LCCC NEWS BULLETIN
JANUARY 31/2006

Below news from miscellaneous sources for 31.1.06
To save himself Assad implicates members of the regime- AsiaNews 31.1.06
Egyptian Intelligence Chief to Mediate Between Lebanon and Syria over Palestinian Arms-Naharnet
Aoun Fields Dakkash as a Consensus Candidate
Extraordinary Parliament Session May Lead to Heated Political Debate
Israeli Report: Assad Working Out Deal with Bush over Hariri Murder Probe
Hizbullah Demands Apology from Denmark, Norway for Defamation of the Prophet
Lahoud Records Tape Accusing Mossad in Case He is Assassinated

Below news from the Daily Star for 31.1.06
Brammertz sets sight on Syria interviews
UNIFIL to get a further six month extension
Parliament descends into mockery of state
Hoss promotes program to 'salvage' country
Dakkash rallies support as compromise candidate for Baabda-Aley
Qabbani: 'Rebels' will ruin Lebanon
Former detainees gather in solidarity with prisoners in Israel
Azour: 2005 budget deficit down on previous year
Discrimination against children of foreign fathers remains serious problem

Dakkash rallies support as compromise candidate for Baabda-Aley
By Nada Bakri -Special to The Daily Star
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
BEIRUT: Former MP Pierre Dakkash met with several politicians Monday in an attempt to rally support for his nomination as "a compromise candidate" for the Baabda-Aley by-election set to be held some time in mid-March. The Maronite seat was vacated earlier this month by the death of MP Edmond Naim, who ran as an independent on the Lebanese Forces' list.
LF executive committee leader Samir Geagea has repeatedly insisted the seat belongs to his party, urging politicians - namely Christian rival Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun - to bow out of the elections in favor of an uncontested LF candidate. Instead of bowing out, Aoun suggested during a talk show aired on New TV Sunday putting Dakkash forward as "a compromise candidate." Dakkash ran on an FPM electoral list during the June 2005 elections.
"Aoun did not field me to the by-election as a contestant in an electoral battle but agreed to support me as a compromise candidate," Dakkash said after a meeting with Geagea Monday. "I will always be independent and support a united front between Geagea and Aoun," he added. If he is not put forward as a candidate, Dakkash said he would vote for prominent anti-Syrian journalist May Chidiac, a strong supporter of the LF. Chidiac, who is presently receiving medical treatment in Paris for serious injuries sustained in an assassination attempt - announced her candidacy for the Baabda-Aley seat Friday.
According to Geagea, his party has yet to decide on a candidate. "We prefer an LF candidate, but up until now we have not made any decisions."In addition to meetings with the March 14 Forces, Dakkash is due to meet with Amal and Hizbullah representatives. The Shiites parties are widely expected to back Aoun in the by-election, after their past electoral coalition with the March 14 Forces - namely the Progressive Socialist Party headed by Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt and the Future Movement headed by Beirut MP Saad Hariri - fell apart after the parliamentary elections last summer. During the New TV interview, Aoun said Hariri's Future Movement was using the LF as a front in the electoral battle in Baabda-Aley against the FPM.
Members of the March 14 coalition dismissed Aoun's allegation, insisting the Future Movement's presence in the district is mostly symbolic, and that their participation in the elections will only be through supporting whatever candidate their allies decide to field.
If Dakkash fails to secure enough support, it is believed that Aoun will field FPM member Hikmat Deeb. In his efforts to secure this support, Dakkash also met with National Bloc Party leader Carlos Edde.Asked whether he would still run for office should he fail to rally the support of all parties, Dakkash said: "If we are trying to reach consensus we have to survey the opinions of different politicians and officials. Once I finish my discussions I will take the decision to run or not."Edde said his party would discuss the issue with its March 14 allies before making a final decision.
Meanwhile, National Liberal Party leader Dory Chamoun, who also announced his candidacy Friday, met with Phalange Party leader and former President Amin Gemayel. Gemayel said Chamoun is a key figure in the March 14 camp, but the coalition is still holding discussions over potential candidates. Chamoun also met with Jumblatt over the weekend. Sources close to Jumblatt said he would not participate in the electoral battle but rather support a compromise candidate.

