Khazen

Israel deports freed Lebanese prisonner

Israel released from prison on Sunday a Lebanese who had completed a six-year jail term on espionage charges and took him to the border with Lebanon  for repatriation.  Nissim Nasser’s release, announced by Israeli authorities, has raised speculation that it is linked to German mediation efforts to secure a prisoner swap between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. Nasser, who was born in Lebanon to a Jewish mother and a Muslim father, was sentenced in 2002 to six years’ imprisonment after being convicted of spying for Hezbollah. "The prisoner was released from Nitzan Prison near Ramle (in central Israel) and is being escorted by police up north to Rosh Hanikra (on the Lebanese border)," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. "Later in the day he will be transferred to the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) and then to Lebanon," he said.

Simultaneously Hezbollah handed over to the ICRC on the Lebanese side what it said were the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in the summer 2006 war. A senior Israeli official confirmed that the army had received a coffin but said tests had to be carried out on the contents to confirm whether the remains were those of Israeli soldiers. "A coffin apparently containing body parts of soldiers killed during the Second Lebanon War has been transferred by Hezbollah to the IDF (Israeli army) as a gesture for the ongoing negotiations on a prisoner exchange," the official said. "The coffin will be examined and the body parts will be examined to determine whether they indeed belong to Israeli soldiers." Israel and Hezbollah

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Siniora meets former premiers ahead of cabinet consultations

By Hussein Abdallah, Daily star. BEIRUT: Prime Minister Fouad Siniora paid a number of customary visits on Thursday, one day ahead of the mandatory parliamentary consultations that will precede the formation of Lebanon’s new cabinet. Siniora met former premiers Omar Karami, Salim Hoss, Najib Mikati, Rasheed Solh, Amine Hafez and Michel Aoun.  After a 45-minute meeting Aoun, who is also the leader of the opposition Free Patriotic Movement, Siniora told reporters that the talks were positive. Aoun became Lebanon’s only Christian prime minister in 1988 after he was asked by former President Amine Gemayel to head an interim government as a result of the Parliament’s failure to meet and elect a new president at the end of Gemayel’s term.

Siniora also contacted Muslim and Christian spiritual leaders on Thursday in advance of the consultations that are due to start on Friday afternoon.  The next cabinet will include 16 ministers for the parliamentary majority, 11 for the opposition and three for the president.  In a statement on Thursday, the opposition said that the Sunni opposition in Beirut should be represented by a minister in the new cabinet.  "The Sunni opposition in Beirut should be represented as it is not acceptable to cross out a big portion of the capital just because one party has managed to monopolize Beirut’s seats in Parliament as a result of an unfair electoral law," the statement said, referring to parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri’s sweeping victory in Beirut in the 2005 elections.

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Summer music festivals back on in Lebanon

BEIRUT (AFP)  Summer festivals music in Lebanon , which usually attract visitors in their thousands, are back this year after being silenced by war and political instability, organisers announced on Thursday. "What we are seeing today is an expression of the true face of Lebanon after this difficult period and after the dark cloud has […]

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Lebanon back on track as top tourist spot

BEIRUT  – For three consecutive seasons tourism revenue, once Lebanon’s lifeblood, was reduced to a trickle by violence and political uncertainty.  Reservations have begun pouring into this land of sun, sea and mountains, and a bumper tourism season is predicted after years of instability. There was a collective sigh of relief as calm returned last week after Lebanese leaders came to an agreement in Qatar that ended a long-running political crisis. "The ink on the Doha agreement wasn’t dry yet and the phones were ringing off the hook. From the Gulf, from Europe, from everywhere, we’re booked up until the end of the summer," said Mary Shwairy, head of public relations at the upscale Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut. "Tourism is bouncing back in a big way — short stays, long stays, conferences, weddings of returning Lebanese who live abroad," she added.  Caretaker Tourism Minister Joseph Sarkis said he expects this year’s figures to be the best for years. Since the Doha agreement there has been "a 30 percent increase in the number of expected tourists compared with last year. Hotels are hiring extra staff and the airlines are adding extra flights," Sarkis said. "Forty percent of the tourists are Arab, 25 percent are European and the rest are of various nationalities," he added. "Of the Arabs, 40 percent are Jordanian who come in large numbers since visa requirements were waived three years ago. They are followed by Saudis, Kuwaitis, Iraqis and Emiratis," he said.  Sarkis said Lebanese expatriates spend large sums of money when they return to the homeland.  "Nature and a love of life are Lebanon’s greatest attractions. The Arabs come for the refreshing climate, night clubs and restaurants… Europeans for the archaeological sites" such as Baalbek or Tyre.  In another sign of recovery kicking in, the popular Beiteddine and Baalbek music festivals, silenced for the past two summers, will return this year in July.  The Beiteddine and Baalbek festival organisers are also co-sponsoring a concert by Lebanese-born pop sensation Mika in Beirut on July 27.

