Khazen

Upcoming French Mediation to Resolve the Presidential Crisis in Lebanon

english.aawsat.com

 

Averting to take position on the move of the Lebanese Forces’ President nominating his historic opponent, the leader of “Change and Reform”, could be labeled as the political feature theme in the Lebanese scene, yesterday; where every team took some “wiggle room” to take position on the presidential post nomination of the Republic that has been vacant since May 2014. By the time it is said that the French ambassador in Beirut is working on resolving the situation between the Lebanese political leaders.

Conversely, it seemed crystal clear that the Aoun-Geagea consensus is inadequate to resolve the presidential issue, with both sides being incapable of persuading their allies of this agreement that has for fact stunned many, for what both Christian leaders’ past partook in conflicts and bloodsheds.

For instance, Geagea failed in convincing his ally the “Future Movement” aka Tayar Al-Mustakbal, in adopting Aoun’s candidacy nomination, where the team persisted on nominating Aoun’s ally, MP Suleiman Franjieh for the post; and Aoun did not succeed in persuading the Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in voting for him, as the latter seemed to clutch tightly to the nomination of Franjieh.

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Upcoming French Mediation to Resolve the Presidential Crisis in Lebanon

english.aawsat.com

 

Averting to take position on the move of the Lebanese Forces’ President nominating his historic opponent, the leader of “Change and Reform”, could be labeled as the political feature theme in the Lebanese scene, yesterday; where every team took some “wiggle room” to take position on the presidential post nomination of the Republic that has been vacant since May 2014. By the time it is said that the French ambassador in Beirut is working on resolving the situation between the Lebanese political leaders.

Conversely, it seemed crystal clear that the Aoun-Geagea consensus is inadequate to resolve the presidential issue, with both sides being incapable of persuading their allies of this agreement that has for fact stunned many, for what both Christian leaders’ past partook in conflicts and bloodsheds.

For instance, Geagea failed in convincing his ally the “Future Movement” aka Tayar Al-Mustakbal, in adopting Aoun’s candidacy nomination, where the team persisted on nominating Aoun’s ally, MP Suleiman Franjieh for the post; and Aoun did not succeed in persuading the Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in voting for him, as the latter seemed to clutch tightly to the nomination of Franjieh.

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ISIS is creating another ‘resources-rich stronghold’ in the Arab world — and it’s bad news for Europe

While the world has had its eyes glued on Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or IS, has been creeping into another chaotic state: Libya.

And analysts think this will be a major stress point for Europe going forward.

"One of the most concrete geopolitical risks for Europe in the near future will be the complete or partial takeover of Libya by the militias of the so-called Islamic State," Citi Research’s Tina Fordham wrote.

"While the world’s attention was absorbed by the war in Syria, IS systematically increased its presence there in 2015," she added. "Their goal is to establish another resources-rich stronghold in the Arab world, thereby creating another stepping-stone towards the erection of a ‘new Caliphate.’"

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Lebanese expats not hopeful about politics back home

Dubai: Lebanese residents in the UAE say they were surprised by the announcement of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea when he gave his backing to his rival Michael Aoun for the presidency on Monday night.

Suzanna Mounzer, 25, who works in public relations, told Gulf News the move will unite the largest Christian parties in Lebanon.

“Personally, I don’t follow Lebanese politics because it is shameful. It is a shame we couldn’t even agree on a president. [The issue] has been dragging the country down and making it’s citizens’ lives more difficult,” she said.

“I have been away from Lebanon for so long, its politics don’t affect me much,” she said, adding that she was against sectarianism.

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ISIS destroy Iraq’s oldest monastery

catholicherald.co.uk/

The oldest monastery in Iraq has been destroyed by ISIS, according to reports.

St Elijah’s Monastery of Mosul had stood for 1,400 years and had recently been used as a place of worship by US troops. However, satellite photos obtained by Associated Press (AP) show that the monastery has been razed.

Fr Paul Thabit Habib, 39, a priest exiled in Irbil, Iraq, said: “I can’t describe my sadness. Our Christian history in Mosul is being barbarically leveled. We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, eliminating and finishing our existence in this land.”

