Government Meeting: Basket of Three Appointments, Lebanon to Protect its Right

Mariam Ali

"Happily they were released and to their homes they returned," this was
the happy ending of the seven Estonians story, but within the lines of the action story a lot of missing Lebanese characters who were embedded
under the chapter: the Lebanese Security Scandal.

How, where, when, and what is the price? No Lebanese official can answer. The French intelligence is the side that freed the seven kidnapped Estonians on the Lebanese land without any coordination with the Lebanese authorities.

What happened at the level of Estonian release opens the door for a lot of speculation most notably is that what prevents a non Lebanese security apparatus from implementing a security operation on Lebanese land? What prevents them from kidnapping Lebanese citizens without the knowledge of any Lebanese official?

"Does what happened form a legislation to target the resistance cadres with similar secret security operations, because Lebanon apparently became easy to such a degree of laxity without taking any action to re-account the Lebanese state prestige?" "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper asked.

Lebanese Security Scandal

Security sources confirmed various Lebanese dailies that "the security authorities had no prior knowledge of the details of the operation and that they only knew of the release by French officials after the men had crossed the Beirut-Damascus highway."

Nearly four months after they were snatched in the eastern Bekaa Valley as they entered the country on bicycles, seven kidnapped Estonians were released in Lebanon Thursday.

Following their release in what Estonia's foreign minister called "a long international operation," the seven Estonians, looking well, appeared on the balcony of the French Embassy in Beirut, where they smiled and waved at journalists gathered outside.

"Investigation is ongoing to determine where and who was holding the Estonians," Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said when asked about the identity of the kidnappers and where the Estonians were held.

Charbel could not confirm reports a ransom was paid to secure their freedom. "To my knowledge they (the abductors) did not make any demands for a ransom for their release," Charbel said revealing that "nine people, including Lebanese, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping."

Confirming that the Lebanese security forces were not involved in the release in order "not to complicate things," Charbel stressed that "the judiciary has put its hands on the case and will decide where the Estonians were held and with whom. What matters now is their release."

For his part, Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, said he was pleased with the "happy ending" but underlined that the case was far from over.

"The case is not closed to Lebanon's judiciary, which will continue its investigation until all details are uncovered and those responsible for the abduction identified," Qortbawi said in a statement.

Later on Thursday, Military Investigative Judge Fadi Sawwan heard the testimonies of the seven men in his office at the Military Court in Beirut.

During the hearing session, which lasted around six hours, the seven revealed to Sawwan "the identities, affiliation, beliefs and ideology of the kidnappers," state-run National News Agency reported.

"However, the identity of the kidnappers will not be made public due to the confidentiality of the investigations," NNA added.

The agency noted that the seven men were not aware whether or not their country had paid a ransom in order to free them. "But they did not personally pay any ransom" to the kidnappers, NNA noted.
The well informed French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton claimed that the release took place "as a result of efforts undertaken by international cooperation."

"According to information, the French acted in the morning on the grounds that the Estonians' freedom was their operation and a senior European official did not hesitate to say that their release was the work of "French intelligence par excellence," "as-Safir" pointed out.

But the French language changed in the afternoon which was evidently in the celebration of France's National Day where the French ambassador praised the cooperation of Lebanese security forces and the coordination between Estonia and Lebanon - and France's role.

Official sources asked if there was a link between US and France ambassadors in Syria and the process of releasing the seven Estonians, which showed the French role.

"As if they are moving practically in the Syrian security depth and not only in the Lebanese one," "as-Safir" commented.

The seven cyclists underwent a medical examination at the embassy and were joined by Estonia's Foreign Minister Urmas Paet who arrived in Beirut Thursday night.

Soon after his arrival, Paet met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Paet repeated what he said earlier that the release of the Estonians was the result of "an international operation" in which Lebanon, Estonia and other countries participated. He said he could not go into details.

"The foreign minister said Estonia, Germany and Turky took part with the French in the process," "as-Safir" said.

Asked about the identity of the kidnappers, Paet said: "Investigation is still going on."

"Of course I am relieved that this is finally over, and the seven people can return to their families. This difficult story has ended," Paet said clarifying that "it's the result of a quite long international operation which has taken many months. We are happy that it has had a positive result."

Commenting on the release of the Estonians, President Michel Suleiman addressing the first government meeting said: "I confirm that had it not been for the arrest by security forces of some members of the group that carried out the kidnapping, and field and information measures carried out by these forces and the army troops, they (Estonians) would not have been released safe."

While thanking the French Embassy's role in the release, Suleiman called for continued efforts to hunt down, arrest and punish those responsible for the kidnapping.

For its part, Hizbullah praised the release. "The release of the Estonians is a positive and good step," member of Hizbullah's Political Bureau adding that "Hizbullah is against acts that expose Lebanon to crises, tarnish its image abroad and affect Lebanon's stability, security and interest."

Ministerial Appointments

Meanwhile, the government on Thursday renewed the mandate of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and appointed Maj. Gen. Walid Salman as the new Army Chief of Staff.

Dr. Antoine Shoqair was also appointed as the director general of the Presidency of the Republic.

However, the government postponed the appointment of a new chief for the General Directorate of General Security.

Thursday's government agenda, as presented by PM Najib Mikati to President Michel Suleiman, did not include the appointment of Brig. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim as head of the General Security. "An agreement was reached to hold an extraordinary ministerial meeting on Monday to approve the appointment of Ibrahim, who is currently assistant intelligence army chief, as head of the General Security," "al-Akhbar" Lebanese daily noted.

An official source close to House Speaker Nabih Berri informed "as-Safir" that "we have closed the talk in the sect of the Director General of Public Security and the person who is to be nominated has a lot of respect from all parties."

The source denied that "there is neither an objection on the sect nor on the name of Brigadier General Abbas Ibrahim from any party in the government. The rumors about General Michel Aoun's objection are not true because this issue was discussed and agreed upon."

Lebanon Stresses Its Rights

In parallel, The Council of Ministers stressed Lebanese rights enshrined by Council of Ministers in 2009 and certainly by 2010 in its decision to defend by all legitimate means the Lebanese right in its wealth according to the documents filed to the official United Nations.

Working to prepare a legal and diplomatic file ahead of presenting the case to the United Nations, the government asked PM Mikati to follow up the case and take the necessary measures in this regard.

Council of Ministers also stressed the unity of the national position on Lebanon rights of sea wealth and to protect its marine borders.


Source: Lebanese Newspapers