Arabic News Weekly Edition for Lebanon, 3/7/2005
Weekly Edition, Lebanon - Week of March 7, 2005
- Syria withdraws from north Lebanon
The Syrian forces on Friday withdrew from its the last and main position in north Lebanon near the Syrian borders, while these forces accelerate withdrawal from the mountain overlooking Beirut, at a time when the pace of international pressure increased on Damascus. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/12/2005 - First convoy of Syrian soldiers crosses the Bekaa towards Damascus
The first convoy of Syrian soldiers who withdrew from Lebanon crossed the western borders into inside the Syrian lands at (Jdidat Yabous) border point coming from the Lebanese al-Masna' area. By that, the Syrian forces completed withdrawal from its positions in north Lebanon. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/12/2005 - UN Spokesman highlights Larsen's talks in Syria and Lebanon Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/12/2005
- Karami invites the opposition to form a national unity government
The designated Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami on Thursday called on the Lebanese opposition to get involved in a national unity government. This was less than an hour after the Lebanese opposition considered his designation for forming a new government as an extension of the crisis and a provocation for the feeling of the opposition side. Lebanon, Politics, 3/11/2005 - Washington, London criticize Karami's reappointing
The US has criticized the reappointing of the resigned Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami to form a new government. The state department said that Karami's government will not be effective. Lebanon-USA, Politics, 3/11/2005 - British writer assessment on Beirut demonstration
British writer and analyst, Robert Fisk described the demonstration staged in Beirut last Tuesday as warning to the United States and an expression of the Lebanese people's rejection of the American plots against Lebanon and the region. Lebanon, Politics, 3/11/2005 - Lahoud-Berri meet on parliamentary consultations Lebanon, Politics, 3/11/2005
- Al-Hoss calls Lebanon's national unity Lebanon, Politics, 3/11/2005
- Lebanese national forces observe a sit in against UN resolution 1559 Lebanon-UN, Politics, 3/11/2005
- European parliament calls for putting an end to Hizbullah terrorist acts
The European Parliament on Thursday announced support for taking measures aiming at "putting an end to terrorist activities" by the Hizbullah party and called on Syria not to be tolerant towards "any form of terrorism," Lebanon-European Union, Politics, 3/11/2005 - Iranian deputies: Israel and America Iran-Lebanon, Politics, 3/10/2005
- Lebanese opposition regrets Karami's nomination
The Lebanese opposition considered the nomination of the resigned Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami to form and preside over a new government as a "negative development" and a completion for a government constitutes what they called a facade for the Syrian security forces which it holds responsible for the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri and demands the resignation of heads of its security departments. Lebanon, Politics, 3/10/2005 - Karami accepts the formation of the government
The resigned Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami said he will accept the formation of a national unity government including the opposition after he was nominated by a parliamentarian majority. Lebanon, Politics, 3/10/2005 - Nasrallah's speech to Beirut Rally
Secretary General of Hizbullah Party, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, said "No one can drive Syria out of Lebanon ... President al-Assad is present in Lebanon if not physically then in Lebanon's spirit and mind." Lebanon, Politics, 3/10/2005 - NY Times: U.S. policy change regarding Hizbullah
The New York Times reported yesterday that the US has decided on a new course in terms of the way it views and deals with the Hizbullah party in Lebanon in light of the political support it has within the Lebanese people. This is following the massive demonstrations that Hizbullah showed in support of the pro Syrian role in Lebanon. Lebanon-USA, Politics, 3/10/2005 - Al-Khazen and Beirut march
Lebanese Minister of Tourism Wade al-Khazen stressed Wednesday that Beirut witnessed a unique march yesterday where the majority of Lebanese people said with one voice "no to foreign interference and yes to Syria's al-Assad." Lebanon, Politics, 3/10/2005 - Syria's withdrawal and al-Hayat Daily
Al-Hayat daily described Wednesday Syria's decision of withdrawing from Lebanon as wise and put things into their right track. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/10/2005 - Syria vows complete withdrawal before May
The Syrian ambassador in Washington Imad Mustafa said that Syria started to withdraw its forces from Lebanon as from Tuesday and that the withdrawal will be completed before May. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/9/2005 - Murad: Syrian troops withdrawal to Bekaa to be complete this month
The joint Syrian-Lebanese Military Committee met on Tuesday in Damascus in the framework of the Taif Accord and the two states' Treaty and Cooperation, Fraternity and Coordination agreement. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/9/2005 - Syrian forces are withdrawing from Lebanon