By Yara Bayoumy Thu – Just a week after feuding Lebanese leaders sealed a political deal to end 18 months of conflict, restaurants have re-opened, hotel bookings have soared and tourists have replaced gunmen on the streets of Beirut.   "The deal has had an excellent impact. We’ve had a flood of reservations and we’re expecting a very good season," said Nizar Alouf, a member of the Lebanese Hotel Owners Association. It took months of agonizing negotiations — punctuated by bouts of violence that many feared would trigger civil war — to install a new president and form a government, but record time for Lebanon  to regain its standing as a top tourist spot. Now where an opposition tent city occupied large squares, paralyzing central Beirut and turning it into a ghost town, restaurants are bustling, open-air concerts are being held and gridlock traffic is back. It’s good to be back" and "It finally feels like people are living" are common utterances among the droves of Lebanese and tourists crowding the Parisian-style pavement cafes. Tourism Minister Joseph Sarkis said he expected between 1.3 million to 1.6 million visitors to Lebanon this year compared to around 1 million in 2007 and 2006 — violent years plagued by political assassinations, bombings and a war with Israel.

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Letter to the Lebanese Diaspora

نِعمَـــة الله أبــي نصـرْ          نـائِــــبْ                  ـــــــ           بعد أن تضمَّن خطاب فخامة رئيس الجمهورية في جلسة القسم وجوب إعطاء المغتربين حقوقهم خصوصاً لجهة تعزيز تواصلهم والتصاقهم بالوطن الأم والإستفادة من طاقاتهم ، حيث هم أحقُّ بالجنسيَّة اللبنانية من الذين أخذوها على غير وجهِ حقّ ، ولما كان في ذلك إحقاقاً للحقِّ […]

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Lebanon’s Siniora set to lead new government

Lebanon’s new president General Michel Sleiman has asked outgoing Prime Minister Fuad Saniora to form a new Cabinet despite reservations by the opposition. Lebanon’s president appointed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Wednesday to head a national unity government agreed under a deal ending 18 months of political conflict.  President Michel Suleiman asked Siniora, who has enjoyed strong […]

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Lebanese Government Bans Motorbikes

The Lebanese interior ministry Tuesday announced an indefinite ban on motorbikes, provocative convoys, slogans or flag waving in the capital Beirut. "Motorbikes will be banned in Beirut effective at 1800 (1500 GMT) on May 27, 2008, until further notice," a statement said. The statement said that politically charged demonstrations such as "marches, regardless of their […]

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President General Sleiman assumes office

