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March 4, 2005 |
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THE SAUDI CABINET CALLS ON THE LEBANESE PEOPLE TO PRESERVE NATIONAL UNITY AND STABILITY AND TO WISELY CONFRONT THE CURRENT EVENTS. THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT RESIGNS FOLLOWING STRONG PRESSURE FROM MPs. THE LEBANESE PARLIAMENT ACTS AS A PROSECUTOR AGAINST THOSE WHO KILLED AL-HARIRI. A COMPREHENSIVE SPEECH BY BAHIYA AL-HARIRI MP. PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD: SYRIA IS NOT A BENEFICIARY FROM THE ASSASSINATION OF AL-HARIRI. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received a message addressed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz from Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. The message was delivered by Foreign Minister Farouq Al-Shara. The minister also conveyed the greetings of President Al-Assad to both King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah. On his part, the crown prince sent his greetings to President Al-Assad. The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, and Syrian ambassador to the Kingdom. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received a message from Algeria's President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika. The message was delivered to the crown prince during his audience here today with the Speaker of Algerian Nation Council Abdul Qadir bin Salih and the accompanying delegation. The speaker also conveyed to the crown prince the greetings of President Bouteflika. On his part, the crown prince sent his greetings to the president. The audience was attended by the Chairman of Shoura Council Dr. Salih Ibn Homaid and Algerian ambassador to the Kingdom Abdul Kareem Gharib. On the other hand Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the contents of talks held with Senegal's President Abdullah Wade, Singapore's Senior Minister Tong and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on the events, latest developments, aspects of joint cooperation and ways of their enhancement in all fields. The Cabinet was also informed of the contents of messages, contacts and consultations exchanged between the Kingdom and a number of Arab and friendly countries through various channels on the events at the international arena. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Iyad Ibn Amin Madani, the Minister of Culture and Information, said that the Crown Prince stressed that these continual talks and consultations come within the framework of the brotherly, friendly and long standing relations based on mutual respect and non-interference with others' affairs between the Kingdom and different countries and within the framework of the Kingdom's continual efforts to achieve security and stability for all peace-loving peoples. Then the Cabinet was briefed on the latest developments in the region. In this regard, the Cabinet expressed its best wishes of success for the new Palestinian government to achieve the aspirations, ambitions and all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, the minister added. On Lebanon, the Cabinet called on the Lebanese people to preserve the national unity and stability and to wisely confront the current events. On the late earthquate in Iran, the Cabinet offered the Kingdom's condolences to Iran on the victims of the recent event which led to the death of hundreds of people. The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The final accounts of the Higher Commission for Tourism for the fiscal year 1423 - 1424 H. was approved. The Cabinet authorized the General President of Youth Welfare or his deputy to discuss with the Austrian side a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Austria in the field of sports, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication. The Cabinet also authorized the Minister of Labor or his deputy to discuss with the Sudanese side drafts of two agreements between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of the Sudan to regulate land transportation operations for passengers and goods and to cooperate in the field of sea transportation, sign them and forward the final versions for further authentication. The annual report on the activities of the Saudi Arabian Mining Company "Ma'aden" for the period ending on the 31st of December 2003 was also ratified by the Cabinet. On another scale Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad in an interview published by the Italian daily "La Republica" issued last Monday, considered that the US is in need of Syria because of its pivotal role in the Middle East peace process and stability on Iraq. Al-Assad renewed denial of Syria's involvement in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri. He said that Damascus's carrying out of such act is considered a "political suicide" and that Syria is not one of the beneficiaries of killing of Hariri. La Republica asked about Syria's ties with Islamic Jihad that has assumed responsibility for the Tel Aviv suicide attack, adding that the Islamic Jihad has office in Syria. "Is Syria linked to the attack then?" Assad said, "Syria has nothing to do with that attack and that is baseless accusation. Islamic Jihad's offices in Syria have been shut down for many years now. On the other hand Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has said in an interview with a Turkish newspaper that he wants direct dialogue with the United States in hopes of easing mounting tension between the two countries. "Talks on security issues must not be broken. The only way to do this is through dialogue," Al-Assad said in an interview published in the daily Hurriyet newspaper. "We are seeking this, but cannot find the same attitude in some U.S. circles," he added. Meanwhile President Mubarak said he is keen to ease down pressures on Syria and to maintain Lebanese National reconciliation. He stressed the importance of finding a way out of the crisis which surfaced following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri and mounting calls for the withdrawal of the Syrian troops from Lebanon. During his meeting with President Mubarak, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Al-Shara conveyed a message from Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. President Mubarak received a telephone