LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
September 16/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint
John 19,25-27. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother
and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold,
your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that
hour the disciple took her into his home
Blessed Guerric of Igny (c.1080-1157), Cistercian abbot
4th Sermon for the Assumption (©Cistercian Fathers series) "From that hour the
disciple took her into his home"
When Jesus was going round towns and villages
preaching the Gospel, Mary was his inseparable companion, clinging to his
footsteps and hanging upon his words as he taught, so much so that neither the
storm of persecution nor dread of punishment could deter her from following her
Son and Master. «By the Lord's cross there stood Mary, his Mother». Truly a
Mother, who did not abandon her Son even in the face of death. How could she be
frightened of death, when «her love was as strong as death,» (Sg 8,6) or rather
stronger than death? Truly she stood by Jesus' cross, when at the same time the
pain of the cross crucified her mind and as manifold a sword pierced her own
sou1 (Lk 2,35) as she beheld the body of her Son pierced with wounds. Rightly
therefore was she recognized as his Mother there and by his care entrusted to a
suitable protector, in which both the mother's unalloyed love for her Son and
the Son's kindness toward his Mother were proved to the utmost...
Loving her as he did Jesus «Loved her to the end» (Jn 13,1), so as not only to
bring his life to an end for her but also to speak almost his last words for her
benefit. As his last will and testament he committed to his beloved heir the
care of his mother... The Church fell to peter, Mary to John. This bequest
belonged to John not only by right of kinship but also because of the privilege
love had bestowed and the witness his chastity bore... It was fitting that none
other than the beloved of her Son should minister to the mother of the Lord...
Providence also arranged very conveniently that he who was to write a Gospel
should have intimate conferences with her who knew about them all, for she had
taken note from the beginning of everything that happened to her Son and
«treasured up all the words concerning him, pondering them in her heart» (Lk
2,19).
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Israel's multiple personalities are too much for the region to bear-The
Daily Star 15/09/08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for September
15/08-Naharnet
Phalange Party Condemns Neglecting Church Authorities in Lassa-Naharnet
Lebanon on Dialogue Eve: Trotting
Reconciliation and Scattered Violence-Naharnet
One killed as clashes erupt in Palestinian camp in
southern Lebanon-Earthtimes
Geagea: No Deals at the Expense of
Principles and Values-Naharnet
Hizbullah: Dialogue Should be based on The Resistance Cause-Naharnet
Hizbullah Turns Over Church Key to Aoun-Naharnet
Suleiman Speaks of New Chapter in Relations with Syria-Naharnet
Moussa in Beirut for
National Dialogue-Naharnet
Six Bombs Target Corniche al-Mazraa
District in Beirut-Naharnet
Huge
Gap Threatens National Dialogue-Naharnet
Report:
Bellemare in Saudi Arabia-Naharnet
Nadim Gemayel Says it's Time to Heal Wounds and End Divisions-Naharnet
Phalange stresses 'illegitimacy' of Hizbullah's
arms-Daily Star
No Syrian Deployment in North Lebanon, Security Sources Say-Naharnet
Barroud: Delaying Reconciliation Causes Unrest in Beirut-Naharnet
Assad Backs National
Dialogue-Naharnet
Lebanon: Industrial Optimism-Naharnet
Turkey: Press Release Regarding the Terrorist Attack in Lebanon-ISRIA
Russia: On the Terrorist Act in Lebanon-ISRIA
Army seizes arms from Islamic faction in Tripoli-Daily
Star
Hariri rejects preconditions on dialogue-Daily
Star
Sfeir calls on Lebanese Army to serve without bias-Daily
Star
Syria holding 46 Lebanese prisoners - report-Daily
Star
Hizbullah honors Hadi Nasrallah by staging mock battle-(AFP)
Lebanese central bank retained credibility despite crisis-Daily
Star
Sleiman visits Arslan, Aridi family to offer condolences-Daily
Star
Phalange stresses 'illegitimacy' of Hizbullah's arms-Daily
Star
Israeli weapons suspected in poisoning of young boy-Daily
Star
ISF chief thanks EU for support of workshop-Daily
Star
Media bias fueled violence during May clashes - study-Daily
Star
UN
agencies champion Millennium Development Goals-Daily
Star
Olmert furious over attack by settlers on Palestinian village-(AFP)
Russia: On the Terrorist Act in Lebanon
Naharnet/A terrorist act has been committed in Lebanon, of which prominent Druze leader
Sheikh Saleh Aridi, adviser to the Youth and Sports Minister in the National
Unity Government, became victim.We resolutely condemn this bloody crime and express our deep condolences to
Aridi's family. Obvious is the provocative thrust of this action , undertaken in
the conditions of a successfully advancing process of realization of the
inter-Lebanese agreement signed in Doha in May, opening the way for Lebanon to
overcoming the domestic political crisis and achieving national reconciliation
and consensus.
