LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
April 25/2019
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
We did not submit to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you. God shows no partiality
Letter to the Galatians 02/01-07: “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. But because of false believers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us we did not submit to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you. And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders (what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) those leaders contributed nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised”.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on April 24-25/19
Lebanon Ready To Demarcate Maritime Border With Israel Under UN Supervision
Washington Revokes Visas for Lebanese Figures over Iran, Syria Ties
Hariri: Lebanon, SA to Sign Series of Agreements
Khalil Says Lebanon Capable of Overcoming Economic Crisis
Security Agency Issues Alert of Israeli Infiltration Attempt under ‘Tourist Trips’ Guise
Hariri: Lebanese Banks Ready to Help Govt., Reform is Key for Change
Amnesty Urges Lebanon to Help End Domestic Worker Abuse
Defense Minister: Military Institutions Not Responsible for State Deficit
Defence Minister Bou Saab visits UNIFIL HQ, tours Blue Line
Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel Meets with Frangieh, Says Both Parties Share Honesty and Ethics
Samy Gemayel Visits Kornet Chahwan Municipality
Yemen’s Houthi Official Dies in a Hezbollah Hospital in Beirut
Dabbour meets Al Rabia'ah: Saudi Arabia donates $1.5 million to UNRWA
Hariri at Humanitarian action symposium by Saudi Embassy: We are keen on maintaining special relations with Saudi Arabia
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 24-25/19
Video explaining What Is the Muslim Brotherhood?فيديو يشرح من هم جماعة
US deploys two carrier strike groups in Mediterranean – first time since 2016
Man Storms German Church Yelling Alahu Akbar Injures 9 people
US Called On To Boycott German Cars Until Hezbollah Banned From Germany
Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt: Upcpoming Peace Plan Doe Not Include Confederation With Jordan
Israel Destroys Home of Palestinian Accused of Killing Two Israelis
US backs Haftar offensive on Libya’s Tripoli: official
Libyan PM Accuses France of Supporting 'Dictator' Haftar
Sri Lanka Detains New Suspects amid Frantic Hunt for Bombers
Egyptians Overwhelmingly Approve Changes Extending Sisi's Rule
North Korea's Kim Arrives in Russia's Vladivostok for Summit with Putin

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on April 24-25/19
Lebanon Ready To Demarcate Maritime Border With Israel Under UN Supervision/Jerusalem Post/April 24/19
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day – 24th April/CLDH - Lebanese Center for Human Rights/April 24/19
Video explaining What Is the Muslim Brotherhood?فيديو يشرح من هم جماعة الإخوان المسلمين/Cynthia Farahat/Middle East Forum/April 24/ 2019
US deploys two carrier strike groups in Mediterranean – first time since 2016/DEBKAfile/April 24/19
Man Storms German Church Yelling Alahu Akbar Injures 9 people/Jerusalem Post/April 24/19
US Called On To Boycott German Cars Until Hezbollah Banned From Germany/Jerusalem Post/April 24/19
Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt: Upcpoming Peace Plan Doe Not Include Confederation With Jordan/Jerusalem Post/April 24/19
2020 candidates line up behind Armenian genocide bill as US-Turkey relations plummet/Bryant Harris/Al-Monitor/April 24/19
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day: Revisiting Islam’s Greatest Slaughter of Christians/Raymond Ibrahim/PJ Media/April 24/19
The mullahs’ conundrum: Martyrdom or capitulation/Mohammed Alyahya/Al Arabiya/April 24/19
The Goals Of ‘The Second Phase Of The Islamic Revolution’ In Iran For The Next 40 Years – Part Three: IRGC Commanders Speak On The Achievements And Goals Of The Revolution/MEMRI/April 25/2019

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on April 24-25/19
Lebanon Ready To Demarcate Maritime Border With Israel Under UN Supervision
جروزالوم بوست: لبنان مستعد لترسيم الحدود البحرية مع إسرائيل تحت إشراف الأمم المتحدة
Jerusalem Post/April 24/19
The disputes over the border have elevated tensions between the two enemy countries. ebanon is prepared to demarcate its maritime border with Israel under the supervision of the United Nations and with the same mechanism used for the Blue Line. “We are ready to draw Lebanon’s maritime borders and those of the Exclusive Economic Zone using the same procedure that was used to draw the Blue Line under the supervision of the United Nations,” Lebanon’s Speaker of the House Nabih Berri said, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
The UN-demarcated Blue Line currently separates Lebanon and Israel’s territory with more than 200 points. Thirteen of the points are disputed by the Lebanese government. According to the report, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon Maj.-Gen. Stefano Del Col told Berri that the mechanism used to draw the Blue Line could also be used to resolve the maritime border issue and enhance stability. The two countries have an unresolved maritime border dispute over a triangular area of sea of around 860 sq. km., which extends along several blocks for exploratory offshore drilling Lebanon put for tender two years ago. Beirut claims that Blocks 8 and 9 in the disputed maritime waters are in Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and parts of Block 9 run through waters that Israel claims as its own EEZ. Recently discovered oil and gas reserves off the shores of Lebanon and Israel are predicted to generate up to $600 billion over the next few decades and in December 2017, Beirut signed contracts with three international companies to explore oil and gas in two of the blocks. Lebanon and Russia also signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on oil and gas in October 2013. Israel also views its offshore oil and gas reserves as highly valuable, both economically and strategically. Jerusalem has made agreements with Egypt to sell surplus gas and agreed earlier this year to partake in an Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, which includes seven members: Egypt, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Italy and the Palestinian Authority. In November of last year, Israel reportedly signed an ambitious project to build a 2,000 km.-undersea gas pipeline - from Israel to Cyprus to Crete to mainland Greece and Italy - to supply natural gas. The construction of the pipeline is expected to take five years and cost some eight billion dollars.Due to the pipeline, Greece and Cyprus were reported by al-Hayat to have offered their help in mediating the demarcation of the maritime border with Lebanon. Disagreement over Israel’s ongoing construction of the border wall, and Lebanon's plans to explore for offshore oil and gas in disputed maritime waters, have elevated tensions between the two countries who are officially still at war.  Israel and Hezbollah fought a deadly 33-day war in 2006, which came to an end under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which called for disarmament of Hezbollah, for withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon, for the deployment of the Lebanese army and an enlarged UN force in the south.

Washington Revokes Visas for Lebanese Figures over Iran, Syria Ties
Naharnet/April 24/19/The United States Embassy in Lebanon has revoked the visas of several Lebanese figures with reported good relations with Iran and the Syrian government, the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat said on Wednesday. The daily said the measure has affected a Lebanese lawyer who was granted power of procuration by a Syrian businessman suspected of being linked to the Syrian regime, and another Lebanese businessmen preparing to go to Syria to discuss the establishment of companies there. Political sources said the majority of the visas were annulled in a simple phone call the figures received from the US embassy in Beirut.

Hariri: Lebanon, SA to Sign Series of Agreements
Naharnet/April 24/19/Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday said Lebanon and Saudi Arabia are seeking to sign several future agreements, assuring that a Saudi decision to lift the ban on travel to Lebanon has contributed to an increase in the number of expatriates. Hariri, speaking at a conference on humanitarian work, he asserted that there is a real will on the part of Saudi Arabia to “deepen” relations with Lebanon, stressing it has always shown concern about Lebanon and the Israeli aggressions it was subject to. Addressing Advisor to the Saudi Royal Court Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Rabeeah, Hariri said: “Your visit today comes within the framework of the special relations between the Kingdom and Lebanon as a proof of continuation of this relationship which we are keen to maintain.”Hariri pointed out that Saudi Arabia has always been “keen on safeguarding Lebanon from the wars ravaging in countries around it. “The Saudi relief assistance presented to Lebanon after the (Lebanon-Israel) 2006 war enabled war-affected individuals to return to their homes and land,” Hariri reminded. The conference was attended by al Rabeeah and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari and other officials.

