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Post by maxell on Nov 22, 2006 6:50:27 GMT -5
BEIRUT: Legislation to expedite Lebanon's recontruction and support institutions that suffered losses during the July-August war with Israel will be presented to Parliament soon, Premier Fouad Siniora said Tuesday. The government has received more than $813 million of the $2 billion worth of financial assistance pledged by private donors and the international community at the Stockholm conference.  Addressing the diplomatic corps at the Grand Serail about the progress that has been made rebuilding the country during the first 100 days since the August 14 cease-fire, Siniora defended his administration's postwar performance and asked donors to continue their support. "Despite some unjustified and unfair criticism, we are determined to perform our duty and address all postwar economic, social, and humanitarian issues which face us," the prime minister said. Though the government remains fully committed to economic reforms, he added, the five-year plan presented before the war has been modified to accommodate Lebanon's recovery needs. The existing plan "will fail to achieve sustained and equitable growth and debt sustainability in the absence of a sizeable frontloaded program of external support," he said. The government has successfully repaired water facilities, bridges, schools, roads, hospitals, electricity and telecommunications networks, airport runways and fuel tanks, cleared 1.7 million cubic meters of debris, and made progress cleaning up the oil spill from the bombing of the Jiyyeh power plant, he said. Compensation has been distributed to residents of 64 villages in the South Lebanon, the Western Bekaa, and the Dahiyeh whose homes were destroyed, said Siniora, and assistance to fishermen and families of the deceased has also begun. After outlining the government's accomplishments, Siniora shifted to the political impasse facing the ruling March 14th coalition, urging politicians to present a unified front to preserve Lebanon's stability. "Do we want a progressive and growing economy able to raise the living standards of the Lebanese people and stem poverty?" he asked. "Do we want to drive our youth away, or rather make them feel like they have a role and future in their own country? Do we want to create opportunities and hope for future generations, or offer them the prospect of unemployment, despair and emigration?" Without significant additonal contributions from Western and Arab donors at the upcoming Paris III conference, the government is powerless to "kickstart Lebanon's shell-shocked economy," Siniora warned. According to a new joint study by InfoPro and the Finance Ministry, total annual public revenues for 2006 will be $920 million lower than had been expected before the war erupted. Combined with a sharp increase in government expenditures necessitated by the conflict, the revenue shorftall is expect to boost the deficit from 30 percent of spending to 40 percent. From dailystar.com |
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Post by maxell on Nov 22, 2006 6:53:53 GMT -5
Hariri says Siniora unity offer 'remains in effect'  BEIRUT: Parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri said Tuesday that Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's proposal to form a national unity government is the only solution to end the increasing political chaos gripping the country. Hariri's speech at a news conference at his Qoreitem residence was interrupted by the news that Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel had been killed by gunmen in Jdeideh, on the northern outskirts of the capital. Choking back tears, the son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri blamed Syria for the assassination. "The 'Cedar Revolution' is under attack," the Future Movement leader said. "Today one of our main believers in a free democratic Lebanon has been killed. We believe the hands of Syria are all over the place." Hariri's father was assassinated in February 2005 in a massive bombing blamed by his allies on high-ranking Syrian and Lebanese officials. Siniora's proposal entails the formation of a 30-member national unity government, nine seats of which would be allotted to the pro-Syrian March 8 coalition and their Christian allies in the Free Patriotic Movement, with 19 seats for the March 14 Forces. The remaining two seats would be filled by independent ministers who would vow not to resign from the Cabinet or ally with any party, and who would not vote on any major decisions, such as Hizbullah's arms. The formation seeks to strike a balance of power between political opponents by not awarding the opposition sufficient seats to wield a veto, while denying the March 14 Forces the two-thirds of seats needed to pass decisions unilaterally. Siniora proposed his formula last Saturday. It was immediately refused by Hizbullah and its allies. Hariri repeated his support for the arrangement Tuesday. "The initiative