We call on all Lebanese political forces to show restraint and composure and to
continue the constructive dialogue in the name of accomplishing the common
aspirations of all the Lebanese, ensuring the independence, unity and
sovereignty of Lebanon and strengthening its constitutional institutions of
power.
Whoever stands behind this crime, what happened once again confirms the
importance of implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on
Lebanon, including the provisions imposing an embargo on arms supplies to
irregular armed groups. Russia, scrupulously observing these provisions, calls
upon all other countries to follow them undeviatingly.
Lebanon on Dialogue Eve:
Trotting Reconciliation and Scattered Violence
Naharnet/An undeclared race was apparently underway Monday
between trotting attempts to achieve a reconciliation fan and scattered acts of
violence, on the eve of national dialogue that is to be sponsored by President
Michel Suleiman. Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan, who lost a
senior aide in a car bomb explosion last week, sponsored a reconciliatory
meeting between Hizbullah and the Progressive Socialist Party. But hardly
40-minutes before the meeting got underway, Arslan rushed to Free Patriotic
Movement leader Michel Aoun to declare that the rapprochement with the PSP would
not be at the expense of his Christian ally.
"I am allied to Aoun and Hizbullah and I would not give up this alliance
irrespective of conditions," Arslan declared from Aoun's residence in Suburban
Rabiyeh, north of Beirut. Aoun, however, said he backs the Hizbullah-PSP
reconciliation, but made it a point that any reconciliation between his FPM and
Jumblat's party is not in the offing. "Any reconciliation with the PSP is
postponed, pending settlement of the displaced issue," Aoun said in reference to
citizens of Christian villages who were driven out of their homes by PSP attacks
during the 1975-1990 civil war. Meanwhile Hizbullah's Ghaleb Abu Zainab handed
over to Aoun the keys to an old Church in the northern village of Lassa, which
sparked Criticism from the Phalange Party's politburo because it ignored
clerical authorities.
The party, in a statement, recalled that the Maronite Church endowment in Lassa
had been confiscated by "a non-Christian" faction, in reference to Hizbullah.
Meanwhile, the PSP-Hizbullah reconciliation meeting at Arslan's residence in
khaldeh, south of Beirut, was regarded a "first step."
Arslan said the rapprochement would be followed by a series of meetings between
"field" representatives of the PSP and Hizbullah to safeguard the social fabric
in the mountain. Hizbullah's representative to the meeting, cabinet minister
Mohammed Fneish, noted, however, that such meetings are not meant to replace the
Conference on National Dialogue that Suleiman would preside over at the Baabda
Palace on Tuesday.
Fneish also said contacts were underway to facilitate a reconciliation meeting
between Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad
Hariri. PSP representative, Cabinet Minister Wael Abu Faour, said agreement has
been reached with Hizbulah on a "security net" to safeguard the social fabric in
the mountain region. He said the Topic of Beirut reconciliation was 'discussed
at length" during the talks. "The meeting (with Hizbullah) does not mean that we
have abandoned our allies," Abu Faour noted. However, he said the scholastic
year is about to start "an no one wants to send his children to a scholastic
confrontation." Meanwhile, clashes raged in the southern refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh
between members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction and the
militant Jund al-Sham faction. Sources said at least one person was killed and
three people were wounded in the mushrooming clashes with assault rifles and
rocket-propelled grenade launchers on the outskirts of Sidon, provincial capital
of south Lebanon. The clashes coincided with a visit to Sidon by Hariri who has
been touring Muslim regions of Lebanon to preach reconciliation. The series of
political efforts followed the explosion of six hand grenades in Beirut's
Mazaraa thoroughfare before dawn, which left no casualties but inflicted severe
damage, prompting calls for intensifying efforts by security forces to enforce
law and order. Interior Minister Ziad baroud said security can only be achieved
if reconciliation efforts managed to produce agreements between the various
factions
Phalange Party Condemns Neglecting Church Authorities in
Lassa
Naharnet/The Phalange Party on Monday rejected the handing over
of the Lassa Church keys by Hizbullah to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel
Aoun, saying it neglects clerical authorities. The party outlined the stand in a
statement issued by its politburo. The statement said "non-Christians had
confiscated the church endowment in lassa." The Phalange Party "condemns the
(abortive) attempt to blow up the church." It warned against "persisting efforts
to conceal Lebanese citizens who had been detained, or went missing, in Syria"
saying such efforts would lead to "negative repercussions that reflect on
efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive reconciliation."