After reviewing the satellite images, imagery expert Stephen Wood, CEO of Allsource Analysis, told AP that the destruction of the monastery took place between August 27 and September 28, 2014.

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Berri : Geagea’s endorsement of Aoun is not sufficient to end the presidential vacuum

Ya Libnan

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that he would not announce his stance with regards to  Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea’s endorsement of Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun for the presidency before the picture becomes clear.

In remarks to his visitors, Berri said: “As the head of Amal Movement, I will bring together the leadership council and the Politburo when the picture becomes clearer to take the final stance from the presidency.”

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Breaking through the Rhetoric: The Rise of Negotiation among Enemies in Syria

Huffington Post

Back in August 2014, the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, the Nusra Front, and Islamic State group (IS) forces attacked the Lebanese town of Arsal. The fighting concluded with the capture of 30 Lebanese policemen and soldiers. Immediately after the battle, the Nusra Front and IS executed two soldiers each. One died from wounds sustained from fighting in Arsal, while 16 soldiers remained in the custody of the Nusra Front, and nine remained imprisoned by IS. Sixteen months later, an exchange of captives took place between Lebanon and the Nusra Front. The deal was brokered by Qatar, who has over the last decade been playing somewhat controversial, but often crucial roles in conflict mediation throughout the region. At the time, December 1, 2015, the event attracted substantial public attention, but it quickly faded into the background of the news cycle. At first glance, the return of 16 Lebanese policemen and soldiers–held by the Nusra Front since August 2014–seemed like a routine swap between belligerents as a result of successful local level negotiations–most of which took place recently as a result of the stalemate felt by all sides on the ground. Yet, this exchange differs because it took place between a non-state actor–in this case, an internationally agreed upon terrorist organization–and a neighboring state, Lebanon; with the blessing of the Syrian and Saudi governments.

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Umsiyat concert series at Mushrif Park kicks off with Lebanese artist Abeer Nehme

It’s said that music has the power to cross borders – but few artists have exerted quite as much energy exploring the ability of rhythm and melody to transcend time, place and faith as Abeer Nehme.

The Lebanese performer is one of those fluid talents best described as a polymath. A learned musicologist, devoted to the academic study of music’s roots, she is also an actor and TV presenter, who recently completed a four-year journey filming Ethnopholia Musiqa Al Chou’oub, a 40-episode musical documentary in which she criss-crossed the globe to explore the ethnic musical traditions of more than 10 countries.But first and foremost, Nehme is a performer, a gifted vocalist who draws on these experiences to present her own concerts.

She will take to the stage at Abu Dhabi’s Mushrif Park on Sunday to launch the Um

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Grim numbers from Iraq: thousands of civilians suffer death, displacement, slavery

.- A new United Nations report has tried to count the civilian toll of continuing conflict in Iraq, largely at the hands of Islamic State militants, and the numbers are "staggering."

“Even the obscene casualty figures fail to accurately reflect exactly how terribly civilians are suffering in Iraq,” Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Jan. 19.

“The figures capture those who were killed or maimed by overt violence, but countless others have died from the lack of access to basic food, water or medical care.”

He said the report showed the sufferings of Iraqi civilians and “starkly illustrates what Iraqi refugees are attempting to escape when they flee to Europe and other regions.”

“This is the horror they face in their homelands.” Between January 2014 and October 2015, at least 18,802 civilians were killed in Iraq. About half of them died in Baghdad province. Another 36,000 were injured.

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Aoun’s Bloc Says Geagea’s Move Aims to Unify ‘All Lebanese, Not Only Christians’

by naharnet desk

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc stressed Tuesday that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s nomination of bloc chief MP Michel Aoun for the presidency is aimed at unifying “all Lebanese, not only Christians,” noting that agreements that “transcend political agreements” are possible in this regard.

“The Change and Reform bloc has lauded LF leader Samir Geagea’s nomination of MP Michel Aoun,” bloc secretary MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after Change and Reform’s weekly meeting in Rabieh.

“This step is a glimpse of hope seeking to unify all Lebanese, not only Christians, with the aim of reaching a national solution that saves the republic,” he added. Kanaan noted that the election of a president must be based on “filling the vacuum through a broad Lebanese will.”

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