Charbel Finishes Security Appointments, Mufti’s Successful Visit’s Embedded Letters

Local Editor

As the Lebanese vacation of Eid al-Fotor passed calmly declaring the return of soul into political life, Lebanon chaired for the next time world's presidency resembled by the head of UN Security Council.
 
A number of international hot files will stamp the Lebanese presidency, starting from Palmer's report and Turkish-"Israeli" relations, passing by the Syrian and Libyan situation files and not to end with the declaration of a Palestinian state and Lebanon's right in its oil wealth.

Lebanese Meetings in Paris

On the internal scene, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman reiterated Friday Lebanon's support for UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL).

Meeting with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai prior to the latter's visit to France, the president stressed that "Lebanon is keen on the safety of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon."
 
This same position was relayed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy by Prime Minister Najib Mikati who returned back from France where he took part in the "Friends of Libya" conference.

Mikati telephoned President Suleiman to brief him on the results of Lebanon's participation in the conference, and the contacts with foreign officials that took place in Paris.

Mikati's sources informed "as-Safir" Lebanese daily that the PM held talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Turkish and Kuwaiti foreign ministers of Turkey and Kuwait, Ahmad Davutoglu and Mohammed al-Sabah, and US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman.

Reporting that Mikati stressed in his French meetings that "Lebanon wants to stay neutral on the situation in Syria," "as-Safir" quoted him as saying "we won't confront the international community if it decides to take more measures."

For its part, "an-Nahar" newspaper said that French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe expressed concern to Mikati on the latest attacks on UNIFIL and urged all Lebanese sides to respect Security Council resolutions, including 1701.

French diplomatic sources told the daily that Juppe stressed that "Lebanon should benefit from the freedom atmosphere in the region and consolidate coexistence" condemning the attacks on UNIFIL troops in Southern Lebanon.
 
Following his arrival from the same conference, Mansour told reporters at Beirut's International Airport that "participants urged the National Transitional Council to call on rebels to refrain from retribution and pursue a path of reconciliation."

In parallel, "an-Nahar" quoted a UN source who revealed that PM is expected to visit New York City in September to attend a UN Security Council session on the Middle East, including the Palestinian bid for UN membership.

"Mikati will travel to New York in the last week of September and will likely attend a Security Council session on the 27th," the source clarified.

"an-Nahar's" source stated that PM will not accompany the official Lebanese delegation to the UN headquarters, which will be headed by President Michel Suleiman.

Mufti in the South

In another context, the Grand Mufti's visit to South Lebanon stole the political attention with its clear reflections.

Qabbani, accompanied by a large delegation from Dar al-Fatwa's Higher Islamic Religious Council, flew to the south in a Lebanese Army helicopter which took him to the army barracks in the town of Marjayoun.
 
After visiting the town's mosque and meeting local notables, the mufti left by a convoy of vehicles to the villages of Habbarieh, Kfar Shouba and Shebaa.

Qabbani's motorcade was showered with rice and petals by cheering villagers who also slaughtered sheep in welcoming the mufti neglecting all "Future Movement" calls to boycott the visit.

"The Lebanese Army is the strong institution that guarantees the unity of our country and around which we must rally," he said. He added that the army must maintain its prestige and capability in order to save the country from dangers. "We have no choice but to cooperate with each other in order to fortify our internal unity," Qabbani emphasized.

Calling People in the South to "look forward to security, safety and stability in facing an occupying and treacherous Zionist enemy who is sitting on the outskirts of your area, occupying your land and properties in Shebaa Farms, Kfar Shouba hills and the Lebanese part of the village of Ghajar," the Mufti warned that ""Israel" is also stealing water resources in the fountains of Shebaa Farms."

"We must not be oblivious to the "Israeli" enemy and the conspiracies it is hatching and attempts to sow strife among us," he noted.
 
"As a result, the visit was a success on the political -and even popular- levels despite the Future Movement's attack on both the Mufti and the Lebanese Armed Forces, knowing that Mufti Qabbani went from Beirut to this remote Lebanese area in a LAF military helicopter," "al-Akhbar" newspaper commented.

Security Appointments Next Week

At another level, Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told "as-Safir" that he signed the decrees appointing the seven unit commanders in the Internal Security Forces and transferred these decrees to be signed by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.
 
Minister Charbel said: "One can say that the ISF Command Council appointments are more than a priority now. All measures have been taken and the Command Council will take shape officially next week."
 
For his part, Lebanese Defense Minister Fayes Ghosn hailed on Friday the Lebanese leaders who voiced their support for the Lebanese army.
 
"The Lebanese consensus over the protection of the army shall strengthen it," Ghosn said calling on "all political parties to adopt a calm rhetoric and avoid provocations."


Source: Lebanese Newspapers