Lebanon’s interior minister: Crisis with Gulf could worsen

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Lebanon Interior Minister

by AP -- Lebanon’s interior minister said Tuesday that every delay in resolving the diplomatic crisis with Gulf nations threatens to affect the lives of more Lebanese already reeling from a massive economic crisis. Bassam Mawlawi said resolving the crisis begins with the resignation of the Cabinet minister whose comments sparked the ire of Saudi Arabia, calling it long overdue. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Saudi Arabia, a traditional ally of Lebanon, withdrew its ambassador and asked the Lebanese envoy to leave last month following televised comments by George Kordahi, Lebanon’s information minister. Kordahi said the war in Yemen was futile and called it an aggression by the Arab Coalition. Yemen’s war began with the 2014 takeover of Sanaa by the Houthi rebels, who control much of the country’s north. The Arab Coalition entered the war the following year determined to restore the internationally recognized government and oust the rebels.

Kordahi recorded the comments weeks before he was named minister and has refused to apologize or step down despite appeals from many, including the prime minister. Lebanese officials have said his remarks do not represent official government views. “This is taking a long time. It should not take more than a month to be resolved,” Mawlawi told The Associated Press. “He should have resigned before. He should have resigned immediately. ... Every delay causes more grave damage to the Lebanese, whether those in Lebanon or in the Gulf.” Bahrain, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait followed Saudi Arabia and also recalled their ambassadors. The Saudis have also banned Lebanese imports, affecting hundreds of businesses and cutting off hundreds of millions in foreign currency to Lebanon, which is already facing a major economic meltdown.

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سليمان للنديم – هذا هو سبب الخلاف مع التيار والحزب ... وهل مطروحاً لولاية جديدة لرئاسة الجمهورية؟

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Lebanon celebrates Independence Day with dull military parade

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By Najia Houssari - arabnews.com -- BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun has urged the Lebanese not to “drown in despair and to trust their state and take part in the next parliamentary elections.” His remarks came as Lebanon celebrated its 78th Independence Day on Monday with a dull symbolic military parade at the Defense Ministry. Meanwhile, civil society celebrated the day with a powerful and crowded gathering near the Beirut port where the massive blast that shook the city took place on Aug. 4, 2020. In his televised speech on the eve of the Independence Day, Aoun indicated that the way out of the current government crisis was “not that difficult.” Aoun said the solution would be to commit to the constitution, which required “the separation of powers.”

On Sunday night, the Culture Ministry lit up the national museum’s building with the Lebanese flag’s colors. The traditional reception that usually takes place at the presidential palace was not held this year due to the current situation in Lebanon and the circumstances brought about by the coronavirus. The impact of the political and economic crises were clear — whether through the dull presence of President Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Najib Mikati at the military parade, or the sad statements delivered by some politicians and even diplomats. The symbolic civil show that was held near the port reflected people’s suffering and unrest due to the disasters that have hit the Lebanese. The US Embassy in Lebanon simply tweeted a picture featuring a natural scene from a Lebanese region and wrote: “May we celebrate Independence Day in better conditions.”

French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo extended wishes in a tweet “for a Lebanon that is sovereign and united to overcome the challenges it faces today. A nation and a country that stem from the Lebanese’ strong attachment to living together in an open, free and pluralistic country.” Grillo, whose country has led an initiative to solve the Lebanese crisis, said that “France stands beside the Lebanese population that is committed with determination, talent and courage to building the nation they aspire to and deserve.” “The tragic situation in Lebanon requires all authorities, as well as the political class, to assume their responsibilities without further delay,” she said.

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Russia sends satellite images of Beirut port explosion to Lebanon

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by al-monitor.com -- Russia sent satellite images of the Beirut port explosion to Lebanon today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference. Speaking to reporters alongside his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bouhabib in Moscow, Lavrov said Russia’s space agency Roscosmos provided the imagery to Lebanon, Reuters reported. The Beirut port explosion took place in August 2020, leaving more than 200 dead and thousands displaced. The blast occurred when 2,750 tons of the fertilizer ammonium nitrate caught fire in a warehouse at the port. Last month, Lebanese President Michel Aoun asked Russia to provide satellite images of the explosion site to help with the investigation. Aoun did not say why he asked for help from Russia, nor why he did not request it earlier.

Many Lebanese are unhappy with the government's investigation into the blast. Last week, families of officials arrested in relation to the incident demanded the release of their loved ones. No one has yet been convicted of wrongdoing. The investigation was suspended again last month after a former member of parliament sued in response to a warrant for his arrest. Bouhabib and Lavrov also discussed expanding and upgrading the Beirut port terminal for the Russian oil company Rosneft. Lavrov expressed confidence in Lebanon’s government, according to Russia’s official Tass news agency.

US Secretary Blinken wishes Lebanon’s people well, not government officials

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by alarabiya.net -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday sent his greetings to the “people of Lebanon” on their Independence Day, stopping short of making any mention of the Lebanese government. Lebanese politicians and officials have been at the fore of domestic and international criticism since the country was thrown into an unprecedented socioeconomic crisis. Nationwide anti-government protests broke out in 2019 as hundreds of thousands of Lebanese demonstrators took to the streets to demand the government's resignation.

Despite then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri stepping down, the traditional ruling elite has put together consecutive governments with candidates backed by them. “On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to the people of Lebanon on their Independence Day,” Blinken said in a statement. “During these trying times, the United States will continue to stand by the people of Lebanon and support their hopes for a better future,” the top US diplomat said. He added: “The United States recognizes both the rich culture and perseverance of the Lebanese people, who have faced and overcome many challenges over the past 78 years.” Robert Danin, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Quartet Jerusalem Mission Head, pointed out that Blinken did not mention the Lebanese government. “Noteworthy @StateDept Lebanon National Day statement that three times references the Lebanese people but pointedly omits any mention of its government or leaders,” he tweeted.

President Michel Sleiman: نعم لاقتراح وائل بو فاعور على رئيس الجمهورية الدعوة الى حوار

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نعم لاقتراح وائل بو فاعور على رئيس الجمهورية الدعوة الى حوار وطني  لمناقشة الاستراتيجية الدفاعية وادوار حزب الله في الخارج.
المصداقية تقتضي ان يتضمن جدول الاعمال المتابعة من حيث وصل الحوار السابق. اي وضع الاجراءات التنفيذية لتحييد لبنان وفقاً لاعلان بعبدا ووضع جدول زمني للتخلي عن السلاح لا يتجاوز السنة يكون خلالها قرار السلم والحرب بيد الدولة اللبنانية