France welcomes Lebanese president
President Michel Sleiman said Monday that negotiations with Israel "depend on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 1701." Sleiman”s comments came after his meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The Lebanese president also expressed his satisfaction over the improvement of relations between Lebanon and Syria, with the opening of the Lebanese Embassy in Damascus.
Sleiman headed for Paris on Monday, in the first official visit made by an Arab president during Sarkozy”s term.
Sleiman started his three-day visit with talks with Sarkozy, which were expected to focus on the upcoming parliamentary elections and other current issues, including French military and economic aid to Lebanon and the Lebanese-Syrian ties.
Lebanon and Syria announced the establishment of diplomatic relations in October, three months after a meeting between Sleiman and Syrian President Bashar Assad hosted by Sarkozy in Paris.
Sarkozy”s last visit to Lebanon took place in January as part of a diplomatic effort during the Gaza offensive. Sarkozy also met French troops serving in a UN force keeping peace in southern Lebanon.
Sarkozy was the first Western head of state to visit Lebanon and meet Sleiman in June.
Sleiman”s visit "will be the occasion to reaffirm France”s commitment in favor of Lebanon”s freedom, sovereignty and independence," Sarkozy”s office said in a statement Monday.
Sarkozy will award Sleiman the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor at a ceremony Monday evening, before a state dinner in the Lebanese president”s honor.
Sleiman was accompanied by Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Economy Minister Mohammad Safadi and Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud.
Meanwhile, Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt said Lebanon was facing many challenges and that politicians should be up to the threats facing the country.
Jumblatt, in his weekly comments to Al-Anbaa newspaper, said tense rhetoric did not lead but to escalating tensions and hampered internal stability.
The PSP leader said the March 14 Forces presented a "unified vision of its electoral program, which represents a step toward national reconciliation and turning the page of past disputes."
Jumblatt added that one of the achievements of the March 14 Forces was the establishment of embassies between Syria and Lebanon.
Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri paid a visit on Monday to Jumblatt on the 32nd anniversary of Kamal Jumblatt”s assassination.
Jumblatt and Hariri met on Sunday night at Hariri”s residence in Downtown Beirut, along with Transport and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi.
During the meeting, the officials evaluated the second conference of the March 14 alliance held on Saturday to announce its campaign agenda and discussed the political situation in Lebanon.
The head of the Reform and Change parliamentary bloc, MP Michel Aoun, said Monday he has nominated Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abu Jamra to Achrafieh”s Orthodox seat due to the absence of candidates who truly represent the heart of Beirut.
Aoun also asked An-Nahar newspaper assistant general director Nayla Tueni to withdraw her nomination from the seat, saying she was still "unprepared" to take on the challenges of the upcoming phase.
"None of the candidates [vying for the Orthodox seat in Achrafieh] represent the true spirit of Beirut," Aoun said following a weekly meeting of his parliamentary bloc.
"This is why we waited until today to announce [Abu Jamra”s] candidacy. No one else represents the true spirit of Achrafieh either," he added.
Aoun said his movement had "liberated" Achrafieh by giving it the chance "to elect its own deputies."
Aoun vowed that Achrafieh will "not return to being controlled by a single group”s decision-making."
As for Tueni, Aoun spoke of his affection for her and her late father Gebran Tueni, saying he considered the young candidate as his own daughter.
However, Aoun advised Tueni "to withdraw her nomination because she did not possess enough political know-how" to handle the current phase.
"She should make a run [in the elections] at a different phase when she has become better qualified. We know from previous experience that leadership is not something you inherit," he said.
Aoun thanked Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir for advising citizens against selling their votes.
"We thank the patriarch for his guidance during Sunday”s sermon when he told citizens "he who buys you will eventually sell you," Aoun said.
"This is the position we were waiting for [Sfeir] to adopt," Aoun added.
Aoun then told citizens who are being "intimidated or pressured to accept bribes" in connection with the polls to "contact him personally to handle the issue." He also asked the authorities to investigate reports that a number of registrars have been "withholding IDs until the elections."
Turning his attention to the prime minister, Aoun expressed surprise at Premier Fouad Siniora”s accusation that the general has been verbally "attacking the Sunni confession." Aoun said that while "we do criticize the prime minister, however, we do not criticize his beliefs. We advocate freedom of belief."
Aoun said a number of newspapers and websites have carried leaked reports claiming that abducted Joseph Sader was "collaborating with the Mossad."
"We ask that the security services share with us any information they have on the issue and to investigate the aforementioned media outlets to uncover the truth of their claims."
Aoun also asked fellow MP Robert Ghanem to propose a draft bill under which politicians can no longer occupy dual posts in Parliament and in Cabinet.
Separately, Speaker Nabih Berri was quoted by his visitors on Monday as saying that the rule in Lebanon should be based on consensus. According to the Central News Agency (CNA), Berri told his visitors that claims that security problems would erupt before the parliamentary elections were untrue and that the situation would be calm.
Also on Monday, Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad said that the upcoming parliamentary elections would be an opportunity for the opposition to build a "country of partnership."
"In this country, no party can abolish the other," Raad said during a ceremony held in the town of Kfar Kila to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad.
"Lebanon should remain a country of coexistence despite all political disputes," the lawmaker added.
Raad highlighted the importance of the resistance and the need to strengthen the Lebanese Army in order to face Israeli attacks.
"We want politicians who do not create laws to achieve their personal ambitions and disregard laws that meet the people”s interests; we want a state that can preserve its presence against Israel," he said.
Raad went on to say that the country needed "a brave government that is aware of the lurking Zionist threats and that seeks to unify the different Lebanese factions."
Meanwhile, during his official visit to Kuwait, former President Amin Gemayel met on Monday with "Quartet" Middle East Envoy Tony Blair. A statement by the CNA said the meeting focused on Lebanon”s position in the Middle East negotiations process.
According to the statement, Blair said "the Lebanese should know what they really want; because the international community sees that the situation in Lebanon is vague."
Gemayel attended a banquet held in his honor by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Nasser al-Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah in the presence of Blair and Kuwaiti officials.