19 September 2007 BEIRUT: In its latest report for the fourth quarter of 2007, London-based Business Monitor International (BMI) maintained its 2007 real GDP growth forecast for Lebanon at 2 percent. However, the agency, which conducts credit rating and country risk research, believes that this growth is propelled by postwar reconstruction activity rather than a vibrant overall economic situation.

The forecast stems from BMI's belief that the precariousness of consumer and investor confidence has driven the economy into a state of "just getting by." Nonetheless, the country has huge growth potential, the report said."Positive reforms and the government's full harnessing of its resources could cause drastic upward revisions in forecasts that could reach 4.5 percent in 2007, since the economy is already coming from a very low base," BMI said in a report published in Bank Audi's weekly bulletin.

The report indicates that some sectors avoided the impact of domestic economic stagnation, as receipts from exports continued to show positive growth throughout 2007, as a result of the continuous strong demand from the Gulf.About 40 percent of Lebanese exports go to the Middle East, with the UAE accounting for a significant 8 percent, followed by Syria with 7.4 percent, Iraq at 6.8 percent, and Saudi Arabia at 6.3 percent. BMI expects this demand to remain high, given the fact that oil prices are still soaring.

صولانج بشير الجميّل

بيروت في 14/9/2007

 جئناك يا بشير، في ذكرى استشهادك الخامسة والعشرين، لنؤكّد لك تمسّكنا بثوابتك الوطنية، التي ناضلت واستشهدت مع رفاقك من أجلها.

ظنّوا انهم غيّبوك لينقضّوا على لبنان،

ظنّوا أنهم إغتالوك ليغتالوا في قلوبنا الأمل،

لكن، لأول مرّة، أشعر أن استشهادَك لم يذهب سدىً كما كانوا يأملون وينتظرون. فدماء شركائنا في الوطن امتزجت بدمائك ودماء رفاقك، لترسم بكل فخر خريطة لبنان الجديد، لبنانَ السيّد، لبنانَ المستقل ولبنان الثائر على كلّ احتلال والرافض لأية هيمنة.

وها هي اليوم دماءُ شهداءِ جيشنا البطل، تؤكد لك يا بشير، ما كنتَ تحلم به للبنان من جيش وطنّي، قويّ بإرادته وتصميمه.

BEIRUT Daily Star: Speaker Nabih Berri declared Thursday that no Parliament session can take place without him, and warned that while the Lebanese Army would remain united during a widely feared domestic political crisis, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) might split. Appearing on the country's  most influential political talk show, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation's "Kalam al-Naas," Berri warned that despite what some in the March 14 camp might think, Parliament cannot convene to elect a new president without him.

"Because I called for a parliamentary session on September 25, they cannot meet ... without me or by virtue of law as they think," said Berri, quoting Article 73 of the Constitution. The speaker vowed to continue calling for a session, even after October 24, which marks a deadline of 10 days before President Emile Lahoud's (extended) mandate expires and said: "I have the right!" "There are hundreds of legitimate [candidates] among the Maronites, so why can't we agree on one?" he asked.

Berri also expressed disappointed at the "delays" from the majority camp in responding to his initiative. "By delaying, the intensity of the initiative dies down," said Berri, who nonetheless insisted that he would push his compromise proposal to the very end. Citing a poll of 600 Beirutis from all sects conducted on Thursday, Berri said 76 per cent  backed his initiative, with support strongest among Shiites (99 per cent) and lowest among Druze (55 per cent).

Berri also expressed "discomfort" at a statement by UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, who opined that if the two thirds-quorum is not present, a president should be elected by absolute majority and should fulfill all UN resolutions, particularly 1559. "The Lebanese are in great disagreement over 1559, so why raise that controversial point at this crucial time?" asked Berri, who added that he received a telephone call from UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon, who assured him that what Roed-Larsen said will be "discussed and studied."