News reports in the Bekaa in Lebanon said that some Syrian military trucks crossed the borders and entered the Lebanese lands to transport soldiers and equipments in preparations for the withdraw completed on Tuesday evening. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/9/2005 - Nasrullah restores back to Syria its consideration, clings to Lebanon's unity
The secretary general of the Lebanese Hizbullah party, Hassan Nasrullah, called on all Lebanese to maintain unity and solidarity and preserve the gains of the Taif accord. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/9/2005 - The largest demonstration in support of Syria
The Lebanese demonstration on Tuesday afternoon in support of Syria took the main streets of Lebanon on Tuesday and was called for by the Lebanese Hizbullah party under the motto "faithfulness to Syria and rejection of foreign intervention." Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/9/2005 - Lahoud: Lebanese people showed loyalty to Syria
"There is a big opportunity for Lebanese people to form a new government that will come in response to what we aspire for ... a national government that includes all parties," President Lahoud said. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/9/2005 - Lebanese opposition delegation in Brussels regarding Syrian presence
In a new development, a Lebanese parliamentary delegation representing all Lebanese opposition sides visits Brussels and Paris this week in order to explain the demands of the opposition over the complete Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and the formation of an interim government and the file of the late Lebanese prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Lebanon-European Union, Politics, 3/9/2005 - Annan and Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon
The secretary general of the UN Kofi Annan said that UN resolution 1559 does not specify a certain schedule for the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, though it asks for this withdrawal to be complete. Lebanon-UN, Politics, 3/9/2005 - Presidents al-Assad, Lahoud minutes; Khouri's statement
Khouri said both sides are determined to correct any failure that could involve the process of cooperation in the framework of the existing establishments set up in line with the Syrian-Lebanese Treaty of fraternity and Cooperation which is still the only legal and proper framework to tackle any difficulties and to outline future prospects of those relations. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/8/2005 - Assafir: Former lebanese premier stresses Syria's importance to Lebanon
al-Huss called to remind the United States over Iraq that due to its occupation of Iraq it was she who controls the Iraqi side of the Syrian-Iraqi border. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/8/2005 - Al-Assad meets with Lahoud in Damascus, Syrian forces prepare for withdrawal
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud today, Monday, held meetings in Damascus to approve the plan of the Syrian forces withdrawal from Lebanon. Its first phase is expected to start immediately after the summit meeting between the two presidents by the redeployment of the Syrian forces to the Bekaa plain. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/7/2005 - Syria starts today redeployment of its forces in Lebanon
The resigned Lebanese minister of defense Abdul Rahim Murad announced that the Syrian withdrawal to the Bekaa will start today, Monday, following a meeting for the Lebanese- Syrian Higher council in Damascus under the chairmanship of President Bashar al-Assad and President Emil Lahoud. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/7/2005 - Al-Assad's speech before the People's Assembly
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad delivered a landmark speech before the People's Assembly yesterday evening outlining Syria's position over Lebanon and announcing the full withdrawal of the Syrian troops under the Tail Accord, as well as, refuting US accusations over Iraq and renewing calls for peace talks without conditions. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/7/2005 - Lebanese pro Syria parties meeting
The pro Syria Lebanese parties and political forces announced following a meeting in Beirut on Sunday rejection for the UN Security Council resolution 1559. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/7/2005 - Marches in Lebanon to support al-Assad's speech
Public spontaneous marches rushed Saturday in many Lebanese cities, including Beirut, Tripoli, al-Nabatei Halba, Akar and Bala'albak to support stances expressed by President Bashar al-Assad during his speech before the Syrian Assembly. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/7/2005 - Lebanese army general highlights relations with Syria
Lebanese Army Commander General Michel Suleiman stressed Sunday that Syria's decision to withdraw from Lebanon will not affect the deep-rooted relations between Syrian and Lebanese armies. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/7/2005 - Berri call for participation in tomorrow's mass rally Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/7/2005
- Recession in deficiency of the Lebanese budget for 2005 Lebanon, Economics, 3/7/2005