Khalil Says Lebanon Capable of Overcoming Economic Crisis
Naharnet/April 24/19/As Lebanon grapples with an economic crisis pressuring the government into implementing austerity measures, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said he is “optimistic” about the capability to overcome it, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday. “After a comprehensive review I have sent 33 copies of the revised version of the draft budget, the entire government components are now facing limited options and a need to shoulder responsibility which requires us to go to a serious budget to address the imbalances. I am optimistic about the ability to overcome the crisis,” said Khail. Khalil has reportedly presented a draft budget law composed of 1000 pages to the Cabinet's general secretariat, and that it included austerity measures, attached to a detailed report including the objectives of the project. Lebanon is set to impose austerity measures to combat its bulging fiscal deficit amid warnings of an economic "catastrophe" if public spending keeps rising. The country is one of the world's most indebted countries, with public debt estimated at 141 percent of gross domestic product in 2018, according to credit ratings agency Moody's. The budget for 2019 has yet to be finalised, but public sector workers fear that austerity measures may mean cuts to their salaries. Hundreds of civil servants protested in Beirut earlier to denounce any such move.

Security Agency Issues Alert of Israeli Infiltration Attempt under ‘Tourist Trips’ Guise
Naharnet/April 24/19/The General Security Directorate issued an alert urging vigilance from Israeli agents trying to enter Lebanon under the guise of “tourism excursions,” it said in a statement on Wednesday. “The Israeli enemy is trying to enter Lebanon by recruiting its agents in delegations under the cover of "tourist trips", in order to use them for security purposes inside Lebanon," said the statement. “The Directorate urges citizens, travel and tourism offices not to fall victim to individuals or companies claiming to organize various tourist trips to Lebanon, or promote them by email or through social networking sites, unless they have official offices,” it added.

Hariri: Lebanese Banks Ready to Help Govt., Reform is Key for Change
Naharnet/April 24/19/Prime Minister Saad Hariri said that the government is committed to fight corruption and squander, and is determined to carry out the necessary reforms for the benefit of the Lebanese citizen and public finance. He added that banks and the Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh would be ready to help. Hariri expressed these stances during the opening ceremony of the Arab Banking Conference for 2019 entitled “Economic Reforms and Governance” that he sponsored at the Phoenicia Hotel, at the invitation of the Union of Arab Banks, the Central Bank and the Association of Banks in Lebanon.
He said: “We in Lebanon sometimes suffer from campaigns that make people feel desperate. The successful organizations and successful people, like Riad Salameh or the (state-owned) Middle East Airline or other Lebanese institutions, are always under attack because they are successful. We want to carry out the necessary reforms for the benefit of the Lebanese citizen and public finance and this is what is happening now. “In the end, what concerns me is this reform. I do not have a problem with who takes the credit for reform. What is important is that these reforms get implemented.”Addressing Governor Riad Salameh, he said: “I reiterate my congratulations to you. The banks supported Lebanon during delicate stages. The problem is that the state did not implement the reforms it should have. For example, the Paris II Conference was held with a package of reforms that should have been implemented but sadly didn’t. The governorate and the banks did their job and gave the state 10 000 billion Lebanese pounds with an interest rate of 0.2, on the basis that reforms will be made. But these reforms were not applied.” Hariri stressed that the State should not resort to Lebanese banks or the governorate of the Central Bank before carrying out its duties. “I am confident the banking sector will be ready to help us, just as it did in Paris II,” he said noting that efforts are focused now on discussing the state budget before it is referred to Parliament. “I am totally confident that the President and the Speaker are very keen to apply austerity measures, stop the squander, fight corruption and develop our laws in the necessary manner,” the PM concluded.

Amnesty Urges Lebanon to Help End Domestic Worker Abuse
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 24/19/Amnesty International on Wednesday urged Lebanon to end what it described as an "inherently abusive" migration sponsorship system governing the lives of tens of thousands of foreigners working in private homes. Domestic workers in Lebanon are excluded from the labour law, and instead obtain legal residency though their employers' sponsorship under the so-called "kafala" system. But activists say this leaves the maids, nannies and carers at the mercy of their employers and unable to leave without their permission, including in numerous documented cases of abuse. "Amnesty International is calling on the Lebanese authorities to end the kafala system and extend labour protections to migrant domestic workers," the London-based rights group said. "The Lebanese parliament should amend the labour law to include domestic workers under its protection," including to allow them to join unions, the group said. Lebanon hosts more than 250,000 registered domestic workers from countries in Africa and Asia, the vast majority of them women. In a report released Wednesday titled "Their house is my prison", Amnesty surveyed 32 domestic workers employed mostly in and around Beirut, revealing "alarming patterns of abuse". Among them, 10 women said they were not allowed to leave their employer's house, with some saying they were locked in. Twenty-seven said their employers had confiscated their passports. Many worked overtime, 14 were not allowed a single day off each week, and several had their monthly salaries revoked or decreased, despite it being a breach of their contracts. The labour ministry introduced a standard contract for domestic workers in 2009, but the forms are often written in Arabic, a language they cannot read. The government in late 2018 said it had translated the contracts into several other languages. Amnesty registered eight cases of forced labour and four of human trafficking, the report said. Six reported severe physical abuse, while almost all had been subjected to humiliating treatment and several were deprived of food. "Sometimes I would get so hungry... I used to mix water with sugar when I was hungry and drink it," one worker said. With the abuse taking a toll on their mental health, six said they had contemplated or attempted suicide. Only four of those interviewed had private rooms, while the rest were relegated to living rooms, storage rooms, kitchens or balconies. "There is a man in the house who can enter the living room any time he wants," said one worker who was forced to sleep in the living room. Activists accuse the Lebanese authorities of being lax in bringing abusive employers to account. Ethiopia and the Philippines have banned their citizens from domestic work in Lebanon, but still their citizens find ways to come. In 2008, Human Rights Watch found that migrant domestic workers in Lebanon were dying at a rate of more than one per week from suicide or in failed escapes. Many other countries in the Arab world also follow the "kafala" system for household workers.

Defense Minister: Military Institutions Not Responsible for State Deficit
Naharnet/April 24/19/Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab said the Lebanese army is not responsible for the budget deficit but “successive economic policies and waste of public funds are.”In a televised press conference, Bou Saad said “the current economic situation is due to successive economic policies. The military institutions and the Lebanese army are not responsible for the budget deficit.”“It’s true that the budget allocated for the defense ministry is the largest in the government, but it’s not as mistakenly reported responsible for the deficit,” he added. “Lebanese must know that the military institutions are tasked with protecting the country and security. They go to the front unaware of what their fate could be,” added Bou Saab. He said his Ministry should decide on reducing military expenditures based on the spending needs of the army.

Defence Minister Bou Saab visits UNIFIL HQ, tours Blue Line
Wed 24 Apr 2019/NNA - In a press release by UNIFIL in Lebanon, it said: "Lebanon's Minister of Defence, Elias Bou Saab, led a delegation today to the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura and visited areas along the Blue Line, where he was briefed on UNIFIL's work, together with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), in maintaining the existing calm. In Naqoura, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col welcomed the delegation, which included LAF Commander General Joseph Aoun. The UNIFIL head briefed the delegation on the situation in the Mission's area of operations and along the Blue Line. Major General Del Col highlighted the importance of the liaison, coordination and tripartite mechanism in mitigating tensions or incidents, Blue Line marking process, efforts to enhance the deployment of the LAF in the UNIFIL area of operations, as well as steps to ensure the freedom of movement of UNIFIL personnel in the area.  He underlined the importance of ensuring swift establishment of the planned LAF Model Regiment in southern Lebanon. At sea, he called for progress in furthering a transition strategy for the LAF Navy to gradually take over responsibilities of UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force. Later in the day, Major General Del Col accompanied the Minister of Defence on a tour of the Blue Line where UNIFIL officials provided field briefings on issues relating to security and stability along the Blue Line.
Following the visit, Major General Del Col said: "I was delighted to welcome Elias Bou Saab on his maiden visit to UNIFIL today and his first field trip in Lebanon since assuming Office as Minister of Defence. This was a strong statement of support for UNIFIL and of the commitment of the Government of Lebanon to resolution 1701." "We are doing a lot of activities with the Lebanese Armed Forces, our strategic partner, so it was a particular pleasure for me to demonstrate what we have done together, as well as to explore with the Minister ways to further enhance our joint efforts towards the mandated objectives."

Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel Meets with Frangieh, Says Both Parties Share Honesty and Ethics
Kataeb.org/Wednesday 24th April 2019/Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel on Wednesday said that the party shares with the Marada Movement several values, notably honesty and political ethics, expressing willingness to cooperate with Marada so as to enhance governance, improve people’s lives and prevent the violation of their rights. “We both say the truth despite our differences. That's the basis of our friendship. We shall continue to debate over all the things that we disagree on,” Gemayel said following his meeting with Marada chief Sleiman Frangieh at the party’s headquarters in Saifi.
“He [Frangieh] says he’s half opposition and half loyalist. Thus, we are trying to pull him to become totally in the opposition ranks,” Gemayel said. The Kataeb leader hoped that the rapprochement with the Marada Movement would yield benefitial agreements that serve the country's interest and promote the people's welfare. For his part, Frangieh described the meeting as fruitful and comprehensive, saying that it focused on the political and economic situation in the country. “Coordination is ongoing with the Kataeb party. It will continue to address all issues so that we would get out of the bad economic and social situation we are facing,” Frangieh said. “Gemayel is aware that we have different viewpoints in politics. But what's important is that our differences are still within the limits of democracy,” he added. Frangieh visited the Kataeb's headquarters along with a delegation including senior Marada officials.

Samy Gemayel Visits Kornet Chahwan Municipality
Kataeb.org/Wednesday 24th April 2019/Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel on Wednesday visited the Kornet Chahwan municipality where he held talks with Mayor Jean-Pierre Gebara. Talks focused on regional, developmental and environmental issues. Gemayel praised the work done by the municipality, voicing support for all the developmental and environmental projects being executed. The meeting was attended by Kataeb MP Elias Hankache, head of the Kataeb's Metn district Michel Hrawi and members of the municipal council.

Yemen’s Houthi Official Dies in a Hezbollah Hospital in Beirut
Reuters/Wednesday 24th April 2019/An official in the pro-Iranian Houthi militia in Yemen died in Al-Rasool al-Azam Hospital in Beirut’s southern suburb, al-Dhahiya, on Saturday, sources confirmed on Tuesday to Al Arabiya English. A Lebanese official told Reuters on Monday that the Houthi official died in a hospital in Lebanon without specifiying the location. The Al-Rasool al-Azam Hospital is owned and controlled by the Lebanese Hezbollah. Abdul Hakim al-Maori who held the post of the interior minister in the Houthi militia died at the age of 60 while receiving treatment for a chronic disease in a Lebanese hospital, Houthi-run Masirah TV said on Saturday. But conflicting reports said that he died from injuries sustained from an air strike by the Arab Coalition on a post in Yemen. Lebanon is the home of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement also receives support from the Islamic Republic.

Dabbour meets Al Rabia'ah: Saudi Arabia donates $1.5 million to UNRWA
Wed 24 Apr 2019/NNA - Ambassador of Palestine, Ashraf Dabbour, met on Wednesday with Saudi Royal Court Advisor, General Supervisor of King Salman Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Relief, Abdullah Al Rabia'ah, in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari.
Ambassador Dabbour briefed the top Saudi official on the simmering living conditions of Palestinian refugees at the humanitarian, health and social levels, as per a statement by Palestine's Embassy. Dabbour thanked the kingdom and the King Salman Centre for the $1.5 million donation to UNRWA in Lebanon for the benefit of the Fund that provides further health services to Palestinian refugees.

Hariri at Humanitarian action symposium by Saudi Embassy: We are keen on maintaining special relations with Saudi Arabia
Wed 24 Apr 2019/NNA - Under the patronage of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Saudi Embassy in Lebanon and King Salman Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Relief hosted a symposium entitled "Humanitarian Action between Donors' Contributions and Role of Implementing Agencies" at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beirut. The Saudi Embassy organized the event on the third day of the visit by the Saudi Royal Court Advisor, General Supervisor of King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Works, Abdullah Al Rabia'ah, to Lebanon. The event was attended by Premier Saad Hariri, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari, former PMs Fouad Siniora and Tammam Salam, and Vice Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani. The "Towards Unrestricted Humanity" symposium also took place in the presence of Ministers Youssef Fenianos, Avedis Guidanian, Wael Abou Faour and Adel Afiouni, as well as Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, in addition to scores of political, media, religious, economic, and social dignitaries. In his delivered word, Ambassador Bukhari hailed the national coexistence prevailing in Lebanon amongst all its components, as well as its hosting of its Syrian and Palestinian refugee brethrens. He also underlined the paramount importance of an unrestricted humanity, wondering "what's the value of being alive without humanity?".Bukhari brought to attention that Human development has long been the prime focus of Saudi Arabia since the days of founder King Abdul Aziz.
"Saudi Arabia considers that humanity is one of the sharp swords in uprooting terrorism from its origin," Bukhari corroborated. "At every landmark and in any iota of the world, Saudi Arabia will be in the forefront of defending humanity and will be the greatest volunteer for relieving the underprivileged, out of its conviction to alleviate human suffering and ensure a decent life for the vulnerable," Bukhari maintained. Bukhari also pointed out that the arduous efforts by Al Rabia'ah in Lebanon affirm Saudi Arabia's keenness on Lebanon's safety and stability and the preservation of its national unity.
The Saudi Ambassador deemed Lebanon as a "gem of moderation and coexistence" and a "landmark of openness, culture, tolerance and dialogue."
Al Rabia'ah, for his part, said in his address that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appreciates the great role played by Lebanon in hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, hailing the role undertaken by international and local relief organizations in managing the affairs of Syrian refugees. Al Rabia'ah also indicated that "relief work is the responsibility of all," adding that the current circumstances necessitate concerted efforts by the humanitarian community in its two main segments- donors and implementers- to reduce the burden on the host countries of refugees. Al Rabia'ah also recapped the humanitarian projects undertaken by the King Salman Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Relief in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Myanmar and Iraq. In his delivered word distributed by Premier Hariri's Media Bureau, Hariri said: "I would like to welcome Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Rabia'aj, General Supervisor of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and the accompanying delegation.
Your visit to Lebanon is not a unique or a strange event. It comes in the framework of the special relations that have existed for decades between the Kingdom and Lebanon. It is an evidence of the continuation of this relationship, which we are keen to maintain and develop. Your mission, rich with meetings with all Lebanese political and religious authorities, under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, indicates the true desire of the Kingdom's leaders to emphasize their will to deepen the brotherly ties with the Lebanese and support the unity, independence and sovereignty of Lebanon, and its formula of coexistence between all its components that is unique in the region, and protect it from the repercussions of the fires, crises and interventions that plague many countries. Lebanon has a large place in the hearts of the brothers and leaders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in particular the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Kingdom has always been a leader in caring about Lebanon's issues and problems and what it faced as a result of the Israeli aggressions against it over the years. The Kingdom always helped Lebanon resolve its internal crises and alleviate the repercussions of its successive economic and financial crises.
It sponsored the Taif Accord and assisted the Lebanese people to reach this agreement that ended the disastrous civil war and became the Constitution of the Lebanese state and an example of a method to end civil wars and complex crises currently taking place in some countries. It helped Lebanon reconstruct what was destroyed by the Israeli aggressions, the last being in July 2006. This assistance enabled the affected Lebanese to return to their homes at a record speed to prevent the enemy from achieving its objective of emptying the territory from its citizens.
Your visit to Lebanon goes beyond signing an agreement with the Higher Relief Commission to cover the requirements of the needy Lebanese families. We hope this agreement would be the first of a series of agreements to be signed between the two countries in the near future, to develop the bilateral relations in various fields in line with the requirements of the new era. The decision taken by the Saudi leadership to lift the travel ban to Lebanon has largely increased the number of visitors to Lebanon recently, which signals a promising summer that the Lebanese are waiting for. Finally, the Kingdom, which always stood by Lebanon, with the Arab brothers, and was always the first to help our country in its crises, whatever some may say, still stands by Lebanon, without discriminating among the Lebanese. It has allies and friends, but when it helps it does not differentiate between friends, allies and even the ones who do not like the Kingdom. It has always preserved this. It is the Kingdom of goodness, love and humanity."