of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora remains effective and it allows the participation in Cabinet of all political parties represented in Parliament and gives all Lebanese not affiliated with either camp participation in the decision-making process," Hariri said. Hariri warned his political adversaries, who have threatened to hold demonstrations to force a change of government or early parliamentary elections, that their threats would only heighten the crisis and eliminate any possibility of reaching a negotiated solution. "Threatening us with protests will not work, and their rhetoric will not open any window for solution," Hariri said. The opposite will happen, and what they are suggesting will create a vacuum, if not a political and constitutional vacuum." Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told supporters on Sunday to prepare for peaceful demonstrations sometime soon. The March 14 Forces accuse the opposition of demanding veto power in Siniora's Cabinet in order to be able to hinder the formation of an international court to try suspects in the assassination of Rafik Hariri. "We have proposed a compromise; they refused it," Hariri said. "They want a veto power to block the formation of the international tribunal. "Now we will sit and watch them protest and the whole Arab world and Islamic world will see them protest, but we want to know what they are protesting for. I am not seeking revenge through this tribunal. This tribunal is not to protect me; it is to protect Nasrallah and Speaker Nabih Berri and all the Lebanese." Hariri said Gemayel's assassination would only make the Lebanese more determined to form the international court. "The people of Lebanon will not give up on the international tribunal. This will make them even more determined. We will bring justice to those who killed Pierre Gemayel," he said. The anti-Syrian alliance blames Damascus for the killing of the former prime minister. Syria has denied involvement. Hariri's assassination sparked a wave of massive demonstrations that forced Syrian forces to end a nearly 30-year presence in Lebanon. From dailystar.com GOD BLESS YOU SHEKIH SAAD RAFICK AL HARIRI |
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Post by maxell on Nov 22, 2006 6:58:01 GMT -5
March 14, Phalange call for 'peaceful' response at slain minister's funeral
BEIRUT: The March 14 Forces held an urgent meeting with the Phalange Party at the latter's headquarters in Saifi Tuesday night to discuss the assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, after which they vowed to "hold accountable anyone who tries to cover for the assassins, whether through political stands or collaboration."
A statement said Gemayel's killers "are of the same species as those who threatened to topple the Cabinet in an attempt to flee the international tribunal ... and the same species as those who use the language of threats and accuse the March 14 Forces of being traitors and collaborators," in a thinly veiled reference to Hizbullah and its allies in the opposition.
"Our patience has run short ... and the whole world will hear the true voice of Lebanon in the next few days. We call upon our friends to take part in [Gemayel's] funeral on Thursday. We want this to be a massive and peaceful move," it added.
Earlier in the evening, Gemayel's father, former President Amin Gemayel, pleaded with his son's supporters to remain calm and refrain from any actions that might cause further strife in the country.
Emerging from the St. Joseph Hospital, where his
son's body lay, and walking amid hundreds of supporters who came to pay their condolences, Gemayel urged those who loved and supported his son to respect "Pierre's martyrdom for the cause and not try to take revenge."
The Phalange Party leader named the many members of his family who had died for "a free Lebanon, among whom today is Pierre."
"I have one wish tonight," he told reporters, "that tonight be a night of prayer ... prayer to contemplate the meaning of this martyrdom and how to protect this country."
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was a noticeable presence at the March 14 talks, as he does not usually attend meetings of individual political parties.
He held a press conference earlier in which he vowed that the murder of the minister "will not terrorize the Lebanese."
The premier called for unity in the deeply divided country, adding: "It is the time now for the Lebanese to stand united."
"We will not let the killers control our fate," he added.
"This attack only increases our determination to see the creation of the international tribunal" to try suspects in the 2005 murder of former Premier Rafik Hariri, he said.
Addressing the late industry minister, Siniora poignantly asked him to give his "greetings to those who were killed before you. Give my greetings to Rafik Hariri, Basil [Fuleihan] Samir [Qassir], George [Hawi] and Gebran [Tueni], and tell them their blood and yours will not have been shed in vain."
