08 November 2008

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Friday that his country was encouraged by recent developments in Lebanon. "We are very glad to see an improvement of the situation in Lebanon. At the same time, we understand that the situation in the region remains worrying," Putin said, adding: "We are ready to deploy all our efforts to improve this situation."

Putin was speaking following a meeting with the head of the Future parliamentary bloc, MP Saad Hariri, who is on an official visit to Russia.

For his part, Hariri said: "Lebanon witnessed a very difficult period, but thanks to its friends, in particular Russia, the country was able to overcome this situation."

"We hope that Russia will play a major role in easing tensions in the region," he added.

Addressing Putin, the MP said: "We would like to thank you for your continuous support for Lebanon, in particular with regards to the liberation of Shebaa Farms and the adoption of the international tribunal" to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri

In comments after the meeting, Hariri said that the talks also focused on strengthening the Lebanese Army, adding that Putin stressed his country's readiness to provide weapons.

Also during his visit to Moscow, Hariri met on Friday with the first deputy chairman of Russia's Federation Council, Anatoli Turchin.

In comments following that meeting, Hariri said: "Russia has always supported Lebanon's sovereignty and independence and played a role in ending Israeli aggression against Lebanon in 2006. It also contributes to [the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] and supported the international tribunal."

Turshin said: "Russia strongly supports Lebanon's stability, independence and sovereignty. We have worked and will always work to develop the situation in Lebanon, support national dialogue and consolidate national unity."

Meanwhile, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir met Friday with Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea, with whom he discussed the latest political developments.

Asked about the defense strategy proposed by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun during the national dialogue session on Wednesday, Geagea said: "I personally listened to his vision for a defense strategy, but I do not support him." "Part of the strategy includes obvious issues like strengthening the army; another part talks about spreading the resistance in all Lebanese territory," he added.

Geagea also said: "I asked General Aoun several questions to which he did not reply ... but I am against spreading the principle of the resistance, or Hizbullah, across the country."

The LF leader said he would propose his own vision for a defense strategy in the next dialogue session .

Sfeir also met on Friday with former Minister and MP Nayla Mouawad, a delegation from the Tachnak Party, Internal Security Forces chief Major General Ashraf Rifi and former Minister Jihad Azour.

President Michel Sleiman met Friday with Mouawad, with whom he discussed the latest developments. The president also met with the family of the late General Francois Hajj, who was assassinated by a car-bomb in December 2007.

Separately, Ad-Diyar newspaper said Friday that Sleiman was trying to reconcile Defense Minister Elias Murr and former Minister Suleiman Franjieh, adding that a meeting between the two politicians was expected to be held in Baabda. The daily added that Franjieh welcomed the reconciliation, but preferred that Murr visited him at his Northern residence, before the two met at the Presidential Palace.

Also on Friday, Aoun met with Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud. The discussions focused on the latest developments.

US Ambassador Michelle Sison said Friday that the principles upon which the US administration based its policy toward Lebanon would not change when Barack Obama enters the White House in January.

She added that the United States was keen on preserving Lebanon's sovereignty.

In an interview with the weekly magazine Al-Massira, to be published Monday, Sison said the US would not sacrifice Lebanon's interests even if US-Syrian ties went back to normal.

The ambassador was asked how the new US administration would view Hizbullah: "Before and after President Bush, Hizbullah will be Hizbullah." Sison replied.

Concerning Lebanese people's fears that the international tribunal would be a scapegoat to US-Syrian negotiations, Sison said that the tribunal was a fact.

Asked what policy President-elect Obama would follow concerning Iran, Sison said that America's 'objective is very clear, that is to adopt diplomacy in resolving all disputes."

Meanwhile, Hizbullah's international affairs officer, Nawaf Mousawi, said Friday that without a national resistance, Lebanon would witness divisions and settlements.

"There is no state without a resistance. The resistance is essential in establishing a state," Musawi said after talks with the Greek ambassador to Lebanon.

"How can one be surprised by a proposal to adopt the popular resistance as a defense strategy," he asked, "knowing that the resistance has become one of the strongest armies in the world?"

He added: "We should remember that what hampered the establishment of a strong state was the seeking of personal ambitions rather than national causes." - Agencies

Cabinet discusses 'comprehensive' CDR plan

BEIRUT: The Cabinet convened on Thursday in an ordinary session to discuss a study prepared by the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), in the absence of Ministers Ghazi Zeaiter and Talal Arslan.

At the beginning of the session, President Michel Sleiman said that national dialogue would continue, adding that the final statement issued by the participants reflected accurately the outcome of discussions.

The Cabinet then listened to an explanation of "the comprehensive plan to organize the Lebanese territories," presented by CDR President Nabil Jisr.

Two ministerial committees were formed to assess the study. One was headed by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the other by Deputy Premier Issam Abou Jamra.

In remarks following the session, Abou Jamra said that the committee he was presiding would hold its meeting at the CDR headquarters to discuss the study, while the committee headed by Siniora was assigned with drafting a comprehensive development plan.

In a statement following the session, Information Minister Tarek Mitri said that the ministers discussed the study presented by the CDR, which he said was based on three criteria: unity of all Lebanese territory, balanced development and the proper use of resources. - The Daily Star

© Copyright The Daily Star 2008.

 

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