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day – 24th April:
CLDH - Lebanese Center for Human Rights/April 24/19
At first, “a crime without a name” until after the WWII, the term “genocide” can be found in several international instruments today – notably, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as well as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Its meaning is derived it from the ancient Greek word genos and Latin cide, which can be roughly translated as race or tribe killing. 24th of April is the day when we remember one of the biggest atrocities – the Armenian Genocide. An estimated 1.5 million people died as a result thereof between 1915 and 1918. This constitutes almost 1/6 of the Lebanese population.
About the Armenian genocide: As the Ottoman Empire suffered its first losses in the First World War, the “Young Turk” government rounded up intellectuals and political leaders from its Christian Armenian minority and ordering the community’s expulsion from Anatolia to Syria. Across eastern Turkey, long columns of Armenians were ambushed by soldiers and Kurdish gangs, who slaughtered hundreds of thousands of them. The attackers were given immunity for all atrocities committed by the Ottoman official Mehmed Reshid.
Upon being asked how as a doctor he justified his policies, Reshid said: “My Turkish identity won out over my profession. I thought: we must destroy them before they destroy us. If you ask me how I as a doctor could commit murder, my answer is simple: the Armenians had become dangerous microbes in the body of this country. And surely it is a doctor’s duty to kill bacteria?”
The genocide was not a “Final Solution” to exterminate all Armenian people as massacres occurred even in the preceding century but was executed out of Ottoman government’s fear from Russian, Western and other Christian nations’ influences. The Turkish government over the course of the last century has also done itself no favours by refusing to discuss the issue for long periods, persecuting historians and others who report on its past and present treatment of minorities. May their souls rest in peace as we remember them on this day.

Latest LCCC English Miscellaneous Reports & News published on April 24-25/19
Video explaining What Is the Muslim Brotherhood?فيديو يشرح من هم جماعة الإخوان المسلمين
Cynthia Farahat/Middle East Forum/April 24/ 2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/74179/ideo-explaning-what-is-the-muslim-brotherhood%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D9%8A%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7/
Many people are unaware of the history of terrorism that accompanies the Muslim Brotherhood. Its history and current activities demonstrate that the Muslim Brotherhood operates as an incubator for modern terrorism. It serves as a parent organization of the vast majority of Sunni terrorist groups around the world, including Hamas and Al Qaeda. Even the Islamic State (ISIS) was founded by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=16&v=Mt3NjV8oB_g

US deploys two carrier strike groups in Mediterranean – first time since 2016
DEBKAfile/April 24/19
The John C. Stennis and Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups have joined the US Mediterranean 6th Fleet for the first time in more than two years. This was announced on Monday, April 22, by the 6th Fleet commander, Vice Adm Lisa Franchetti. DEBKAfile’s military sources add that this unusual concentration of US naval and air might in the region is intended to convey a warning to Iran against striking back at the US or its allies in the region in retribution for tightened Trump administration sanctions on its oil experts. This level of concentrated strength is capable of countering any Iranian attempt to interfere with the oil tanker shipping plying routes to market from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Aden or the Red Sea. See DEBKAfile’s earlier special report. Vice Admiral Franchetti commented that it was a rare opportunity for two strike groups to work together alongside key allies and partners in the region. Our sources say she was referring to British, French and Israeli naval forces. The vice admiral, who has served as 6th Fleet commander since early 2018, added: “The dual carrier operations in the Mediterranean showcase the flexibility and scalability maritime forces provide to the joint force, while demonstrating our ironclad commitment to the stability and security of the region.”

Man Storms German Church Yelling Alahu Akbar Injures 9 people
Jerusalem Post/April 24/19
The attacker has been identified as a 36-year-old Somali man.
arishioners said a man screamed Arabic phrases, including “Allahu Akbar,” as he charged into the St. Paul’s Parish Church on Saturday. The assailant, identified by police as a 36-year-old Somali man, caused injuries to at least nine people.
Marko Petrovic – who was pushed aside by the assailant – told the Munich-based tz paper on Wednesday, “The man ran past me, rammed my elbow into his side and called ‘Allahu Akbar.’ He threw something. A few visitors, strong men, were able to pull him to the ground and hold him until the police arrived.”
The Munich police issued a statement on Sunday, stating the offender “entered the church through the main entrance, gesticulating and shouting unintelligible words. In addition, he is said to have thrown several stones in the church.”
“Whether the accused actually said ‘Allahu Akbar,’ or if this is misinformation, is still under review.”The police added “Some visitors then fled the church. They were then followed by more visitors in the direction of the exits.”
“Nine individuals were injured. Four of them were transported to Munich hospitals.”“The man was first held by worshipers and finally arrested by police. He is a 36-year-old Somali,” they said.
The assailant caused mass panic and injuries. Videos posted online show the inside of the church in disarray. The police arrested the man on Saturday evening in the church.Jozo Dramac – who was in the church – told tz, “Someone screamed in Arabic, ‘Allah, Allah.’ I was there with my wife and son. The people were in a panic. I’ve tried to keep calm, but I’m still scared.”

US Called On To Boycott German Cars Until Hezbollah Banned From Germany
جمعية ألمانية تطالب أميركا مقاطعة السيارات الألمانية حتى تمنع الحكومة الألمانية حزب الله في ألمانيا
Jerusalem Post/April 24/19
Merkel’s administration is vehemently opposed to banning Hezbollah’s entire organization in Germany, where at least 950 Hezbollah members operate.
The newly formed Committee to Ban Hezbollah in Germany called on US consumers to boycott German automobiles in an advertisement in The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, after German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected outlawing Hezbollah.
The advertisement declares, “Boycott the German car industry until Hezbollah is banned in Germany.l
The full-page advertisement will run for the next four weeks in The Jewish Journal and leads with the statement, “On June 25, 1996, at 9:50 p.m., Hezbollah, Iran’s terrorist arm, murdered 19 American airmen at the Khobar Towers in Dharan, Saudi Arabia.”
The advertisement in The Jewish Journal reads, “Yet Germany allows Hezbollah to operate openly on its soil. It’s time to send a message to the German government. Americans will not buy their cars while it allows the murderers of our soldiers to raise money, recruit and propagandize on German soil.”Merkel’s administration is vehemently opposed to banning Hezbollah’s entire organization in Germany, where at least 950 Hezbollah members operate. The Jerusalem Post examined German intelligence reports from 2018 stating Hezbollah operatives recruit new members, transfer funds to the terrorist entity Hezbollah in Lebanon, and spread lethal antisemitic and jihadi ideologies in the federal republic.The advertisement ends with a quote from US president Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, “...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”A picture of the memorial at Patrick Air Force Base for the 19 American airmen murdered by Hezbollah is shown in the advertisement. A spokesman for the Committee to Ban Hezbollah told the Post, “Hezbollah is the biggest terrorist threat in the world because it is state-backed.”The spokesman said the committee plans to send the advertisement to German diplomats, managers of German automobiles in the US such as Damler, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche. The committee is slated to also send the ads to mayors in cities where German car plants are situated and to the embassies of Gulf countries.
The spokesman said that “Hezbollah and Iranians have killed American troops is intolerable.”
Hezbollah is Iran’s chief terrorism proxy in the Middle East.
US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell is pressing for the German government to designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization. Sources say he brings it up at every meeting he attends with German officials.
The United Kingdom outlawed Hezbollah’s so-called political wing in February. The EU and Germany have merely prescribed Hezbollah’s military wing a terrorist entity. The US, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, the Arab League and Israel classify all of Hezbollah a terrorist organization without dividing the entity into military and political wings.
Merkel has rejected appeals from both the US and Israeli governments to designate Hezbollah’s political wing a terrorist entity. Niels Annen, a deputy German foreign minister, said Hezbollah is necessary for stability because it is a part of the Lebanese government. Germany’s foreign ministry represented by Annen participated in a ceremony in February to honor Iran’s Islamic revolution. In 2012, Hezbollah blew up an Israeli tour bus in Burgas, Bulgaria, murdering five Israelis and their Muslim Bulgarian bus driver.
Merkel told Israel’s Knesset in 2018 the security of the Jewish state is “non-negotiable” for her government.

Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt: Upcpoming Peace Plan Doe Not Include Confederation With Jordan
Jerusalem Post/April 24/19
"Please don’t spread rumors."
ASHINGTON - The upcoming peace plan will not include a confederation between Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority, Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt tweeted Wednesday.
"King Abdullah and Jordan are strong US allies," he tweeted. "Rumors that our peace vision includes a confederation between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, or that the vision contemplates making Jordan the homeland for Palestinians, are incorrect. Please don’t spread rumors."
It is not the first time that the administration clarified that these rumors are false. On October 2018, senior administration officials told The Jerusalem Post that the plan would not include a confederation with Jordan. Over the past summer, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claimed that the US team had floated the idea directly with him, and suggested the proposal was at the heart of their peace plan. But US officials told the Post at that point that the administration has not even considered a confederation since the very beginning of their deliberative process over a year ago. White House Senior Advisor, Jared Kushner, discussed Tuesday the "deal of the century" and said that "if people focus on the old tradit And people who have worked on this in the past. And I hope that it's a very comprehensive vision for what can be if people are willing to make some hard decisions. And so we started with a solution and then we'll work on a process to try to get there." "I think that the two together have the opportunity to push forward," he continued. "And then from Israel's point of view, their biggest concern is just security. And I think that what we do, is something that allows for Israel to maintain security." Kushner reiterated that "there'll be tough compromises for both," and gave an original example to demonstrate why the sides should accept the plan: "I had a business mentor who would say to me then when he'd have to take tough decisions, you make a T chart - reasons to do something, reasons not to do something. And I hope that when they look at our proposal, I'm not saying they're going to look at it and say, this is perfect and let's go forward. I'm hopeful that what they'll do is to say, look, there are some compromises here, but at the end of the day, this is really a framework that can allow us to make our lives a materially better. And we'll see if the leadership on both sides has the courage to take the lead to try to go forward."

Israel Destroys Home of Palestinian Accused of Killing Two Israelis
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 24/19/Israel's military on Wednesday destroyed the West Bank home of a Palestinian accused of having killed two Israelis in March, the army said. Soldiers surrounded the home late Tuesday in Az-Zawiya in the Salfit region of the occupied West Bank before carrying out the demolition using explosives and heavy machinery. Omar Amin Abu Laila was accused of fatally stabbing soldier Gal Keidan, 19, and stealing his weapon on March 17, the army said at the time. He then fired at Israeli motorists, hitting 47-year-old rabbi Ahiad Ettinger, a resident of the Eli settlement, who later died of his wounds, according to the army. Abu Laila, 19, was shot dead two days later during an arrest raid by Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Abwein, north of Ramallah. Israeli authorities accused Abu Laila of opening fire at forces, who killed him. Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of attacks as part of a policy it says discourages future violence. But human rights groups and Palestinians say the practice amounts to collective punishment, with family members forced to pay for the acts of a relative.

US backs Haftar offensive on Libya’s Tripoli: officials
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishThursday, 25 April 2019/The United States has given its backing to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar and his offensive on Tripoli to oust the UN-recognized government in the capital, according to Bloomberg citing three US officials. Last Friday, the White House revealed that Trump spoke by phone with Haftar as his The Libyan National Army (LNA) forces continued to push toward Tripoli with heavy shelling in the southern parts of the Libyan capital. The White House statement said that Trump “recognized Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya’s transition to a stable, democratic political system.”A White House spokesman who declined to be identified, described the characterization of the phone calls between Haftar and Trump as inaccurate without further elaborating, according to Bloomberg. That came a day after Russia and the United States opposed a British bid at the UN Security Council, backed by France and Germany, to demand a ceasefire in Libya.

Libyan PM Accuses France of Supporting 'Dictator' Haftar
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 24/19/Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the internationally recognised government in Tripoli, accused France on Wednesday of supporting his rival Khalifa Haftar whom he described as a "dictator". The comments from Sarraj to the Liberation and Le Monde newspapers in France are his harshest criticism yet of Paris which has long been suspected of offering backing to Haftar, a former army field marshal based in eastern Libya. Haftar, head of a self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), has gradually expanded his territorial control and launched an offensive on April 4 on the capital Tripoli where Sarraj's UN-recognised government is based. "We are surprised that France does not support our government that is democratic, but supports a dictator," Sarraj told the newspapers in comments published in French on Wednesday. "When (French president) Emmanuel Macron called me, I warned him that public opinion was against France. We don't want Libyans to hate France. France still has a positive and important role to play," he said.  Speaking to Le Monde on Monday, Sarraj said France was partly to blame for Haftar's offensive on Tripoli, which has led to 264 deaths and over 1,200 wounded. "The disproportional support from France towards Haftar is what made him decide to take action and abandon the political process," he said. France has denied the accusations of supporting Haftar, saying it has contact with all the actors in war-ravaged Libya where a complex mosaic of militias and political factions are competing for advantage. But French diplomatic sources have raised concern about Sarraj's apparent lack of influence and his alleged dependence on Islamist militias and the Muslim Brotherhood group. He is backed by Qatar and Turkey, analysts say. Haftar is increasingly seen by his allies, which include Russia and Egypt, as a bulwark against Islamists who gained a foothold after the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Haftar won overt backing from US President Donald Trump last week too.  The White House said Trump "recognised Field Marshal Haftar's significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya's oil resources" during a call between the men. That came a day after Russia and the United States opposed a British bid at the UN Security Council, backed by France and Germany, to demand a ceasefire in Libya. France has long had contacts with Haftar and invited him to conference of the various factions in Paris in May last year which helped legitimise him. Haftar was also hospitalised in Paris in April 2018.

Sri Lanka Detains New Suspects amid Frantic Hunt for Bombers
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 24/19/Sri Lankan security forces detained 18 new suspects in the Easter bombings that killed more than 350 people, as the government admitted Wednesday that "major" intelligence lapses had led to a failure to prevent the attacks. The Islamic State group's claim of responsibility for Sunday's strikes on three hotels and three churches increased pressure over ignored warnings of the bombings, and the government was expected to announce sackings in the security forces and police leadership.
The 18 new arrests were made in night-time raids using emergency powers, said police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera. Fifty-eight people are now in custody and more arrests are expected in coming days, deputy defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene told a press conference. The government has said more attacks are possible and in a sign of the heightened tensions, authorities carried out at least two controlled explosions of a suspect package and vehicle on Wednesday. Wijewardene also gave new details on the bombers. One had studied in Britain and then did post-graduate studies in Australia before returning to Sri Lanka. Others were also believed to have travelled abroad, he told a press conference. "Most of them are well-educated and come from middle, upper-middle class families, so they are financially quite independent and their families are quite stable financially, that is a worrying factor in this," the minister said.
IS claim
Amid the frantic hunt for suspects, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the strikes and released photos and video of the men it said were involved in the attacks. Seven of the eight men in the images had their faces covered. Islamic State group called the blasts "blessed attacks" on the "infidel holiday".
The authenticity of the images could not be independently verified but experts said the attacks bear many hallmarks of a coordinated Islamic State operation. The government has blamed a local Islamist group, National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), and said they were investigating whether the bombers had foreign help. The deputy defence minister said it was believed the suicide bombers came from an NTJ "splinter group" whose leader had killed himself. In the Islamic State video, a man believed to be the leader of the NTJ, Zahran Hashim, directs a group in a pledge of allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Sri Lankan police sources have told AFP that two Muslim brothers, sons of a wealthy Colombo spice trader, blew themselves up at the Shangri-La and the Cinnamon Grand hotels. Their father is now one of the 58 in custody. The Kingsbury hotel in the capital was the last one hit. A fourth planned attack on a hotel failed, authorities said. The would-be attacker was followed back to a Colombo lodge, where he blew himself up, killing two people. The funerals of dozens more victims were held Wednesday but the government became embroiled in recriminations over warnings about the attacks up to two weeks before they were carried out.
Leadership cull
President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also defence and law and order minister, has pledged "major changes" to the security forces and police leadership. Sri Lanka's police chief issued a warning on April 11 that NTJ suicide bombings were possible and alerts had been given by a foreign intelligence agency. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has acknowledged the information was not passed to his office or other top ministers.  "It was a major lapse in the sharing of information," the deputy defence minister said. "The government has to take responsibility." CNN reported that Indian intelligence services had passed on "unusually specific" information in the weeks before the attacks, some of it from an IS suspect in their custody. The US ambassador to Sri Lanka has denied that her government had prior knowledge of the planned attacks. A US FBI team is now in Sri Lanka, Wijewardene said, and Britain, Australia and the United Arab Emirates have all offered intelligence help. Sri Lankan Muslim leaders said they had many several complaints to police about Hashim's activities. His whereabouts after the bombings were unknown however.
Identifying the dead
Work was continuing to identify foreign victims in the blasts. A Danish billionaire lost three of his children in the attacks, a spokesman for his company said. Eight Britons, 10 Indians, four Americans and nationals from Turkey, Australia, Japan and Portugal were also reported killed.
The United Nations said at least 45 children, Sri Lankans and foreigners, were among the dead.

