LCCC NEWS BULLETIN
MARCH 24/2006

News from the Daily Star for 24/03/06
Sharaa: Damascus never pretended Shebaa Farms were Syrian
Larsen: 1559 reflection of 'Polaris' Taif Accord
PFLP-GC says it would agree to serve under Lebanese Army in joint strategy
Cabinet disagrees over Lahoud's role at Arab Summit
MPs in scuffle with UN probe security detail
Mugraby presses for freedom of speech
Cabinet faces vote of confidence
Sixteen air violations by Israel causes tensions along border
Feltman 'optimistic' that accord will be reached through national talks
Lebanon's food industry making headway
Fishermen deny use of dynamite
Lebanese wins award for young publishers
Will Olmert make history, or will he sow the seeds of future conflict?

Sharaa: Damascus never pretended Shebaa Farms were Syrian
Siniora, Mubarak discuss latest regional developments
By Raed El Rafei -Daily Star staff- Friday, March 24, 2006
BEIRUT: Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa told reporters Thursday that Syrian authorities "had never pretended" that the occupied Shebaa Farms belonged to Syria, following a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh. Lebanon has repeatedly asked Syria to provide the UN with written evidence to Lebanon's sovereignty over the Farms presently occupied by Israel. Sharaa also denied his country was trying to impede the Lebanese dialogue, which he described as "a Lebanese matter," and reiterated that Syria had already implemented the relevant clauses of UN Security Council Resolution 1559.
Asked whether there would be meetings on the sidelines of the Arab Summit between Syria and Lebanon, Sharaa said: "It would depend on who will head Lebanon's delegation since the Syrian president only meets with a president."
In his meeting with the Egyptian president, Sharaa handed Mubarak a letter from Syrian President Bashar Assad "regarding the latest developments in the region." The meeting was "completely not linked to Siniora's talks with the Egyptian president," the official Syrian news agency reported. Sharaa was expected to travel on to Riyadh for talks with Saudi officials.
Mubarak held separate talks with Lebanese Premier Fouad Siniora and Sharaa Thursday.
The meetings took place amid a period of strained relations between Lebanon and Syria, and while internal bickering continued in Beirut over issues related to the representation of Lebanon at the upcoming Arab Summit. Siniora said that, in addition to the latest developments in the Lebanese national dialogue, discussions with Mubarak focused on the Arab Summit. The premier described the meeting as "very good and beneficial." Siniora added that he had not decided whether to attend the summit to be held in Khartoum on March 28 and 29.
President Emile Lahoud will be leading the Lebanese delegation to the summit and delivering a speech at the conference, while the Cabinet majority, which considers Lahoud's continued rule illegitimate, has voiced dissatisfaction with the president's participation in the summit.
Earlier reports saying Siniora might attend the summit as the head of a separate delegation were rejected Thursday by sources close to the premier. The sources added that, should the prime minister decide to attend the summit, "it would be up to Siniora whether to have a separate schedule once in Khartoum." Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said Thursday that Lebanon will be represented by a single delegation at the summit, adding: "Lebanon is a free country headed by a president."
Lebanon's Al-Manar television noted that Lebanon's official invitation to the conference was addressed to President Emile Lahoud and a six-member delegation. Upon his return to Beirut, Siniora said that during a phone conversation Wednesday with Mubarak, the Egyptian president had invited him to Sharm al-Sheikh "to discuss a number of issues of interest to the two countries." Siniora told reporters his meeting with Mubarak covered "all the issues discussed during the dialogue session," including the presidency and the Shebaa Farms.
"Shebaa Farms are Lebanese, and we have all the needed documents to prove it," the premier said, adding that an agreement with Syria was needed, in which Syria would authenticate maps proving the farms are Lebanese. Following a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri after returning from the Red Sea coast, Siniora said his country's presidential woes will not be discussed at the Arab Summit, adding that he had not yet received Lahoud's summit speech. Regarding an alleged Arab plan to boost the Lebanese dialogue, Siniora said: "Lebanon was not left out by the Arabs," but refused to use the word "initiative" to describe the Arab role in Lebanon. As for an expected trip to Damascus, Siniora said that to be successful any such visit needed more planning, stressing that he had no "psychological complexes" about visiting Syrian officials.