Jumblat for Benefiting from the Resistance Combat Capabilities
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat called for adopting a
national defense strategy based on "benefiting from the combat capabilities of
the resistance" provided that the state is the "central authority that adopts
the decision to go to war or peace." Jumblat, in an article to be published on
Tuesday by the PSP's weekly al-Anbaa, wrote that the defense strategy should
also adopt the 1949 armistice accord that "Freezes the state of war with Israel
without establishing peace.""This could set the stage for the long path of
dialogue that starts tomorrow," Jumblat added. He urged the government to
bolster security arrangements by setting up a "central operations room
supervised by the president or a person chosen by him." "Law should be enforced
on all violators," he concluded.
Turkey: Press Release Regarding the Terrorist Attack in Lebanon
Naharnet/We have learnt with sorrow that Mr. Saleh Aridi, a member of the Lebanese
Democratic Party, was murdered on 10 September 2008 in a bomb attack that was
targeted at his car. It was reported that together with Mr. Aridi six persons
were wounded. We express our condolences to the family of Mr. Aridi and wish
quick recovery to the wounded.
This terrorist attack aims to undermine stability and peace in Lebanon. There is
no doubt that the attack intends damaging the national dialogue and
reconciliation established with the Doha Agreement. Considering terrorism as a
crime against humanity, Turkey strongly condemns this heinous attack.
We hope that perpetrators of this terrorist attack will be apprehended at once.
On this sad occasion, we reiterate that Turkey will continue to extend its
support and contributions to the protection of an environment of tranquility and
stability in Lebanon.
Six Bombs Target Corniche al-Mazraa District in
Beirut
Naharnet/Six makeshift bombs exploded at dawn Monday in different areas of Corniche al-Mazraa
district in Beirut, causing substantial damages to cars and shops but no
casualties.
Voice of Lebanon radio station reported that a a bomb exploded at 2:30 am near
Fairco stationery and another followed after ten minutes at al-Halabi roastery.
The radio station reported a third bomb exploded at Abdul Nasser mosque, a forth
at al-Dimassi sweet shop, a fifth again at the roastery, and a sixth at Gallery
Chour.
Security forces sent reinforcements to the neighborhood and intensified patrols
in the area.
Corniche al-Mazraa witnessed fierce clashes between anti and pro-government
supporters last May.
The explosions took place a day before the national dialogue that will be held
at Baabda Presidential Palace. Beirut, 15 Sep 08, 08:53
Huge Gap Threatens National Dialogue
Naharnet/An Nahar daily on Monday quoted sources as saying that huge differences among
the majority and the opposition threaten to undermine efforts to reach an
understanding at the national dialogue that will be launched at Baabda Palace on
Tuesday.
The sources doubted the 14 leaders who will attend the talks will be able to
quickly agree on the country's defense strategy given "the wide gap between the
majority's and the opposition's stances from the issue."
Also, Suleiman's visit to Washington and the United Nations headquarters in New
York later this month will be a setback as there will be no weekly scheduled
talks.
By Sunday night, all invitations were sent by the presidential palace to the
conferees to attend the first session at 11:00 am Tuesday after Armenians
finally agreed on MP Hagop Pakradounian as their representative.
Other than having a rectangular and not roundtable setting for the participants
of the 14 political groups, two major points distinguish Tuesday's dialogue from
previous talks - First, the conference will be sponsored by President Michel
Suleiman and second, the dialogue will deal directly with the controversial
issue of Hizbullah's arms. Beirut, 15 Sep 08, 11:30
Report: Bellemare in Saudi Arabia
Naharnet/Chief U.N. investigator Daniel Bellemare arrived in Saudi Arabia on an
unannounced visit, As Safir daily reported Monday.
It said Bellemare arrived in Jeddah on Sunday night, two days after a member of
the team investigating ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, Sameh Hafnawi,
traveled to the kingdom.
Bellemare returned from Paris to Beirut last Thursday.
Last year, media reports said that a team of investigators collected water and
soil samples from Saudi Arabia's Zalim area.
They said at the time that the team, made of Saudi specialists as well as
German, Canadian and Egyptian geological experts, will take samples from three
other regions in the country.
The commission has said that DNA tests of body parts in the Hariri blast scene
revealed that the suicide truck bomber did not spend his youth in Lebanon and
arrived in the country two or three months before his death.