Egyptians Overwhelmingly Approve Changes Extending Sisi's Rule
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 24/19/Egyptian voters have overwhelmingly backed constitutional changes that could see President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's rule extended to 2030, the electoral board said Tuesday. National Election Authority head Lashin Ibrahim told a Cairo press conference that 88.83 percent voted "yes" in a referendum on the amendments, with 11.17 percent voting "no". The three-day vote took place "in a democratic climate powered by freedom," he added. Sisi took to Twitter shortly after the results were announced to thank his fellow citizens "who dazzled the world with their awareness of the challenges facing" Egypt. Around 27 million votes were cast in the Arab world's most populous country, with a turnout rate of 44.33 percent. Rights groups have criticised the conditions surrounding the rushed vote, including the suppression of those opposing the sweeping changes that consolidate Sisi's power. Egypt's parliament, stacked with Sisi loyalists, voted in favour of the amendments last week, giving voters just days to digest the changes to 20 articles. Other controversial amendments include boosting Sisi's control over the judiciary and giving the military even greater influence in Egyptian political life.
No one near 'throne'
Sisi has argued he needs longer to complete the job of restoring security and stability after the turmoil that followed the overthrow of veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring of 2011. A vote in Sisi's favour was expected but analysts worried about its consequences. Analyst Mai El-Sadany, legal director at the Washington-based Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), told AFP the amendments could have "long-term negative implications for Egypt". The main amendment, which has set the nation abuzz, is the near certainty that Sisi will run for another six years in office when his term ends in 2024. His current term was to end in 2022 but was retroactively updated with an extra two years. Riding a populist wave after militarily overthrowing Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, Sisi cruised to a presidential victory in 2014 and was re-elected with more than 97 percent of the vote in 2018. "What is coming is extremely bad...it gives the message that I am your God and no one will come near the throne as long as I'm in power," said veteran Cairo University political scientist Hassan Nafaa. "How can a constitution be changed to tailor-fit one person?" he asked. Domestically and internationally, Sisi has presented himself as a bulwark against terrorism and a rock of political stability amid a region in turmoil.
'So much power'
"These constitutional amendments empower the executive and military at the expense of a weakened judiciary and legislature" said Sadany of TIMEP. "Doing so eats away at the separation of powers, it deteriorates the rule of law, and it silences spaces for independent dissent," she explained. Under Sisi, authorities have silenced all forms of political opposition in a sweeping crackdown on Islamists as well as secular and liberal activists.  Rights groups have consistently criticised these heavy-handed tactics. Human Rights Watch's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Michael Page, called the amendments "a shameless attempt to entrench the military’s power over civilian rule" and said the referendum "took place in such an unfree and unfair environment that its results can have no pretense to legitimacy". Mustapha Kamel al-Sayyid, a professor of political science at the American University of Cairo, said the amendments set a dangerous precedent for future rulers beyond the tenure of 64-year-old Sisi. "This (raft of amendments) is unprecedented in the (modern) history of Egypt," he said. The constitutional package strengthens "the hand of one individual over everyone else... it will be very difficult to go back on because who will give up so much power?" Sayyid added.

North Korea's Kim Arrives in Russia's Vladivostok for Summit with Putin
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 24/19/North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia's Pacific port city of Vladivostok on Wednesday for a first summit with Vladimir Putin, as Pyongyang seeks support in its nuclear deadlock with the United States. The talks, organised in secret and announced at the last minute, will be Kim's first face-to-face meeting with another head of state since negotiations with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi collapsed in February. Kim's armoured train arrived in the afternoon at the Tsarist-era train station in Vladivostok and he stepped out onto a red carpet before making his way outside to be received by an honour guard. "I hope that this visit will be successful and useful," Kim told Russian television in the Russian town of Khasan where his train crossed the border. "I hope that during the talks... I will be able to have concrete discussions on resolving situations on the Korean Peninsula and on the development of our bilateral relationship," Kim said. Putin was due to arrive in Vladivostok on Thursday, then fly on after the talks for another summit in Beijing. The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) earlier reported Kim's departure by train, naming among his entourage foreign minister Ri Yong Ho. The train crossed the Tumen river Wednesday and arrived in Khasan, where women in folk costumes welcomed Kim with bread and salt in a traditional greeting. Kim's predecessors as leader, his father and grandfather, also stopped there on their trips to neighbouring Russia. At Khasan station a small wooden building known as the House of Kim Il Sung commemorates Russian-Korean friendship.
North Korean flags flying
Russian and North Korean flags were already flying on lamp posts Tuesday on Vladivostok's Russky island, where the summit is expected to take place at a university campus. Kim plans to stay on in Vladivostok on Friday for a series of cultural events, including a ballet and a visit to the city's aquarium, Russian media reported. The talks follow repeated invitations from Putin since Kim embarked on his diplomatic overtures last year. Since March 2018, the formerly reclusive North Korean leader has held four meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, three with the South's Moon Jae-in, two with Trump and one with Vietnam's president. Analysts say he is now looking for wider international support in his standoff with Washington, while Moscow is keen to inject itself into another global flashpoint. In Hanoi, the cash-strapped North demanded immediate relief from the sanctions imposed on it over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, but the talks broke down in disagreement over what Pyongyang was prepared to give up in return. North Korea last week launched a blistering attack on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, insisting he be removed from the negotiations just hours after announcing it had carried out a new weapons test. Moscow has already called for the sanctions to be eased, while the US has accused it of trying to help Pyongyang evade some of the measures -- accusations Russia denies. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told a briefing on Tuesday: "The focus will be on a political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula." "Russia intends to help consolidate positive trends in every way," he said, but added that no joint statement or signing of agreements was planned. KCNA did not mention whether Kim's wife Ri Sol Ju or his sister and close aide Kim Yo Jong were accompanying him.
Cold War ties
Moscow was a crucial backer of Pyongyang for decades and their ties go back to the founding of North Korea, when the Soviet Union installed Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung as leader. The Soviet Union reduced funding to the North as it began to seek reconciliation with Seoul in the 1980s, but Pyongyang was hit hard by its demise in 1991. Soon after his first election as Russian president, Putin sought to normalise relations and met Kim Jong Il -- the current leader's father and predecessor -- three times.  The first of those meetings was in Pyongyang in 2000, when Putin became the first Russian leader to visit the North. China has since cemented its role as the isolated North's most important ally, its largest trading partner and crucial fuel supplier, and analysts say Kim could be looking to balance Beijing's influence. While ties between Russia and the North have remained cordial, the last meeting between their leaders came in 2011, when Kim Jong Il told then-president Dmitry Medvedev that he was prepared to renounce nuclear testing. His son has since overseen by far the country's most powerful blast to date, and the launch of missiles capable of reaching the entire US mainland.

Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on April 24-25/19
2020 candidates line up behind Armenian genocide bill as US-Turkey relations plummet
Bryant Harris/Al-Monitor/April 24/19
ARTICLE SUMMARY
Strained relations between the NATO allies has given advocates hope the United States will finally call the Ottoman Empire’s mass slaughter of Christians in World War I a genocide.
As Turkey continues to lose clout in Washington amid strained bilateral ties, Armenian-American advocacy groups are hopeful this will be the year the United States finally recognizes the World War I era massacre of more than 1 million mostly Christian Armenians as a genocide.
More than 100 lawmakers in the House and Senate have signed on to legislation recognizing the genocide since its introduction earlier this month, in line with past efforts. And President Donald Trump, whose evangelical base supports the move, is expected to issue a statement marking the anniversary of the massacre on April 24.
“If either [the House or the Senate] measures were to come before their respective committees or the floor, it’s hard to see how in this environment anyone’s going to step forward to defend Ankara’s denial of the Armenian genocide,” said Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
At least two other advocacy groups — the Armenian Assembly of America and In Defense of Christians — have also lobbied Congress to pass the resolution in the past. Lobbyists for Turkey and pro-Turkey groups in Washington have long advocated against such a move, warning that it would poison bilateral relations.
Iran leadership shrugs off US oil sanctions, pledges response
“The Armenian Diaspora claim of genocide is a one-sided assessment of the inter-communal war between Ottoman Armenians and Ottoman Muslims in 1915, and it prejudices Turkish and Armenian rapprochement,” the Turkish Coalition of America states on its website.
Turkey denies the wartime deaths amount to a genocide and has made clear that US-Turkey relations would further deteriorate if the United States went ahead with a genocide statement. After President Emmanuel Macron of France declared April 24 to be a national day of commemoration of the Armenian genocide in February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out and said France should instead own up to its colonial-era atrocities.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the nonbinding resolution in the upper chamber earlier this month, just before lawmakers left town for the April recess. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., introduced similar legislation in the lower chamber around the same time.
The Senate bill boasts 15 bipartisan cosponsors, while another 89 lawmakers have signed on to the House resolution. Several 2020 presidential candidates have signed on to the bills, as they have in previous years.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., are both cosponsoring the Menendez resolution. Reps. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, and Seth Moulton, D-Mass., who announced his presidential campaign this week, signed on to the House resolution. Another candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., signed on to the House resolution in 2017 but has yet to do so this year.
President Barack Obama promised to recognize the Armenian genocide as a senator on the campaign trail, but never fulfilled that pledge while in office. And while 100 lawmakers signed a letter asking Trump to recognize the genocide in 2018, Trump instead opted to continue condemning it as “one of the worst mass atrocities in the 20th history” in an April 24 statement last year, stopping short of calling it a genocide.
Hamparian expects several more lawmakers to sign on when Congress returns from its recess next week.
One of them is high-profile freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., her spokesman told Al-Monitor today. Her defeated primary opponent, former House Democratic caucus chairman Joe Crowley, was a longtime proponent of recognizing the Armenian genocide.
The bill faces tall odds. The last time Congress advanced similar legislation was in 2014, when it cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — only to stall on the floor. The House Foreign Affairs Committee for its part advanced a resolution in 2010 that also failed to get a floor vote.
Hamparian attributes the lack of progress in recent years to Turkish lobbying efforts.
“If you were to subtract the Turkish threat of retribution, this would pass overwhelmingly in the House and the Senate,” Hamparian told Al-Monitor. “The president himself would recognize the Armenian genocide.”
The Trump administration has recently sought to salvage the US-Turkish relationship by including the Turks in a proposed safe zone for northeastern Syria, despite strong objections from America’s Syrian Kurdish allies. But several other irritants in the relationship remain, most notably Ankara’s pending purchase of a Russian missile defense system that could trigger US sanctions.
“Turkey is in the process of purchasing S-400 missiles from Russia, which has recognized the Armenian genocide,” said Hamparian. “It’s clear that it’s just a matter of Turkey making these terrible threats, not delivering on them, and US policymakers, out of cowardice, just failing to stand up.”
**Bryant Harris is Al-Monitor's congressional correspondent. He was previously the White House assistant correspondent for Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest newspaper. He has also written for Foreign Policy, Al Jazeera English and IPS News. Prior to his stint in DC, he spent two years as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. On Twitter: @brykharris_ALM, Email: bharris@al-monitor.com.

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day: Revisiting Islam’s Greatest Slaughter of Christians
ريموند إبراهيم: ذكرى المجاز العثمانية بحق الأرمن
Raymond Ibrahim/PJ Media/April 24/19
الاتحاد السرياني العالمي والرامغافار الأرمني احيا ذكرى الابادة الارمنية وسّيفو السريانية/وكالات/24 نيسان/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/74175/%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%85%d9%88%d9%86%d8%af-%d8%a5%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%87%d9%8a%d9%85-%d8%b0%d9%83%d8%b1%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%ac%d8%a7%d8%b2-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%ab%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%a9/
A still frame from the 1919 documentary film Auction of Souls, which portrayed eye witnessed events from the Armenian Genocide, including stripped naked and crucified Christian girls.
Today, April 24, marks the “Great Crime,” that is, the genocide of Christians—mostly Armenians but also Assyrians—that took place under the Islamic Ottoman Empire, throughout World War I. Then, the Turks liquidated approximately 1.5 million Armenians and 300,000 Assyrians.
Most objective American historians who have studied the question unequivocally agree that it was a deliberate, calculated genocide:
More than one million Armenians perished as the result of execution, starvation, disease, the harsh environment, and physical abuse. A people who lived in eastern Turkey for nearly 3,000 years [more than double the amount of time the invading Islamic Turks had occupied Anatolia, now known as “Turkey”] lost its homeland and was profoundly decimated in the first large-scale genocide of the twentieth century. At the beginning of 1915 there were some two million Armenians within Turkey; today there are fewer than 60,000…. Despite the vast amount of evidence that points to the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide, eyewitness accounts, official archives, photographic evidence, the reports of diplomats, and the testimony of survivors, denial of the Armenian Genocide by successive regimes in Turkey has gone on from 1915 to the present.
Similarly, in 1920, U.S. Senate Resolution 359 heard testimony that included evidence of “[m]utilation, violation, torture, and death [which] have left their haunting memories in a hundred beautiful Armenian valleys, and the traveler in that region is seldom free from the evidence of this most colossal crime of all the ages.” In her memoir, Ravished Armenia, Aurora Mardiganian described being raped and thrown into a harem (consistent with Islam’s rules of war). Unlike thousands of other Armenian girls who were discarded after being defiled, she managed to escape. In the city of Malatia, she saw 16 Christian girls crucified: “Each girl had been nailed alive upon her cross,” she wrote, “spikes through her feet and hands, only their hair blown by the wind, covered their bodies.” Such scenes were portrayed in the 1919 documentary film Auction of Souls, some of which is based on Mardiganian’s memoirs.
Whereas the genocide is largely acknowledged in the West, one of its primary if not fundamental causes is habitually overlooked: religion. The genocide is usually articulated through a singularly secular paradigm, one that factors only things that are intelligible from a secular, Western point of view—such as identity and gender politics, nationalism, and territorial disputes. Such an approach does little more than project modern Western perspectives onto vastly different civilizations and eras.
War, of course, is another factor that clouds the true face of the genocide. Because these atrocities mostly occurred during World War I, so the argument goes, they are ultimately a reflection of just that—war, in all its chaos and destruction, and nothing more. But as Winston Churchill, who described the massacres as an “administrative holocaust,” correctly observed, “The opportunity [WWI] presented itself for clearing Turkish soil of a Christian race.” Even Adolf Hitler had pointed out that “Turkey is taking advantage of the war in order to thoroughly liquidate its internal foes, i.e., the indigenous Christians, without being thereby disturbed by foreign intervention.”
It’s worth noting that little has changed; in the context of war in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, the first to be targeted for genocide have been Christians and other minorities.
But even the most cited factor of the Armenian Genocide, “ethnic identity conflict,” while legitimate, must be understood in light of the fact that, historically, religion accounted more for a person’s identity than language or heritage. This is daily demonstrated throughout the Islamic world today, where Muslim governments and Muslim mobs persecute Christian minorities who share the same race, ethnicity, language, and culture; minorities who are indistinguishable from the majority—except, of course, for being non-Muslims, or “infidels.”
As one Armenian studies professor asks, “If it [the Armenian Genocide] was a feud between Turks and Armenians, what explains the genocide carried out by Turkey against the Christian Assyrians at the same time?”
Indeed, according to a 2017 book, Year of the Sword: The Assyrian Christian Genocide, the “policy of ethnic cleansing was stirred up by pan-Islamism and religious fanaticism. Christians were considered infidels (kafir). The call to Jihad, decreed on 29 November 1914 and instigated and orchestrated for political ends, was part of the plan” to “combine and sweep over the lands of Christians and to exterminate them.” As with the Armenians, eyewitness accounts tell of the sadistic eye-gouging of Assyrians and the gang rape of their children on church altars. According to key documents, all this was part of “an Ottoman plan to exterminate Turkey’s Christians.”
Today, from Indonesia in the east to Morocco in the west, from Central Asia in the north, to sub-Sahara Africa—that is, throughout the entire Islamic world—Muslims are, to varying degrees, persecuting, killing, raping, enslaving, torturing and dislocating Christians; where formal Islamic groups such as the Islamic State (ISIS), Al Shabaab, Boko Haram, etc., hold sway, Christians and other “infidels” are literally experiencing a genocide. (See my book, Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians — or my monthly “Muslim Persecution of Christians” report — for a comprehensive and ongoing account of the “great crime” of our times.)
To understand how the historic genocide of Armenians and Assyrians is representative of the modern day plight of Christians under Islam, one need only read the following words written in 1918 by President Theodore Roosevelt; however, read “Armenian” as “Christian” and “Turkish” as “Islamic,” as supplied in brackets: the Armenian [Christian] massacre was the greatest crime of the war, and the failure to act against Turkey [the Islamic world] is to condone it… the failure to deal radically with the Turkish [Islamic] horror means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is mischievous nonsense.
Similarly, if we “fail to deal radically” with the “horror” currently being visited upon millions of Christians around the Islamic world, we “condone it” and had better cease talking “mischievous nonsense” of a utopian world of peace and tolerance.
Put differently, silence is always the ally of those who would liquidate the “other.” In 1915, Adolf Hitler rationalized his genocidal plans, which he implemented some three decades later, when he rhetorically asked: “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”
And who among today’s major politicians speaks—let alone does anything—about the ongoing annihilation of Christians by Muslims, most recently (but not singularly) seen in the Easter Sunday church bombings of Sri Lanka that left over 300 dead?
Note: Chapter 4 of the author’s recent book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, documents how the first “genocide” of Armenians at the hands of Turks actually began precisely one millennium ago, in the year 1019.

