where all races come closer and unite through a universal language” of tolerance.
Suleiman went on to say :“This event emphasizes Lebanon’s presence in the Arab world as a democratic state that brings together all people,” and added that the country’s Constitution guaranteed coexistence for its multi-confessional society.
Lebanon was chosen to host the 6th edition of the Francophone games during the 29th "Conférence des ministres de la jeunesse et des sports" meeting which took place in Beirut in March 2003.
Thousands of fans packed into Camille Chamoun stadium as millions of viewers worldwide tuned in to see the extravagant launch. In addition tp president Suleiman the ceremony was attended by top Lebanese politicians including caretaker Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabhi Berri.
The launch in Beirut was the first Francophone opening ceremony to be simultaneously broadcast in five continents as spectators from across the globe tuned in to see their countries’ teams.
The Francophone games will be held in a variety of venues throughout Lebanon. The Lebanese University campus at Hadath will host all the delegations and the participants in the campus' dorms. The University's sporting terrains will be used for training and the theaters will host cultural events. The centerpiece of the 2009 Francophone games will be the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, it will host both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics and soccer finale competitions. The Boxing tournament will be held in the Pierre Gemayel terrain within the Camille Chamoun Sports city. The Rafic Hariri stadium in Saida and the Beirut municipal stadium will host soccer tournaments. The Table tennis tournaments will be held in the Homentmen club in Mezher while the Saëb Salam (Riyadi) terrain in Manara will host the female Basketball competition. Bauchrieh's Michel el-Murr Stadium will hold the Judo competitions, further north, the Byblos beaches will host the Volley Ball matches.[3]
Cultural events are an important event of the games and these will be held in the Unesco Palace, the Abou Khater and Béryte theaters at the Université Saint-Joseph in Beirut. The Unesco Palace will hold the dance, painting, photography and sculpture competitions. The Abou Khater and Béryte theaters will host the preliminary phases of literature and song competitions. The final phase of these competitions will take place in the Biel.
The 'Francophone' term refers to people whose cultural background is primarily associated with French language, regardless of ethnic and geographical differences. The francophone culture beyond Europe is the legacy of the French colonial empire
Mainly the Francophone countries include France, Belgium , Canada, Switzerland, Haiti, Lebanon and the French West Indies, several countries in west Africa that are former French or Belgian colonies, and Tahiti in the South Pacific. These countries are members of the Francophonie organization
This is the first time the Francophone Games are being held in an Arab country since their first inception in 1989 . This should help put Beirut again on the map as the “Paris of the East “
Monday
9:54 pm An Iranian diplomatic source told Now Lebanon on Monday that Hezbollah will be part of any Iranian response to an attack launched against the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities. The source said this is “natural since Hezbollah is fundamentally tied to the Iranian regime.”
9:30 MP Mohammad al-Safadi said that all “issues related to the cabinet are being discussed seriously and openly.” He added that “once everything is discussed frankly then the cabinet formation issue will be easily resolved.”
9:20 pm MP Jean Ogassapian : “Lebanon is a country of coexistence and partnership, and the Lebanese are capable of forming a cabinet that reflects their aspirations and aims.”
8:29pm MP Boutros Harb: Lebanon cannot go on as it is lacking both the legislative and executive powers. I, therefore, call to facilitate PM-designate Hariri's task.
8:23pm President Michel Suleiman received a call from U.S. vice president Joe Biden in which they discussed relations between the two countries. Biden assured Suleiman his country's support to Lebanon.
8:15pm PM-designate Hariri continues consultations with MP Boutros Harb since 8:00pm.
8:02pm Minister Tamam Salam after meeting with premier-designate: The government shall not be formed unless all political forces work together and collaborate with Hariri.
7:35pm Jamaa Islamiya MP Imad al-Hout: Second round consultations will rotate around proposing names and the respective portfolios for the Lebanese president to consent.
7:00pm MP Pakradonian: We agreed with PM-designate on a national unity Cabinet representing all vital political forces and had common ideas regarding strengthening the military and security forces.
6:58pm MP Hagop Pakradonian: The Consultations were important and entirely different than the previous ones.
