In other developments
Hariri International Tribunal: Chief U.N. investigator Daniel Bellemare has reportedly prepared an official request for the transfer to Holland of the four Lebanese generals accused of involvement in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.
2009 elections: MP Boutros Harb said yesterday that Gen Aoun will not be able to secure more than 40 % of the Christian vote in the upcoming elections and for this reason, March 8 and specifically the Free Patriotic Movement ( FPM ) is using corruption to win by bribing people. Harb said he has evidence in Batroun district regarding the bribery by FPM
Reconciliations:
a- The Christian - Christian reconciliation meetings were awaiting the return of president Michel Suleiman ...now that he is back we expect the Geagea- Franjiyeh meeting to take place soon
b- Hezbollah - Hariri- Jumblatt meetings: According to Moussawi who is in charge of Hezbollah's International relations " The meeting between the Secretary General of Hezbollah ( Nasrallah) and head of the Future Movement ( Hariri) on one hand, and the meeting of delegations from Hezbollah and the PSP are guaranteed to take place , but security concerns remain the main obstacles and the media coverage is also contributing to the delay"
Tuesday
22:08 Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abu Jamra said during a press conference that he left the cabinet meeting because the topic of DPM was not on the agenda of the meeting . He said that one of the topics was that the deputy PM should really be a deputy to the Prime Minister. He said the DPM should replace the PM when absent . He added that his attendance in the future cabinet meetings would be related to this issue.
21:19 Chamoun accused Aoun of marginalizing Christians and Lebanese state. He said that the voters of Jbeil, Kesrouan and Metn were misled during the 2005 parliamentary elections by Aoun who was portrayed as the “Christian savior” from Syrian control. “Aoun is ready to ally with the devil in order to reach power,... Aoun marginalized the Christians, ... he marginalized the Lebanese state." He said
Chamoun said the Iranians could not come to Lebanon and impose their state.( In reference to Wilayat al Faqih type rule)
21:11 Deputy PM Issam Abu Jamra leaves cabinet meeting to protest against the lack of discussion of the duties of Deputy PM
20:55 Siniora heads cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail. Ministers Elias al-Murr, Nasib Lahoud, Elie Marouni, Talal Arslan, Elias Skaf, and Ghazi Zeiter, were absent .
20:32 OTV reports a verbal dispute between Deputy PM Issam Abu Jamra and Communication Minister Gebran Bassil on one side, and PM Fouad Siniora on the other over the rights and powers of the deputy PM, during the cabinet meeting.
19:16 MP Farid Habib ( LF) accused former PM Karami of being "the criminal and murderer who paralyzed the army, controlled the state, opened the door for foreigners and allowed massacres in Beit Millat, Tal Abbas, Damour, Al-Qaa and other villages".
He also said "Franjieh and his supporters are requested to prove their innocence to hundreds of families for the crimes and violations...". He added "the best reconciliation Franjiyeh could offer in Lebanon is freeing himself from the foreign imprisonment imposed on him", a reference to accusations of Syrian influence on Marada.
18:30 Karami: Geagea’s apology for the assassination of former PM Rashid Karami would not bring him back. we will not forgive and we will not forget. He added " Geagea’s apology meant nothing, personally or politically...for us Geagea remains a murderer and a criminal
15:56 Siniora asks ministers to study Lebanese-Syrian agreements. He said that Lebanese-Syrian relations should always be built on full respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty and freedom, as well as Syria’s sovereignty and freedom.
14:59 Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal said that there were historical relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria and there is no need for mediation with Syria.
14:30 The parliament approved the new Constitutional Council law with minor changes
14:05 March 14 : The establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria is a historic victory and to complete the steps needed to establish confidence and trust between both countries the borders should be demarcated and the situation of prisoners and missing Lebanese should be resolved
13:49MP Saad Hariri departed to Saudi Arabia on a private trip
13:30 Mirza discussed with Bellemare the progress regarding the investigation of the Hariri tribunal
13:18 Marouni : The generosity of Saudi Arabia helped Lebanon overcome the difficult times
13: 10 Harir told Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Reza Shibani that the best for Iran is to establish a direct relationship with the state of Lebanon : "It is best for Iran to establish a relationship with the Lebanese state, and that all affairs are conducted via this relationship without hindering (Iran) from dealing with any party."
13:00 President Michel Suleiman met a delegation from March 14’s Follow-up Committee as well as MPs Butros Harb and Michel Pharoun.
12:00 A special parliamentary session is underway to debate endorsement of the new Constitutional Council law.