Qabbani: 'Rebels' will ruin Lebanon
Daily Star staff-Tuesday, January 31, 2006
BEIRUT: Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani Monday warned against supporting "rebels" who only wish to bring Lebanon to ruin. Addressing Muslims on the occasion of al-Hijjra, or Islamic New Year, Qabbani said Hijjra embodies the meanings of pride, power, determination and sacrifice to reach a goal.It also embodies the meanings of willingness to assume great responsibility, courage to face any force, injustice or aggression, persistence in preserving a belief and patience, he said. The cleric called on all Muslims to fear God in the task of ruling a country, to behave with others in a spirit of goodness and to build a country with love. Qabbani appealed for wisdom and rationality in solving Lebanese affairs to avoid the provocation of any party, saying "they are all the children of one country and they fear today more than any other time strife that could lead to the country's destruction."Qabbani hoped Lebanon would "resume its natural national course with the restoration of a complete Cabinet that would assume its constitutional and national tasks to serve the interests of the Lebanese, who are suffering greatly because of the political crisis." The cleric also revealed he had contacted the president of the Hamas politburo, Khaled Mashaal, to congratulate him on his party's election victory last week. "The results are a democratic expression of the Palestinian people's desire, regardless of their political opinions," he said. Qabbani hoped Palestinians of all factions would welcome the election results, which should not be "a source of new conflict."Separately, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman met with Qabbani. No comments were made by either men. - The Daily Star

Brammertz sets sight on Syria interviews
By Raed El Rafei -Daily Star staff
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
BEIRUT: The new head of the UN investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Serge Brammertz, will be primarily focusing on interviewing Syrian officials, sources from the UN team said Monday. The sources said while Brammertz is still reviewing documents related to the probe, the chief investigator would "not be going into deep investigations with Lebanese witnesses."They also noted that Syria has yet to provide a final response to Brammertz's request to interview Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as well as any other senior politicians or security officials.
Failure of the Syrian regime to agree to the UN probe's requests would likely result in Brammertz returning to the Security Council in mid-February to complain of a lack of Syrian cooperation. Separate sources close to the investigation said Lebanese officials have conveyed to the UN their wish to convene an international court to try Hariri's murderers outside of Lebanon. The sources added the court would probably be similar to the UN court created to try former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. The UN's undersecretary for legal affairs, Nicolas Michel, met with Lebanese officials about the nature of the international court during a visit to Lebanon last week.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut denied Israeli reports made public Monday that Assad was attempting to make a deal with the U.S. regarding the UN probe. The spokesperson referred to comments made by Assistant Secretary of State David Welch during his recent visit to Lebanon that "the U.S. has not and will not make any deal with Syria or anyone else in the international community at the expense of Lebanon's freedom."A spokesperson from MP Saad Hariri's office stressed the "investigations into Hariri's assassination are moving forward, no matter what," but refused to comment on the Israeli reports. Hariri was in Washington last week for meetings with top U.S. officials, including a sit down with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office. According to the Yedioth Group's Web site, "Assad is engaged in advanced contacts with the U.S. and France in a bid to work out an agreement that will allow him to stay in power."
Quoting an unnamed senior source in Damascus in an interview posted on Monday, the Israeli Web site said "the contacts are being undertaken through Saudi mediation and are meant to resolve the international crisis currently faced by the Syrian leadership. "The deal being worked out is reportedly based on the following understandings: Two senior Syria officials, General Rustom Ghazaleh and one of his assistants, Jameh Jameh, will be incriminated in connection with Hariri's assassination. Meanwhile, Assad and his brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat, "will be cleared of involvement in the killing," it said.
The report claimed "the Syrians are expected to end their support for anti-American elements operating in Iraq and pledge to tighten border controls and act to end arms transfers into Iraq. The Syrians will also pledge to minimize their cooperation with Iran, which is funding and directing many of the groups fighting American troops."
However, the Israeli report noted that Syria is apparently refusing to meet the demand to disarm Hizbullah.

UNIFIL to get a further six month extension
By Adnan El-Ghoul -Daily Star staff
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
BEIRUT: The UN Security Council will endorse a French drafted resolution Tuesday to extend the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force to monitor the Israeli-Lebanese border for another six months. The extended mandate will start next Wednesday and end July 31, 2006.
The Security Council discussed the French blueprint Monday and will vote on it Tuesday. "The discussions did not reveal any indication of disagreement between the 15 member states," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. He added the French draft, which was prepared after consultations with U.S., U.K. and Lebanese officials, would take into consideration the need to protect Lebanon's political independence and territorial integrity."
The French draft commends the positive attitude of the Lebanese government in responding to the suggestions proposed by UNIFIL's commander and chief of mission, Major General Alain Pellegrini.
Pellegrini has proposed forming a "joint planning committee" consisting of officers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon that would coordinate in order to lead to a furtherance of the Lebanese Army's control of the border. The draft emphasizes enabling the Lebanese government to extend its authority over the entire country. In addition, it warns against continued Lebanese and Israeli violations of the Blue Line.
Foreign ministry sources said Lebanon had not formally committed itself to this plan, as further consultations with various Lebanese factions are needed.
Lebanon had asked for the UN mission's mandate in the border area to be renewed for an additional year, but the members instead reached consensus on an extension of six months, according to Tanzanian UN Ambassador Augustine Mahiga.
Based on last week's meeting between Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and French Ambassador to Lebanon Bernard Emie, in addition to reports coming from New York, the sources said there was a difference between the U.S. delegate and other members of the Security Council over the mention of Israeli violations of the border in the draft.
However, the sources added, the U.S. objection would not be an obstacle in passing the decision, which will match the Lebanese government request that called for no changes in the mission, mandate and strength of the forces.
The UN peacekeepers consist of 1,989 troops, assisted by some 50 military observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization and supported by 100 international civilian personnel and 297 local civilian staff.