6:30pm Phalange Party urges the opposition to open a new page and translate rhetoric into action
6:00pm PM-designate Saad Hariri resumes parliamentary consultations in Nejmeh Square, meets Armenian bloc MPs
17:12 Nadim Gemayel : The revolution that started with Bashir during his resistance against settlement of Palestinians in Lebanon continues through Kataeb, Lebanese Forces , Liberals, Al Mustaqbal and PSP
5:00pm President of the Swiss Senate Alain Baffet has arrived in Beirut.
3:41pm Fillon said at the end of his Lebanon visit:: Our dialogue with Damascus is honest and uncompromising. France remains keen about Lebanon’s security and France also supports the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
2:11pm General Rifi orders his security force to vote for Jeita Grotto
2:00pm Investigating magistrate Fadi Sawan issued arrest warrants against 3 militants for belonging to an armed organization.
1:15pm Fillon meets Hariri who will invites him for lunch
1;00 pm Ezzedine ( Lebanon’s Madoff ) was reportedly transferred from Roumieh prison to the headquarters of the Lebanese army intelligence after initial investigation showed that his financial losses from his investments were less than the amount invested by Lebanese and regional individuals
12:45 pm Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir during a mass in Rome prayed that peace would prevail in Lebanon so that its people would live in an atmosphere of understanding and cooperation.
12;40 pm Iran says it has successfully tested two long-range missiles that defense analysts say could hit Israel and southern Europe.
12;30 pm The death toll from a storm that ravaged the Philippines over the weekend reached at least 100 on Monday, with many more deaths expected and thousands of Filipinos still trapped in their homes by floodwaters.
12:17pm Fillon arrived in Ain el-Tineh for talks with Speaker Nabih Berri.
12:00pm Fillon met with Caretaker PM Fouad Siniora. They discussed the Francophone games , the regional developments and bilateral relations
11:30 More than 50 members of the An Nahar staff including editors and administrators, were laid off . The decision was taken a few days ago and will be carried out in stages until the end of the year. Some of the key people affected are : Elias Khoury, George Nassif, Jean Karam , Nazih Khater, May Daher Yaqoub , Khalil Nahhas and Bahjet Jaber . An Nahar is the leading newspaper in Lebanon
10:30 Fillon left Baabda palace without making any statement.
11;00 Asharq al-Awsat : Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit has said he was worried about foreign meddling ( specially Iranian ) that was obstructing government formation in Lebanon.
10:00 French PM Francois Fillon is meeting with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda palace.
9;00 Iran test-fired three short-range missiles yesterday as part of war games exercises just days after it was revealed it was building a second uranium enrichment plant.
8:30 Minister Jean Oghassabian told VOL: The PM-designate will hold more consultations with the parliamentary blocs. He will further listen to different viewpoints over the cabinet, its policy, formulas and portfolios.
7:30 MP Michel Moussa told VOL: There are obstacles to cabinet formation that we should overcome. Dialogue is the best solution.
06:24 A high level Russian delegation is expected in Beirut to inspect the military airports of Lebanon and to prepare for the arrival of the 10 Mig 29 that Russia promised to Defense Minister Elias Murr last year
Sunday
10;30 pm German Chancellor Angela Merkel claimed victory in national elections Sunday
10;00 pm AP: US Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist, language expert and former White House speechwriter William Safire died Sunday, his assistant said.
9:47 pm caretaker Finance Minister Chatah for the "new": The Saudi-Syrian meeting created eased tension in the country but it is not a starting whistle for the formation of the Lebanese government and we do not want it to be that anyway
9:30 pm WSJ: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to win a second term with the backing of a new center-right majority in the country's parliament.
9:20 pm US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says additional sanctions may force an economically squeezed Iran to change its nuclear policy. He questions the value of military strikes.
9:00 pm Iran plans to test-fire missiles capable of hitting targets across the Middle East tomorrow, in a show of defiance before Thursday's pivotal talks on nuclear issue
8:50 pm AP: Many Filipino villagers managed to save only the clothes on their backs but began to rebuild Sunday as the flood waters receded from a tropical storm that set off the worst flooding in the Philippine capital in 42 years and left 106 dead
8:06 pm LBC: Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal el Moqdad to visit Washington on Monday in response to an official invitation from the US administration
