April 8, 2005

ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEBANESE WAR: MP BAHIYA AL-HARIRI ANNOUNCES THE FORMATION OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE REVIVAL OF THE NATIONAL UNITY DAY. LARSEN ANNOUNCES IN DAMASCUS THAT THE SYRIAN WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON WILL BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF THE MONTH. SYRIA REPLIES TO THE CONTENT OF THE REPORT OF THE UN FACT FINDING COMMITTEE AND STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF REVEALING WHO WAS BEHIND THE HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST HARIRI AND DEFINE THE BENEFICIARY PARTIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MP Bahiya Al-Hariri declared that April 13 would witness diverse organized activities on the occasion of the 16-year civil war that broke out in 1975. Mrs Al-Hariri, sister of the slain ex-premier, Rafic Al-Hariri, said at a news conference, held at headquarters of the Press Syndicate, the occasion would be remembered with various activities to affirm the commitment of the Lebanese people to national unity. Various sectors, namely banking, commercial, information, industrial and tourist establishments, would take part in the planned activities, she said. Nora Jumblatt, spouse of the opposition leader, Walid Jumblatt, who also spoke at the conference, said the occasion would be distinguished with many sports, artistic and cultural activities in various regions of the country. A general atmosphere of stagnation has been prevailing in the business sector of Lebanon since assassination of Al-Hariri on February 14. Legislator Bahiya Hariri, sister of slain prime minister Rafiq Al Hariri, announced a series of cultural, musical and arts activities in downtown Beirut. The program will include art exhibitions, sports events, concerts and theatre productions, and will take place in the center of Beirut, rebuilt by the late Hariri after the 1975-90 civil war. The events will kick off on April 13, the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the war. On April 13 the dreams of Rafiq Al Hariri in building a lively Lebanon, free, sovereign and independent, will be fulfilled," Bahiya told a press conference. "The death of my brother resulted in the unity of all Lebanese ... Attempts to destabilize Lebanon will fail because the Lebanese people who condemned Rafiq Al-Hariri's assassination in fact reject the assassination of Lebanon," Bahiya said. She said that Lebanese and Arab airlines would offer 50 percent discounts on tickets to Lebanon and restaurants and pubs in downtown Beirut would also offer discounts during the month of April to help enliven the area. Commercial and tourist activities have slowed alarmingly since the February 14 assassination of Hariri in a massive Beirut bombing. MP Bahiya Hariri, sister of slain Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, vowed to pursue the late leader's path towards freedom, unity and development, at a meeting with representatives of United Nations organizations in preparation for National Unity Day on April 13. MP Hariri told the gathering at ESCWA headquarters in downtown Beirut that efforts are in full swing to reveal the truth behind the former Premier's murder. The MP said Mr. Hariri's assassination "targeted the Lebanese people in their security, stability and future. It targeted the Lebanon of Rafiq Al-Hariri, in its role and dimension.. the resolve to achieve growth, prosperity and development gathered steam in Beirut in the last few years to create a model for the Lebanese and regional development partners." She pointed out that ESCWA was a dream that Mr. Hariri conceived after the UN moved its regional headquarters to Beirut, in line with the martyred leader's goal to "restore Beirut as an Arab and international city and a space for freedom, scrutiny, dialogue and the making of future." She stressed that Lebanon is facing a delicate moment that requires a "great sense of responsibility to face treachery and conspiracy," and preserve the late Premier's achievements and goals. Deputy Hariri said Mr. Hariri's goals should be pursued including the "course towards unity and freedom which was launched by Martyr Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri on the 14th of February is Lebanon's future path- to defend a modern, safe and just Lebanon, and to reaffirm the capability of the Arab citizen to build his modern state and his determination to be an active part of the developed and advanced world that believes in human freedom and the right to develop and prosper." Addressing UN representatives, Deputy Hariri pointed out that the activities of the national unity and freedom day on the 13th of April, the 30th anniversary of the civil war, amounted to a milestone in "the year of freedom and renaissance which started on the 14th of February 2004" and will last for one whole year. Sidon MP Bahiya Hariri called upon Lebanese and international organizations to come up with creative ideas on how to commemorate April 13, the date when the Lebanese civil war first began 30 years ago. Hariri, sister of slain former Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, made her call during a news conference at the capital's Inter-Continental Phoenicia Hotel, which was severely damaged by the explosion that killed Hariri on February 14. She said: "The coming of April 13 marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the Lebanese civil war. It is a date which the late premier and martyr Hariri wanted to set as a day for Lebanese unity." Hariri added: "For all the hardships that we have been through, and in order to remember but never to forget, we want this day to be a day for national unity and freedom." According to the MP: "All Lebanese should stand together to protect the future of Lebanon through this memorial, which marks the pains and salvation of Lebanon." Hariri called upon the Lebanese to mark their national unity and freedom according to their own dreams. She said: "I leave it to each and every one of you, and to