LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
August 03/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint Matthew 14,1-12. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation
of Jesus and said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist. He has been
raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him." Now Herod
had arrested John, bound (him), and put him in prison on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, "It is not lawful for
you to have her." Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they
regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter
of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that
he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she
said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was
distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered
that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought
in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples
came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
A Positive Ahmadinejad?Asharq
Alawsat 02/08/08
Will Lebanese ministers now be able to get on with governance?
The Daily Star
The tea leaves say America is not about to attack Iran-By
David Ignatius
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
02/08
Saniora's Cabinet to Tackle Policy
Statement Draft Next Week-Naharnet
Hizbullah: National Dialogue to Discuss How to Benefit from the Resistance-Naharnet
MP
Hamadeh: Major Appointments Might Not Be Possible Before 2009-Naharnet
MP Franjieh: Who Would
Strike First, Israel or Hizbullah?-Naharnet
Ban Committed to the
Hariri Tribunal-Naharnet
March 14 to Discuss How to
Confront an Armed Faction-Naharnet
Policy Statement Draft
Finally Adopted-Naharnet
5 Lebanese Arrested in
Raid on Nigerian Separatist's Home-Naharnet
Ban Plans to Appoint a
Briton as U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon-Naharnet
The NLP Predicts Uprising
Against Weapons-Naharnet
Hizbullah: The Policy Statement Outlined the Government's Role-Naharnet
Lebanese reach draft on Hezbollah arms-The
Associated Press
Hezbollah arms 'draft compromise'-The Press
Association
Ministers ink draft backing 'legal' forms of resistance-Daily
Star
Report: Israel-Syria pact more likely-United
Press International
Ban unveils senior UN appointments in Lebanon, Georgia-Xinhua
Sleiman reminds troops of 'duty' to
preserve unity-Daily
Star
Ministers ink draft backing 'legal' forms of resistance-Daily
Star
Cry for 'justice' Fatah al-Islam
fighters' relatives demand their release-AFP
Fadlallah slams bid to label
resistance 'illegal'-Daily
Star
Hariri tribunal set to begin work
in early 2009 - report-Daily
Star
Lebanese Army a symbol of unity
amid sectarian discord - analysts-Daily
Star
Basement mixes a night of partying
with social activism-Daily
Star
Factions call for end to armed conflict in Ain al-Hilweh-Daily
Star
Reconstruction at Nahr al-Bared set
to begin-Daily
Star
Italy promotes youth dialogue with
journalism workshop-Daily
Star
Reforming Lebanon's NSSF would cut
health costs by 15 percent - official-Daily
Star
Hariri's party to take over abode
of past presidents-Daily
Star
Ministers ink draft backing 'legal' forms of
resistance
Lahoud voices reservations, bassil lauds fpm's 'achievements' on statement
By Hussein Abdallah
Daily Star staff-Saturday, August 02, 2008
BEIRUT: The ministerial committee in charge of drafting the new government's
platform finally thrashed out a policy statement late Friday, with the council
of ministers expected to ratify the draft on Monday before presenting it to
Parliament later next week.
Information Minister Tarek Mitri walked out of the committee's 14th and final
meeting to tell reporters at the Grand Serail that the committee has finally
reached an agreement over the ministerial statement despite some reservations by
Minister of State Nassib Lahoud. Mitri said that the reservations, which were
later clarified by Lahoud, would hopefully be dropped after further
consultations between the ministers and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora ahead of an
expected cabinet session on Monday. Regarding the controversial issue of how to
refer to the resistance in the ministerial statement, Mitri said that the
committee agreed on a phrase that speaks about the right of the Lebanese people,
army and resistance to use any legal means to liberate the remainder of the
Lebanese territories that are occupied by Israel, namely the Shebaa Farms, the
Kafar Shuba Hills and the border village of Ghajar. Mitri explained that some
committee members wanted the phrase on liberating Lebanon's remaining occupied
territories to include a clause stating that such activities should be carried
out under the guardianship of the Lebanese state.
Mitri later gave the floor to Lahoud, who told reporters that he was still
insisting that the statement should mention that the right to liberate the
occupied territories should be exercised under the guardianship of the state.
The issue of the resistance was reportedly the main hurdle that was causing the
delay in issuing the draft statement.
Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil also spoke to reporters after Friday's
meeting, outlining his position on the new ministerial statement.
Bassil, a senior member of MP Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, said that
his party has succeeded in making some achievements through the ministerial
statement. Bassil said that the FPM has succeeded in including in the statement
a number of issues which were referred to as taboos in the past. Among such
issues was the fate of Lebanese citizens who were reported missing in Syria or
Lebanon following the end of Lebanon's 15-year Civil War, he said.
