Round Up: Public Appointments at Lebanese Cabinet Meeting, Syrians Rally in Support of al-Assad
Nour Rida
With the beginning of this week, Lebanon awaits the approval of the first batch of public appointments with the appointment of Brig. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim as chief of the General Security to take place at a Cabinet meeting to be held today, Monday afternoon. Also, as MP Talal Areslan resigned from Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government shortly after its announcement on June 13, a decree appointing Marwan Kheiredine as Minister of State to replace Areslan will come first, before the meeting is held.
Coinciding with the appointment sessions, President Michel Suleiman is to call for dialogue to all parties in Lebanon, with some for and others against.
On the regional level, hundreds of thousands of Syrians gathered in Umawiyeen Square in the "Oath of Loyalty to the Homeland" festival to express support for the comprehensive reform program led by President Bashar al-Assad, affirm the importance of national unity and reject instigation campaigns and attempts to cause chaos.
Kheireddine State Minister, Ibrahim General Security Chief
The Council of Ministers meets this afternoon to examine a 45-item agenda in addition to a two-item annex that was distributed to ministers. The two additional items are related to the appointment of LAF Deputy Intelligence Chief Brigadier General Abbas Ibrahim as director general of General Security and acting Director General of General Security Brigadier General Raymond Khattar as director of Civil Defense.
Also, during Monday's cabinet meeting, the appointment of Brig. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, currently deputy chief of Lebanon's Army Intelligence, as head of the General Security is to be followed by the appointment of Marwan Kheireddine as state minister to replace resigned minister Talal Arslan. This comes after surmounting the dispute between Arslan and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and after resolving the problem with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt who had seen that political parties had overstepped his authority in agreeing on Kheireddine.
PM Mikati in South Lebanon
In the same context, governmental sources told An-Nahar daily that the government's workshop took off on the administrative3, economic, and financial levels. The sources added that the new government lays great focus on the priorities and needs of the Lebanese people in the coming phase.
The sources added that Mikati's visit to the South as a "support message" to the UNIFIL as well as a message to the international community on the Lebanese government's abiding by international laws. It also added that this visit comes in cotext of supporting the Lebanese army and the people of the South for remaining steadfast in their land. On this note, the source pointed out that Mikati is to pay similar visits to other regions in Lebanon in parallel with the developmental workshops taking place.
On Saturday, Mikati paid tribute to the Lebanese Army, people and resistance during his first trip to south Lebanon since his Cabinet was voted in earlier this month. He said stability in the region is linked to that of south Lebanon, adding during an official visit to border villages over the weekend that only a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause was likely to bring peace to the region.
"My message is that of support to the citizens and people who have stood to confront the "Israeli" enemy. It is also a message of support to our brave Lebanese Army ... and the resistance that defends with bravery on its land," Mikati said in Adayyseh, the southern border village which was the scene of deadly clashes between the Lebanese army and the "Israeli" forces in 2010.
Berri Stresses Importance of Dialogue
On the level of dialogue, Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir daily on Monday that he supports President Michel Suleiman's announcement that he would re-launch the national dialogue, stressing the importance of multiparty talks to "avoid all kinds of problems and disputes."
In his statement, Berri said "I am ready to participate again in the national dialogue... it plays a major role in calming people down and renders communication easy". Also, Berri assured that "the defense strategy has been resolved through the formula of the people-army-resistance mentioned in the policy statement." He further stressed that "PM Najib Miqati announced his support to this formula through his visit to the south" on Saturday.
"The formula of the army, people and resistance was adopted by two previous cabinets led by March 14 officials, before it was approved by the new government led by a centrist," he also told the daily. Berri noted that the government will exert all efforts to discuss the political and living issues during the cabinet meeting.
