October 13, 2006

THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION AT THE CORE OF THE SAUDI LEADERSHIP AND TURKEY'S TALKS. THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES AND THE CROWN PRINCE REVIEW WITH BERRI THE SITUATION IN LEBANON AND WAYS OF DEALING WITH IT. BERRI: MY VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA IS VERY POSITIVE AND THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES REITERATED HIS READINESS FOR ANY SACRIFICES TO PRESERVE LEBANON AND THE ARAB'S RIGHTS. SINIORA APPEALS TO THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL TO PUT PRESSURE ON ISRAEL TO STOP ITS WARPLANES FROM OVER FLYING LEBANON AND WITHDRAW FROM GHAJAR. ARAB ENDEAVOUR TO UNIFY RANKS IN THE FACE OF THE DANGERS SURROUNDING THE REGION. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the accompanying delegation. The King held a dinner party in honour of the Turkish Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation. The party was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, a number of other princes and senior officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan co-chaired the Saudi Turkish talks. They reviewed the latest developments at regional and international arenas, notably the Palestinian problem and the current situation in Iraq in addition to the bilateral relations between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Turkey. On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister; Prince Meqrin Ibn Abdul Aziz, President of the General Intelligence, and Iyad Madani, Minister of Culture and Information. On the Turkish side, the meeting was attended by Erdogan's accompanying delegation as well as Turkish ambassador to the kingdom Oghor Doghan. The meeting was also attended by Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Jeddah to perform Umrah (minor Hajj) in Makkah and pay a visit to the Prophet's Mosque in Al Madinah Al Munawarrah . At King Abdul Aziz International Airport, he was received by Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, chief of general intelligence; Prince Mishaal Ibn majed Ibn Abdul Aziz, governor of Jeddah province; Iyad Ibn Ameen Madani, Minister of Culture and Information; and senior officials in addition to Turkey's Ambassador to the kingdom. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Madinah to visit the Prophet's Mosque within his current visit to the kingdom to perform Umrah (minor Hajj) rituals in Makkah and pay a visit to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. The Turkish Premier was accompanied by Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Ibn Amin Madani. At Prince Mohammed Ibn Abdul Aziz International Airport, the Premier was received by Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Majid Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of Madinah region and a number of senior officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received at his office in Jeddah, Lebanon's Speaker of the House of Representatives Nabih Berri and accompanying delegation. During the meeting, current situations in Lebanon were reviewed in addition to aspects of cooperation between the two countries. The audience was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, advisor to the King; and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja. Lebanon's Speaker of the house of representatives Nabih Berri, just back from a state visit to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he had talks with the Saudi leadership, has extended thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, his government and people for the unwavering support they have rendered for Lebanon's government and people in the aftermath of the Israeli war on the Arab country. In a statement, Berri said Saudi Arabia never backed off providing assistance to Lebanon who is in bad need for such aid to meet the sizable due bills of reconstruction and rehabilitation. He said he received understanding from King Abdullah and the officials he met during talks in Jeddah tackling Arab and Lebanese affairs. He said they underscored the importance of maintaining Lebanon's unity and sovereignty. Referring to the Arab Peace Initiative which was endorsed by Beirut summit according to a proposal by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Berri drew the attention to the tense situation in the region. He called for returning to peace negotiations between the parties, noting that the Arab countries now share unified stance towards their legitimate rights. Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri said Lebanon is in dire need of Saudi Arabia's political clout to face the upcoming challenges. Berri returned to Beirut after a three-day visit to Jeddah, where he held a meeting with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General. The speaker added that the priority now was to create normal and stable ties "between Lebanon and Syria," to face attempts to divide the Arab world. Lebanese-Syrian relations deteriorated after the killing of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in February 2005 and the subsequent pullout of Syrian troops. "A united Arab position would pave the way for the resumption of peace talks in the region," said Berri. "Saudi Arabia is very keen on Lebanon's unity," and it "does not distinguish between one sect and another." Former Prime Minister Omar Karami praised Berri's initiative to visit Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia has a long history of solving