Lebanon’s new President, Michel Suleiman, has arrived at the presidential palace to begin his first full day in office. A military band played the national anthem as Suleiman, who headed the army for a decade, walked on a red carpet into the Baabda Palace which has been empty since Previous President Emile Lahoud left office. Army cannons fired 21 shots to salute Suleiman, 59, as a brass band played Lebanon’s national anthem. Dozens of his staff members erupted into applause. After surveying the republican guard and listening to the national anthem, a smiling Sleiman took his seat in the presidential chair. Earlier Monday, Suleiman bid farewell at Beirut’s airport to the emir of Qatar, who brokered a deal among Lebanese politicians last week which led to the election. Parliament had failed to elect a new president 19 times in the past six months. "I call on you all, people and politicians, for a new beginning," Suleiman said after he was sworn in Sunday. "Let us be united." He set to work immediately, scheduling consultations with lawmakers on Wednesday to begin forming a new governent, an official in the president’s office said on condition of anonymity pending a formal statement. Once parliamentary leaders name a new prime minister, that person would then present a Cabinet lineup for the president’s approval. The cabinet then needs to draft a policy statement to present to parliament for a vote of confidence. The majority is expected to choose the prime minister from its ranks. Saniora or majority coalition leader Saad Hariri are among those mentioned in the media as candidates.   Siniora said earlier that he did not want to head the next cabinet, but acknowledged that the parliamentary majority had the final say on this issue.  Cabinet posts will be distributed according to the Doha agreement: 16 for the majority, 11 for the opposition and three for the president, who heads the cabinet. The group must also respect an equal split between Christians and Muslims, as required under Lebanon’s power-sharing formula.

US President George W. Bush Monday invited incoming Lebanese President Michel Sleiman to Washington for talks after congratulating him on taking office, Bush’s spokesman said.  "The president invited President Sleiman to come to Washington so the two leaders can meet to discuss issues of strategic importance to both the United States and Lebanon," said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe. Bush called Sleiman to congratulate him on becoming president and "reiterated his commitment to the government of Lebanon and to a strong and modern Lebanese Armed Forces. The Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak also called President Sleiman to congratulate him and invite him for an official visit. "On the other side of the political divide, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad telephoned Sleiman to congratulate him and had promised that Damascus was "at Lebanon’s side," according to a report on Lebananese television. The President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad telephoned Sleiman to congratulate him and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, also welcomed Sleiman’s election. Syria and Iran back Hezbollah, the Shiite group which spearheads the Lebanese opposition. "All countries in the region, be they Arab or Islamic, are overwhelmed with joy and pride at this glorious and blessed agreement," Mottaki said Sunday. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he hoped the "historic" vote would lead to the "revitalization of all of Lebanon’s constitutional institutions and a return to political dialogue." The Slovenian presidency of the European Union also welcomed Sleiman’s election and pledged its support for Lebanese "unity and stability." "The Presidency of the EU reaffirms its support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, unity and stability," a statement said.  Moscow also welcomed the swearing in of Suleiman, who served as Lebanon’s army chief for the past 10 years.  "Moscow sincerely welcomes the election of Lebanon’s president and we hope … that Lebanon will leave behind it this period of crises and blows, [and] find the path to domestic peace and stable democracy," a statement from the Russian Ministry of Foreign affairs said.  Former colonial power France was more guarded, saying the arrival of Suleiman would constitute a major change in Paris’ relations with Lebanon’s neighbor, Syria.  President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged full support for Suleiman and said he hoped the election would allow Lebanon to take a significant step forward and "confront the challenges that await."  But Suleiman’s election constitutes a "new act" and "we are in the process of examining the consequences to be drawn from the situation," the spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry, Pascale Andreani, said, when probed by reporters about French-Syrian relations.  British Prime minister contacted Sleiman to congratulate him on the new post. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the election was "an important step forward," adding: "We look forward to President Suleiman working with a unity government to bring Lebanon out of its current fragility."  German President Horst Koehler said he welcomed "this bold step" toward resolving Lebanon’s political crisis and wished Suleiman "good luck in the big challenges that lie ahead of you."  Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his country "stands ready to assist the Lebanese government in any way possible," adding that Suleiman had "tremendous experience and the confidence of the Lebanese people."