11:00 Parliament session ended following the filling of vacant positions in parliamentary committees to replace MPs Ghazi Zaaiter, Bahia Hariri and Wael Abu Faour who were appointed cabinet ministers.
10:45 Parliament is holding a session to elect two secretaries and three commissioners and parliamentary committee members.
10:14 PM Siniora is meeting with Palestinian Liberation Organization’s representative in Beirut Abbas Zaki.
08:23 MP Zahra told VOL: The return of president Suleiman will give new impetus to efforts for reconciliation. No obstacles stand in the face of reconciliation and the Lebanese Forces had not received anything official on the formation of committees
08:12 Al Akhbar : Ministers Baroud and Murr will soon visit Syria to start a direct dialogue with Damascus
07:56 Hubbellah told Al Sharq al Awsat : Lebanon refuses to sign any deal or agreement with Israel and will continue to insist on the liberation of its land from Israeli occupation and the protection of its sea, land and air sovereignty
07:30 Hezbollah's Moussawi told al Akhbar . The meeting between the Secretary General of Hezbollah ( Nasrallah) and head of the Future Movement ( Hariri) on one hand, and the meeting of delegations from Hezbollah and the PSP are guaranteed to take place , but security concern remains the main obstacle and the media coverage is also contributing to the delay
07:29 Al Akhbar : contacts ongoing regarding the creation of a list of candidates for Baabda area parliamentary elections that could include Pierre Dakkash, Salah Hunein, and Edmond Gharious . It will be the list of the president but will be supported by march 154 and specially MP Walid Jumblatt
06:30 MP Boutros Harb told As Safir: Gen Aoun will not be able to secure more than 30- 40 % of the Christian vote , because the mood of the Christian street has changed and for this reason March 8 is reverting to bribery in Batroun district
06:14 Several ministers including the ministers of defense and interior presented their comments to the president and prime minister about the military and security agreement signed with Syria
06:10 Speaker Berri calls for implementing the decisions taken during the dialogue talks with respect to the Palestinian arms outside the camps
06:00 As Safir ministerial sources :The president will be trying to improve the relations with Syria based on his agreement with president Assad
05:56 As Safir: It is expected that the president resume the Christian - Christian reconciliation and may expand the national dialogue talks of November 5th .
05:19 An Nahar : The cabinet is scheduled to meet today and is expected to deal with 61 issues
05:14 The parliament is expected to close a controversial file today when it will approve the new law for the formation of the constitutional council
Monday
22:29 More than 15 people were poisoned in Bqarsouna, Dinniyeh and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment . They all ate at a restaurant in the area that was hosting a special function
19:00 Jumblatt told al Anbaa : the important thing is to block the road of sectarian violence in the future. The inauguration of the Al Amine Mosque reflected an Arab national scene
18:43 Minister Skaff : "The president and prime minister agreed to pay the farmers through the Ministry of Agriculture compensation for agricultural damage that resulted from the 2006 war. We will also build lakes in the mountains for irrigation purposes "
18:14 Interior Minister Ziad Baroud nominates judges, former MPs, and media experts for the commission on the supervision of electoral campaigning for the 2009 elections
18:11 One Sri Lankan was killed and a Lebanese was wounded on Jubeil - Amshit highway when the car of MP Jawad Boulus overturned. All are now at Sayedet al Maounat hospital in Jubeil
17:15 Hussam Zaki, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman : The official visits by Lebanese politicians to Egypt carry a very heavy weight in The Lebanese Egyptian formula and Egypt understands very well the suggestions by Geagea regarding Shebaa farms
16:45 FPM leader Michel Aoun questioned the criticism of his visit to Iran . He also said the racial cleansing in Iraq should be halted and called for the formation of an international tribunal to look into crimes committed against Christians in Iraq. Criticized the He said "the United States would only give the Lebanese Army weapons to facilitate law enforcement." And added : Israel is against the return of Palestinian refugees and the United States supports Israel's stand". He also said he no longer has a conflict with the Lebanese Forces
15:35 Al-Arabiya TV: Yitzhak Azari head of the Jewish community in Lebanon announced plans to restore a synagogue in Wadi Abu Jamil, in downtown Beirut . he said the renovation, which requires $7 million is expected to begin within a year. The next project, Azari said, would be the restoration of a Jewish cemetery in Sodeco, Beirut
14:45: MP Walid Jumblat said after meeting President Mubarak in Cairo that March 14 Forces’ openness to Syria awaits the international tribunal and border demarcation.
Tags: Diplomatic relations, Iran, Lebanon, source: Lebanon Files, source: Now Lebanon, Syria, Ya Libnan
