October 27, 2006

THE ARAB ECONOMIC COUNCIL PASSES A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP THE LEBANESE ECONOMY. PREMIER SANIORA URGES ARAB COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARIS-3 MEETING AND THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE NEXT TOURISM SEASON IN LEBANON. AMR MOUSSA STRESSES THAT THE ARAB PEACE INITIATIVE IS THE BASIS. BERRI IN GENEVA: WHY THIS SILENCE OVER THE ISRAELI NUCLEAR POWER? UNIFIL THREATENS ISRAELI VIOLATING PLANES. Arab states pledged to help and support Lebanon's postwar reconstruction process and endorsed a series of measures that will boost and revive its economy. During an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the League's Economic and Social Council held at the Grand Serail, Arab finance ministers passed a series of recommendations to help the Lebanese commerce and trade, tourism, health and education sectors. The measures included exempting Lebanese cargo trucks from paying transportation fees in Arab countries for two years; exempting Lebanese goods from customs fees for three years; and re-implementing the Lebanese agricultural calendar for three years. Lebanon reportedly exports more than 50 percent of its products to Arab markets. In the tourism field, the meeting agreed to promote Lebanese tourism by declaring the year 2007 a year of Arab tourism to Lebanon. The ministers also suggested that an advertising campaign be launched to encourage Arabs to spend their holidays in Lebanon. Lebanon's tourist industry suffered a devastating blow as a result of the month-long war between Israel and Hizbullah which ended with a U.N.-brokered cease-fire on Aug. 14. The ministers also urged Arab governments to offer technical assistance to Lebanon's industrial and agricultural sectors and encourage Arab investment in Lebanon as well as a series of measures to assist in the rebuilding of power plants, hospitals and schools. The Arab ministers also vowed to contribute in rebuilding and restoring destroyed schools and hospitals and supporting different health programs such as those dealing with the victims of the cluster bombs; The meeting also pledged to grant Lebanon 5 percent of the budgets of different Arab organizations to execute special programs and activities in various fields that will be held during the years 2007 and 2008 for Lebanon to carry out similar projects. The Arab representatives also recommended holding Arab conferences scheduled for 2007 in Beirut, including a conference for Arab businessmen and investors titled "Supporting and Helping Lebanon's reconstruction process and economy." In addition to that, Arab funds pledged to take into consideration Lebanese requests to extend loans maturity. Prime Minister Fouad Saniora appealed to Arab countries to increase and accelerate their donations to Lebanon to help it rebuild from what he called "a series of devastating Israeli invasions" in the past 30 years. Addressing the meeting of Arab finance ministers, the Premier called for a quick infusion of Arab funds to enable Lebanon to recover from the 34-day Israeli offensive against Hezbollah in July and August, and the civil war of 1975-90. The Prime Minister said the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah had inflicted a heavy loss of life and colossal damage to Lebanon's infrastructure. "The Lebanese have paid a heavy price in lives and properties as a result of this devastating war. Also, nearly a quarter of Lebanon's population was displaced from their homes during the (Israeli) aggression. Direct and indirect economic losses reached billions of dollars," The Prime Minister said. The Premier thanked Arab states for their donations, but said: "We want our (Arab) brothers to give renewed and concrete support - to cover all needs of the public and private sectors and to overcome an ordeal that has been going on for three decades." Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said the meeting was the starting point for Lebanon's reconstruction. "Lebanon's stability and safety are an indivisible part of security and stability in the Arab world and the Middle East," Moussa told the conference. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Economy Minister Sami Haddad, and Arab League chief Amr Moussa, in addition to United Nations officials and Arab ambassadors to Beirut. Arab League chief Amr Moussa pledged that member states would join forces to help Lebanon's post-war reconstruction after its devastating war with Israel, at the meeting in Beirut. "This meeting is considered the practical launch of the reconstruction, rebuilding and assistance of Lebanon," Moussa said at the opening of an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the League's Economic and Social Council. "We will not let Lebanon (continue to) be the scene of conflicts and wars, we will not let the great people of Lebanese fight on their own," he told Arab finance and economy ministers. "We, the Arab states, have decided to help Lebanon with all our strength, capability and determination, and we will continue that important task," the secretary general of the 22-member organization said. Moussa said "the stability and safety of Lebanon is a main part