Parliament descends into mockery of state
Extraordinary session fails to approve national budget
By Leila Hatoum -Daily Star staff
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
BEIRUT: Parliament's extraordinary session held on Monday to approve last year's national budget generated few comments on the budget, but witnessed further mockery and condemnation of the state of the economy, national security and living standards in Lebanon.
The session was attended by only half of the members of Parliament, and saw numerous attacks from the majority of those present for convening a session to discuss already spent funds."What has been spent is already done and it can't be changed," said MP Neamtallah Abi Nasr of the 2005 budget.
Abi Nasr attacked the Cabinet's failure to honor promises to implement "economic and financial reforms, and an international convention to aid Lebanon before the end of 2005."He added that it is impossible for the Cabinet "to continue working under a pretentious harmony."
The Cabinet stood before the Parliament on Monday several ministers shy, including the five Shiite ministers who are abstaining from participating in the government in the six-week old row. Finance Minister Jihad Azaour warned the ongoing political impasse would "have a negative impact on investments and projects in Lebanon."
Azaour revealed the 2006 budget is complete and will be presented to Parliament for discussion shortly, but failed to provide a date. According to the Constitution, the draft-national budget should have been presented to the Parliament for discussion two months before the beginning of the financial year, which is the first of January.
Azaour also spoke of his government's plans "to maintain stability" and "getting Lebanon out of the economic danger zone." The finance minister proposed wide-ranging cutbacks to government expenditures - notably of the financial privileges of state administrations and institutions - and increasing investments.
He further suggested utilizing the private sector to help administer, finance and run investment and development projects.
However, Azaour raised eyebrows by proposing "a modest raise in a few taxes" and the creation of new tariffs, an idea MP Anwar Khalil rejected outright.
The session also saw an escalation in the public feud between MP Nicholas Fattoush and Justice Minister Charles Rizk after the latter entered the session halfway through the former's speech.
Fattoush won a court verdict against the state a month ago, in which he was granted the astronomical sum of U.S. $215 million compensation for the two-year closure of a sand and rock quarry owned by his family.
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Rizk refused to go through with paying the compensation and instead called upon the Judiciary to review the case again, which has lead to a vicious conflict between both men that has seen Fattoush publicly threaten Rizk's life.
In the latest volleys, Fattoush accused Rizk of hiding papers relevant to the suit from the case's file, and demanded justice be served.
Rizk insisted on clarifying the truth of the story on Monday before fully replying to Fattoush's accusations made during Thursday's Cabinet session.
The minister said it was his ministry's duty to appeal the verdict which granted Fattoush's historic compensation.
"How can we grant such a huge compensation for one company when the whole country is living in deficit and people can not find enough money to pay their bills?" he asked.
In a thinly veiled allegation of tax evasion, Rizk said Fattoush's company, "which was granted $215 million, has never reported any profits to the state during its entire operations.
"On the contrary, it always declared losses the entire time. So on what basis is it demanding compensation?"
Rizk further questioned how the Judiciary had managed to return a verdict in the Fattoush suit in only eight months, when it has compiled a stack of unfinished files and cases over the years, "some of which date back for over half a century."
According to the justice minister, judges and their families were threatened by Fattoush, an allegation for which there is currently a law suit pending.
Monday's session also saw the arrival of MP Ghassan Tueni, who joined the Parliament after running uncontested for the seat vacated by his son MP Gebran Tueni's assassination.
In a short speech, the senior Tueni asked the government to extend a welcome and assistance to the newly elected Palestinian authority, Hamas, which swept a clear majority of parliamentary seats during elections earlier this month.
Tueni added that such a move of welcoming Hamas, if played wisely, could benefit Lebanon and the region.
Premier Fouad Siniora said he had already called Hamas politburo leader Khaled Mashaal to congratulate him for the swee
Several March 14 Forces MPs, including Mohammed Qabbani, praised the efforts of the government calling on those attacking it to reconsider their actions. In a rare sign of unity, each MP who spoke called on the Cabinet to consider the deteriorating economic situation in Lebanon and work to offer the people more social services.

