Arabic News Weekly Edition for Lebanon, 4/11/2005
Weekly Edition, Lebanon - Week of April 11, 2005
- Miqati starts today consultations to form the Lebanese government
Lebanese parliamentarian Najib Miqati is due to start today his special consultations to form the next Lebanese government after he was assigned to that officially by the Lebanese president Emil Lahoud, on the ground of his nomination by a parliamentary majority including opposition parliamentarians. Lebanon, Politics, 4/16/2005 - Priorities of Miqati's government Lebanon, Politics, 4/16/2005
- Junblat meets Aoun, calls on opposition to take part in new government
Observers consider that the Najib Miqati nomination to form the new Lebanese government might accelerate the process, but not the organizing of the elections, especially as the new government has to embark on an election law and debate it for a vote before the parliament. A matter which needs several weeks. Lebanon, Politics, 4/16/2005 - Syrian-Lebanese higher joint committee for scientific research
Syrian-Lebanese Higher Joint Committee for scientific research held a meeting in the Lebanese capital yesterday to review projects that had been implemented this year within the joint scientific cooperation program started at 2001. Lebanon-Syria, Education, 4/16/2005 - Lahoud calls for parliamentary consultations to nominate the prime minister
The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud called for carrying out parliamentary consultations today, Friday, in order to nominate a new prime minister designated to form a government to lead the country into parliamentary elections and to supervise them. Lebanon, Politics, 4/15/2005 - Lebanese opposition unify ranks against postponing the elections
The Lebanese opposition on Thursday evening held a meeting to take a unified stand in confrontation of what parliamentarian Naela Mu'awad described as attempts made by the authority to destroy the elections. She indicated that the opposition might also nominate another candidate for presiding over the government. She said that streets sit-ins are to be made. Lebanon, Politics, 4/15/2005 - Michael Aoun: I can convince Hizbullah to lay down weapons
The Lebanese Lt. Gen. Michael Aoun, who lives in exile, said he intends to return back to Lebanon in May and that he can convince Hizbullah to dismantle its weapons in implementation of UN Security Council resolution and the demands of the USA. Lebanon, Politics, 4/15/2005 - Crown prince Abdullah: Lebanon is loved by all, no difference between it and Syria
The Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz said in conclusion of an official visit to Paris that lasted for two days that Lebanon is "beloved by all," considering that there is no difference between it and Syria. Saudi Arabia-Lebanon, Politics, 4/15/2005 - Syrian forces evacuate last tanks position in the Bekaa Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 4/15/2005
- Berri; Moeller discuss latest developments
The Mufti, said in a statement that wars in Lebanon have gone without return, stressing Lebanon is the land of co-existence, amity and unity. Lebanon-Denmark, Politics, 4/15/2005 - Lebanese personalities reject foreign interference, stress the importance of the Taif accord
Lebanese Interior Minister resignate Sulaiman Franjeh stressed Thursday attachment to the Lebanese national line, calling for enhancing national unity in order to form a new Lebanese government to pave the way for establishing the election. Lebanon, Politics, 4/15/2005 - Karami quits, Lahoud accepts his resignation
Designated Lebanese Prime minister Omar Karami quit his post on Wednesday and apologized over his inability to form a new government. This was six weeks after he was re-designated to form this government. Lebanon, Politics, 4/14/2005 - Nasrullah calls France to support inter-Lebanese dialogue, rejects to dismantle weapons
The secretary general of the Hizbullah party has called on France to take part in pushing forward national dialogue and internal reconciliation in Lebanon which is in a political crisis following the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri. Lebanon-France, Politics, 4/14/2005 - Lebanese opposition threats regarding elections delay
The Lebanese opposition threatened to organize massive demonstrations demanding the making of the elections in its due time, accusing Syria's allies of trying to delay the political process. Lebanon, Politics, 4/14/2005 - Lebanese figures call for cementing relations with Syria
President of the Lebanese Maronite League Michel Edde said the Syrian-Lebanese relations are set to develop and continue, asserting that the Syrian-Lebanese economic relations constitute the basis for economic growth in both countries. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 4/14/2005 - Addoum stresses continued investigations on the Hariri assassination
Investigations into the crime that claimed the life of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri are going on, said Lebanese Minister of Justice, Addnan Addoum on Wednesday. Lebanon, Politics, 4/14/2005 - Civil society stresses Lebanese-Syrian relations Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 4/14/2005
- Political vacuum in Lebanon
Lebanon has entered into a political vacuum after disagreements between the Lebanese politicians resulted in a delay in the formation of the new government, where postponing the parliamentary elections due in May has become an increasing possibility. Lebanon, Politics, 4/13/2005 - Syria accelerates withdrawal from Lebanon
Lebanese officials stressed that the presence of the Syrian forces in Lebanon reduced to its lowest levels and those remaining will leave the Lebanese territories before April 30, the date which the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gave to the UN in this regard. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 4/13/2005 - Lebanese figures for inter-dialogue, reject intervention
Lebanese parties and national organizations on Tuesday reiterated rejection of foreign intervention in the Lebanese internal affairs. Lebanon, Politics, 4/13/2005 - Israeli plane violates Lebanese air-space Lebanon-Israel, Military, 4/13/2005
- Lebanese foreign minister; Pederson discuss situation south Lebanon Lebanon-UN, Politics, 4/13/2005
- Karami fails once again to form a government
News reports in Beirut said that the meeting between the designated Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami and the speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri in the Presidential Palace failed in settling the disputes pertaining to the formation of the new Lebanese government. Lebanon, Politics, 4/12/2005 - Israel admits Hizbullah plane flew over north's settlements
Israel admitted on Monday evening that a spying plane for the Hizbullah party flew over its northern settlements. This was for the second time during a period of less than 6 months. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 4/12/2005 - Al-Hakim and relations with Syria Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 4/12/2005
- UN agencies to boost peace in Lebanon Lebanon-UN, Politics, 4/12/2005
- Junblat denies support for UN resolution 1559
The leader of the Lebanese Druz opposition socialist progressive party has been careful to deny accusations addressed to him of supporting UN resolution 1559. He stressed commitment to the Taif accord as a base to organize relations with Syria and organizing inter-Lebanese relations. Lebanon-UN, Politics, 4/11/2005 - Michael Aoun announces intention to return to Lebanon
The leader of the Christian opposition against Syria, Mucheal Aoun, announced his intention to return back to Lebanon on May 7th after he had spent 14 years in exile in France, at a time when the designated Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami announced he would form the government today, Monday. Lebanon, Politics, 4/11/2005 - Lebanese minister calls for inter-lebanese dialogue
Lebanese Minister of Information Eli Ferzli on Sunday said his country will never be a point for any conspiracy against Syria or a platform to stab the national resistance. Lebanon, Politics, 4/11/2005 - Mayors of Hasbayia: Shebaa Farms are Lebanese
Shebaa farms, which have been occupied by Israel, are Lebanese, as well as Kafer Shouba hills, Mayors of Lebanon's Hasbaia region stressed Sunday, offering documents to prove their claim. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 4/11/2005 - Continued withdrawal of the Syrian forces from Lebanon
The Syrian forces on Sunday continued their withdrawal from the Lebanese territories. Scores of tanks and military vehicles were pulled out from positions in the Bekaa plain and crossed the borders into inside Syria. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 4/11/2005 - Lebanese MPs call for bolstering relations with Syria
Lebanese MP Marwan Fares called Sunday for deepening the Syrian-Lebanese relations and looking for a bright future through the implementation of the Taef Accord and forming a Lebanese government that assumes boosting the pan-Arab and national stances as well as holding the parliamentary elections in its due time. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 4/11/2005