For his part, Speaker Nabih Berri said Gemayel's assassination "targeted the country as a whole with all its sects, factions and religions."
"This crime is aimed at suppressing the Lebanese people's efforts to consolidate their national unity and civil peace," the speaker added.
Berri conveyed his "deepest condolences to former President Amin Gemayel, to all the family of the martyr, the Phalange party and the Lebanese people."
"The sacrifices offered by the Gemayel family will not allow the criminals to achieve their purpose and lead the country to destruction," Berri said.
"On behalf of all the MPs," he added, "Parliament will press charges against the criminals; we will not spare any effort to reveal the identity of the criminals and prosecute them before the Lebanese people." Also speaking outside St. Joseph late Tuesday, the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, MP Walid Jumblatt, said those who killed Gemayel "will not accomplish their goal of dividing the country."
Addressing the Lebanese people, Jumblatt warned them to "beware of being taken by your emotions and spontaneous actions that might lead to strife and division."
"We will fight in a democratic and peaceful way for a free and independent country," he added. "We will never give up until Lebanon is free."
MP Saad Hariri, leader of the parliamentary majority and son of the slain former prime minister, directly accused Syria of having been behind the latest assassination.
In an emotion-laden interview with CNN, Hariri said: "This is not a time to give up. Blood has been shed to free our country from the hands of the regime, from the regime that was involved in killing Rafik Hariri, in killing a lot of people.
"I would like to say ... that this regime is also involved in sending hundreds and hundreds of people to Iraq to kill Iraqis and Americans also in Iraq," he added.
Separately, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir said Gemayel's murder was "aimed at hitting Lebanon's stability and causing strife."
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Gemayel's assassination was aimed at hampering the creation of the Hariri tribunal.
Geagea urged all Lebanese factions to consider "what is happening in the country" and reiterated calls on pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to resign.
"How can he still remain in his post? How can he accept to do such a thing or cover such a thing? How can he accept that such a murder happens during his term?" Geagea asked, referring to Lahoud.
Addressing the Amal and Hizbullah ministers who quit the Cabinet on November 11, Geagea urged them to return to the government in order to face "the conspiracy against Lebanon."
Hizbullah also denounced Tuesday's assassination, saying such acts were meant to "provoke the Lebanese and pit them against each other in order to create a state of chaos in the country."
The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Michel Aoun, called for "revealing the identity of those who were behind this hideous crime."
Aoun said he feared the assassination was aimed at "stirring strife among the Christians," calling on the community to control its feelings and avoid being led into a fight.
Lahoud said Gemayel's assassination "falls within a conspiracy against the country."
"It is high time for the Lebanese to be united," Lahoud said in a televised statement. "We tell his family that Pierre is also our son," he added. "We won't be silent over this assassination and we will deploy all our efforts to discover the identity of those who killed him."
"On this very sad day, I urge the Lebanese to sit together and talk about the means to resolve the deadlock our country is going through," he added.
In other comments, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's personal representative in Lebanon, Geir Pedersen, said he was "deeply shocked and sad at this monstrous assassination."
Pedersen added that the killing was aimed at "escalating the political situation" and urged the Lebanese to "not allow the stability of the country to be shaken."
All great Lebanese people with you March 14
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Post by Janjoon-Lebanese on Nov 22, 2006 11:09:21 GMT -5
Inshallah Khier ....they are both working VERY HARD for Lebanon's economy
bas beddak ykhalyon ya3refo ya3mlo shi ....
all great lebanese people with March 14 ...all FREE lebanese people with March 14 ...Lubnan Awalan !
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Post by staracfannumberone on Nov 22, 2006 12:53:15 GMT -5
Janjoon,,,do you know of a lot of people going to the Funeral on Thursday ? Saad Hariri was speaking to Shada Omar on LBC and urged a huuuge turnout...
