purposes) or to pressure employees or offer services in return for allegiances,"
Baroud said at a joint press conference with Telecoms Minister Gebran Bassil.
"I have taken the necessary measures to investigate the matter," he added.
Baroud's comments came a day after MP Michel Aoun said that some municipalities
have been using the workplace for electoral campaigning. Baroud said the press
conference was part of coordination efforts between the interior and telecoms
ministries to confront "more than one challenge on the level of security" on
June 7. On electricity, Baroud said 75 percent of polling stations have been
equipped with alternative sources of power. The interior ministry is cooperating
with EDL to complete the remaining 25 percent before the elections, he added.
For his part, Bassil said the telecoms ministry has already expanded
telecommunication networks to absorb an additional 800,000 subscribers in
anticipation of any emergency. "Thousands of Lebanese expatriates will be
arriving in Lebanon for the elections and they will need mobile phone lines…
Land lines can handle the minimum pressure but the mobile phone network is more
delicate because network expansion is not complete," he said. Beirut, 12 May 09,
19:15
Bassil: 2009 Saw the End of March 14
Naharnet/Telecoms Minister Gebran Bassil on Tuesday declared 2009 the year of
March 14's demise and called for the amendment of the Taef by carrying out
measures that guarantee equal distribution of posts among the sects. "2005 saw
the end of what used to be called Qornet Shahwan and 2009 saw the demise of what
used to be known as March 14," Bassil said during a tour of towns in the Batroun
district. Bassil said Lebanon's revival was only possible through "the revival
of state institutions" and said the Taef should be amended "through the actual
implementation of the principle of equality." "They tried to change
Lebanon's demographics and identity. The identity is a combination of the human
being and the land. We have begun to change this bitter reality especially with
regards to the sale of land (to non-Lebanese) and naturalization," he said. He
said should the minority win the elections it will work toward helping the
Lebanese reconnect with their homeland. "We will seriously work out an approach
to reduce public debt by using sectors such as mobile, oil and water to that end
and by implementing the ten-year plan to build dams," he pledged. He also said
the minority possessed a scheme to "retrieve land that was sold to Arabs and
foreigners."If after five years the buyer had not invested in the land, he
explained, the property will be returned to its original owners. "Investment in
real estate is against the law," Bassil added. Beirut, 12 May 09, 17:38