Participation in Dialogue Confuses March 14
On another note, March 14 sources told Ad-diyar newspaper that its stance is to be issued soon on the issue of taking part in cabinet dialogue. As for the Free Patriotic Movement, sources assured to the Lebanese daily that the FPM supports dialogue on the basis of ‘nonnegotiable' and fixed Resistance arms, which is an issue all parties agreed through the dialogue table headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Also, the Phalanges party sources told the same newspaper that it will not seek dialogue if up-to-date, as dialogue has no outcome so far. Describing the speech of President Michel Suleiman in the Amshit dinner banquet as "summer night's dream", but noted that the meeting between Phalanges head Amin Gemayel and the FPM leader Michel Aoun as "good".
President Michel Suleiman said on Saturday night during a dinner that he hosted at his residence in Amchit in honor of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai that stability in Lebanon requires "a political will" from its parties.
Suleiman stressed on Saturday that he will seek to launch a national dialogue with the Lebanese leaders to fortify Lebanon, saying "We will seek to launch the national dialogue to agree on the defense strategy to meet the "Israeli" threats."
Again, Bellemare Tries to Evade Provisions of Francen
On a different note, al-Akhbar newspaper focused on the STL issue. The Lebanese daily mentioned that the STL general prosecutor Daniel Bellemare had asked the Pre-Trial judge Daniel Francen - on emergency- to suspend the execution of his sentence issued on 7th of current July, which requires handing Major General Jamil as-Sayyed and his agent attorney Akram azouri 133 investigation documents.
Francen's ruling came after a long time of investigation and judicial proceedings.
The newspaper added that Bellemare's insistence on preventing as-Sayyed from receiving the documents indicates that as-Sayyed was kept under arbitrary detention for almost four years, which contradicts with the UN Resolution 1757/2007 as it states that the tribunal should work according to "highest international criteria in relation to criminal justice.
Hundreds of Thousands Rally in Support of al-Assad
Ad-Diyar newspaper said that as hundreds of thousands of Syrians gathered in Umawiyeen Square in the "Oath of Loyalty to the Homeland" festival to express
support for the comprehensive reform program led by President Bashar al-Assad, three members of the Security Forces were martyred, while two others were abducted by a terrorist group cell.
In expression of loyalty to Homeland and support to the reform program, popular, youth and civil activities continue all across the Syrian provinces, stressing rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Syria's affairs.
With the beginning of this week, Lebanon awaits the approval of the first batch of public appointments with the appointment of Brig. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim as chief of the General Security to take place at a Cabinet meeting to be held today, Monday afternoon. Also, as MP Talal Areslan resigned from Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government shortly after its announcement on June 13, a decree appointing Marwan Kheiredine as Minister of State to replace Areslan will come first, before the meeting is held.
Coinciding with the appointment sessions, President Michel Suleiman is to call for dialogue to all parties in Lebanon, with some for and others against.
On the regional level, hundreds of thousands of Syrians gathered in Umawiyeen Square in the "Oath of Loyalty to the Homeland" festival to express support for the comprehensive reform program led by President Bashar al-Assad, affirm the importance of national unity and reject instigation campaigns and attempts to cause chaos.
Kheireddine State Minister, Ibrahim General Security Chief
The Council of Ministers meets this afternoon to examine a 45-item agenda in addition to a two-item annex that was distributed to ministers. The two additional items are related to the appointment of LAF Deputy Intelligence Chief Brigadier General Abbas Ibrahim as director general of General Security and acting Director General of General Security Brigadier General Raymond Khattar as director of Civil Defense.
Also, during Monday's cabinet meeting, the appointment of Brig. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, currently deputy chief of Lebanon's Army Intelligence, as head of the General Security is to be followed by the appointment of Marwan Kheireddine as state minister to replace resigned minister Talal Arslan. This comes after surmounting the dispute between Arslan and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and after resolving the problem with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt who had seen that political parties had overstepped his authority in agreeing on Kheireddine.
PM Mikati in South Lebanon
In the same context, governmental sources told An-Nahar daily that the government's workshop took off on the administrative3, economic, and financial levels. The sources added that the new government lays great focus on the priorities and needs of the Lebanese people in the coming phase.
The sources added that Mikati's visit to the South as a "support message" to the UNIFIL as well as a message to the international community on the Lebanese government's abiding by international laws. It also added that this visit comes in cotext of supporting the Lebanese army and the people of the South for remaining steadfast in their land. On this note, the source pointed out that Mikati is to pay similar visits to other regions in Lebanon in parallel with the developmental workshops taking place.