Meanwhile in Beirut, Foreign Minister Fawzi Saloukh met with Lahoud to discuss the agenda of the Arab Summit.
"I talked with the president about meetings on the sidelines of the summit and the draft resolution which stipulates the solidarity of Arab countries with Lebanon and was approved earlier by Arab foreign ministers," Saloukh said.
Saloukh and the president also discussed a recent report from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the Security Council regarding the international court to try those accused of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
In an interview with Al-Manar, Saloukh said Lebanese issues would be addressed on the sidelines of the summit in Khartoum.
He added that logistic preparations for the Lebanese delegation headed by Lahoud were ready and that it was up to Siniora whether he would be part of it. He further hoped Lebanon would be represented at the summit by a single delegation capable of "defending the country's causes."Foreign ministers from throughout the region will head for Khartoum for a separate meeting on Saturday prior to the summit.

Larsen: 1559 reflection of 'Polaris' Taif Accord
By Majdoline Hatoum -Daily Star staff
Friday, March 24, 2006
BEIRUT: UN special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen lauded Lebanon on Thursday as the only country in the region offering a "glimpse of hope" for establishing democracy in a currently "dangerous situation." Speaking from Beirut's airport upon his arrival in Lebanon, Larsen said, "For many years, the center of gravity in the region's politics was the Israeli-Arab conflict. It is still an issue now, but other conflicts have emerged ... we have the situation in Iraq; we have the dispute related to nuclear issues in Iran, where an arms race is emerging. "We have the difficult situation in Lebanon now and the situation between Lebanon and Syria ... but the only place I see a glimpse of hope is here in Beirut."
Larsen praised Lebanon's Taif Accord, describing it as the North Star "Polaris," which will help the country "navigate through the current hard times." UN Security Council "Resolution 1559 is a reflection of the Taif Accord," he added.
Larsen also praised the country's national dialogue, and said he admired the fact that it is a "purely Lebanese dialogue" with no foreign interference. The UN envoy added: "The Lebanese should continue with the same spirit we witnessed during the country's national dialogue in the last couple of weeks, and we have high hopes they will succeed."
Larsen had arrived a few hours after chief investigator into the murder of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri, Serge Brammertz, arrived in Beirut from Paris. Brammertz, who presented his report to the UN last week in which he cited "cautious" cooperation by Syria in the probe, is believed to have met with one of the witnesses into Hariri's murder, Mohammad Zuheir Siddiq, in France. Larsen visited the grave of Hariri Downtown to pay his respects following his arrival. He is expected to meet with Parliament majority leader MP Saad Hariri on this trip.
Larsen is scheduled to visit the Foreign Ministry on Friday at 9 a.m. and the Justice Ministry at 10 a.m. He had met with Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan during the day. "Jordan has always played an important role in the efforts for security, stability and peace in the region. The secretary general's partnership with his majesty the king will continue in the pursuit of common goals," Larsen said following his meeting with Abdullah.
Larsen's talks with Abbas revolved around issues related to Palestinian militias in Lebanon. "I am much encouraged by my talks with the Palestinian president, which focused on the Palestinian militias in Lebanon in view of the situation in the wider region," Larsen said.  "President Abbas' strong support for Resolution 1559 is much appreciated, and on behalf of the secretary general, I will stay in close contact with him on all the relevant issues." Lebanese leaders had agreed during last week's national dialogue session to disarm Palestinian militias outside refugee camps within six months.
Lebanon is expected to be Larsen's last stop in his tour of the region before he presents his report on the implementation of UN Resolution 1559 to the Security Council in April. According to reports, Larsen will not visit Syria on this trip.
Meanwhile, the Security Council was about to enter closed consultations late Thursday night - Beirut time - concerning Annan's report on the establishment of an international tribunal to try suspects in Hariri's murder. The Council was expected to assign Annan to hold talks with the Lebanese government allowing to the establishment of such a court.
Judiciary sources told The Daily Star that discussions among Lebanese officials to facilitate the establishment of the court kicked off on Thursday. The sources said that the discussions are currently focusing on two main areas: a legislative area, where a law by Parliament should be issued to allow Lebanon to be part of an international court; and deciding which law will be followed by the court - with the sources saying it would most probably be the Lebanese penal code.
