Mustaqbal: Lebanon Will Not Remain an Iranian Platform to Target Saudi Arabia

by english.aawsat.com -

Lebanon’s Mustaqbal Movement, headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, condemned on Saturday the latest speech of “Hezbollah” chief Hassan Nasrallah during which he attacked Saudi Arabia. The Movement stressed in a statement that the “Lebanese people will not allow Lebanon to remain an Iranian platform to target Saudi Arabia and Arab countries.” Nasrallah delivered a speech on Friday on the occasion of “Quds Day,” which is marked in Iran by anti-Israel and anti-US rallies. The Mustaqbal statement described Nasrallah’s speech as “renewed yelling against the Kingdom that reflects the pain that the Iranian agenda is suffering from in the Arab region.” The suffering has “pushed it to insanity and playing on the edge of the abyss.”

The Lebanese movement noted that Saudi Arabia’s policies have exposed the goals of Iran’s “disruptive agenda. It has also become clear that Iran and the Israeli enemy are two faces of the same coin.” They are both enemies of Arabs and “Iran in particular has outdone Israel because it is directly responsible for the plights of some Arab countries.” It lamented how “some sides are insistent on sabotaging Lebanon’s ties with its Arab brothers, starting with Saudi Arabia. They have sought diligently to target it as part of efforts to improve the image of Iran, from which the Lebanese have only seen destruction, division and implication in its disruptive wars.” The Mustaqbal Movement therefore said that all sides should assume their responsibilities, saying that the Lebanese people will not allow their country to remain an Iranian platform to attack Arab countries, starting with Saudi Arabia, whenever Tehran’s interests demand it.

“We are concerned first and foremost with Lebanon’s interest, which we place above all else,” stressed the statement. It highlighted Saudi Arabia’s leading role in fighting terrorism, whether in the form of ISIS or Iran, and it is one of the primary defenders of the dignified life of the Arab and Muslim nation. The Mustaqbal Movement also condemned the “cowardly” terrorist attack that was thwarted in Mecca on Friday, saying that it was aimed at undermining Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role in the region under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It noted that the plot came in wake of Yemen’s Houthi militia’s attempt to strike Mecca with Iranian rockets only a few months ago. Friday’s failed attack comes to complement the Houthi plot, said the movement, noting that it is a “dangerous sign” that Iran is beginning to employ terrorism in its battle to destroy Saudi Arabia after it used such a tactic in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain and Lebanon.

Mecca Grand Mosque attack draws condemnation from Lebanese politicians

by daily star.com.lb

BEIRUT: Mecca's Friday Grand Mosque attack Saturday drew condemnations from political leaders and parties in Lebanon. Prime Minister Saad Hariri Saturday condemned Friday's extremist plot against the Grand Mosque in Mecca. “The diabolical mind that has planned for this operation sets evident proof of an evil mob that has reached an point of perversity and disobedience of Islamic preaching where they take part in an act of aggression against the Grand Mosque [in Mecca] and the crowds of believers [in it],” Hariri was quoted as saying in a statement from his media office.

Saudi security forces foiled an attack on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca Friday, Saudi media had said. Hariri also praised the swift response of the Saudi security forces in foiling the attempt. Security forces reportedly found two groups of terrorists in the holy city of Mecca and a third group in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. A man wanted by Saudi authorities was shot dead. Several others were apprehended in Mecca. “Lebanon stands side by side with Saudi Arabia, as a government and a people, against terrorist and any [party] covering it,” Hariri said. Future movement decried the scheme and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia. "Any aggression against Saudi Arabia is a flagrant attack against us in Lebanon and in the Arab and Islamic countries," a statement from Future Movement said. Progressive Socialist Party head MP Walid Jumblatt also condemned the scheme and "the expanse of the circle of terrorism" that is alien to Islamic traditions. Hezbollah also issued a statement condemning the plot.

Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati also denounced the Grand Mosque extremist attempt. "We stand in solidarity with Saudi Arabia," Mikati said on Twitter. Former Justice Minister retired Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi also joined the condemnation statements and saluted the efforts of the Saudi security forces. "The criminal and terrorist attack that was plotted against the most sacred spot for Muslims casts great responsibility upon the Arab and Islamic countries to continue in their fight against the makers and supporters of terrorism," Rif said.

The Nawaya Project: The Lebanese talent program taking on youth unemployment

by thenationonlineng.net

It is rather customary to say that a simple encounter can change the course of your life. Nothing holds more true for Zeina Saab. In 2009, the Lebanese-American took her first humanitarian journey with USAID to the isolated Lebanese village of Chmestar. There, in a maze of alleyways, she met Nadeen Ghosn. The unabashed 14-year-old spontaneously presented Zeina with a collection of her drawings.  What Saab saw were not clumsy children’s pictures, but a series of elaborate dress sketches that would easily be at home in a sewing atelier. Nadeen, however, had never even learned the basics of fashion design.

Zeina was blown away. Upon returning home, the young woman with an Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from MIT, had one idea in mind: to help Nadeen. “When I met her, I knew that she could one day become the next great fashion designer. Nadeen, however, had no support. Without means or resources, her talent would never be cultivated”, says Saab, now 33 years old. The idea continued to germinate in Zeina’s mind until 2012, when she founded “The Nawaya Project”, an innovative NGO that helps marginalised youth develop their talent so that they can integrate into the workforce.

During the three years following her initial meeting with Nadeen, Zeina took the necessary steps to launch the “Talent Program”, in which she and the 10 members of the Nawaya team connect youth from underprivileged backgrounds with mentors and professionals. There have been over 300 beneficiaries since the beginning of the project, their main  objective: to develop and cultivate their passions and talents in various fields, such as design, music, athletics, writing, performing arts and even coding and robotics. Though she is currently focused on Lebanon, Zeina Saab has her sights on growth. “We want to expand our platform to the entire Middle East. If it works, we will create a globally connected community engaged in the development and empowerment of disenfranchised youth around the world”, she says with conviction.