In another event on Monday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said his group wasn’t seeking to control Lebanon or impose its views, in a speech Monday marking the eighth anniversary of Israel’s pullout from the south of the country."Hezbollah does not want power over Lebanon, nor does it want to control Lebanon or govern the country," Nasrallah said via video link to tens of thousands of supporters gathered in his stronghold in southern Beirut. "For we believe that Lebanon is a special, pluralistic country. The existence of this country only comes about through coexistence, and this is what we are demanding," said the leader of the militant Shiite group. Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said Monday that Lebanese prisoners held in Israel jails would soon return home. "Samir Kantar and his brothers will soon be home among their families," Nasrallah said during a speech to commemorate the eighth anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon on May 2000.  Releasing the prisoners is our duty and it is our holy mission," Nasarllah said without providing any further details.  A Lebanese official close to the negotiations said earlier that another prisoner, Nessim Nisr, was expected to be released soon. He did not give further details. I reaffirm the Doha agreement clause that prevents the use of arms to attain political goals," Nasrallah said. He has also added,  "The resistance’s arms are to fight the enemy, liberate lands and prisoners, and defend Lebanon and nothing else," he pledged, referring to his Shiite group’s enmity with Israel which pulled out of south Lebanon in 2000. Nasrallah also ruled out the state’s weaponry being used to settle domestic accounts. "The government’s arms or those of the army or armed forces are to defend the nation, the people and their rights, the government, and to maintain security," Nasrallah said. "The government’s arms cannot be used to settle accounts with a political opponent. The government’s arms cannot be used to target the resistance and its arms," he added. "All arms must remain in the service of the goal they were created for," Nasrallah said. Nasrallah spoke to a crowd of tens of thousands the day after army chief Michel Sleiman was elected Lebanon’s president, ending a long-running political crisis that left the country without a head of state since late November.

For pictures of President General Michel Sleiman please click read more

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Lebanon’s Suleiman becomes 12th president

Malek Fady el Khazen founder of khazen.org on behalf of himself and his direct family convey their happiness in this great day and congratulates his Excellency President Of Lebanon General Michel Suleiman and wishes his success in the presidency and prosperity of Lebanon. 

Lebanon’s Parliemanet elected army chief General Michel Suleiman as the country’s 12th president, filling a post left vacant for six months by a political crisis that threatened a new civil war. He was elected with a total of 118 votes and 6 blank copies. He won 118 votes of the 127 living members of the legislature on Sunday. Six cast blank ballots and one voted for slain ex-premier Rafiq Hariri and several MPs killed in Lebanon since 2005. One MP also voted for former MP Jean Obeid and another voted for majority MP Nassib Lahoud.   After Suleiman was sworn in, the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora resigned in line with the Constitution but will stay on in a caretaker capacity.  Suleiman arrived at Parliament shortly after the election accompanied by Speaker Nabih Berri, who left the Parliament building after the vote and returned with the newly elected president in line with protocol.  Lebanon’s newly-elected President Michel Suleiman took his oath of office. "I pledge to respect and protect Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and its constitution," Suleiman, who was greeted with heavy applause from lawmakers and guests, said.President Michel Suleiman’s inauguration speech was very positive. After taking the presidential oath, Suleiman delivered an inaugural address that dealth with several contentious issues. Previous addresses of this sort have tended to be vague, but this one was both comprehensive and specific in detailing the numerous daunting challenges facing this country. It was also forthright in acknowledging the issues that have recently divided Lebanon’s political parties. Perhaps most importantly, the new president clearly indicated – by both his choice of words and his tone of voice – that he intends to take charge of the reconciliation process. In short, Suleiman’s term in office has the potential to be the most important Lebanon has ever seen. The country has just passed through a long moment of high drama and mortal peril, and he will preside over a transition to the next phase. How he does so will help to determine what that phase looks like – and so whether Lebanon can begin at last to provide all of its citizens with the homeland they deserve. Tackling relations with neighbouring Syria, one of the many challenges his presidency will face, Suleiman called for the establishment of formal diplomatic links with Damascus.  "We look strongly to brotherly ties between Lebanon and Syria in the context of mutual respect of the sovereignty and borders of each country and diplomatic ties which will bring good for both of them," the new president declared. "Let us unite… and work towards a solid reconciliation," the former army chief said after being sworn in before lawmakers. "We have paid dearly for our national unity. Let us preserve it hand-in-hand." "I call upon all of you, politicians and citizens, to start a new phase called Lebanon and the Lebanese… in order to achieve the interests of the nation," he said. He also added "On this path to salvation, some valiant resistance and some courageous soldiers also offered their lives in order to defeat terrorism, Israeli aggression from south Lebanon to its north," he said. "The achievements of the resistance should not be exploited in internal disputes."  In an indirect reference to the recent clashes between opposition and pro-government supporters, Suleiman said Lebanon’s weapons should only be directed at the Israeli enemy.  He has also added his dedication to Hariri Tribunal. The onus is on President Suleiman to help politicians of all stripes rid themselves – and Lebanon as a whole – of their fractious ways. A unity government is about to be formed, one whose missions will include establishing more permanent rules for the conduct of political competition in a legitimate manner that seeks solutions to problems instead of exacerbating their effects. No Lebanese Cabinet has ever embarked on so ambitious and necessary a project, and since this one will be in office for less than a year, it cannot be expected to undo several generations’ worth of poor statecraft and poorer leadership. It can, however, lay down a new course toward a more productive brand of politics, a more sensible ordering of national priorities, and a brighter future for all Lebanese.