The second area being focused on according to the sources is the judiciary area, as Lebanon is supposed to decide on the names of Lebanese judges to take part in the sessions of the international court. According to the sources, the names of 10 top Lebanese judges are being discussed, and about five will be chosen to serve on the court.

PFLP-GC says it would agree to serve under Lebanese Army in joint strategy
By Hadi Tawil -Special to The Daily Star
Friday, March 24, 2006
Interview
BEIRUT: Anwar Raja, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command representative in Lebanon, said the militant Palestinian faction would agree to become subject to the Lebanese Army, in an interview this week with The Daily Star.
"We are willing to put our expertise under the command of the Lebanese Army in a joint defensive strategy," Raja said. "We have Palestinian fighters (Liwaa al-Yarmuk) in Syria who are directly under the command of the Syrian Army, and we are seeking to have the same scenario in Lebanon."
However, the PFLP-GC spokesperson said that despite recent overtures from the prime minister regarding Palestinian weapons: "[Fouad] Siniora is still in the rhetorical stage of his approach and we demand that our human rights be given to us before negotiating with the Lebanese government."
The issue of Palestinian weapons inside and outside of Lebanon's designated refugee camps was a hot topic of debate during the first two rounds of the national dialogue, with national leaders reaching a decision to disarm those groups outside the camps and find a solution to the remaining weapons inside.
Raja told The Daily Star Tuesday that violence in the Naameh neighborhood close to Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp earlier this year "was immediately tackled and solved. However, it must not be taken as a reference for demanding Palestinian weapons be kept inside the camps." "Some Lebanese politicians want to begin by placing our weapons inside the camps in order to demand the complete dismantling of weapons inside and outside of the camps," he added. Raja suggested "Palestinian weapons played a vital role from 1982 in fighting Israel and helped to annul the May 17 Agreement (an attempted peace agreement with Israel), so they can now play an important role along-side Hizbullah and the Lebanese Army in defending Leban- on from Israeli aggression."
Commenting on the PFLP-GC's alliance with Syria, the Raja said, "the Popular Front is proud to have Syria by its side. However, Syria doesn't impose anything on us, especially concerning our weapons."Raja identified the PFLP-GC's "enemies" as Israel and the United States. "Israel is our first enemy and the U.S., too, because it is she who strongly supports Israel and its aggression. We will continue to consider America as our enemy as long as its foreign policy does not change."
According to Raja, the Lebanese government is to blame for turning the Palestinian refugee camps into security islands. "If the Lebanese government gave the Palestinian people their human rights they wouldn't have seen arms as an alternative, and they would have been beneficial to the Lebanese economy.""Our people are willing to die fighting Israel; this is our strongest weapon, in addition to our faith," he added. Raja did note however, that the decision to go to war was up to Lebanon, but added  "Israel violates Lebanese sovereignty on a regular basis and that is why the resistance must continue."
Commenting on the issue of the Shebaa Farms, he said: "This is a Lebanese matter. However, we are willing as I said to help liberate it.""The Palestinians are very creative, they can write poetry, sing and be successful in any social field just like the Lebanese, but they just need the chance," he added.

Cabinet disagrees over Lahoud's role at Arab Summit
'Government must adhere to constitution'
By Nafez Qawas -Daily Star correspondent
Friday, March 24, 2006
BEIRUT: Despite President Emile Lahoud's absence from the Cabinet Thursday, the session was marked by disagreements over his role in the Arab Summit to be held next week in Khartoum. While several ministers, including Social Affairs Minister Nayla Mouawad and Minister of State Michel Pharaon, expressed their opposition to Lahoud representing Lebanon and delivering a speech before the Summit, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and Justice Minister Charles Rizk replied that the president's visit was in line with the Constitution. Salloukh explained that according to custom, the Foreign Ministry prepares the general points of the speech and delivers them to the president, noting that there was "no official written speech, only ideas."
Rizk urged the ministers to "separate between their political positions about the president and the Constitution."
He added: "We should remember that the Constitution stipulates that the president should represent Lebanon at the international level."He continued: "I understand some ministers have disagreements with President Lahoud, but such disputes should not affect the Constitution."
He also called on Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to discuss the speech with Lahoud. Meanwhile, sources said Siniora will head to Khartoum Monday night. The sources added that a delegation was already in Khartoum to prepare for his arrival.