Meanwhile, al-Mustaqbal daily reported Monday that the preparations, including
alterations, to the building housing the international tribunal that will try
Hariri's suspected assassins will be over in less than two months.
The tribunal will be based in the Dutch intelligence service's former
headquarters near the Hague.
The Hague bills itself as the legal capital of the world and is already host to
several international tribunals like the International Court of Justice, the
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International
Criminal Court.
Beirut, 15 Sep 08, 08:45
Barroud: Delaying Reconciliation Causes Unrest in Beirut
Naharnet/Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said on Monday delaying reconciliation efforts in
Beirut led to the overnight grenade explosions in some of its mixed
neighborhoods.
"Achieving reconciliation in Beirut must take place as soon as possible" Barroud
told the Voice of Lebanon radio station.
Baroud added that stabilizing the security situation is linked to achieving
progress at the political level.
He noted that the situation in Tripoli has improved following the reconciliation
which enabled the security forces to carry out their duties. Beirut, 15 Sep 08,
12:20
Assad Backs National Dialogue
Syrian President Bashar Assad has announced his backing to Lebanon's national
dialogue that will be held at Baabda Palace on Tuesday, Syria's state-run SANA
news agency reported.
We back "the Lebanese dialogue and all that the Lebanese agree on," SANA on
Sunday quoted Assad as telling visiting Lebanese Agriculture Minister Elias
Skaff and ex-MP Jebran Tok.
The news agency said the meeting dealt with "the positive results of the
Syrian-Lebanese summit that was held last month in Damascus."It said the men also talked about the situation in Lebanon and the development
of relations between Beirut and Damascus in the aftermath of the summit.
Skaff and Tok "highly appreciated Assad's stances' towards Lebanon," SANA
reported. Beirut, 15 Sep 08, 06:31
No Syrian Deployment in North Lebanon, Security Sources Say
Naharnet/Lebanese military and security sources denied that two Syrian commando
battalions have crossed into Lebanon and taken up positions in seven
Alawite-controlled villages in the north.
The sources told An Nahar daily in remarks published Monday that such reports
are untrue.
The Israeli DEBKAfile website had reported the Syrian deployment.
Citing military sources, the site also said that the battalions were accompanied
by reconnaissance and engineering units.
Beirut, 15Sep 08, 08:15
Army Confiscates Arms in Tripoli
Naharnet/The Lebanese army on Sunday confiscated weapons belonging to the "Islamic
Tawheed Movement – Hashem Minkara Wing" at a random checkpoint in Tripoli.
The weapons were being transported in a Mercedes-Benz driven by members of the
Tawheed Movement.
Meanwhile, security forces arrested Rabih Sablouh, a member of the Islamic
Tawheed Movement, for allegedly shooting at a citizen on Saturday in Tripoli.
Beirut, 14 Sep 08, 14:15
Raad to Represent Nasrallah in Talks
Naharnet/Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will not attend national talks scheduled
to begin Sept. 16 for security reasons.
Hizbullah, in a statement, said Nasrallah will be represented by MP Mohammed
Raad, head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah official Mahmoud Qmati called for broadening participation
in the dialogue on the defense strategy.
Beirut, 14 Sep 08, 11:19
Soeid Warns against Return of Political Assassinations, Says Hizbullah will Try
to Block Dialogue
Naharnet/Fares Soeid, secretary of the ruling March 14 coalition, warned Sunday against
the return of political assassinations and said Hizbullah was in favor of
postponing national dialogue.
Soeid said Syria was seeking to distance itself from Iran, "an issue that could
have repercussions in Lebanon."
"These assassinations, the first of which after the Doha Accord targeted Sheikh
Saleh Aridi, could be the beginning and could continue," Soeid said in an
interview with the Voice of Lebanon radio station.
Soeid said Hizbullah is likely to block national dialogue by demanding
broadening participation in the talks over the defense strategy.
"Hizbullah is expected to obstruct dialogue … for one aim -- not to tackle the
issue of arms," he said.
Soeid said he believed Hizbullah does not want to discuss the issue of placing
its weapons under the state's wings.
Hizbullah "has been trying to postpone dialogue until after the (2009)
parliamentary elections to avoid debate over the issue of weapons so it can
enter the elections with huge moral strength called adherence to weapons and
government's failure to hold a dialogue with Hizbullah which would enable it to
enter the elections with enormous power," Soeid said.
"How can we discuss the defense strategy when Resolution 1701 is the defense
strategy – since it calls for full Lebanese army deployment over all Lebanese
territory," he added.
Beirut, 14 Sep 08, 13:12