the national economic, media, civil, sports, educational associations, committees and syndicates. I also leave it to our friends from the regional and international companies and organizations to come up with activities to be held in Lebanon between the 10th and the 13th of April, to show their support and solidarity with us." During the news conference, the Sidon MP said that she wished Beirut would host the first United Nations Development Program project on human development and freedoms on April 13, a step Hariri considered would be a remarkable gesture to show support to the Lebanese cause, freedom and unity. Separately, both Beirut Mayor Abdel-Minhem Ariss and Solidere's Nasser Shammah, said that the municipality and real-estate corporation were each working on ideas to commemorate the somber occasion. Beirut Marathon Committee head May Khalil suggested that a run for solidarity be held on April 13. Hariri called upon "the pioneers of freedom and national unity, such as Nelson Mandela, Sonja Ghandi and Corazon Aquino, and all the pioneers throughout the Arab region and the world to join us in our day of freedom and solidarity." She remarked: "It is time to assure ourselves and the world that we are worthy of this country and our Rafik Hariri. Lebanon is for everyone, above everyone - a country able to live." Downtown Beirut will be transformed into a festival ground on April 13 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the start of the devastating civil war, a date that has been consecrated for "freedom, sovereignty and independence." Lebanon, mired in political crisis and hit by a series of bomb attacks, is to mark the anniversary with a cultural and sporting festival under the slogan of "unity." Speaking at the Press Federation, Sidon MP Bahiya Hariri, the sister of slain former premier Rafiq Al-Hariri, announced the sports, culture and artistic events that will take place in Beirut April 9-13 to revive the ailing city center. In an emotional speech in which she addressed her late brother, Hariri said: "We promise you that this year we will transform Lebanon into a legend, as you had wanted it to be." Hariri was the main architect of the post-war reconstruction of Lebanon, with pride of place among his achievements being the rebirth of Downtown Beirut. Since his death, the area has been reminiscent of a ghost town and businesses have struggled to make profits. Since Hariri's murder in a seafront area a few hundred meters away, Martyrs' Square has turned into a pilgrimage site to the tomb where he was buried and the scene of anti-Syrian protests. His sister, Hariri said: "We call on Lebanese of all religions and all regions to take part in these activities." "For three days and three nights, the Lebanese will be out on the streets, in public, to tell those who wanted to kill hope by assassinating Rafiq Al-Hariri that their plot is doomed to fail," his sister said. More than 30 leading figures from the business world, the law, trade unions and civil society are taking part in the organization of the event. The program, announced by Beiteddine Festival Committee president and wife of leading opposition member Walid Jumblatt, Noura Jumblatt, includes photo and painting exhibits, concerts, theater, a marathon, horse-riding and swimming competitions and children's activities. It will be free and accessible to all, Jumblatt said. On the night of April 12, organizers will lay the cornerstone of a statue of Rafik Hariri, to be built near the Grand Serail in Downtown Beirut. The earth for an olive tree, symbolizing peace, is to be brought from different regions of Lebanon. A series of concerts are being staged by the organizers of the country's Baalbek and Beiteddine arts festivals. But according to Maya de Freije, a member of the organizing committee: "The schedule is not final yet, we are still working on the final touches and it will be out next week." According to Hariri, the national flagship carrier Middle East Airlines will offer up to 50 percent discounts during the month of April for people coming to Lebanon in an attempt to encourage maximum attendance among tourists and Lebanese expatriates. MEA confirmed the 50 percent discount for flights coming to Beirut from all destinations. But airline officials said it only applies to people staying for 14 days. Hariri said she was hoping the move would help revive the ailing economy, which received a blow after the massive blast that killed Hariri on February 14. Cafes and nightclubs in the Downtown area, once brimming with tourists, are now left nearly empty because of Hariri's murder and the series of bomb attacks that have targeted the country since the killing. MP Hariri said: "We want to show them that our will for life cannot be defeated. We want our streets and our squares to be filled with joy and people and not left abandoned for chaos." The events will also include the five-kilometer "Fun Run," or "Unity Run" organized by the Beirut Marathon Association on April 10, a bicycle rally, the planting of an olive tree near Hariri's grave and a closing concert by the Lebanese singer Magida Roumi. In another effort to rehabilitate Lebanon, outgoing industry minister and Alwaleed bin Talal Foundation president Layla Solh announced the foundation will fully rehabilitate the industrial area of Sad al-Boushrieh that was heavily damaged in a night bombing last Saturday. On a visit to Hammoud, Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Sergei Pukin said the Russian delegation to the UN will try its best to address Lebanon's concerns. Pukin hoped that Lebanon would overcome the current crisis and said free and fair elections should take place, adding that Russia supported the achievement of Lebanon's total independence and sovereignty. He added: "Free and fair parliamentary elections should take place in order to assign a government that would pave the way to the establishment of peace and national accord in the country." On the UN report concerning the assassination of Al-Hariri the Russian Ambassador said: "It is