Speaking at the end of the session, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said: "The participation of Lahoud in the Arab Summit will give a negative image of Lebanon because everyone knows what is happening in Lebanon. It is bad enough that Lahoud will be representing Lebanon when the whole world knows how we feel about him remaining in his post."
"However, there are customs in the country and the Cabinet adheres to those customs," he added.
As for the official demarcation of the Shebaa Farms, Aridi said Syria should submit official documents to the Security Council confirming Lebanese sovereignty over the Farms. He added that Syria's refusal to submit these documents contradicts the Lebanese position over this issue. Asked about Palestinian weapons, Aridi said Palestinians should abide by the decisions taken by the participants in the national dialogue, noting the government was ready to assume its responsibilities with regard to Palestinian refugees. Addressing journalists, Aridi confirmed his visit to Saudi Arabia, from where he returned today, had no political background, adding it was based on his counterpart's invitation. He also denied having delivered a message from the head of the Democratic Gathering, MP Walid Jumblatt to the Saudi king.
Siniora headed the weekly Cabinet session in its temporary location at the Social Economic Council, in the absence of Defense Minister Elias Murr and Economy Minister Sami Haddad. Upon arrival, Siniora was asked about Arab initiatives regarding Lebanese-Syrian relations and the presidency. He replied: "We are not talking here about initiatives but we always intend to maintain good relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and all the Arab countries and maintain communication with each other." Siniora added that he "expects the Security Council to adopt UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's proposal to establish a mixed international tribunal to try former Premier Rafik Hariri's killers."
When asked about his position regarding Lahoud's speech to the Arab Summit, Siniora said that he had not read it but had had a "general read over of the ideas sent by the Foreign Ministry to Lahoud."As for the presidency crisis, Siniora insisted that his position regarding Lahoud "has not changed since September." Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis, who attended the Cabinet session for the first time since its move to the new location, said he was still insisting on boycotting sessions presided over by Lahoud adding "if Lahoud shows up, I will leave at once." Education Minister Khaled Qabbani declared the launching of a workshop in UNESCO Friday to discuss a draft law pertaining to the Lebanese University. Meanwhile, sources close to Siniora said that the extraordinary Cabinet session next week, which was supposed to discuss the economic reform plan was adjourned until the end of the Arab Summit. The ministers also agreed to send a ministerial delegation to the refugee camps to discuss with the Palestinians ways of improving their situation. The delegation will include: Labor Minister Tarrad Hamade, Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh, Qabbani and Culture Minister Tarek Mitri.

MPs in scuffle with UN probe security detail
By Nada Bakri -Daily Star staff
Friday, March 24, 2006
BEIRUT: An argument took place Thursday between security forces accompanying the convoy of the UN lead investigator into former Premier Rafik Hariri's murder and two Free Patriotic Movement MPs, according to security sources. The incident occurred when security agents accompanying Serge Brammertz tried to clear traffic in front of their convoy by ordering vehicles to the right, which offended MPs Edgar Maaluf and Nabil Nicola, a security source told The Daily Star.
A scuffle quickly broke out between the two MPs and the security forces, but abruptly ended after Maaluf and Nicola identified themselves. However, the two MPs said during a news conference called immediately following the incident that three unidentified black vehicles had forced their car - which bears a parliamentary plate - to stop on the Nahr al-Mot highway.
The two officials were on their way to represent Speaker Nabih Berri at a social event. They said the security agents stepped out of their vehicles and aimed their weapons at Nicola, in spite of the deputies having introduced themselves.
They added that one of the vehicles almost hit Maaluf, while Nicola was pushed aggressively by a security agent.
The MPs asked the relevant authorities to open an investigation into the incident, and to punish the responsible parties.
"The government and the interior minister are responsible for this incident ... and we will sue the Interior Ministry and everyone involved. We want to know who these people are and why they behaved in such a way," said Maaluf.
The two MPs said they tried unsuccessfully to contact acting Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat, while Internal Security Forces Director General Ashraf Rifi denied any knowledge of the incident. Nicola suggested the reason the two MPs had been "attacked" was due to their "steady national positions and that we have been pressing the government to pay more attention to people's needs rather than to politics."