call from French President Jacques Chirac in which he warned that international pressures would be headed on Syria stressing the importance of acting together and of Damascus cooperation to ease down intensity of these pressures. President Chirac in his telephone conversation with the president stressed the importance of accelerating the implementation of the Security Council resolution 1559 which calls for ending foreign presence in Lebanon. The Syrian foreign minister stressed his country's keenness on applying Taif agreement, indicating that there is no much difference between the implementation of Taif agreement and the Security Council resolution No. 1559 as the implementation of the agreement is an indirect implementation of international law. The Syrian foreign minister Farouk Al-Shara said in a press conference held in Cairo that his country is committed to implement all particularities concerning Syria in the Taif accord, stressing that this is considered an indirect implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1559. Al-Shara said following talks with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that "the Taif accord has become a constitution and we are careful to abide by this agreement and to implement all matters pertinent to Syria." He indicated that the Taif accord wins Arab consensus and the international support, noting that several reasons pertinent to Syria and Lebanon "delay the implementation of certain articles of Taif accord." In Beirut the Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami announced the resignation of his government following strong pressures practiced by the opposition since the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. Karami said that his government has resigned in order not to be an obstacle after the assassination of Hariri. He said he announces his resignation though he knows he will obtain confidence should voting be made by the parliament over his government. In his speech, Karami said that obstructing political life in Lebanon waiting for the result of the investigation is not useful. The prime minister called on all parties to cooperate to hold parliamentary elections in their due time so as to avoid any constitutional vacuum. He said that the Lebanese government is for the implementation of the Taif accord in text and spirit, calling on the opposition to maintain dialogue in order to enhance national cohesion. Karami said during the session that launching political accusations to hold the government criminally responsible is the utmost of irresponsibility. The resigned prime minister also called for building the relation with Syria on the ground of common interests and remarkable partnership in confrontation of the "Zionist enemy." He indicated that conditions in the region and developments taking place in Iraq, warning against the consequences of exploiting national demands as an element to serve foreign interests which have no relation to the Lebanese question. Meanwhile Lebanese Parliament held an extraordinary session on Hariri's Assassination. The parliament started a stormy general session over the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri. The opposition was expected to submit a censure motion against the government. MPs observed a one-minute silence in memory of Hariri and then they chanted the national anthem. Speaker Nabih Berri opened the session and announced the names of the MPs who failed to attend the session namely George Frem, Issam Fares, Kabalan Issam el Khouri and Qaysar Moawad. Berri stressed that the parliament presents a prosecution against the plotters and perpetrators of the assassination crime of Hariri as well as the attempts on Druze MP Marwan Hamadah's life and the assassination of minister Elie Hobeika. Berri called on all parties not to make unfounded accusations which risk dividing the Lebanese people and undermining Lebanon's relations with its neighbours. The speaker also stressed that the secrecy of the investigation must not be targeted and that no tardiness is accepted and that the investigation must not end with predictions. The second to talk was Premier Omar Karami whose statement touched on the assassination of Hariri and the procedures his government took to face the repercussions of the crime as well as the Taif accord and the relation with Syria. According to Karami, the hand that killed Hariri hit all of Lebanon and led to a dangerous setback and warned against sedition. The government of Karami insisted on continuing the investigation in an accelerated manner. Other positions taken by the government were related to the political life that according to Karami must go on simultaneously with the investigation. The prime minister expressed the government's determination to hold elections on schedule. He also renewed his call for a national dialogue to confront the repercussions of the crime to spare the country further dangers and not to be dragged to the outside. In the end of his speech, Karami asked for the confidence of the parliament. While Karami was speaking, he was interrupted by Opposition MP Walid Ido who was then asked to end his interruption by the speaker. Afterwards, opposition MP Bassem al Sabe'h stood up and describe Karami's speech as a black document. An argument ensued before Speaker Nabih Berri managed to calm things down. The first MP to take the stand to talk was Martyr Hariri's sister Bahiyah. MP Hariri implied calling for an international committee to investigate the assassination of Martyr Hariri does not diminish the sovereignty of Lebanon. Hariri reiterated that Lebanon will work on implementing the Taif accord as a whole. She also called for the adherence of the Lebanese to unity and not to throw away their rights. She also addressed Arabs and called on them not to lose faith in Lebanon adding that the safety of the Arab world is from the safety of Lebanon. MP Bahiyah Hariri finally called to topple the government. Following Hariri were MPs Mikhael Daher, Robert Ghanem and Marwan Hamadah. Hamadah criticized the government, security bodies and what he called the imposed extension of President Emile Lahoud's term. There are more than 40 MPs who registered their names to have a say in the session, and then the government will have to respond to the MPs questions. This process could take several