crucial to let the Lebanese government and UN investigation team investigate this big assassination. I think that we have to work step by step." Meanwhile, reports in the press stated Annan had rejected Syria's request to omit the reference to a physical threat made by Syrian President Bashar Assad, to ex-Premier Hariri before his assassination, from the report of the UN fact-finding mission. According to diplomatic sources, Annan said: "This report is a UN document and the UN refuses to be told what should be done to its documents." Annan's rejection came in response to a recent letter by Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Sharaa, demanding the remark be omitted from the report. The UN fact-finding report said Assad had threatened to eliminate Hariri and Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt if Syria was forced to evacuate Lebanon. Syria sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Chairmen of the Security Council and the General Assembly commenting on the UN fact-finding mission's report on the assassination of Former Lebanese Premier Rafiq Al-Hariri. The letter said the report talked in length about the political and psychological situation that preceded the heinous crime of assassinating Hariri, thereby making the findings of this report far from objective and showing somehow a sort of solidarity with one Lebanese party while neglecting the viewpoints of the other. "The Feb. 14th explosion was exploited to serve the viewpoint of one Lebanese party who aimed at launching coup d'etat regardless of the importance of coexistence, maintaining civic peace and the national accord among the Lebanese which Hariri himself believed in." The letter said the report dropped the historical, geographic, political and social cohesion between the Lebanese and the Syrian people. "Despite the fact that the report was not expected to refer to Syria's positive role in building the civic peace in Lebanon and ending the civil war across the country, it is strange to ascribe the political tension that emerged a few months before the assassination of Hariri to Syria," it added. It also pointed out that the political tension was clear since June 2004 when the idea of taking the Lebanese issue to the UN Security Council was raised, asserting that the UN resolution 1559 increased tension and caused sharp divisions in Lebanon leading to economic, security and political paralysis in and outside Beirut. The letter recalled that the civil war and the Israeli occupation of great parts of the Lebanese lands had necessitated a state of military and security cooperation as well as political coordination between Syria and Lebanon against all challenges. "This cooperation concentrated on maintaining civic peace in Lebanon had emerged from the national accord and the Taif Agreement, a thing that enabled Syria to decrease its troops to 10,000 from 40,000 in addition to future full withdrawals of these forces before the forthcoming Lebanese elections," it added. The letter said the UN report neglected the long-term cordial relations between the Syrian leadership and Premier Hariri, pointing out that it also dropped Hariri's participation in the achievement of the Taif Accord and his commitment to Syrian-Lebanese strategic relations. "Revision of Hariri's latest statement before being assassinated confirm keenness on continuing personal and political relations with the Syrian leadership," it noted, adding that Hariri, before his assassination, had made many phone calls with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister to arrange for a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad. "Syria was astonished over the hint incorporated in the report on alleged improper dialogue held between President al-Assad and late Premier Hariri ... This hint is totally unacceptable because it is unfounded and lacks credible concrete evidence." Syria concluded by particularly demanding the omission of this hint on President al-Assad in person out of Syria's keenness on the UN credibility. "Syria sees that this hint is an unwarranted insertion in any report presented to the Security Council." The letter added that Syria, one of the sides affected by the loss of Hariri, stresses the importance of revealing who was behind this heinous crime against Hariri and define the beneficiary parties as soon as possible. Syria supports the stances of Lebanon regarding this issue as it is more keen than the others on Lebanon's sovereignty, prosperity and independence. In a joint press conference held by Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and UN Secretary-General's special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, following their meeting, Larsen described his talks with President Bashar al-Assad and Minister al-Shara as characterized by a high spirit of cooperation which is based on mutual commitment to the common aims. The talks were conducted in friendly and constructive atmospheres and in practical way." þ He indicated that he delivered President al-Assad a message from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The message has the same spirit of cooperation of the meeting, pointing out that the Syrian government told me that it has withdrawn all its forces in Lebanon to the Bekaa area, in addition to withdrawing 4,000 soldiers to the Syrian territory. þ He added that Minister al-Shara told him that all Syrian forces and security bodies will be withdrawn from Lebanon by April 30. The withdrawal will come in the framework of implementing the Taif Accord and UN Security Council resolution 1559, he said. þ Mr. Larsen said that it was agreed with the Syrian government on sending a UN team to make sure of the full Syrian pullout of Lebanon after the approval of the Lebanese authorities. He confirmed that there is common understanding between the UN and the Syrian government about continuing the withdrawal in a way that ensures security and stability in both Lebanon and Syria. þ He re-confirmed that the UN keeps its commitment to the implementation of all UN