On Saturday, Mikati paid tribute to the Lebanese Army, people and resistance during his first trip to south Lebanon since his Cabinet was voted in earlier this month. He said stability in the region is linked to that of south Lebanon, adding during an official visit to border villages over the weekend that only a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause was likely to bring peace to the region.
"My message is that of support to the citizens and people who have stood to confront the "Israeli" enemy. It is also a message of support to our brave Lebanese Army ... and the resistance that defends with bravery on its land," Mikati said in Adayyseh, the southern border village which was the scene of deadly clashes between the Lebanese army and the "Israeli" forces in 2010.
Berri Stresses Importance of Dialogue
On the level of dialogue, Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir daily on Monday that he supports President Michel Suleiman's announcement that he would re-launch the national dialogue, stressing the importance of multiparty talks to "avoid all kinds of problems and disputes."
In his statement, Berri said "I am ready to participate again in the national dialogue... it plays a major role in calming people down and renders communication easy". Also, Berri assured that "the defense strategy has been resolved through the formula of the people-army-resistance mentioned in the policy statement." He further stressed that "PM Najib Miqati announced his support to this formula through his visit to the south" on Saturday.
"The formula of the army, people and resistance was adopted by two previous cabinets led by March 14 officials, before it was approved by the new government led by a centrist," he also told the daily. Berri noted that the government will exert all efforts to discuss the political and living issues during the cabinet meeting.
Participation in Dialogue Confuses March 14
On another note, March 14 sources told Ad-diyar newspaper that its stance is to be issued soon on the issue of taking part in cabinet dialogue. As for the Free Patriotic Movement, sources assured to the Lebanese daily that the FPM supports dialogue on the basis of ‘nonnegotiable' and fixed Resistance arms, which is an issue all parties agreed through the dialogue table headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Also, the Phalanges party sources told the same newspaper that it will not seek dialogue if up-to-date, as dialogue has no outcome so far. Describing the speech of President Michel Suleiman in the Amshit dinner banquet as "summer night's dream", but noted that the meeting between Phalanges head Amin Gemayel and the FPM leader Michel Aoun as "good". President Michel Suleiman said on Saturday night during a dinner that he hosted at his residence in Amchit in honor of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai that stability in Lebanon requires "a political will" from its parties.
Suleiman stressed on Saturday that he will seek to launch a national dialogue with the Lebanese leaders to fortify Lebanon, saying "We will seek to launch the national dialogue to agree on the defense strategy to meet the "Israeli" threats."
Again, Bellemare Tries to Evade Provisions of Francen
On a different note, al-Akhbar newspaper focused on the STL issue. The Lebanese daily mentioned that the STL general prosecutor Daniel Bellemare had asked the Pre-Trial judge Daniel Francen - on emergency- to suspend the execution of his sentence issued on 7th of current July, which requires handing Major General Jamil as-Sayyed and his agent attorney Akram azouri 133 investigation documents.
Francen's ruling came after a long time of investigation and judicial proceedings.
The newspaper added that Bellemare's insistence on preventing as-Sayyed from receiving the documents indicates that as-Sayyed was kept under arbitrary detention for almost four years, which contradicts with the UN Resolution 1757/2007 as it states that the tribunal should work according to "highest international criteria in relation to criminal justice.
Hundreds of Thousands Rally in Support of al-Assad
Ad-Diyar newspaper said that as hundreds of thousands of Syrians gathered in Umawiyeen Square in the "Oath of Loyalty to the Homeland" festival to express
support for the comprehensive reform program led by President Bashar al-Assad, three members of the Security Forces were martyred, while two others were abducted by a terrorist group cell.In expression of loyalty to Homeland and support to the reform program, popular, youth and civil activities continue all across the Syrian provinces, stressing rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Syria's affairs.
On Sunday evening, , affirm the importance of national unity and reject instigation campaigns and attempts to cause chaos.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers
