Press review 25-9-2013

Press review 25-9-2013
The Daily Star
Lebanon is facing a crisis of existence: Sleiman
http://bit.ly/18Yh8XD
By Hussein Dakroub
BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman warned Tuesday that Lebanon faced a
crisis of existence as a result of regional conflicts around it and urged the
international community to help his cash-strapped country cope with the
rising flow of refugees from war-ravaged Syria.
Sleiman was addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York shortly
after U.S. President Barack Obama pledged during a meeting with him $8.7
million in additional aid to the Lebanese Army to help maintain Lebanon’s
stability.
During a meeting with Sleiman on the sidelines of the Assembly, Obama
said the financial aid was aimed at helping the military protect its borders
against terrorist threats and illicit goods.
Lebanese authorities have repeatedly said the Army was incapable of fully
protecting its 550-kilometer-long border with Syria, which complains that
the joint frontier has become a smuggling route for gunmen and weapons.
U.S. officials have voiced similar concerns.
“Lebanon is facing a crisis of existence as a result of regional conflicts
around it. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian and Syrian refugees are
flooding into the country,” Sleiman said in his speech.
Declaring that the 30-month-old conflict in Syria presented Lebanon with
“several challenges,” he said: “We call on the international community to
support Lebanon with regard to the issue of Syrian refugees.”
“Lebanon needs the support of friendly and brotherly countries to face the
repercussions of regional conflicts that are threatening its security and
stability and are negatively affecting its economic and social conditions,”
Sleiman added.
“The most pressing burden resulted from the increasing number of Syrian
refugees. Their number now accounts for a quarter of Lebanon’s
population,” he said.
Sleiman called for the convening of an international conference on Syrian
refugees during which the burdens of hosting the refugees could be shared
among donor countries.
For his part, Obama praised Lebanon for its generosity in welcoming
refugees fleeing the war in Syria and pledged tens of millions of dollars in
aid to help offset the costs of the crisis.
“The United States strongly supports the role of the Lebanese Armed
Forces in maintaining Lebanon’s stability, and today we’re announcing an
additional $8.7 million that would provide needed equipment in support of
the Lebanese armed forces in internal stability and border security
missions,” Obama said, according to the National News Agency.
Obama urged all parties in Lebanon to refrain from engaging in the 30month-old Syrian conflict, saying the U.S. strongly rejected Hezbollah’s
heavy involvement in that conflict. He added that Lebanon has full U.S.
support as it seeks to preserve its independence amid the regional chaos.
Commenting on the U.S.-Russia deal that would see Damascus handing
over its stockpile of chemical arms, Obama said: “We are pleased that
there may be progress in getting rid of Syria’s chemical weapons ... which
would be good for Lebanon.”
The meeting with Sleiman came after Obama announced $339 million in
additional humanitarian aid in response to Syria’s crisis, including $74
million for Lebanon to support the refugees.
Obama called on the international community to do more to help. He
praised Lebanon for having been “tremendously generous” in welcoming
refugees fleeing the war in Syria.
Sleiman said Lebanon has had a difficult time dealing with the influx of
refugees. Lebanon has a population of about 4.5 million and now officially
hosts more than 700,000 registered refugees. He has estimated at least 1
million Syrian refugees are in Lebanon, with thousands more crossing over
each week.
During the meeting with Obama, Sleiman demanded “support from the
international community and the United States to ensure the success of the
meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon and help Lebanon
face the burden of the influx of Syrian refugees,” NNA reported.
On the eve of the meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon,
Sleiman said: “We are hoping for the important U.S. participation in this
meeting to secure the political and economic support for Lebanon, support
for the Army and necessary support to accommodate the Syrian refugees.”
Addressing the General Assembly, Sleiman called for a political solution to
the crisis in Syria that would preserve the country’s unity. He said he hoped
the U.S.-Russian understanding to destroy Syria’s chemical stockpiles
would be “a gateway to a political solution” in the strife-torn country.
He also called for reforming the world’s political and financial systems in
order to guarantee the participation of minorities in running public affairs
and preserving the free presence of these minorities in the world.
Sleiman also met separately with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Saudi Foreign
Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and the head of the World Bank Jim Yong
Kim. He is expected to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
He will attend Wednesday a conference of the International Support Group
for Lebanon designed to help Lebanon cope with the rising number of
Syrian refugees.
The meeting will address three main concerns: Support for refugees and
host communities, helping Lebanon’s economy and financial system and
assisting the Lebanese security forces.
Lebanon has repeatedly called for international assistance to address the
refugee crisis, complaining that pledged assistance from the international
community has failed to materialize.
Lebanese officials say the refugee influx has strained the country’s health
care and education systems, as well as Lebanon’s economy.
Lebanon is officially committed to a policy of disassociation from the Syrian
crisis, despite the involvement of various Lebanese factions in the civil war
there.
From New York, Sleiman will fly to Saudi Arabia on an official visit to
discuss with Saudi officials the political crisis in Lebanon and the
repercussions of the war in Syria on the country’s security and stability.
Aoun: FPM in need of a framework to carry legacy
http://bit.ly/1bFalck
By Hasan Lakkis, Wassim Mroueh
BEIRUT: Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun denied Monday
media reports that he would resign from his post within six months, as an
FPM member said party officials were mulling over ways to select a
successor for the former Army commander.
“I am staying in my post for an indefinite period of time,” Aoun told reporters
after chairing the weekly meeting of his Change and Reform parliamentary
bloc at his Rabieh residence.
Aoun said that contrary to some reports, the FPM would not cease to exist
upon his resignation.
“The Free Patriotic Movement represents generations and their aspirations.
It is in need of a cadre to continue shouldering the mission, one that I have
to establish and train,” Aoun said.
Aoun said there were many competent FPM officials that could succeed
him once he leaves.
“They are our students, whom we trained and who are now getting
leadership experience and are being exposed to the precise roots of
Lebanese society,” Aoun said.
A local media outlet reported Tuesday that Aoun told FPM officials in a
recent meeting that they had to choose a successor for him within six
months, as he would not remain in his post.
The newspaper added that Aoun believed that selecting his successor
while he was still alive was better because it would avoid leadership
conflicts in the future. The media outlet said Aoun did not specify whether
his successor would be elected or appointed.
Naji Hayek, an FPM official who attended the meeting that took place
Saturday, said discussions tackled several topics, including ideas
concerning the mechanism to select a successor for Aoun when he
eventually steps down. But Hayek said “nothing is imminent.”
Speaking to The Daily Star, Hayek said the meeting was not significant in
itself, because it was a routine meeting Aoun holds with FPM officials.
He said Aoun was asking the FPM officials for their opinions on the
mechanism to choose his successor when he resigns.
“Eventually, it is bound to happen,” he said.
Hayek said it was still unclear whether Aoun’s eventual successor would be
elected or appointed, adding that there was no time frame for Aoun’s
resignation.
“I think elections will be likely held,” he said.
Aoun has been at the helm of the FPM since it was established in 1990.
Aoun returned to Lebanon in May 2005 after 15 years of exile in France
and now heads the largest Christian parliamentary bloc, after his
movement participated in elections in 2005 and 2009.
The Christian leader was a staunch critic of the Syrian army’s presence in
Lebanon that ended in April 2005. But Aoun currently backs the regime of
Syrian President Bashar Assad, which has been facing a relentless
uprising for over two years.
Speaking to The Daily Star, FPM sources said the information published by
the media outlet was “inaccurate.”
The sources said that FPM officials, at the request of Aoun, had recently
discussed introducing radical changes to the structure of the party, that
have manifested in the changing of FPM officials represented in Lebanese
districts along with senior officials in the group.
The sources, who requested to remain anonymous, added that discussions
never tackled the issue of Aoun stepping down within six months or any
specific period.
The sources refused to give further details on the restructuring process
within the party, adding that FPM officials who are very close to Aoun
leaked the rumors of his resignation to the media.
“They have been both secretly and publicly preparing for the possibility of
Aoun’s resignation for a long time, hoping that Aoun himself would allow
them to succeed him,” one of the sources said.
The sources added that on several occasions, these officials have taken
political and nonpolitical stances without getting Aoun’s approval.
The sources said that Aoun should explain in detail to his supporters the
fine points of the restructuring process in the FPM.