Another issue raised in the draft, according to Bassil, was the fate of some
Lebanese nationals who fled to Israel following Israel's withdrawal from South
Lebanon in May 2000. "The state's duty is to urge these people to return to
Lebanon," he said.
He added that another achievement was the inclusion of a clause clearly
rejecting the resettlement of Palestinians refugees in Lebanon.
Earlier on Friday, Siniora said that the council of ministers was likely to hold
a session on Monday to adopt the new ministerial statement.
In a brief chat with reporters after the Friday prayer at the Grand Serail,
Siniora refused to comment on recent criticism by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri,
who told the local As-Safir newspaper in remarks published on Friday that the
premier was creating hurdles in the face of the new ministerial statement.
"I am glad for always being on Speaker Berri's mind, but the truth is that I
cannot compete with his sense of humor," Siniora said.
Siniora said he was optimistic about finishing the the draft statement on
Friday. "It took us 14 sessions to draft the new government's policy statement,
but I believe that the final output will be good for all and will unify the
Lebanese," he said.
Asked about how the resistance would be mentioned in the ministerial statement,
Siniora stressed that resistance is a general Lebanese cause which is not
restricted to one party. "Upon reading the ministerial statement, you will
realize that the state is the authority in charge of providing security and
safety for the people ... liberation is also part of the state's duties," he
said.
"Nobody wants to ignore the sacrifices that the resistance had made in the past
years to end occupation, but no party can monopolize resistance and accuse
others of being against it," he added. The premier stressed that the resistance
issue would be further discussed during upcoming national dialogue sessions
which will be chaired by President Michel Sleiman.
Meanwhile, Berri visited the Presidential Palace on Friday and discussed with
Sleiman the latest developments regarding the drafting of the statement.
Sleiman and Berri both voiced hope that the ministerial committee would finish
its work on Friday as a first step toward the draft's adoption by the
government, which would later sit for a vote of confidence in Parliament. Also
on Friday, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said after receiving British
Ambassador Frances Mary Guy at his residence that protecting and defending
Lebanon should be the exclusive duty of the security and armed forces.
"Past circumstances have led to the rise of some popular movements, but this
does not change the fact that the only solution for Lebanon is to have the armed
and security forces defend the country and preserve security," Geagea said. "The
army is the resistance and the state is the resistance ... state institutions,
particularly the armed forces, are Lebanon's only salvation," he added.
Meanwhile, news reports on Friday said that Geagea had paid an unscheduled visit
to parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri late on Thursday. The meeting
between Hariri and Geagea reportedly revolved around the drafting of the policy
statement in addition to an imminent March 14 Forces meeting to revive the
coalition ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Geagea's visit came after a similar visit by Progressive Socialist Party leader
Walid Jumblatt with Hariri on Tuesday. Jumblatt told reporters on Friday that
his meeting was aimed at preparing for an imminent meeting for the leaders of
the March 14 coalition. Jumblatt added that the March 14 Forces would be united
during next year's parliamentary elections. A parliamentary majority source was
also quoted as telling the Central News Agency on Friday that the March 14
general meeting would take place early next week.
Report: Israel-Syria pact more likely
Published: Aug. 1, 2008 at 5:42 PMOrder reprints | Print Story | Email to a
Friend | Post a Comment Close JERUSALEM, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Syria would be willing
to cut ties to Iran for a peace agreement with Israel, an Israeli newspaper
reports. Maariv said that Israeli representatives to talks mediated by Turkey
are hopeful that Syria and Israel are close to agreement, The Jerusalem Post
reported. The Post said it could not confirm Maariv's story.
Under an agreement, the two countries would end the state of war that has
existed for years and begin normal diplomatic relations. Israel would withdraw
from the Golan Heights, Syria would reduce the number of troops stationed
between the Golan and the capital, Damascus, and an early warning station would
be established on Mount Hermon under international control. The envoys told
Maariv that the relationship between Syrian President Bashir Assad and the
Iranian government headed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has already become chillier
because of Syria's participation in the talks.
Will Lebanese ministers now be able to get on with governance?
By The Daily Star
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Editorial
Lebanon's Cabinet members have finally agreed on a policy statement, but not
before putting the political life of this country on hold for three weeks as
they held private discussions that apparently did very little to resolve
ministers' differences over contentious issues. In fact the announcement that a
draft statement had been agreed upon was promptly followed by a statement from a
minister who voiced his reservations about the text. But despite those remarks
of disappointment, the document - from what little we now know about it - was in
the end what most people expected. Most of us knew that its clauses would likely
be the result of amazing feats of semantics and verbal gymnastics, while others
would remain vague enough to keep all of the parties satisfied. But many of us
are still left wondering why the work took almost a month to complete.