Mugraby presses for freedom of speech
By Karine Raad -Daily Star staff
Friday, March 24, 2006
BEIRUT: Attorney and human rights activist Mohammad Mugraby held a news conference Thursday at Liberty House in Beirut to clarify the circumstances behind his referral to the Beirut Military Court for allegedly "defaming the military establishment and its officers" by a testimony given to the European Parliament in November 2003.
In a statement, Mugraby described the case as "a public one deeply related to knowledge, justice and freedom of expression."
Mugraby was brought before a Beirut court on slander charges for having denounced Lebanese authorities' use of military courts to prosecute civilians for dissent. He also told a European Union delegation in Brussels that military judges lack adequate legal training. The statement claimed the charges brought against Mugraby by the military prosecutor have angered the European Union, which alongside six international human rights organizations and Julian Brazier, a member of the British House of Commons, believe the ruling represents "a severe setback" to Lebanon's progress toward freedom and democracy.
In a separate statement, Brazier said: "If the trial convicts Mohammad Mugraby, it will be an insult not just to the European Parliament but to all parliaments in Europe. Politicians and lawyers alike will be horrified." The deputy hoped Lebanese authorities would withdraw the charges. Mugraby indicated the lawsuit was not the only one brought against him, stressing there are also moves underway to stop him from practicing law.
"The motive of this war is because I represent and defend a public case which some do not wish to shed light on," he added.
Mugraby said that if the charges had been launched by the former political regime, "which included a former state prosecutor supported by the Syrian regime," then what justification was there for continuation "after that man was reassigned to another post and the Syrian forces withdrew from Lebanon?"Mugraby criticized the ruling class "that is confining itself and the Lebanese people with it for the past decades to various national issues," stressing he does not doubt the importance of such issues, but objected to their exclusiveness on the local scene.
"This exclusiveness represses the freedom of speech and exercises an unacceptable oppression on national and human issues that are not less important, but should even be set as a priority." Mugraby stressed that these banned issues formed the core of his public case. Three of the major issues under discussion are knowledge, justice and freedom of speech.
"However, in the absence of a healthy parliamentary representation and a free media aware of its constitutional role, people's rights to knowledge, justice and freedom of speech, as well as all constitutional and human rights, become threatened and he who tries to defend them is sent to prison or referred to the military or nonmilitary tribunal."Mugraby said he had defended many Lebanese since the 1990s who were arrested for trying to exercise their right to freedom of speech, adding his experience included many victims of injustice and abuse of power. Mugraby urged "all those who believe they represent the living human power in Lebanon" to expose injustice and take part in the movement to destroy taboos about these issues and to raise them openly.

Cabinet faces vote of confidence
By Leila Hatoum -Daily Star staff
Friday, March 24, 2006
BEIRUT: The Cabinet has survived another question and answer session in Parliament, but will now face a vote of confidence after MP Marwan Fares remained unsatisfied with the answers given to his questions. MPs were given the opportunity in Parliament Thursday to pose questions to the government on a wide range of issues. The questions had been sent in advance to the relevant ministers, and concerned the cost of pharmaceuticals, the economy, and education.
Premier Fouad Siniora attended the latter half of the session. MPs Issam Araji and Marwan Fares asked Education Minister Khaled Qabbani about the proposed construction of a building at the Lebanese University campus in the Bekaa Valley that has been pending since 2002, and about the appointment of faculty deans at the university.
The minister replied that the original 30,000 square meters of land donated by Zahle municipality 2002 were no longer available. Sections of the land have already been appropriated by the government for other purposes.
"There are studies and plans being conducted, and this project will see the light of day ... It stopped because its funding was transferred year after year to the next year's national budget," Qabbani added. "We are also working on a new law to govern the structure of LU." Fares said he could find no answers in the minister's response and stated his intention to convene a vote of confidence on the Cabinet, the date of which will be determined by Speaker Nabih Berri.
MP Ismael Sukkariya asked how the prices of certain pharmaceuticals were determined, and why these prices were not compared against those in neighboring countries.nHealth Minister Mohammad Khalifa said there was no point in conducting a price comparison because drug companies price their products in Lebanon, and then take them to neighboring countries.
MP Antoine Ghanem asked why public servants were required to pay a portion of the cost of drugs for chronic diseases when the general public received such prescriptions for free.Public servants pay 25 percent of the price of prescriptions if they are for themselves or an immediate family member. Ghanem cited the case of the drug Glivec, which costs LL6.5 million.
"Can you show me one public servant who earns a monthly salary that can cover the percentage price of that drug?" Ghanem asked. Khalifa replied that this question should be directed to the public servant's co-operative, which deducts the percentage.
"As a ministry we cannot intervene in the internal regulations of public institutions such as the public servants co-operative," said Khalifa. MP Akram Chehayeb's question on the high price of diesel oil was thrown out by Berri "for lack of subject, as the government replied to Chehayeb a few weeks ago" saying that it has implemented a plan to subsidize the price of diesel oil.
A question about the levels of pollution in the Beirut River from MP Hagop Kassardjian met the same fate, as the environment minister had previously answered that studies on cleaning the river have been conducted. Meanwhile, Siniora stressed the need to secure funds for approved government projects, "as the Cabinet cannot execute them without funding."

Sixteen air violations by Israel causes tensions along border
Daily Star staff-Friday, March 24, 2006
SOUTH LEBANON: Security forces scrambled to action along the southern border late Wednesday night, following the latest state of alert declared by Israel. After making the announcement, the Israeli Army fired dozens of illuminating flares over the Shebaa Farms. Israel's military presence was increased at bases along the border, with patrols and helicopter flights also beefed up. Israeli soldiers erected a barbed-wire fence along the military road adjacent to the Dahr al-Jamal post near Ramieh, and installed a surveillance camera opposite Mrouhin. A National News Agency correspondent in Nabatieh reported "the tension witnessed Wednesday night was the first of its kind in a month. Israel launched more than 60 flash bombs over the border, while helicopters were simultaneously flying from Shebaa Farms to Houla and Mais al-Jabal areas."
"Israeli warplanes have also violated Hasbaya's and Marjayoun's airspace," he added.
The joint Lebanese security forces deployed patrols in both regions and set up fixed and mobile checkpoints. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon concentrated its patrols along the Blue Line. A Lebanese Army statement said: "On Thursday, at 12:10 p.m., a total of 16 Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace. Six Israeli fighter jets flew over the disputed Shebaa Farms, while another eight flew over Beirut and Sidon, and two others over Jounieh.
"They banked over Chekka, Al-Arz, Baalbek and Jbeil. Six jets left Lebanon at 12:20 from Shebaa Farms, while the remaining 10 gathered west of Sidon, headed toward the South and left at 12:30 for the Occupied Territories. Army units have been instructed to stay on maximum alert in readiness for any aggression," it said. - The Daily Star

Feltman 'optimistic' that accord will be reached through national talks
Presidential crisis causing tension
By Therese Sfeir -Daily Star staff
Friday, March 24, 2006
BEIRUT: U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman said Thursday he was "optimistic" about the national dialogue, and expressed confidence that the Lebanese have "the ability and the wisdom to resolve their problems by themselves." Feltman's comments came after a visit to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun at his residence in Rabieh.
Feltman said his country "strongly supported the Lebanese national dialogue and hoped that politicians would reach accord over the points on the dialogue's agenda."The ambassador also expressed optimism about the development of the talks, "since it is the first time Lebanese leaders sit together without any foreign interference."
Asked about the expected arrival later Thursday of UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen to Beirut, Feltman said: "I am sure that Larsen will discuss with the Lebanese officials about the means to resolve the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559." Following a later visit to former President Amin Gemayel, Feltman said "the international community encourages the success of the national dialogue despite the disputes that occur from time to time."
Gemayel said the Lebanese "should take advantage of this support to help Lebanon regain its position in the Arab and international arena."He added that participants in the dialogue would "deploy all possible efforts to resolve the country's economic and social situation."
Gemayel met late Wednesday with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to evaluate the latest results of the dialogue.
A statement issued by Gemayel's information bureau said the meeting aimed at "coordinating positions to push the dialogue forward." Meanwhile, observers said the presidential crisis was causing tension among politicians and feared that such tensions would lead to a political clash. Democratic Gathering MP Antoine Andraous expressed his wish that "Aoun would deal with the presidency issue in a democratic and non-provocative fashion."  He claimed the FPM leader "does not accept criticism or honesty, but responds to those who do not want him to be president by challenging and attacking them."
