ROUND-UP 24-10-2009

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner asked during his meeting with MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi about any help that Hizbullah could offer in smoothing the progress of the dialogue between PM-designate Saad Hariri and General Michel Aoun, to which Moussawi replied that the party advises it allies, "but we do not put pressure on them."

Kouchner also warned that the situation in the region is not good for the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis stopped and the American efforts are not enough , calling for Lebanese to be aware of the challenge " you are exposed to the region's dangers which affects you ".
Sources reported to Al-Akhbar that Hariri and Aoun have decided to hold a meeting soon and have settled a time for it, but sources from both sides did not reveal any information regarding the meeting for security reasons.

Sources close to the PM-designate revealed that Hariri expressed his disappointment in the way MP Samir Geagea come out with his most recent political positions in which he accused Aoun of provocation of the situation. Geagea said that he would soften his tone and would make clear what he said during his appearance on the MTV series "With Objectivity."

Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Ahmad Beddawi denied from MP Boutros Harb's residence "what has been put out recently that Egypt favors certain names or people for the government. These words are not true." He also said that his country backs Hariri's efforts.

As-safir
Titles

Obama hopes the government will be formed soon; high-level talks between Beirut and Damascus

The Hariri-Aoun meeting: Dialogue is "the last chance"

News
Unless an unexpected surprise happens, the fifth meeting between PM-designate Saad Hariri and General Michel Aoun to be held today will be a vital sign of what is to happen concerning the formation of the government.

Sources close to Hariri reported that he is "very satisfied" with how the consultations have been going and his trust in what has been achieved up until now, saying that there is no going back, but rather he is optimistic about a government being formed soon".

Well-informed sources reported that "inquisitive talks" have been going on between Damascus and Riyadh, and between those two and their respective Lebanese allies. These sources told As-Safir that Syria and Saudi Arabia have remained in contact since the summit in Damascus.

Speaker Nabih Berri told persons close to him that he does not oppose abandoning any ministerial portfolio if there was a shift that included everyone, saying, "If they wanted Foreign Affairs, I do not object to a minister from the [Development and] Liberation bloc for the Ministry of Finance."

Aoun said that "I need to know the reasons for me to give in the Ministry of Telecommunications. If there were reasons that justified that, then I could concede it and others. However, without convincing reasons, I will not do that," adding "there are many American statements which oppose the 15-10-5 formula and if it is granted they might prevent the opposition from having any means of power to run the country, that's why they prevent us from taking vital ministries such as Defence , Interior and Finance".

An-nahar
Titles

The French foreign minister exalts Hariri's "firmness;" Aoun to meet PM-designate soon
Kouchner arrived pessimistic about the region and leaves less pessimistic about Lebanon
Sleiman receives support from al-Assad; Obama hopes for the formation [of the government]
The 64th anniversary of the United Nations in South Lebanon...

News

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner worked busily yesterday on the issue of the formation of the Lebanese government, meeting with officials, leaders and representatives during his one-day visit to Beirut.

An-Nahar has learned that Kouchner, at the beginning of his talks, outlooked Lebanon's domestic political scene anxiously due to regional pressures upon the country. However, after a number of meetings, he ended with "less pessimism and more optimism because of all the local as well as regional reasons."

Besides, Kouchner said that the relation between France and Syria is good, yet it is not as many pictures, describing the relationship between France and Iran as tensed. Kouchner expressed worries on the situation in the South of Lebanon, pointing to Israel's discomfort from the Iranian - Western talks in Veinna.

An-Nahar has learned that talks were held between President Sleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri in which they assured the importance of prevailing over the obstacles which have jammed the formation of the government.

Sources told An-Nahar that the consultations between Sleiman and Berri coincided with a phone call between Sleiman and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in which the latter restated his support for the formation of the government.

General Michel Aoun told Iranian Press TV that there would be a meeting between him and Hariri soon. He also mentioned that past meetings between them had been more for exchanging opinions without reaching a decicive result.

An-Nahar correspondents from Washington reported that US President Barack Obama, on the 26th anniversary of the death of 241 American military personnel in Beirut, hoped that a new government in Lebanon will soon be formed."

UNIFIL celebrated the 64th anniversary of the establishment of the international organization at its headquarters yesterday in Naqoura with a symbolic display for the brigades that participate in it and honouring its most outstanding employees, including 14 Lebanese.