crises in Lebanon," Karami said. But MP Michel Moussa, a member of Berri's parliamentary bloc, told Voice of Lebanon radio station Monday that the visit was aimed at "asking for the kingdom's influence in uniting Lebanon's badly divided political leaders and easing the tensions among them." Asked if Berri would visit Syria in the near future, Moussa said the speaker would be visiting several countries soon to discuss "Arab-Syrian ties and their repercussions on Lebanon." Sources quoted by the Lebanese Central News Agency said Berri might indeed visit Syria soon to discuss bilateral relations and pave the way for Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's visit to Damascus. Then, Berri would visit Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, with whom he would discuss a "comprehensive political program that would start with early presidential elections and the creation of a national unity Cabinet," according to the sources. Hezbollah and MP Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement have been calling for the formation of a national unity Cabinet. But Siniora has said a change in the presidency should precede a government change. The sources added that Berri would also work on promoting Shiite-Sunni relations through meetings he would hold with the head of the Future parliamentary bloc, MP Saad Hariri. Sources told pan-Arab Al-Hayat newspaper before Berri's meeting with the king that the speaker would inform the Saudi leader of Lebanese political developments. The sources added the visit was aimed at "creating an adequate atmosphere for launching Lebanese bilateral talks," a new version of the national dialogue, which was launched by the speaker earlier this year. The Speaker Nabih Berri dubbed his visit to Saudi Arabia as very positive. Following his return from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Berri held talks with the different parties on the local scene to try and ease the ongoing political tensions. The House Speaker said that Lebanon was in dire need of Saudi Arabia's political support in the face of imminent challenges, adding that such assistance had to start with the normalization of relations between Syria and Lebanon. "Saudi Arabia's influence puts it in a position where it can help us improve relations between Muslims inside Lebanon and between Lebanon and Syria," Berri said in an interview with the Al-Mostaqbal daily. Berri said that a coordinated, consolidated and lobbying Arab stance would open horizons for the resumption of peace negotiations which would restore Arab rights and bring stability back to the region. On the other hand Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has appealed to UN chief Kofi Annan to put pressure on Israel to stop its warplanes from over flying Lebanon and withdraw from Ghajar, his office said. Siniora made the request during a telephone conversation with Annan, saying the over flights violated UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the month-long Israel-Hezbollah war on August 14. The Lebanese Prime Minister also underlined the need to put an end "to the violations by Israel of the Blue Line (UN-demarcated border), particularly its occupation of the village of Ghajar," his office said. Israeli aircraft have continued to overfly Lebanon since the Jewish state withdrew its forces earlier this week from all of southern Lebanon barring Ghajar village. Ghajar, which straddles the border between Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, has been wholly occupied by Israeli forces since the end of its offensive against Hezbollah. The village's residents are Alawites and on the Golan side have Israeli citizenship as that part of the village was unilaterally annexed by Israel in 1981 along with the rest of the Syrian territory. Israel has said it will continue to over fly Lebanon until the release of two of its soldiers who were captured by Hezbollah on July 12, sparking the Israeli offensive. Israeli warplanes flew at a low altitude over the Bekaa Valley and the town of Baalbek, a Hezbollah stronghold in eastern Lebanon. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora welcomed the departure of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon but warned much remained to be done to end the Jewish state's 'occupation'. In a cabinet meeting held to discuss the question of Israeli occupation of Ghajar, Siniora hailed the army's historic deployment in the south, but said there were tasks that still needed to be completed, namely: the recovery of the Shebaa Farms, the freeing of Lebanese prisoners held in Israeli jails and receiving landmine maps from Israel. Two days after Israeli forces withdrew from the south. Witnesses said at least two jets flew in from Israel at medium altitude and headed north towards central Lebanon. Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin told Reuters in Jerusalem that the over flights would continue to help ensure that arms supplies do not reach Hezbollah from Syria. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army awaits to deploy in the border village of Ghajar, which is still occupied by Israeli troops. The Jewish state has said it will keep its troops there until security arrangements in the divided village are agreed with UN and Lebanese forces. Official sources told Annahar daily that negotiations were ongoing between Lebanon and the United Nations to arrange the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Ghajar and said it was only a matter of days, for as the sources said, Ghajar would never be another Shebaa farms. UN Chief Kofi Annan, meanwhile, said that he would only officially declare Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon complete once Israeli troops withdraw from Ghajar. Meanwhile Israel handed over maps of land mines in southern Lebanon to the UNFIL. UNIFIL said Israel had passed on those maps to the Lebanese army and the U.N. Mine Action Coordination Centre in Lebanon for review. The handing of the maps happened in a meeting between the acting head of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon with senior Lebanese and Israeli army officers to discuss Israel's 'speedy' withdrawal from the divided border village of Ghajar. UNIFIL Acting Force Commander Brigadier-General J.P.Nehra said in a statement that the meeting was productive and the main focus was to finalise the Israeli Defence Forces' withdrawal, which should take place by the end if this week. And in the latest diplomatic ventures to speed up the implementation of UN resolution 1701, Italian Foreign Minister Romano Prodi arrived in Beirut. The Israeli army has handed U.N. peacekeeping forces the maps of minefields in south Lebanon where two people were injured by an Israeli cluster bomb. A statement said UNIFIL's acting commander, Brig. Gen. J.P. Nehra, who chaired a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese army officers at the force's headquarters in the Lebanese border town of Naqoura, received the maps identifying and locating the minefields planted by Israel before it ended a 22-year occupation of south Lebanon in May 2000. The meeting mainly focused on securing a speedy withdrawal by Israel from the village of al-Ghajar, the last position it still occupied in south Lebanon which it re-entered during the 34-day war with Hezbollah last July and August. "The meeting was productive and the main focus was to finalize the Israeli Defense Forces' withdrawal," UNIFIL's statement said. During the meeting, the Israelis provided UNIFIL with the maps of the minefields, which were then handed over to the U.N. Mine Action Coordination Center and the Lebanese army for review. A complete withdrawal from Lebanon, together with the Lebanese army deployment in the area and the handing of minefield maps are among key clauses in Security Council Resolution 1701. The resolution ended last summer's war, in which 1,200 Lebanese were killed and 3,000 injured. Discussions over Israel's full pullout from Lebanon after its summer war with Hezbollah are underway, U.N. peacekeeping spokesman Alexander Ivanko said. "Discussions are going on, we are still working on this issue," Ivanko said. "We hope that it will be resolved soon and that the Israeli Defense Forces will withdraw." Maj. Gen. Alain Pellegrini, commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, confirmed on October 1 that Israel withdrew from south Lebanon except from the divided village of Ghajar and said the problem would be solved within a week. Ghajar borders the Syrian Golan Heights that Israel has held since 1967. Israeli commanders have cited security reasons for retaining the whole village and the army has erected a large barrier to bar access from the rest of Lebanese territory. Ivanko also said that UNIFIL is coordinating with the Israeli and Lebanese armies to "come up with a final mechanism" for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Ghajar. "UNIFIL made a proposal to resolve this case. We hope that it would be acceptable from the Israeli and Lebanese sides," he said. On the other hand Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri said there is a serious opportunity to resolve Lebanon's problems through dialogue and to avert divisions and attempts to restore the previous 'corrupt' regime. He urged respect for Lebanon's religious diversity and the various opinions that exist in the country. MP Hariri was speaking at an iftar meal, marking the end of the fasting day of Ramadan, in Koreitem, in honor of families from Sidon and nearby regions, in the presence of MP Bahia Hariri and a number of dignitaries. Head of the Future Bloc stressed that the Lebanese had experienced alternatives to dialogue, when they resorted to arms, and they should now sit around the table to discuss Lebanon's problems. Pointing to Muslim-Christian co-existence, MP Hariri urged unity and dialogue to defeat bids to create divisions that would serve the goals, which the "Israeli enemy" could not achieve through its military campaign. He added there are also others who seek to restore the previous corrupt regime. Addressing families from Sidon and South Lebanon, head of the Future Bloc made clear that all homes destroyed during Israel's war will be rebuilt, in line with assassinated Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's values and legacy. Meanwhile after a cabinet session dedicated to health issues, Prime Minsiter Fouad Siniora held a security meeting to study the incidents of Raml Al Ali. Siniora said that investigations were ongoing and stressed the government would not tolerate any illegal constructions. The Cabinet held a session at the Socio-Economic Council in downtown Beirut to discuss health issues Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh explained during the session a study he had prepared to reform the health sector. The study is to be re-examined by Cabinet in two weeks. Siniora reiterated that his government would not cover any expenses related to illegal construction in Beirut or elsewhere in Lebanon. Siniora told reporters following the Cabinet session that a military court was investigating the clashes that occurred between residents and members of the Internal Security Forces who were dismantling unlicensed residential structures in Beirut's southern suburbs. Siniora stressed that the Cabinet's decision was unanimous and strict. Following the Cabinet session, a security meeting took place to discuss the Ram Al Ali incident attended by the ISF's Director General, Major General Ashraf Rifi. Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said afterward that a unanimous agreement had been reached to complete an investigation into the incident and to hold the relevant officials accountable. The security meeting was attended by Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh. Aridi said a meeting would be held soon among the relevant ministers and officials to resolve the causes and repercussions of the incident. Asked if Hezbollah and Amal ministers and MPs would be present in Beirut's southern suburbs to ease tension and facilitate the ISF work in removing construction violations, Aridi said that the cabinet would use all legal and traditional means to reach its goal and implement the law. Aridi also said that those who committed construction violations were not among those whose homes were destroyed during the war, but tried to take advantage of the war to build houses illegally. For his part, Acting Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat urged all who had information about the incident to inform the ministry about it. He also echoed Siniora's calls for the need to complete the investigations before throwing random accusations. Fatfat is expected to hold a meeting today to be attended by different heads of municipalities of Beirut's Southern Suburbs to discuss the violations in these suburbs. In Cairo President Hosni Mubarak said there is no such thing as a new axis of moderates in the area, denying that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had raised such issue during her meeting with Egyptian, Jordanian and GCC Foreign Ministers. In statements to the press, President Mubarak said Egypt rejects categorizing countries of the region into moderate and extremist, asserting adherence to the policy that aims at bringing closer the Arab ranks and avoiding differences. President Mubarak said his talks with Rice in Cairo covered a number of issues, mainly the peace process, Iran's nuclear file and the implementation of UNSC resolution1706 on the deployment of international troops in Darfur. The President said he asserted during his talks with Rice the need to settle the problem with Iran peacefully, pointing to the initiative on rendering the Middle East an area free of weapons of mass destruction. President Mubarak said he explained to Rice the danger of the use of force on security and stability in the region. President Mubarak said the region is going through tough and critical circumstances, pointing to his belief in the need to resort to peaceful solutions in solving problems. He warned against the danger of escalating conditions in Iraq, adding that the latest developments have led to major problems that foreshadow sectarian war that should be ended. The Palestinian cause is still stagnant and there are no indications of reaching a solution that would lead to Palestinian statehood, the President said. President Mubarak said he informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the need to reach a swift agreement among all the Palestinian factions that would ensure reaching a solution to the Palestinian cause and ending the siege on the Palestinian people. President Mubarak said the state of security instability on the Palestinian arena brings the Palestinian cause back to square one, pointing out that the Palestinian national unity is important to the peace process and to persuade the international community to provide assistance. The Palestinian efforts might yield holding Legislative Council elections as a way out of the current crisis, especially that Egypt had exerted enormous efforts to reach the formation of a Palestinian unity government, the President said. However, such efforts were confronted by inter-Palestinian disputes, he added. As for the latest developments on the Lebanese and Syrian arenas, President Mubarak pointed to Egyptian-Syrian contacts, asserting that Egypt is keen on Syria's security and rejects any attempts that could lead to its collapse. 'The President pointed to his advice not to exercise any pressures on Syria and the need to give priority to the policy of dialogue on all outstanding issues between Syria and any international or regional parties. President Mubarak underscored profound relation between Egypt and Syria, pointing out that any differences should never stand in the way of developing relations. The President asserted Egypt's keenness on bringing about security and reconciliation in Lebanon and the need to overcome the Israeli offensive through unity. The President warned that the stagnant peace process could lead to problems in other areas. He urged the international community and the United Nations to exert more efforts to push forward the peace process and reach a just solution to the Palestinian cause. The Arab nation should avoid differences in order to safeguard its national security, the president reiterated. The President said that he informed Condoleezza Rice of the Sudanese government's opposing stance against deployment of international forces in Darfur and