Andraous said in a statement on Thursday, "those who support Aoun as president are the symbols of the Syrian era and back the presence of [Emile] Lahoud in the presidential palace."He added: "We urge General Aoun to consider the country's new situation and avoid throwing improper accusations by threatening to open the records of the past."
In response, FPM official Ramzi Kanj said Andraous "used to work with the Syrian agents in Lebanon while the FPM and General Aoun were engaged in the battle to defend Lebanon and regain its sovereignty and independence."
Loyalty to the Resistance MP Hussein Hajj Hassan stressed that Aoun was "a strong candidate for the presidential elections," adding that the memorandum of agreement between Hizbullah and the FPM "was not made for fun."
In comments to the LBC, Hassan said "the country cannot be ruled through the principle of majority and minority."
During a separate interview with LBC Thursday, MP Mosbah Ahdab said the dialogue cannot succeed if it is used as a forum to intimidate officials. "The duality in speeches gives the impression that the resignation of Lahoud is linked to a decision by Syria," he added. Public Works and Transportation Minister Mohammad Safadi underlined the need to agree on the characteristics of Lahoud's successor before nominating candidates, adding that all participants in the dialogue "are willing to reach an agreement over the presidency, despite some bickering."During an interview with the Voice of Lebanon radio station on Thursday, Safadi described the presidential issue as "difficult" and said the matter needed "a lot of preparations inside the dialogue sessions."While stressing the dialogue was "made in Lebanon," Safadi said "any Arab help is not based on an official demand from Lebanon, but on an Arab country's personal initiative." Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the country "will enter a dark tunnel if the president resigns before political leaders agree on the country's pending issues."
Mikati said the presidency should be resolved "within the framework of a series of solutions regarding the coming political period." He added: "Our unity, as Muslims and Christians, is the basis of building a modern country free of personal interests; and this cannot be achieved but through the creation of a new electoral law that guarantees the basis of accord and a good representation of all factions."
Mikati further stressed the importance of establishing "excellent relations with Syria."Meanwhile, Future Movement leader Saad Hariri received French Ambassador Bernard Emie for a discussion on regional developments.Hariri held separate talks with EU Ambassador Patrick Renauld and Russian Ambassador Serguei Boukin. In remarks after his meeting with Hariri, Boukin said: "I believe that, despite all the difficulties, the Lebanese political society will be able to overcome all the challenges."

Mubarak, Saniora Hold Talks in Egypt on Tensions with Syria
President Hosni Mubarak met separately on Thursday with Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and Syrian Vice-President Farouk Sharaa in what appears to be a renewed effort by Egypt to defuse the crisis between Beirut and Damascus, Egypt's Middle East News Agency reported.
Egyptian officials said a meeting bringing together Mubarak, Saniora and Sharaa was to go ahead at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik if the Egyptian and Lebanese leaders, who met first, had agreed on new proposals to improve relations between Lebanon and Syria, strained over last year's assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The prime minister briefed Mubarak about the talks among Lebanon's top rival leaders at a national dialogue meeting aimed to break the country's political deadlock, a presidential source told Agence France Presse.
Regional political heavyweights Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been trying to mediate between Lebanon and Syria, while Syrian President Bashar Assad has been seeking support from fellow Arab leaders in the face of a U.N. probe into alleged Syrian involvement in Hariri's assassination.
The assassination has led to a wave of anti-Syrian protests in Lebanon and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon last year, but relations between the two neighbors remain fraught with distrust.
Before Saniora headed to Cairo, he said that the purpose of his visit to Egypt is to hold consultations with Mubarak ahead of the Arab summit scheduled to open in Khartoum on Tuesday.
Observers told An Nahar that Saniora will clarify his position with regards to his participation in the summit after his Egypt talks. So far, it is unclear if the premier will accompany the president to the Sudanese capital.
The Beirut-based daily said that the flurry of diplomatic activity may be the beginning of an Arab initiative to help resolve the Lebanese crisis.
Earlier this month Saudi Foreign Minister Saud el Faisal said that any Arab initiative to help Lebanon depends on a request by the Lebanese themselves.
The national dialogue meeting started March 2 to address the intractable issues that have propelled Lebanon into a political and economic crisis.(AP-AFP-Naharnet)
Beirut, Updated 23 Mar 06, 15:22