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FPM officials in dispute over proper forum to tackle problems
Officials from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) are again exchanging accusations over whether to address the group’s internal issues through the media or through internal dialogue.
FPM official Mario Aoun, a former minister, called on FPM figures to refrain from going public with their problems, which have erupted once again, after FPM leader Michel Aoun reportedly failed to respond to the criticisms.
Mario Aoun’s remarks on Thursday followed criticism in the media of FPM leader Michel Aoun by his colleague former Deputy Premier Issam Jamra, a former general alongside Aoun and one of the founding members of the movement.
Abu Jamra, along with several other founding members of the FPM, had submitted a memo to Aoun a month ago, addressing issues that they said needed to be corrected within the party’s internal organization.
Abu Jamra said his colleagues only resorted to the media with their complaint after a month went by with no response to their petition. |
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Hariri: Failure to advance peace process is a 'time-bomb'
Premier Saad Hariri stressed that the rise in extremism and nuclear proliferation are global threats, with the ongoing failure to achieve progress in the Mideast peace process as their major cause.
Hariri failed to set a date for his next trip to Damascus, but said the visit would take up the issues of border demarcation and bilateral agreements.
“A failure to make progress on the [regional] peace process front is a time-bomb, a weapon of mass destruction more dangerous than uranium enrichment,” Hariri said. “Any success in dealing with nuclear developments in the Middle East depends on the success in achieving a just and comprehensive [regional] peace.”
Speaking during a joint news conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, Hariri slammed Israel for hindering the peace process and rejecting a just and comprehensive settlement with the Arab world.
“It is clear that the increase in nuclear weapons and extremism are global threats; although their cause should not be restricted to one major issue, I believe that the major reason behind those threats is the constant failure to end the Arab-Israeli conflict and injustice toward the Palestinian people,” Hariri said.
“Consecutive Israeli governments over the last two decades haven’t show any interest in a comprehensive and just peace in the Arab world, while more than 50 Muslim states offered the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 and the Israelis continue to disregard it,” he added.
Hariri stressed that the fight against extremism cannot be separated from efforts to achieve peace.
“This is true anytime and anywhere, particularly in the Middle East,” he said.
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Mirza calls for death penalty in Behsas case
State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza demanded the death penalty for a Lebanese, Saudi, and seven Palestinians for “undermining state security” by blowing up of a bus carrying Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) members on September 2008 in Tripoli.
Mirza asked the Investigative Magistrate in charge of the case Nabil Sahari to charge Lebanese Abdel-Ghani Jawhar, Palestinians Khaled al-Jaber, Mohammad Azzam, Osama al-Shihabi, Ghazi Abdallah, Abdel-Rahman Awad, Alaa Mehrez, Hamza Kassem, and Saudi citizen Obeid al-Kufeil Nabil Abdel-Rahman for the deliberate killing and committing of terrorist acts undermining security, crimes that are punishable by death. Mirza called Sahari to issue arrest warrants against the perpetrators and refer them to Beirut’s Justice council for trial.
He also ordered banning the trial of 30 accused individuals for the lack of enough evidence of involvement or membership in the Fatah al-Islam militant group. He also asked for suspending the search for 20 individuals and recalling their outstanding arrest warrants. |
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Hariri warns Israel weapons, destruction 'only incite hatred'
Lebanese Premier Saad Hariri urged Israel to “move ahead” toward finding a political solution with the Palestinians by privileging dialogue over “little wars.”
“Israel must move ahead” because “we need to have a credible process that the Arab world can believe in,” the Lebanese premier said in Madrid at a joint news conference with his Spanish counterpart Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
The Lebanese premier accused Israel of “trying to create little wars here and there to hold up the peace process.”
“The Israelis have to understand that weapons and destruction only incite hate and violence,” Hariri added.
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Maronite bishops hail 'improving situation' in Lebanon
Maronite bishops asked the Lebanese to profit from the country’s improvements and to work toward the best interests of their country.
The bishops were gathered in Bkirki for their monthly meeting presided over by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir.
They tackled local developments and issued a statement in which they asked the Lebanese to unite in “these somewhat improving conditions.”
The bishops expressed their joy that Lebanon’s situation was improving despite the violent events that were surrounding it. “Aggression in Lebanon is dissipating thanks to the efforts of security officials,” their statement said. They also expressed their happiness on the occasion of Easter, which was celebrated last Sunday, and said the celebration made the Lebanese forget their troubles and the increasing cost of living. |
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Hariri: Municipal elections will be held on time
Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed Wednesday that the municipal polls would be held within the legal deadline in May 2010 based on the current law since time constraints did not allow for the adoption of the electoral reforms.
“I cannot be clearer than this so be ready to cast your ballots as everyone should be sure from this moment on that the elections will take place on time,” Hariri said, speaking during the launch of “Beit Beirut” project, a museum in the Beirut neighborhood of Sodeco to commemorate Lebanon’s 1975-90 Civil War. The museum will be located inside a historical building, which was shelled during the conflict.
The project was launched by Beirut municipality in cooperation with the Paris municipality. |
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