The sources said the hasty plans put forward by some FPM officials to
succeed Aoun and the leaks they made to media outlets had actually dealt
a severe blow to Aoun and to the FPM.
Now Lebanon
Berri: New government layout affects dialogue
http://bit.ly/19Dtc1w
Speaker Nabih Berri said that the formation of a new cabinet that gives
equal share to the opposing political groups and to centrists would
undermine any upcoming dialogue.
“In case they formed a new government based on [the 8-8-8 formula], they
will be obstructing dialogue and undermining solutions,” Berri said in
remarks published by Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday.
“A similar government will not see the light.”
Lebanon is still waiting for the formation of a new government by Prime
minister-designate Tammam Salam. Salam’s latest proposal is based on
giving a third share to each of the opposing political blocks – March 14 and
March 8, and a third share to centrists.
Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement are objecting to the PMdesignate’s proposal and are requesting a ministerial share that reflects the
size of their parliamentary representation. Meanwhile, the Future
Movement and other March 14 parties claim that they will not be part of a
cabinet in which Hezbollah participates.
The speaker also reiterated the Amal Movement’s support for the security
plan implemented in Beirut’s Dahiyeh and called for devising similar plans
for the cities of Tripoli, Sidon and Nabatiyeh “and other regions where there
is a fear of bombings and security troubles.”
Lebanese state security forces began their deployment in Beirut’s Dahiyeh
as part of a security plan devised by the Interior Ministry.
According to the National News Agency, the deployment began on Monday
afternoon in the outskirts of the predominantly Shiite part of Beirut.
The security plan, which included the deployment of around two thousand
reserve personnel in Dahiyeh, was announced last week by caretaker
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel in response to the self-security measures
implemented by Hezbollah in its Beirut stronghold.
Hezbollah’s move was prompted by Lebanon’s security situation which has
recently deteriorated after car bombs attacks left dozens dead and
hundreds injured in Dahiyeh and the northern city of Tripoli in August.
Aoun accuses Salam of obstructing
cabinet formation
http://bit.ly/16pZXUH
Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday accused
designate-Prime Minister Tammam Salam of obstructing the cabinet
formation.
“The cabinet has not yet been formed not because of preconditions
imposed by [parties], but by preconditions imposed by Salam who is not
abiding by the [rules]. The norms and traditions of the cabinet formation
must be respected,” Aoun said following the bloc’s meeting.
He also said that Salam has no right to form a cabinet without consulting
parliamentary blocs.
“As if [Salam] had the right to form a cabinet without parliamentary
consultations. Let him form it with Al-Nusra Front in this case,” Aoun said.
Aoun also said that his bloc had the right to choose its own ministers and
the ministerial posts they would handle.
“No one can [impose] who our ministers should be. We should choose
them and we know what their portfolios should be,” he said.
The Change and Reform bloc leader also denied media reports claiming
that he would resign from his post as the leader of the Free Patriotic
Movement in six months.
“Maybe I should get myself checked to see if I am still functional or not,”
Aoun said sarcastically.
A source told Al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published on Tuesday that
MP Michel Aoun will step down as leader of the Free Patriotic Movement in
six months.
“I will not remain the FPM leader. And in six months, you must choose
whomever you deem most competent and capable of ensuring the
continuity of the movement,” a party member quoted Aoun as saying during
a meeting held last Saturday.
Meanwhile, Lebanon is still waiting for the formation of a new government
after the resignation of Caretaker PM Najib Miqati, with March 8 and March
14 deadlocked over the composition of the cabinet.
Future bloc welcomes security
forces deployment in Dahiyeh
http://bit.ly/1gZk8bd
The Future bloc on Tuesday welcomed the security forces’ deployment in
Beirut’s Dahiyeh, which replaced several checkpoints that were erected by
Hezbollah following a deadly explosion that targeted the area in August.
“This step reflects a clear admission on behalf of Hezbollah that its selfsecurity experience failed and that it is necessary to return to the Lebanese
state,” a statement issued by the Future bloc read.
The Future bloc also said that the same step should be taken in other
areas in Lebanon, “especially in Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, Tyre and Baalbek.”
Also, the Future bloc reiterated its support for President Michel Suleiman’s
call for a dialogue conference.