There are several unflattering conclusions that Lebanese citizens can draw from
this latest spectacle of their government in action: that Lebanon's "unity
government" is in reality a loose league of disunited factions; that paralysis
and postponement have become the hallmarks of governance in this country, and
most importantly, that they themselves, the citizens, are an afterthought in the
corridors of power in Beirut. There are dozens of issues that touch directly on
the lives and livelihoods of the Lebanese people, including education, the
environment, public sector salaries and electricity and water shortages. But the
ministers chose to put these national issues on the backburner while they
engaged in weeks of futile bickering over the wording of a document that will
ultimately only have a 10-month shelf-life before a new cabinet takes office.
While the ministers were holding these discussions, the more important work of
governance in Lebanon was again neglected. Scores of important decrees that have
already been written are still awaiting the cabinet's ratification, and dozens
of policies that have already been designed are in need of Parliament-approved
ministers to oversee their implementation. The fact that the national unity
government took so long to achieve a predictable task does not bode well for the
future of this country.
Everyone knew that the ministers would not be capable of resolving the thorny
political battles that hampered the drafting of the policy statement. No one
expected that they would have been able to agree to - and then actually
implement - sweeping political changes without the consent of factional leaders.
So why did they not choose to leave those important discussions to the national
dialogue sessions and in the meantime show a bit more consideration for this
nation's people? After all, our ministers are not expected to be superheros or
miracle makers. We only want them to be public servants working for the
interests of the Lebanese people.
A Positive Ahmadinejad?
02/08/2008
By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed
General manager of Al -Arabiya television
We do not know whether we are witnessing a feverish race between Syria and Iran
to win the heart of the west, or is it a coordinated intentional effort from
both countries to change from a policy of confrontation to a policy of
appeasement and reconciliation without offering any real concessions.
A US television interview with Iranian President Ahmadinejad was the third time
in one month where he expressed positive opinions toward Washington. Earlier, he
delivered a speech in which he announced his approval of opening a consular
office for the US Government in Tehran; then, on another occasion he praised
that step, explaining that his country did not want confrontation. As for his
interview with the US television channel, the clearest indication of a new
address is that he talks - as if he is Mahatma Gandhi - about peace, his hate
for wars, and his rejection of nuclear weapons, as they are not the means to win
battles. He also abandoned his famous Samson-like rhetoric of threatening to
burn Israel and destroy America. He considers the uranium enrichment and the
nuclear project as issues that are not subject to revision or supervision.
Ahmadinejad's statements were followed by additional comments made by one of his
senior aides in which he praised Israel, and declared that Iran would like to be
a friend and not an enemy of the Jewish State. As for the Syrian transformation,
it preceded Iran's by about two months, and has practically gone a long way.
This confirms one of two probabilities; either the two allies are engaged in a
major dispute with each other, and each side decided to proceed in the opposite
direction of their joint policy; or that they are in agreement and are
coordinating together to a great extent. The beginning came from Damascus when
it surprised everybody by the fact that it started to negotiate with Israel in
Turkey, and drink coffee with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the
Mediterranean conference, and also at the French celebration, in addition to
sending envoys to Washington to meet people close to Israel, and its ambassadors
volunteering to deliver speeches announcing Damascus's wish to end the state of
war with Israel. I do not imagine that the recent developments are the result of
fear of news about preparations for an upcoming military strike against Iran, or
of the increase of the siege on Syria and its senior officials, because the
Iranian leadership, and also the Syrian leadership both have a skin that is as
impregnable as that of a crocodile.
Whatever the truth may be - whether it is a dispute, or coordination - the new
steps have given the region a breathing space for the first time, and have
resurrected some hope of peace after many months of tension created by the
exchanged threats of war. One of the observers has said that he can see cracks
in the relationship between Tehran and Damascus. To tell the truth, this
relationship has been from the beginning an unnatural one dictated by the fears
stemming from the complications resulting from the assassination of Al-Hariri.
The existence of the Syrian regime is based on a collection of balances,
including a good relationship - not the entire relationship - with Tehran. As
Damascus leans toward the Iranian line, it practically engages in immediate
dispute with all the Arab opponents of Tehran. At the same time, there is very
little in common between an extremist religious regime, and a regime that is
hostile to the religious people. Therefore, if this transformation represents a
divergence by Syria from Iran, this will be good news for the Arabs, and if it
is Syrian coordination with the Iranians over a new regional and international
reconciliation policy, it will be good news for everybody. However, if the
statements and the rapprochement are merely cosmetic for the sake of the media
and propaganda addressed to the west, the region will be nearly swaying where it
stands.