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Post by Janjoon-Lebanese on Nov 22, 2006 14:09:39 GMT -5
Janjoon,,,do you know of a lot of people going to the Funeral on Thursday ? Saad Hariri was speaking to Shada Omar on LBC and urged a huuuge turnout... well : 1- ALL Kateab members & Supporters will be there... 2- ALL Owet members & Suppoters will be there ... 3- Saad Hariri has called all the Future Movement supporters from everywhere in the 10.452 to come ...the F. Movement has scehduled BUSES from the south , the north , the jabal , and from A3kkar and the bekka ...so everyone can particpate ...so that's like MOST Supporters and members will be there tomrrow 4- Walid Beik's supporter NEVER fail in listening to their leader ...they will ALL go tomrrow ... ( i live in a town where they're mostly with Walid Beik and Sheik Saad ....every 1 hour a car with speakers passes by asking everyone to particpate tomrrow and providing us with timings for the buses) 5- Many people and political analysits are expecting the SUPPORTERS ( not members ) in the Free Partiotic Movemnt head by Micheal Aoun , they're expecting that they'll also participate in this funeral ...considering Pierre Gemayel as a Christian Leader . SO Inshallah it will be MARCH 14 - PART II ....but dont expect them to go to B3abda YET , remember tomrrow is a FUNERAL not a Demostration ! |
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Post by staracfannumberone on Nov 22, 2006 17:22:00 GMT -5
Woow janjoon thanks so much for the update!!
You're right, it's important to remember its a funeral, not a demonstration...and Saad Hariri also said on LBC that it's not time to go to Baabda, the President should see the blood on his hands already
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Post by maxell on Nov 22, 2006 19:41:07 GMT -5
Siniora asks UN to help probe latest killing BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora officially asked the UN Security Council Wednesday to help in investigate the assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel. Jorge Voto-Bernales, Peru's ambassador to the UN and president of the Security Council, said Wednesday he had received a letter from the premier "in which [Siniora] requested technical assistance to investigate the murder of Gemayel." The late minister was gunned down in Beirut on Tuesday. Voto-Bernales sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Wednesday, relaying Siniora's request that the UN probe investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri "contact the relevant" Lebanese authorities regarding the latest killing. The UN investigation is also looking into 14 other bombings that occurred in 2005, deemed by the probe's chief Serge Brammertz as "linked" to the Hariri assassination. The UN Security Council late Tuesday evening endorsed the draft of the international tribunal to try suspects in the Hariri assassination. Faisal Meqdad, Syria's deputy foreign minister, told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that Damascus should have been consulted on the tribunal, since an earlier report from the UN investigation implicated Syrian officials in Hariri's murder. "Our opinion has not been considered at all in the process to set up the court and the agreements have been reached between Lebanon and the United Nations. It does not concern us as long as we have not been consulted," Meqdad said. The draft expands the tribunal's jurisdiction to cover other killings and attempted assassinations in Lebanon, starting with an attempt on the life of Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamade on October 1, 2004. Education Minister Khaled Qabbani said Wednesday that the draft leaves the door open for the tribunal to look into any future cases decided as being linked to the Hariri murder. Qabbani added that if the assassination of Gemayel and any future attempts are proven to be linked to the primary crime, then the tribunal has the jurisdiction to investigate them and put the perpetrators of those crimes on trial. A judicial source said the draft "forces the Lebanese judiciary to stop looking into a crime if the tribunal says it is linked to Hariri's murder." The draft must now be formally approved by the Lebanese government and president before being forwarded to the Parliament for approval. If President Emile Lahoud does not sign the agreement with Siniora, "then the Cabinet cannot pass it, as it would be a breach of the Constitution," the judicial source added. According to the draft approved by the UN Security Council, the tribunal must adhere to Lebanese law. Its mandate will run for three years, but can be extended by the Security Council. The court