of the security and stability of the Arab world." Arab League chief Amr Moussa called for all Arab nations to help with the massive task of Lebanese reconstruction following Israel's devastating summer offensive. "All Arab countries must support the vast reconstruction enterprise in Lebanon ... the damage caused by the aggression has profoundly shocked us," Moussa told journalists in Beirut ahead of an Arab meeting to discuss aid for the war-torn nation. Prime Minister Fouad Saniora has said his government still needs billions of dollars to repair the destruction, including homes, schools, roads and bridges across large swathes of the country, especially in the south. "This extraordinary meeting was prepared by a number of Arab experts and aims to push all Arab institutions to work together to help Lebanon on the economic and social levels," the secretary general said. Plenty of eyes turned upward as disagreements soared over persistent Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, with Israel claiming UNIFIL's French contingent had threatened to fire at its planes. UNIFIL spokesperson Alexander Ivanko said he had no idea where the statement came from. "I am not aware of any such comments made by any senior UNIFIL officers," he said. Sources close to the dispute said there are serious discussions about the French contingent bringing in aircraft to assist monitoring of Lebanese skies, but nothing has been decided yet. The French Foreign Ministry last week condemned Israel's violations and announced that France was working with the UN to "organize the rules of managing Lebanese airspace." Beirut has repeatedly called for an end to Israeli transgressions, with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora describing the air intrusions as "hostile actions" and demanding an "immediate" halt to violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Israeli airspace violations were many, with aircraft flying over Tyre, Wadi Assel, the western part of the South and along the occupied Golan Heights. At the same time, according to the National News Agency (NNA), two Israeli bulldozers and three humvees crossed the UN-demarcated Blue Line near Kfar Kila. Dozens of Israelis then began digging canals to channel what appeared to be floodwater, caused by recent heavy rains, from Israel into Lebanon. Meanwhile, UNIFIL's acting commander said that Israel's withdrawal from Ghajar will take place soon as an agreement was reached. Brigadier General J.P Nehra made the comments in a statement after meeting senior Lebanese and Isreali forces to discuss the situation around Ghajar and future security arrangement. "The meeting went very well," he said. "We have more or less closed all the gaps except for a few minor technical issues that should be finalized very soon and then I expect the Isreali to complete their withdrawal. Lebanon needs close to $8 billion - or more - from the Paris donor conference early next year to complete the reconstruction drive and reduce the budget deficit, officials and economists said Tuesday. "My personal view is Lebanon must be looking for a donation and soft-loan pledge more than the one committed during Paris II conference," Dr. Mohammed Shatah, adviser to the Premier said. Dr. Shatah added that the Paris meeting is a continuation of both the Paris II and Stockholm meetings, noting that the Lebanese government will submit a new economic reform program during the conference. "This conference will pick up from the Paris II meeting because the government was not able to implement reforms due to the situation prevailing at that time," Dr. Shatah said. He added that the public debt will be seriously addressed in Paris because the debt deteriorated very fast after the war. "The government and the Central Bank will soon announce new measures to reactivate some economic sectors that were affected by the war." Dr Shatah Concluded. The Saudi Red-Crescent has installed 48 residential pre-fabricated houses and two service buildings for generators and equipment on the outskirts of the southern town of Aitaroun. This is the first installment of pre-fabricated homes to reach Lebanon. By the end of this month another load of pre-fabricated houses will arrive from Saudi Arabia, which has pledged 1,000 of the dwelling to those who lost their homes in the war with Israel. Each structure includes two bedrooms, a kitchen, a salon and a living room. So far the United Arab Emirates has pledged 5,000 pre-fabricated houses, while Turkey pledged 750. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had said last month that Lebanon in need of 30,000 Pre-fabricated houses. Kuwait gave Lebanon a grant of $300 million as part of an effort to help the government rebuild Beirut's southern suburbs and villages in the South destroyed during this summer's war with Israel. In the presence of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Kuwaiti Finance Minister Bader Mashari al-Humaidi, Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development Director General Abdul Wahab Ahmed al-Bader and Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) chief Nabil Jisr signed the grant agreement at the Grand Serail. The grant will be used to rebuild 20 villages in the South, and more than 7,300 people will benefit from the package. The United States government, through the US Agency for International Development, has awarded a $5 million contract to SEACOR Environmental Services to assist in cleaning up the oil spill caused by an Israeli attack on the Jiyyeh power station during the war. A statement from the US Embassy said that experts from across the US government worked in consultation with the Environment Ministry to develop the initiative. Clean-up efforts will focus on the North Lebanese coast from Byblos to Enfeh, including Batroun. SEACOR, a US-based, global provider of environmental, industrial and emergency response solutions, has utilized the services of a subcontractor with substantial experience operating in Lebanon, allowing for a quick response. With the onset of winter looming - and expected turbulent, high water conditions on the way - time is of the essence. Through this effort, clean-up crews will be trained, Lebanese residents whose livelihoods have been impacted by the oil spill will be employed, and the necessary equipment to ensure that the clean up is safe, thorough and environmentally and historically sound will be provided, said the statement. A delegation of the UAE Program to Support & Rebuild Lebanon along with the UAE Red Crescent visited yesterday the Baalbek region, distributing food aid, school bags and clothes and shoes to students. The Government of Malaysia has dispatched its third shipment of aid to Lebanon; the shipment consisted of hospital supplies, medical equipments and fire extinguishers worth US $361,000. The Jordan River foundation and the Jordan Hashemite organization have sent a fifteen-truck convoy of cleaning materials, children toys and food items to HRC, Municipalities and NGO's. An advance team of 125 Indonesian troops will leave for Lebanon to join a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Another 725 troops are to leave one or two days after the Eid al-Fitr Muslim festival, which falls on October 24 in Indonesia, the report said. Meanwhile, Lebanon's prime minister has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone for sending troops to help rebuild the country's infrastructure, the Kremlin said Monday. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora "thanked Putin for Russia's positive role in ending the armed conflict and help in rebuilding Lebanon's peaceful infrastructure," the Kremlin said, adding that Putin in return said he was satisfied with the troops' work. The first members of a 300-strong Russian bridge-repair force arrived in Lebanon earlier this month. The head of the French-Lebanese Friendship Committee stressed the necessity of "reinforcing ties between Lebanon and France on all levels." Following his meeting with Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Adrian Gutteron, the French Senate's vice president, hailed the Lebanese people's "vitality in rising up again. Prime Minister Fouad Saniora thanked Arab countries for their prompt support and financial assistance for his country following the July-August war that caused more than 3.5 billion dollars in material damage. Saniora called on Arab countries to adopt measures to encourage the revival of the Lebanese economy, mainly in the tourism and trade sectors. More than 50 percent of Lebanon's exports go to Arab markets, he noted. "We count on your active participation in the Arab and international conference to back Lebanon to be held in mid-January in Paris," he said. The Paris conference aims to raise long-term financial assistance to help the country recover from Israel's blistering 34-day war and revive the ailing Lebanese economy. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora announced that an international donor conference in support of Lebanon would be held in Paris in the middle of January. "The Cabinet has decided to hold an Arab and international forum on aid for Lebanon in the French capital on January 15, 2007," the premier said after a Cabinet session. French President Jacques Chirac has expressed his willingness to host the conference, Siniora added. Asked if President Emile Lahoud had any problem with holding the conference in Paris, the premier said: "I have discussed this matter with President Lahoud and we both agreed that what is important now is to hold the conference. We need to deploy every effort to achieve this purpose." The government had wanted to convene such a conference last year, but was unable to do so for various reasons, including pressure from world powers to implement prerequisite financial reforms. Siniora told reporters that he had made a call during the session to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who affirmed that Moscow would be represented at the conference. Concerning a grenade attack early Sunday on a commercial building in Downtown Beirut, Siniora said that such incidents were aimed at "increasing tension and hampering Arab and international investors' trust in Lebanon's economic and tourist sector." "We are deploying all possible efforts to promote our capabilities in the security sector," he added. According to the premier, increased security efforts would be