Hoss promotes program to 'salvage' country
By Maroun Khoury -Daily Star correspondent
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
BKIRKI: Former Premier Salim al-Hoss said he will continue to promote the initiative he had suggested to Lebanon's leaders to "salvage the country." Speaking Monday following a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, Hoss, who heads the National Unity Forum-Third Force, said: "We will continue promoting this initiative with all the leaders," adding that "it is a method to salvage the country at this stage."
Hoss added that his initiative was given a time frame of "six months" for implementation but but has not seen the light.
Commenting on the reasons why the initiative has not been implemented, Hoss said that the politicians who learned about the initiative believed it "is based on the idea that was launched by the President [Emile Lahoud] and does not serve their interests."
The former premier said the idea of this initiative is based on "having the president address the Lebanese people and tell them he is ready to step down from office but only within the framework of an initiative for salvaging the country that guarantees the enactment of a new parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation."
Asked about the Egyptian initiative that will kick off Tuesday with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman's visit to Syria, Hoss said he had not examined it in detail yet, but he "welcomes any Arab initiatives."
He stressed "the Arab initiative should be taken into serious consideration as a solution of mediation between Lebanon and Syria, not a means of dictation."The former premier said he blamed those who hampered the Egyptian-Saudi initiative, saying the initiative should have been discussed with the concerned parties in detail.Asked why the Lebanese are incapable of solving their own problems, Hoss replied: "It is our destiny because we do not act as a united people but as tribes."

To save himself Assad implicates members of the regime
by Jihad Issa
A secret pact between the Usa and France which foresees an end to Syria’s support of Iraq’s insurgency. A Syrian General implicated in the assassination of Hariri.
Damascus (AsiaNews) – The incrimination of an exponent of the Baathist regime in the assassination of ex Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri, the suspension of all support for the Iraqi insurgency and a cooling of ties with Iran. According Lebanonwire, this is the price that Syrian president Bachar al Assad is prepared to pay in order to stay in power, as outlined in a deal under negotiation with the USA and France. The negotiation would facilitated by Saudi Arabia, ready to aid Damascus in its response to mounting international pressure. General Rustom Ghazaleh and one of his assistants, Jameh Jameh, the figure to be incriminated. However according to an official cited by the Lebanese daily, Assad is not willing to suspend his support of Hezbollah. For his part, the secretary general of the Shiite movement, Saed Nasrallah, in an indepth interview with Al-Hayat says he is convinced that “Syria had no hand in the killing” of Hariri and points out that “there have been no investigations into a possible Israeli involvement in the case”. Meanwhile in Damascus, Assad made public the presidential decree which removes from office minister Houssam el-Aswad, member of the progressive democratic party, considered closet o ex president Abd El Halim Kahaddam, who publicly accused the regime of being involved in the murder of the Lebanese politician.
The Syrian media continues in its coverage of Hamas’s victory in Palestinian. The press tend to depict it as a new gesture of “solidarity towards Iran and Syria”, who they say are the last great exponents of the Palestinian cause, “ ensuring by all available means a continued resistance to western policies”. Celebrations and demonstrations speak of this “Historic moment in Palestinian history”, which would indicated the end of the Oslo accord. Space is also given to news of Iran, equally satisfied by Hamas’s success, “which without doubt will have notable influence on the political climate in Lebanon, Syria and in Iraq”.
In some “spontaneous” demonstrations there were calls against American interference in Arab affaire.
The Lebanese government in its weekly cabinet meeting under the lead of prime minister Fouad Siniora, and in the absence of Shiite ministers, gave no official reaction to the outcome of the Palestinian elections, but ministerial sources speak of concern shown by many ministers for the effects Hamas’s success will have on the region as a whole.
Lebanon's Bank Audi Buying 100% of Cairo Far East Bank -Paper
By Maha El Dahan
CAIRO -(Dow Jones)- Lebanon's Bank Audi has won the bid to buy 100% of the shares of Cairo Far East Bank (CFEB.CI), Al Akhbar newspaper reported Sunday.
The government-owned daily said Bank Audi paid $35 per share, for a total of $ 94 million, to close the deal.
Both bank Audi and Qatar Islamic Bank were granted permission by the Central Bank of Egypt in November to conduct due diligence preparations on CFEB in preparation for a possible acquisition.
The board of the Egyptian financial company EFG-Hermes Holding SA (HRHO.CI) had in its turn approved the acquisition of not less than 20% of Lebanon's Bank Audi Jan. 5. Bank Audi is a private Lebanese bank and part of the Audi Saradar group, which had $10.5 billion in assets at the end of December 2004.
State-owned Banque Du Caire had a 30% stake in Cairo Far East Bank. Banque Du Caire itself is currently being managed by the board of Banque Misr (BQM.YY), another state-owned bank, in preparation for a full merger.
The restructuring process in Egypt's banking sector aims to reduce the number of banks operating in Egypt to about 36 from 56, with the central bank guaranteeing all depositors and staff rights.
The central bank said in late September that the process would be complete in six months.