itself is expected to be located outside Lebanon, most likely in Cyprus or Italy, for reasons of security, administrative efficiency and fairness, according to UN diplomats. The court will be comprised of three judges - two international and one Lebanese - and will include a pre-trial judge, a trial chamber, an appeals chamber made up of five judges - two Lebanese and three international - a prosecutor, registry and defense office. It will not be able to prosecute heads of states, who enjoy immunity according to international law. The draft also notes the principle of "penal responsibility of superiors," which if proven can open the way for the prosecution of suspects in absentia. Resigned Labor Minister Trad Hamadeh, an ally of Hizbullah, told The Daily Star in a telephone interview on Wednesday that the opposition wanted "the truth to be revealed and the perpetrators to be punished for their crimes, as long as this doesn't contradict with Lebanon's sovereignty and the independence of its judiciary." However, Meqdad, Syria's deputy foreign minister, said late Tuesday that Damascus "will not accept to present any of its citizens before an international tribunal because we have faith in our judiciary." Forming a tribunal of an international character to look into the Hariri assassination "puts Syria under political pressure," he added. Hamadeh refused to comment on Meqdad's statement. "This is a Syrian issue. I don't like anyone to interfere in my country's internal affairs and I believe this applies to the Syrians," he said. THE TRUTH COMING SOON  |
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Post by maxell on Nov 22, 2006 19:48:12 GMT -5
Fatfat denies Sabaa will return to bolster Cabinet
BEIRUT: Acting Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat denied media reports Wednesday that the man for whom he is officially filling in, Hassan Sabaa, had withdrawn his resignation. Fatfat told The Daily Star in a telephone interview that he would continue to hold the position Sabaa vacated for now.
Investigations into Tuesday's assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel "are ongoing," Fatfat said. He said the investigation is secret and no details were available for release.
Reports had circulated in the media Wednesday that Sabaa was to retract a resignation submitted to Premier Fouad Siniora in February. The reports claimed that Sabaa had returned to protect the March 14 Forces' two-thirds majority in the Cabinet.
Sabaa resigned over accusations that security measures had been inadequate during violent riots in Downtown Beirut and in the Achrafieh neighborhood related to cartoon depictions of the Prophet Mohammad.
The Internal Security Forces and the Lebanese Army failed to quell the riots, which caused millions of dollars in damage to buildings - including one housing the Danish Consulate - vehicles, and nearby churches.
Five Amal and pro-Hizbullah ministers who resigned on November 11 in protest of the majority's alleged monopoly on decision-making have yet to decide on whether they will return.
"We have not heard anything yet," said Mohammad Khalifeh, the resigned pro-Amal health minister, in a telephone interview Wednesday. "Before the assassination there was a give-and-take discussion on the issue of us rejoining the Cabinet, but this has stopped."
The Shiite bloc was still waiting for a "meeting" of its leadership to discuss and decide on the matter, he said.
Khalifeh added that there were "diplomatic movements" aimed at resolving the issue.
"It would be inappropriate to speak of the matter before Gemayel's funeral," Khalifeh said. "We just fear the escalation in talks that might influence the situation."
Saudi Ambassador Abdul Azizi Khoja urged the Shiite ministers on Wednesday to rejoin the Cabinet "due to the critical circumstances."
"My move comes in the context of preserving Lebanon's national unity ... I call upon the Lebanese to face what is happening with solidarity and bravery," he said.
Resigned Agriculture Minister Talal Sahili said the murder "has exerted pressure on everyone." Talks over the resignations and the formation of a national unity government were headed toward a resolution before Tuesday's killing, which "brought things to chaos," he said.
But "someone is tampering with the country and doesn't want things to be solved."
Egyptian Ambassador Hussein Darrar, meanwhile, called upon "all Lebanese parties to realize the dangerous phase and circumstances that the country is witnessing."
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Post by Janjoon-Lebanese on Nov 23, 2006 2:32:40 GMT -5
TRUTH ....ÇáÍÞíÞÉ
thanks Maxell
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