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Chinese FM calls for more efforts to solve refugee crisis in Mideast

BEIRUT, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China advocates more actions to curb the deterioration of a refugee crisis in the Middle East and find a solution as soon as possible, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday. Wang made the remarks at a press conference after meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil in Beirut during an one-day visit to Lebanon. He noted that refugees are not migrants, and the international community should strive to create appropriate conditions, through seeking a more swift solution to hot-button issues, for the refugees to return to their homes. Bassil said Lebanon is under huge pressure in hosting refugees, mostly from Syria, adding that the world should understand and support Lebanon's legal requests on the refugee problem.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Lebanon is currently hosting 1.03 million Syrian refugees who fled their war-torn country since the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad started in March 2011. Earlier in the day, the Chinese top diplomat held a meeting with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun, during which both expressed willingness to expand the bilateral cooperation. Aoun praised the Belt and Road Initiative by China, adding that Lebanon expects to see the revival of the ancient Silk Road. He said Lebanon is ready to actively participate in the initiative in a bid to boost economic and cultural exchanges. The president also hailed what China has done for the stability of Lebanon and the Middle East, and welcomed China, Lebanon's largest trade partner, to invest more in the region. Wang said he believed all parties and religions in Lebanon would continue dialogue and negotiations to keep national unity and maintain security and stability, thus providing useful experiences in how different civilizations could coexist peacefully. Wang said, in light of the good momentum in Sino-Lebanese economic and trade relations, China is willing to enhance the bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

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The consecration by Cardinal Rai will take place at Fatima on Sunday

by catholicherald.co.uk

The head of the Maronite Church is to consecrate Lebanon and the whole of the Middle East to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a pilgrimage to Fatima. The act of consecration by Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai will take place during a Eucharistic liturgy on Sunday, according to Fides news agency. It will mark the culmination of “Lebanon Day” at the shrine, which will begin late on Saturday with the recitation of the Rosary and a candlelit procession. Fides said Patriarch Rai has already consecrated Lebanon and the Middle East to the Immaculate Heart but at a Marian shrine in Harissa, Lebanon, rather than at Fatima. The Portuguese shrine is marking 100 years since Mary first appeared to three children on the site. Pope Francis canonised two of the seers last month. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, re-consecrated England and Wales to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in February. The consecration was first made by Cardinal Bernard Griffin in 1948. Pope Francis, meanwhile, consecrated the whole world to the Immaculate Heart within months of his election as Pope, following the example of Pope Pius XII and St John Paul II.

Political Leaders Meet in Baabda, Agree on Political-Economic Vision

by naharnet - Political parties represented in the government convened in a consultative meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda at the invitation of President Michel Aoun. A closing statement said the conferees agreed on "continuing the implementation of the Document of National Accord (Taef Accord), especially in terms of harmonizing between preserving our democratic, pluralistic system and devising a clear vision with a specific timeframe for a full transition to a complete civil state.” The conferees said such a plan should start with “consolidating equality and equal (Christian-Muslim) power-sharing before moving to the formation of the national commission for the abolition of sectarianism.” The leaders also agreed on “preserving the country's structural foundations especially in terms of demography and geography, and holding onto Lebanon's social fabric.” “We will confront any attempt to naturalize any non-Lebanese group on Lebanon's soil and we will work on preventing any internal migration whether from the rural areas or through the transfer of personal status records across regions,” the statement added.

The conferees also stressed the need to “approve administrative decentralization as soon as possible and preserving the civil state.” On the economic front, the political leaders said Lebanon needs to implement “a comprehensive economic plan, approve a state budget, secure economic growth, create jobs, achieve balanced development, create a productive economy, protect domestic markets and production, forbid monopoly, encourage individual initiatives, and benefit from Lebanon's grand fortune which includes its innovators, intellectuals and civil society.” “The government is required to follow up on this plan through a ministerial committee aimed at providing the necessary infrastructure for the rise of the national economy, such as providing 24/24 power supply, protecting Lebanon's water resources, creating dams, cleaning river streams, and utilizing oil resources through finalizing the legal framework for land and offshore drilling,” the statement added. The conferees also called for “expediting the process of providing high-speed internet for the cheapest possible prices, devising a public transportation plan, and securing the necessary funds for wrapping up the file of those who were displaced during civil war.”

As for reform, the country's political leaders underscored the importance of “endorsing transparency in the work of state institutions, reactivating public administration through restructuring it with competent and specialized appointments, helping the judiciary immunize its independence, activating the work of inspection authorities to fight corruption, and modernizing and implementing laws especially those pertaining to the judiciary, investment and commerce.” “These points represent a host of national goals on which all Lebanese agree and their success would be a success for the whole country, that's why they must be pursued and implemented through a unified national will,” the conferees concluded.

The meeting was attended by Speaker Nabih Berri, PM Saad Hariri, Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh representing leader of the Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblat, Head of the Free Patriotic Movement and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Syrian Social Nationalist Party leader and State Minister of Parliament Affairs Ali Qansou, Head of the Lebanese Democratic party and Minister of the Displaced Talal Arslan, Head of the Tashnag party Hagop Pakradounian, MP Mohammed Raad representing Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea. Franjieh's visit to Baabda was the first since Aoun's election as president in November 2016. He had boycotted the binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier as well as the latest presidential iftar banquet. The meeting comes a few days after the agreement on an electoral law that will govern the parliamentary elections scheduled for May 2018. The meeting was widely criticized by opposition parties mainly Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel. He said the “opposition should have been invited to the meeting as well.” Lebanon Baabda