It also warned of the economic situation in the country, “which reached very
aggravated and dangerous levels that can no longer be ignored or left
unhandled.”
Lebanese state security forces began their deployment in Dahiyeh as part
of a security plan devised by the Interior Ministry.
According to the National News Agency, the deployment began on Monday
afternoon in the outskirts of the predominantly Shiite part of Beirut.
The security plan, which includes the deployment of around two thousand
reserve personnel in Dahiyeh, was announced last week by caretaker
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel in response to self-security measures
implemented by Hezbollah in its Beirut stronghold.
Hezbollah’s move was prompted by Lebanon’s security situation which has
recently deteriorated after car bomb attacks left dozens dead and hundreds
injured in Dahieyh and the northern city of Tripoli in August.
Suleiman’s UN speech calls for preserving Lebanon’s neutrality
http://bit.ly/16HA0KA
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman addressed the United Nations’
General Assembly with a speech underlying the importance of preserving
Lebanon’s neutrality with regard to the crises in the Middle East region.
“It is important to encourage influential regional countries to be aware of the
importance of shielding Lebanon from struggles and of not implicating it in
the politics of axes,” Suleiman said in his speech delivered on Tuesday
evening during the 68th session the UN General Assembly.
“These countries should be encouraged to provide real support for the
contents and aims of the Baabda Declaration and for the path of dialogue
and consensus.”
The Baabda Declaration is an agreement that was reached between
Lebanon’s opposing political leaders in 2012 which calls for distancing
Lebanon from regional and international conflicts.
Suleiman also said that, regardless of the effectiveness of the Baabda
Declaration, the Lebanese people “still need the support of brotherly and
friendly countries in tackling the negative repercussions of external crises
and issues.”
The president also reiterated his call for a political solution to the crisis in
war-torn Syria, and underscored the need for a “participation of all
concerned countries in addressing all the aspects of the Arab-Israeli
struggle.”
L’Orient Le Jour
Le chef de l’État au « Figaro » : Un gouvernement d’ici à début octobre
http://bit.ly/1dIiwCS
INTERVIEW Avant la réunion du 25 septembre à l’ONU, le chef de l’État
souhaite un soutien international pour « le modèle que représente le Liban
».
Le président de la République, Michel Sleiman, a annoncé dans une
interview au quotidien français Le Figaro qu’un gouvernement sera formé
d’ici au début du mois d’octobre.
« J’estime que la chance donnée à la formation d’un gouvernement
consensuel a trop duré. D’ici à début octobre, le Premier ministre désigné
(Tammam Salam) et moi-même prendrons nos responsabilités pour former
un gouvernement. Il faut un pouvoir exécutif légitime en place, en prévision
de l’élection présidentielle », prévue au printemps prochain, affirme le chef
de l’État.
Évoquant la réunion du groupe de soutien au Liban qui doit avoir lieu ce
mercredi en sa présence à New York, en marge des travaux de
l’Assemblée générale des Nations unies, M. Sleiman rappelle que « cette
réunion est une initiative française » et souligne que « le Liban a subi un
lourd préjudice à cause de la guerre syrienne, déjà 7 milliards de dollars
selon la Banque mondiale ».
« Nous avons besoin du soutien international au modèle que représente le
Liban : c’est un petit pays démocratique, dont le fondement est le
consensus entre communautés, qui a nagé à contrecourant pendant des décennies dans le monde arabe. Cette tradition
consensuelle s’ajoute à l’ambiguïté d’articles de la Constitution qui
entravent la prise de décision au niveau de l’exécutif. Aujourd’hui que la
région est en pleins soubresauts, c’est dans l’intérêt de tous de nous aider
à passer ce cap difficile », dit-il.
« Le Liban a réussi jusqu’ici à ne pas se laisser entraîner dans un cycle de
violence interne. Je suis confiant que nous continuerons à éviter la
contagion (du conflit syrien) malgré la montée des tensions
confessionnelles qu’il suscite et que des frappes (occidentales contre
Damas) auraient aggravées », note le président.
