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Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Political tension in Lebanon days before Nov. 12 vote
Mohamad Shmaysani
With the very few days left before the presidential election takes place on the 12th of November, deliberations, discussions, talks behind closed doors and mediations are underway to secure a proper atmosphere for the vote. The most prominent meeting takes place Wednesday in Paris between two rival poles, the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP General Michel Aoun and the head of the Future parliamentary bloc MP Saad Hariri. MP General Aoun and MP Hariri are also expected to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozi sometime later, if according to French sources, all goes well between both Lebanese leaders.
Mottaki Won't Visit Beirut
It was also expected that Iranian Foreign Minister Manucheher Mottaki would visit Lebanon Thursday as part of the effort the Islamic Republic is reportedly making to approximate Syrian and Saudi view points over several issues, including the Lebanese question. However the Iranian embassy in Beirut said that Mottaki has cancelled his visit, without giving further details.
Khoja Resumes Diplomatic Efforts
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aziz Khoja also resumed diplomatic efforts after weeks of absence. He held meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri and the head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora on Tuesday. The meetings were described as positive.
Welch Set To Meet Cousseran
In the meantime, Washington announced that US Under-Secretary of State David Welch is due to meet with France's special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Claude Cousseran in Paris.
Worrisome Atmosphere In Lebanon
The very active diplomacy ahead of the vote went in parallel with a worrisome atmosphere founded on positions by several key figures from the February 14 bloc. The talk of the half-plus one MP formula to elect the new president and the messages conveyed to the opposition about having to choose between February 14 candidates Nasib Lahoud and Butros Harb, prompted the opposition to hold a series of meeting to discuss options.
According to analysts, the situation in Lebanon is vague. There are analyses that suggest a solution to the crisis, while other analyses warn of the specter of deterioration.
Sfeir Disappointed At Bkirki Quartet
Berri maintained optimism that Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir would take a decisive position and name a binding candidate to both opposition and loyalty camps. Sfeir had received the final report of the Bkirki quartet and expressed regret that the committee had failed in its mission to draw up a list of presidential candidates agreed upon by Christian leaderships. "I had agreed with the leaders that the mission of this quartet was not to set the principles and characteristics of the president, but to come up with a list of candidates from the diverse political spectrum. What was accomplished is good but the main target has not been reached," Sfeir said.
Geagea Insists on President From Feb. 14
For his part Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea sought to torpedo the quartet and future efforts by Sfeir to find a candidate neither from the opposition nor from the loyalty camp; something the opposition has welcomed. "There cannot be more consensus candidates than the ones we have presented," the LF chief said.
He refused the notion saying that if Patriarch Sfeir did not name presidential candidates, or if fails in naming them, then Speaker Berri and MP Hariri would name the candidates. "Neither Berri nor Hariri. No one charged them to choose," Geagea added.
Jumblatt Does Not Mind Being Part of US Project
Geagea's ally MP Walid Jumblatt who returned recently from a visit to the US, revealed to Al-Jazeera satellite channel that he does not mind "being part of the US project to protect Lebanon from Syrian and Iranian hegemony." Jumblatt renewed his support to have elections with the half-plus-one MPs formula. He also addressed Lebanese army General Michel Suleiman demanding the army to protect the Grand Serail (the government HQ) and "abandon the theory of positive neutrality" to quell any move by the opposition.
With the very few days left before the presidential election takes place on the 12th of November, deliberations, discussions, talks behind closed doors and mediations are underway to secure a proper atmosphere for the vote. The most prominent meeting takes place Wednesday in Paris between two rival poles, the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP General Michel Aoun and the head of the Future parliamentary bloc MP Saad Hariri. MP General Aoun and MP Hariri are also expected to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozi sometime later, if according to French sources, all goes well between both Lebanese leaders.
Mottaki Won't Visit Beirut
It was also expected that Iranian Foreign Minister Manucheher Mottaki would visit Lebanon Thursday as part of the effort the Islamic Republic is reportedly making to approximate Syrian and Saudi view points over several issues, including the Lebanese question. However the Iranian embassy in Beirut said that Mottaki has cancelled his visit, without giving further details.
Khoja Resumes Diplomatic Efforts
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aziz Khoja also resumed diplomatic efforts after weeks of absence. He held meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri and the head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora on Tuesday. The meetings were described as positive.
Welch Set To Meet Cousseran
In the meantime, Washington announced that US Under-Secretary of State David Welch is due to meet with France's special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Claude Cousseran in Paris.
Worrisome Atmosphere In Lebanon
The very active diplomacy ahead of the vote went in parallel with a worrisome atmosphere founded on positions by several key figures from the February 14 bloc. The talk of the half-plus one MP formula to elect the new president and the messages conveyed to the opposition about having to choose between February 14 candidates Nasib Lahoud and Butros Harb, prompted the opposition to hold a series of meeting to discuss options.
According to analysts, the situation in Lebanon is vague. There are analyses that suggest a solution to the crisis, while other analyses warn of the specter of deterioration.
Sfeir Disappointed At Bkirki Quartet
Berri maintained optimism that Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir would take a decisive position and name a binding candidate to both opposition and loyalty camps. Sfeir had received the final report of the Bkirki quartet and expressed regret that the committee had failed in its mission to draw up a list of presidential candidates agreed upon by Christian leaderships. "I had agreed with the leaders that the mission of this quartet was not to set the principles and characteristics of the president, but to come up with a list of candidates from the diverse political spectrum. What was accomplished is good but the main target has not been reached," Sfeir said.
Geagea Insists on President From Feb. 14
For his part Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea sought to torpedo the quartet and future efforts by Sfeir to find a candidate neither from the opposition nor from the loyalty camp; something the opposition has welcomed. "There cannot be more consensus candidates than the ones we have presented," the LF chief said.
He refused the notion saying that if Patriarch Sfeir did not name presidential candidates, or if fails in naming them, then Speaker Berri and MP Hariri would name the candidates. "Neither Berri nor Hariri. No one charged them to choose," Geagea added.
Jumblatt Does Not Mind Being Part of US Project
Geagea's ally MP Walid Jumblatt who returned recently from a visit to the US, revealed to Al-Jazeera satellite channel that he does not mind "being part of the US project to protect Lebanon from Syrian and Iranian hegemony." Jumblatt renewed his support to have elections with the half-plus-one MPs formula. He also addressed Lebanese army General Michel Suleiman demanding the army to protect the Grand Serail (the government HQ) and "abandon the theory of positive neutrality" to quell any move by the opposition.