hours and maybe days before a vote is taken to give the government confidence or topple it. Lebanon's president Emile Lahoud, accepted the resignation of the government and asked it to continue in a caretaker capacity. Following the sudden resignation of the Omar Karami government, the Lebanese opposition held a meeting in Qreitem in order to discuss the implications of the resignation. A statement issued by the end of the meeting said that the resignation of the government is the first fruit of the continued peaceful citizen uprising since the assassination of Rafiq Hariri.". The statement considered that the resignation of the Lebanese government pardons the authority as a whole from shouldering its responsibility to resigning all security leaders and interrogating them. News reports in Beirut said that the opposition asked in its statement for the formation of a mini interim and neutral government that supervises investigation in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri and organizing the next elections due in May, and implementing Taif accord that provides for the withdrawal of the Syrian forces or redeploying these forces in the Bekaa valley. The Lebanese opposition called for continued demonstrations and protests after the announcement of the resignation of Karami government until the complete withdrawal of the Syrian forces. Meantime, the Druz parliamentarian Walid Junblat called for resorting to ease down and dialogue with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Voices and chants of thousands of supporters of the Lebanese opposition were heard while they were gathering in al-Shuhadaa ( martyrs) square to express their happiness. They chanted slogans deploring the practices of the resigned government and Syria. The demonstrators called for full announcement of results of the investigations on the implications of Hariri assassination. Meanwhile U.S. State Department Envoy David Satterfield has reasserted the Bush administration insistence on an "immediate" Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and for a credible investigation into Rafik Hariri's assassination. Satterfield said that the Bush Administration wanted Syria to withdraw from Lebanon "immediately" in compliance with U.N. Resolution 1559. Satterfield also asserted that the U.S. supports a credible and transparent investigation into Hariri's assassination. He made the assertions after a string of meetings in Beirut with Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, Mufti Sheikh Hassan Kabbani, ex-Premier Salim Hoss and Mufti Abdul Amir Kabalan. He made similar statements after meetings he held with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki and Druze leader Walid Jumblat at his ancestral mansion in the Shouf town of Mukhtara. "It is not an intervention or an interference for the world to talk of the need for Lebanese to live in freedom," he said. "There are diplomatic means to see all of the objectives of Resolution 1559 achieved, there is no need to speak of violence and there is no need to speak of force. We do not expect a new war in the region," he added. Satterfield scoffed at claims that a new civil war could erupt in Lebanon if Syria pulls out its army and secret service from Lebanon. "Rhetoric that threatens violence and instability as a consequence of Lebanon achieving its own sovereignty or independence ought to be unacceptable. They are insulting to the people of Lebanon," he said. Satterfield insisted Resolution 1559 did not contravene the Taif Accord. He said: "It actually maintains the spirit of Taif, which has failed to be applied for the past 15 years." Satterfield also played down increasing speculation that America will use force against Syria if it fails to withdraw from Lebanon. He said: "There are diplomatic means to see all of the objectives of Resolution 1559 achieved, there is no need to speak of violence and there is no need to speak of force. We do not expect a new war in the region." Satterfield called for the investigation into Hariri's death to be conducted "in the most comprehensive and transparent and credible manner so that the people of Lebanon and the people of the world may know who is responsible for this crime." Satterfield's comments came after a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir and Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt. On the other hand the European Commission appealed for dialogue among the various political groups in Lebanon following the resignation of Prime Minister Omar Karameh in the face of mass protests, bringing to a head a political crisis sparked by the murder two weeks ago of his predecessor Rafiq Hariri. "I hope that the situation in Lebanon remains calm and the channels of dialogue between the different political groups open," EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement. "In this difficult period Lebanon is facing after the tragic events of 14 February it is important for parliamentary elections to take place as planned in May," Ferrero-Waldner said. "These forthcoming elections should be held in accordance with a free and fair electoral process, without any foreign interference or influence, and under the sovereign control of the Lebanese authorities." EU lawmakers also called on Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon and to reject support for terrorism, while also proposing sending EU monitors for upcoming Lebanese elections. In a resolution the European Parliament warned Syria "not to tolerate any kind of terrorism, including supporting the military wing of Hezbollah as well as to refrain from any interference in Lebanese internal policies." Citing UN resolutions, it also demanded "an immediate withdrawal of troops from the country," warning that this would be a crucial factor in agreeing to the signature of a long-delayed EU association agreement with Syria. The EU legislative assembly, in a resolution adopted this week, also called on the UN Security Council to consider sending a delegation of EU observers to monitor general elections in Lebanon due in the next few months. The MEPs also condemned this month's assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri, vowing to "pay close attention to the findings" of an international investigation into the killing. |
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