Security Council resolutions which can ensure stability and security in Lebanon, Syria and the region as a whole. þ Minister al-Shara agreed with Larsen, asserting that by the withdrawal of the Syrian forces from Lebanon, Syria will implement the part that concerns it in the Security Council resolution 1559. þ Minister al-Shara described the Syrian-Lebanese relations as historical and geographical of various cultural, social, economic and security dimensions based on national and pan-Arab sentiments, which cannot be removed neither by the withdrawal of the Syrian forces nor incitement to break the Syrian-Lebanese relations. þ He pointed out that Mr. Larsen has confirmed in his statement that Lebanon's security is part of Syria's security, and that relations between them are interrelated. þ The Syrian-Lebanese relations are not established on might but on fraternal relations confirmed by agreements between them, Minister al-Shara clarified. þ On the Lebanese elections, Minister al-Shara said: We support these elections and holding them on time as agreed upon by the Lebanese. þ On the Syrian-US relations after implementing resolution 1559, and its relations with the European Union, Minister al-Shara said: Syria is one of the most committed countries to international legitimacy. Some say why is this legitimacy only applied to Arabs and not applied to Israel? I think the UN shares us such opinion whether they openly say it or not. I want to be optimistic to say that the latest excuses must go away and remove any misunderstanding between Syria and the US or any incitement by others against Syria. þ We feel that what Syria has done in different fields and issues concerning security and stability in the region, was correct and honest expressing profound credibility of Syria's policy in the region and abroad, Mr. al-Shara added. þ On the Arab peace initiative which was adopted by the Beirut summit and rejected by Israel, Mr. al-Shara said: the initiative enjoys the full Arab support, pointing out the failure of some attempts at the Algiers summit to change a tiny part of it. þ Syria believes that the initiative is very important at the coming stage, because it is only existing formula at the hands of the parties who are concerned with achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region, Mr. al-Shara said, confirming Syria's support for the initiative. þ On Israel's rejection of the initiative, Mr. al-Shara said: Israel's rejection is based on rejecting the idea of peace and not because it is an Arab initiative, adding that Israel has rejected even the US initiatives and the Madrid peace conference. We didn't see so far any seriousness towards establishing a just and comprehensive peace in the region, because Israel is the one who obstructs the realization of this noble end. þ Regarding the timing of a unilateral peace following the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, al-Shara said that this consolidates doubts in Lebanon and those of the numerous Lebanese circles that Israel is provoking others to take decisions intended to divide the Arabs and to create sedition within the one Arab country in order to get away from peace and not to achieve peace or fulfil the true requirement of peace needed by Lebanon and Syria. þ Al-Shara added: I can't imagine that there is a possibility no matter is the extent of the other sides strength or arrogance to impose a unilateral peace on Syria and Lebanon, because the Syrian and Lebanese tracks are inseparable in accordance with history, geography and social reality. And no one can imagine that Lebanon can be involved in a unilateral peace deal with Syria out of this process. This is a fact that will be proven in the near and far future. þ On the Syrian-Lebanese relations following the implementation of Taif Accord in the light of other standing agreements, al-Shara said that the relations will continue as agreed upon by the Syrian and Lebanese governments, and any modification introduced to these agreements such as the Treaty of Cooperation, Fraternity and Coordination should be done by the consent of the Syrian and Lebanese governments. þ He added that Taif Accord stipulates that the security of the two countries is correlated in all conditions and that Lebanon will not be used by any political or non-political forces hostile to Syria. Also the Syrian territories will never be used by forces hostile to Lebanon. And there is an interest in the other parts of Taif Accord and not only in what is connected with the implementation of the withdrawal. þ On whether there will be a better international climate following the Syrian troops withdrawal from Lebanon, al-Shara said that this will be accomplished if all parties particularly the super powers respect the international legitimacy and if the UN Charter is respected by the United States and the Security Council, and if there is a general political desire for the complete implementation of the UN and Security Council's resolutions that are connected with the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian issue. Only then one would feel that there will not be any pretext to underestimate the importance of stability in the Middle East but on the contrary there will be a new Middle East that enjoys prosperity, security and stability. þ For his part, Larsen said in his reply to questions which were forwarded to him that his talks in Damascus yesterday were conducted as the previous talks he held with the Syrian officials in a spirit of cooperation, and there is no reason that prevents the continuation of this cooperationþ. He added that the relations between Syria and the UN Secretary General has always been very good, expecting these relations to continue in the future with regard to resolution 1559 and to the relation between the United Nations and Syria. þ He excluded the possibility of sending international troops to Lebanon following the withdrawal of the Syrian troops, pointing out that such a possibility remains hypothetical and not proposed on the UN agenda in this stage.þ