consequences of this intervention. He added that he called on Washington to exert its efforts with all Sudanese factions in Darfur that didn't sign Abuja agreement in a way they would reach a peaceful settlement. As for the situation in Darfur, President Mubarak asserted the importance of security in Sudan and the fact that it is related to Egypt's strategic security. Egypt could never and would never give up Sudan and is keen on preserving its security and stability, the President said, referring to ongoing contacts and efforts to reach a solution to the current crisis in Darfur in a way that maintains the country's security, stability and sovereignty. President Mubarak extended greetings to the Egyptian Armed Forces and the people on the occasion of the October War victory. In Damascus President Bashar al-Assad has stressed Syria's desire for consolidating the Syrian-Egyptian-Saudi axis in support of the Arab causes. In a comprehensive interview given to the Kuwaiti newspaper 'al-Anba, President al-Assad talked about Syria's stances towards the regional and international developments. Answering a question on the priorities regarding the Arab concerns the President said:" I think priorities lie in existence of a unified vision upon of the Arab region's future, particularly after the latest developments that had happened in our region. I think that top priority now following Iraq issue and terrorism spreading is stability issue because all of us have become targeted and stability is the top priority and this is connected with the political and security side." He added that another priority is the economic situation which also is linked to political and security condition as to the Arab relations as a whole. I think that all priorities are connected with each other but they change in accordance with circumstances. Regarding the peace process and Madrid Agreement, the president said that theoretically 80 percent of the issues were solved and what remained is 20 percent, and the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories doesn't need more than six months if the Israeli are honest toward the peace process. About the need for a mechanism for a real approach for peace, the president said that will is firstly needed, then there should be a vision, and third a mechanism, pointing out that the will is the most important for the two sides to launch the peace process. But the will is still lacking on the American side which is the cosponsor to the peace process. Former Secretary of State Colin Powel and the US. president said that they are not interested in the peace process. Regarding Iraq, the president said that the only way to save Iraq is to have an Arab initiative and with an Arab help away from any other forces including the American troops in Iraq which will not allow an Arab approach to the Iraqi crisis. In Amman Foreign Minister Abdullah Ilah Khatib said the Jordanian intensified diplomatic efforts led by King Abdullah II endeavours to form a unified Arab stance enables Arab countries to have an effect on the current issues on the Arab territories. Khatib added, during a discussion hosted by Jordan Information Center, the Palestinians are in dire need for such Arab stance to support them to achieve their legitimate rights foremost which is the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian state. "This stance might catalyze the Palestinian to overcome their plight", Khatib noted, stressing the importance of making a clear Palestinian stance to support the Arab stance in the int'l forum for the interest of the Palestinian people. "Jordan's effort left the door open for all Arab countries who would like to contribute", Foreign Minister noted, indicating to highest level of coordination and consultation with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. Khatib reiterated that the unified Arab stance towards Arab issues might help prevent other parties to use Arab soil for their conflicts or address the glob on behalf of Arabs concerning their issues. On Jordanian, Qatari dispute, Khatib stressed that Jordan earlier nominated its candidate Prince Zaid Ben Raad as successor to UN General Secretary. There were expectations, Khatib noted, that the Jordanian candidate as a settlement candidate, would enjoy the Arab consensus if there was a dispute among other candidates. He added that Jordan had sent a message to the concern parties in the UN last August as well as to the Qatari Foreign Minister as his country is the Arab rotating member in the UN Security Council regarding the candidature of Prince Zaid and the Qatari Minster declared his country's commitment a year and half prior to Thailand's candidature, but this commitment was before the Arab candidature emerged who should be given priority. "Jordan's relations with Arab countries are very distinguished and there was not any discord with any Arab country", Khatib said. Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh affirmed Jordan's keenness, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, to forge a unified Arab stance on various Arab issues, foremost of which is the Palestinian issue. During his weekly press meeting, Judeh said forging a unified Arab stance, working to end the political crisis in the Palestinian lands and returning to direct negotiations, top Jordan's political priorities. On Jordanian-Qatari ties, he said there were many outstanding issues between Jordan and Qatar that need to be addressed, pointing to the media campaigns that target Jordan.