discussed either during Thursday's Cabinet session or next week. As for the as-of-yet unpaid compensation to those who were displaced and lost their homes in the recent war, Siniora said the government would borrow the necessary funds from other countries and institutions. Acting Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat gave his fellow ministers a detailed explanation of the latest security developments, including last week's attacks on military barracks in the capital and Sunday's bombing of the Al-Asseili Building, near Riad al-Solh. Fatfat said additional security measures would be adopted to fill in "security gaps" and that meetings would be held between the interior and defense ministries to promote cooperation between the various security bodies. The acting interior minister also stressed the need for surveillance cameras throughout the capital, in addition to more equipment and weapons for security forces. On the other hand and during his visit to Beirut Amr Moussa Secretary General of the Arab League paid visits to the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh. The Secretary General of the Arab League said the Lebanese should engage in national dialogue after the country emerged from a "dangerous" situation following Israel's aggression. Mr. Moussa was speaking after talks with head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri in Koreitem. Discussions focused on the latest developments and the meeting of the Arab Socio-Economic Council in Beirut. Mr. Moussa told reporters that dialogue should be launched in Lebanon, after UN Security Council Resolution 1701 brought an end to the war, by calling for the withdrawal of Israel, the creation of a multi-national peacekeeping force, and support for the Lebanese Army and its deployment in the South. In response to a question about the cooperation of concerned Arab countries in the implementation of Resolution 1701, Mr. Moussa said he expected them to fully back it. He urged "calm diplomacy" to resolve the region's crises. Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri called on the Lebanese to unite and defeat attempts to destabilize the country. He said Arab and international support amount to an opportunity that the Lebanese should cease, and stressed that the country is facing regional, political and security challenges. Speaking at an iftar meal, marking the end of the fasting day of Ramadan, in Koreitem, in honor of families from Mount Lebanon, Kesrouan, Jbeil and Metn, MP Hariri made clear that efforts to attack "the spirit" of March 14 factions and to restore the previous political rule will fail. He pointed to recent "security messages" and plots to destabilize the country, which he said will not stop. However, head of the Future Bloc expressed confidence that the Lebanese will overcome the prevailing difficulties. He also urged the country's political leaders to act responsibly. He told the gathering that the Lebanese have chosen coexistence and unity, and reject a monopoly of national decision-making. After reaffirming the March 14 coalition's commitment to democracy, sovereignty, and liberty, MP Hariri said the Lebanese are concerned about their future and cited migration as another reason for renewing confidence in Lebanon. He also said the government has been exerting efforts to revive the economy with Arab support, manifested in today's meeting in Beirut of the Arab Socio-Economic Council, and the Paris III international conference that will soon convene in the French capital. International economic and political backing, along with the deployment of the Lebanese Army along the border for the first time, and Lebanon's commitment to international resolutions, provide an opportunity that the Lebanese must not lose, Mr. Hariri said. Meanwhile Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora received in Beirut Deputy Managing Director of the Saudi Development Fund Yousef Al Bassam. The meeting was attended by Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja and Lebanese officials. In a press statement following the meeting, Al Bassam said the role of SDF in contributing to rehabilitation projects in Lebanon was discussed. Also tackled were the preparations for the Arab donors conference scheduled for Jeddah in December 2006, he added. Also Lebanon's Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh received at his office in Beirut Saudi ambassador To Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Bin Mohyeddin Khoja. During the meeting, developments in the region and Lebanon as well as the fraternal relations between Lebanon and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia were reviewed. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's attending the Inter-Parliamentary Union's (IPU) convention, criticized the 150-member union for "blindly following America's commands." Addressing the attendants of the IPU, Berri caused somewhat of a storm, saying: "The US gives out orders, and we [international parliaments] comply with its demands ... too bad we claim to be democratic." When the head of the IPU's session tried to end Berri's speech, but Berri spoke over him, saying: "It is ok. We had 33 days of patience with your democracy, have patience with us for three minutes." Berri's criticism came after the IPU voted against including the Israeli war against Lebanon and the means to support Lebanon as an emergency item on the agenda for discussion. The IPU favored the Japanese request to discuss North Korea's nuclear test instead. "We stood against the North Korean nuclear test in the past, while there was no reaction to the nuclear explosion in Lebanon, where Israel awarded our children 1.2 million cluster bombs that lie in our land, and used internationally banned weaponry and a mass of bombs, which equal the nuclear bombs thrown on Hiroshima and Nagasaki," said Berri. He added: "It is a shame that you don't stand in the face of 33 days of such a nuclear explosion, but would stand in the face of a nuclear attempt." Berri said: "Over 1,400 civilians died in my country, and 4,500 others were wounded and the infrastructure demolished without a serious international reaction to stop this." After his speech Berri told reporters: "No one can reject a national unity government in Lebanon because it constitutes the country's immunity, especially since Israel continues to occupy Lebanese territories." He added that the "gap between parties in Lebanon has always been a political one, but it takes on a sectarian mask. I also want to bring to attention that I do understand Europe's reaction and complex toward Israel, because of what happened to the Jews during World War II; but that was the doing of the Germans and not the Arabs or the Lebanese." Speaker Nabih Berri has urged the resumption of comprehensive peace talks after Hizbullah proved that the Israeli army wasn't invincible, An Nahar reported. "The Israeli war on Lebanon in July equates all wars launched by Israel on Lebanon," the daily quoted Berri as telling Arab parliamentarians at the 115th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, adding that "the battle against Israel is a unified Arab battle." Berri also told the Arab delegations, which approved a request for the inclusion of Lebanon's post-war assistance as an emergency item on the assembly agenda, that "the resistance (Hezbollah) in Lebanon was able to defeat the invincible Israeli army." The request stresses the "role of parliaments in supporting Lebanon's independence and sovereignty and assistance in the reconstruction process." Berri said it was time to resume peace negotiations after Hezbollah's victory proved that the old saying that Israel "imposes peace by force" is not true. He described Israel's offensive on Lebanon as "the battle of Phantom (warplane) against a child and the Merkava (tank) against the modest house in southern Lebanon." Speaker Nabih Berri has ruled out the overthrow of Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet unless "consensus" was reached, while Hezbollah held on to its precondition that there would be no dialogue before the formation of a national unity government. Berri said that while the formation of a national unity government would grant Lebanon "further immunity, however, I insist it should be preceded by consensus." "I have strong reservations against toppling the government before reaching a consensus on the next cabinet in order to avoid a political vacuum," Berri said. Berri said an agreement to reinstate national unity had been reached and would be announced during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. On the other hand the Council of the European Union in its 2756th external relations Council meeting in Luxembourg, 16-17 October 2006 adopted the following conclusions: - Middle East Peace Process The Council welcomed the statement by the Quartet at its meeting in New York on 20 September and, in particular, the Quartet's intention to reinforce its activity, including with the parties and regional partners. The Council recalled the urgent need to make progress towards a comprehensive settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict, based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Roadmap, and with a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at its core. It welcomed the consensus within the international community to that effect. The Council underlined that the EU would continue actively its efforts to this end. The Council expressed its support to President Abbas and called on the Palestinians to join his efforts towards national unity and the formation of a government with a platform reflecting the Quartet principles and allowing for early engagement. Such a government would also be a key factor for allowing the EU to pursue its goal of strengthening the capacity of Palestinian institutions. The Council called on all Palestinian factions to end their internal strife. The Council underlined the importance of an early resumption of dialogue between the two parties with a view to re-launching negotiations on the basis of the Roadmap. The Council recalled the utmost importance of the full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access, particularly the permanent opening of the Rafah, Karni and other crossings. The Council reiterated its call for the immediate release of the abducted Israeli soldier. It repeated its call for the immediate