House Speaker Nabih Berri congratulated Suleiman and said "Reconciliation is an essential step for the revival of Lebanon." He also thanked Qatar for its efforts toward ending the Lebanese crisis. It is today a great day of hope for Lebanon, starting a new process of consolidation of democratic institutions,"   But he took a swipe at Washington, saying: "I thank the United States nonetheless, seeing that it seems to have been convinced that Lebanon is not the appropriate place for its New Middle East plan." He was referring to comments made by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who described the plight of Lebanon during Israel’s 2006 war against it as part of the "birth pangs of the New Middle East"  Addressing the Lebanese parliament after the election, Al Thani said that Sleiman’s election was part of a process towards a lasting peace in Lebanon."The Lebanese [leadership], with its variety and diversity, acknowledged that there is no alternative but to reach an entente that will safeguard Lebanon’s security and interests," he said."All Arab nations will feel reassured that the dearest countires will be able to embark on a new era based on freedom. "Lebanon is the victor, Lebanon’s crisis is the vanquished." Members of parliament from the ruling majority and the opposition attended a parliamentary session at 5 PM  to elect Suleiman as president, as stipulated by the Doha agreement. The vote had been postponed 19 times because of the crisis. It defuses a conflict that has stoked sectarian tensions, paralyzed government and battered the economy. Parliament has not met for more than a year and a half.  Sunday’s vote was attended by Qatar’s emir and his prime minister,  — the driving force behind the Doha agreement — It was also attended by the Prime minister of Turkey and a host of foreign ministers including those of arch-rivals Syria and Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister from France, Spain, Iran, Italy,  Turkey, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuweit, Jordan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates. A U.S. delegation of congressmen

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Beirut restaurants face new challenges as sit-in ends

Daily star BEIRUT: As municipality and Sukleen workers removed the remaining concrete barriers and swept the streets in Beirut Central District (BCD), restaurant and shop owners in this fancy commercial area slowly opened their business Thursday. The opposition decision to end the 18-month sit-in near the Grand Serail brought a near immediate boost to the private sector. Stocks in the Beirut bourse climbed to record levels for the second day in a row on Thursday. Tour operators said they already expected Arab tourists to flock Lebanon in big numbers this summer. But for many business owners in the BCD, the problems have just started. "Don’t expect all restaurants to resume operations any time soon. Many of these restaurant owners cannot afford to open their doors for customers," Paul Aryss, the head of the Restaurant Owners Association, told The Daily Star. Aryss said around 30 to 40 restaurants have apparently decided to stay closed this summer because the financial losses they incurred during the 18-month sit-in have been quite heavy. There are a little more than 100 restaurants in the BCD.

"Most of the businesses in the BCD have to pay taxes and municipality fees that accumulated over the past two years. In addition, Solidere will ask the restaurants, shops and offices located in this area to pay all outstanding rents since the opposition pitched their camps," Aryss said. Restaurant rents in the commercial district ranges between $150,000 to $200,000 a year. "These rents are piling up and of course Solidere is going to ask for their money now that the sit-in is over," Aryss said.  The government of outgoing Premier Fouad Siniora promised last year to offer relief to businesses in the BCD affected by the long sit-in. Among the promised measures were tax and municipality-fee exemptions to businesses in the BCD.

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