« J’espère que l’accord en voie de conclusion sur l’arsenal chimique
mènera à une solution politique. L’intérêt du Liban est que la Syrie soit en
paix. Quant au transfert d’armes chimiques, ce sont des rumeurs. Le
Hezbollah n’en veut pas lui-même », indique-t-il.
Selon lui, « les réfugiés syriens officiellement recensés sont plus de 800
000. Il faut y ajouter les 300 000 ouvriers syriens rejoints par les leurs et 90
000 Palestiniens de Syrie venus gonfler les effectifs des réfugiés
palestiniens déjà établis au Liban. Cela fait plus de 35 % de notre
population, ce qui dépasse largement nos capacités d’absorption et a des
retombées majeures ».
Interrogé sur le rôle de l’armée libanaise et l’aide qu’elle devrait recevoir,
M. Sleiman répond : « Ceux qui pensent que l’armée est sous l’influence
du Hezbollah se trompent. La renforcer en la dotant de défenses
antiaériennes et de systèmes d’artillerie efficaces est le seul moyen à
terme de convaincre le Hezbollah de livrer ses propres armes. Je n’emploie
pas le terme de “désarmement” car le Hezbollah a joué un rôle majeur pour
assurer la libération en 2000 de la plus grande partie du territoire libanais
occupé par Israël, alors que les résolutions de l’ONU étaient restées lettre
morte pendant vingt-deux ans. »
Mais, poursuit-il, « cette question trouvera sa réponse dans le projet de
stratégie de défense que j’ai soumis au Comité du dialogue national
libanais et que le secrétaire général de l’ONU a salué ».
Le chef de l’État rappelle qu’il a « solennellement critiqué l’implication du
Hezbollah en territoire syrien et lui (a) demandé de rappeler ses hommes
pour s’en tenir à une politique stricte de distanciation du Liban à l’égard de
la guerre en Syrie ».
« Quant à la montée de l’extrémisme sunnite, elle est réelle, mais limitée.
Les groupes terroristes n’ont pas réussi à se reconstituer depuis leur
élimination de Nahr al-Bared (2007). Le Liban est une mosaïque de
confessions qui ne favorise pas la radicalisation, et la grande majorité des
sunnites, comme celle de toutes les communautés, est reconnue pour sa
modération et son adhésion à l’esprit de convivialité auxquels adhèrent
tous les Libanais. »
Aoun : Que Salam aille former le gouvernement avec al-Nosra...
http://bit.ly/16HzIDy
« Le Premier ministre désigné cherche à créer des problèmes. Qu’il aille
donc former un gouvernement avec al-Nosra, et on verra alors qui va lui
accorder la confiance. »
C’est ce qu’a déclaré hier le chef du Courant patriotique libre, Michel Aoun,
qui s’exprimait ainsi à l’issue de la réunion hebdomadaire de son bloc
parlementaire au cours de laquelle a été notamment évoquée la question
de la formation du gouvernement.
« Nous entendons parler de l’alternance des portefeuilles. Il semblerait que
cette règle vise un ministre en particulier », a ajouté le chef du CPL dans
une allusion claire à son gendre, Gebran Bassil, ministre sortant de
l’Énergie et de l’Eau.
Selon lui, « si le gouvernement n’a pas encore vu le jour, ce n’est pas à
cause des conditions posées par les autres parties, mais à cause de celles
qu’a définies Tammam Salam qui a ignoré toutes les règles et la légalité ».
« Lorsque le Premier ministre Nagib Mikati a démissionné, certains ont été
appâtés par le pétrole », a ajouté M. Aoun, insistant sur le fait que son
gendre « a enregistré beaucoup de succès et d’importantes réalisations
que personne d’autre n’a réussi à réaliser ».
« C’est nous qui choisissons nos ministres et savons où les placer », a-t-il
affirmé, après avoir admis que la formation du gouvernement est le résultat
des consultations parlementaires, combinées aux volontés du président et
du Premier ministre désigné.
Interrogé sur son éventuel démission de la direction du CPL, Michel Aoun a
indiqué qu’il compte aller voir le médecin « qui décidera si je peux
poursuivre ou pas » la tâche à la tête du courant, affirmant toutefois que le
CPL ne se résume pas à sa personne, mais qu’il est en voie de «
s’institutionnaliser et de former ses cadres ».