release of Palestinian Ministers and legislators in Israeli custody. It called for an end to violence and for restraint on both sides. The Council welcomed the extension of the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) for a further three months and the expansion of this mechanism to an even greater number of vulnerable people. It encouraged other donors to make full use of the mechanism. The Council reiterated its call for an immediate resumption of transfers of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues by Israel. The Council further called on Israel to consider resumption of such transfers via the TIM to alleviate the deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the West Bank. - LEBANON The Council renewed its commitment to support the full implementation of UNSCR 1701. It welcomed the overall deployment in Southern Lebanon of the Lebanese Armed Forces, supported by UNIFIL. It noted the almost complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and called on Israel to withdraw also from the Lebanese part of the town of Ghajar in co-ordination with UNIFIL. The Council stressed that Lebanon's sovereignty over its land, sea and airspace must be respected. The Council called for the immediate release of the two abducted Israeli soldiers. The Council reiterated the EU's commitment to support the legitimate and democratically elected Lebanese government. The EU will continue to assist the Lebanese government in meeting its humanitarian and environmental needs and in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process. The EU will support the Lebanese government in further extending its authority throughout Lebanese territory, and in taking forward political, security, economic and social reforms. The Council recalled that there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon. The Council called on all sides to observe the requirement of authorisation by the Lebanese government of sales and supply of arms. The Council called on all parties and neighbours to support this process. The Council reaffirmed its full support for the UN International Investigation Commission into the assassination of Rafiq Hariri and other terrorist attacks as mandated by UNSCR 1595, 1644 and 1686. It commended the professional work made by Mr. Brammertz and his team under difficult circumstances, and welcomed the 5th report by UNIIC. It expressed its confidence that progress will be achieved in bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. It underlined the importance of the establishment of tribunal of an international character, in conformity with UNSCR 1664. The Council also approved financing instrument to provide more than EUR 11 billion for European neighbourhood policy The Council adopted a regulation establishing, and laying down general provisions for, a European neighbourhood and partnership instrument for the 2007-13 period, following an agreement reached with the European Parliament in first reading. The regulation establishes a legal framework for the provision of Community assistance to support the EU's European neighbourhood policy. It is intended to support the development of an area of prosperity and good neighbourly relations involving both the European Union and the following countries and territories: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Russian Federation, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. A total of EUR 11.181 billion over seven years will be provided from the Community budget for implementation of the regulation, of which at least 95 per cent will be allocated to country and multi-country programmes, and up to 5 per cent will be devoted to cross border cooperation programmes. The regulation will apply as from 1 January 2007. Meanwhile Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Israel would continue surveillance flights over Lebanon as long as arms smuggling from Syria continued in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Jewish state's summer war on Lebanon. A senior Israeli intelligence officer charged that Syria was aiding arms smuggling into Lebanon in violation of Resolution 1701 which ushered in a truce on August 14 after 34 days of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. In Israel Former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General (Res.) Dan Shomron will head the probe into the performance of Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and the general staff during the war in Lebanon. Shomron is expected to start in the next few days. Halutz's request was presented to Shomron a few weeks ago, but because Shomron had been abroad and returned to Israel a few days ago, the matter was only finalized Tuesday. Shomron's investigation team will work alongside other teams recently appointed to investigate the war in Lebanon on all levels. Ever since the end of the war it was clear that a comprehensive probe into the performance of the chief of staff and the general staff was necessary in addition to all other units and levels. The appointment of the investigation was necessary because both the general staff and the chief of staff had direct influence on the decision-making process during the war.