The mullahs’ conundrum: Martyrdom or capitulation?
Mohammed Alyahya/Al Arabiya/April 24/19
After US President Donald Trump’s decision to end waivers on Iranian oil sales on May 2, the Islamic Republic’s regime finds itself in more dire straits than ever before.
The Islamic Republic’s plan to hunker down and wait for hurricane Trump to pass is falling apart. While the regime has been suffering from the resumption of sanctions increasing pressure on Iran’s currency and financial system over the past several months, this latest blow to oil exports will cripple the economy.
In early 2018, protests in Mashhad spread after Tehran to several dozen Iranian cities. These grass-roots protests called out Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by name and represented a far more significant threat to the leadership than the elite-led Green Revolution of 2009. Iran witnessed unprecedented protests across socio-economic divides, but the mass mobilization in areas taken for granted as the backbone of the regime’s popular base set off the loudest alarm bells in Tehran.
Iran’s advocates in the west argue that sanctioning the regime would only further entrench it domestically. They contend that sanctions hurt the average Iranian, and would therefore cause people to rally around the leadership and set aside other grievances.
In simple terms, the argument in favor of lifting sanctions is that they “don’t work.” This is false for several reasons. Chief among them is the fact that it was due to sanctions pressure that Iran came to the table to negotiate with the P5+1, which led to the JCPOA in 2015.
Another point often ignored is the value sanctions have in eroding the regime’s resources. In a recent interview with Al Arabiya, US special representative to Iran Brian Hook said, “We had very good meetings with both of the Saudis and the Emiratis, and they share a lot of our national security goals with respect to Iran. So it’s in our interest and it’s in their interest to deny the Iranian regime the revenue it needs to fund its foreign policy.”
Iran’s extensive regional proxy network – comprised of several dozen militias in Iraq and Syria, two in Bahrain, one in Yemen, and its flagship proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah – relies on Iranian funding to sustain operations and buy loyalty. The regime cannot fund these groups with its own currency. It needs US dollars, and because of sanctions, it does not have enough.
After the US announcement, Iranian media cited an Iranian Oil Ministry source threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that Gulf states depend on to transport oil to Asia.
A day before, firebrand General Hossein Salami was appointed as head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. Salami infamously gloated about the capture of US Marines in January 2016. “The marines were crying when they were being captured,” he said, according to Fars News. “The Americans humbly admitted our might and power.”
This leaves the Iranian regime with two choices. The first: To capitulate to the Trump administration’s list of 12 demands, many of which would strip the revolutionary regime of its raison d’être, and channel the regime's resources exclusively towards the betterment of the people of Iran. The second: To provoke conventional war in the Gulf or with Israel, an option that would put the Iranian regime at an extreme disadvantage.
With poor conventional military capabilities, Iran does not stand a chance in an all-out conventional war with its well-equipped Arab neighbors, let alone with the US. Since the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, Iran has relied on asymmetric warfare to fight its enemies, often using the network of proxies it has built up in the region. The Islamic Republic's competitive advantage does not lie in conventional warfare.
Iran could attack Israel rather than its Gulf opponents in an effort to reshuffle the regional cards. But such a move is fraught with risk.
Although Israel would likely incur a level of damage and loss of life it has not witnessed since 1948, Iran’s most dependable ally, Hezbollah, will surely take a significant mauling in such a war. While it may not be fully destroyed, it is unlikely that Hezbollah would be able to rebuild as quickly and at the same scale as after the 2006 war to once again pose a threat to Israel, which would undermine Iranian deterrence.
With the international community and an exasperated Iranian population watching, the regime in Tehran has to make a decision sooner rather than later. Renouncing its revolutionary regional agenda and joining the international community is in the interest of the Iranian people, regional security and stability, and ultimately the future of Iran. Provoking conventional war, in the best-case scenario, will leave the Iranian regime ruling over a heap of rubble and facing an angry population.
The regime will soon find itself in a position where it must choose between firing its weapons and laying them down. If the Iranian regime chooses not to make concessions, it will be forced to martyr itself. The question is: Would it be toppled from within or from without?

موقع ميمري: اهداف المرحلة الثانية للثورة الإيرانية خلال ال 40 سنة القادمة
The Goals Of ‘The Second Phase Of The Islamic Revolution’ In Iran For The Next 40 Years – Part Three: IRGC Commanders Speak On The Achievements And Goals Of The Revolution
MEMRI/April 25/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/74193/%D9%85%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9-%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%88/
Marking this year’s 40th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, in February and March 2019 senior Iranian regime officials, and especially commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), have underlined the achievements of the revolution and the regime, particularly in the region, and their goals for the years to come. These goals include primarily strengthening Shi’ite Islam in the region to the point where an Islamic civilization is attained.[1] The speakers also extolled the culture of martyrdom and the spirit of martyrdom and jihad. This report will review several of these statements.
On February 19, 2019, IRGC Aerospace Force commander Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh spoke at a memorial ceremony in Hamedan for the martyrs of Brigade 155 of the Division of Ansar Al-Hossein. The following are excerpts from his speech:
“We have implemented two stages in establishing the Islamic regime, out of the five stages set out by the Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini [father of the Islamic regime in Iran] for the Islamic Revolution. The remaining three stages must be realized quickly through the revolutionary steps of the youth [of the nation].
“We are still far from the stage of the new Islamic civilization – the stage that is considered Iran’s goal. Luckily, the infrastructure and requirements [which will enable us] to advance in the second stage of the Islamic Revolution were established during the first stage. In the previous decade, the enemy wanted to impose sanctions on Iran’s weapons. But today, in the fourth decade of the revolution, [the enemy] wants to prevent Iran’s weapons from reaching the resistance axis.
“[To the young people:] We must embark on Stage two [of the revolution], with revolutionary force and according to the recommendations enumerated by [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei. Know that the second stage will be easier than the first, because we have experience… We must advance and continue to move forward, in order to maintain the Islamic Revolution and its achievements. Know that on this path, victory will be yours, just as in the last 40 years the world that mobilized against us failed to carry out its mission…
“In the first decade of the revolution, the enemies expressed concern about the doctrine of the Basij [popular militia] and the revolution. But now, their problem is that this doctrine is expanding to the farthest corners of the world, and in countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. At one time the enemies attacked and we were on the defense. But today we attack and they are on the defense…
“We managed to control the American spy planes which flew above Syria and Iraq. They wanted to start a 30-year war against us by starting a war in Iraq and in Syria, but we managed dispel their plans by infiltrating the American military, command and control, espionage, and other systems. We managed to acquire information about ISIS and its capabilities by infiltrating the American spy planes. We turned that data into a map and handed it to groups such as the Popular Mobilization Units [in Iraq] – which is how they managed to take several large cities, such as Al-Fallujah, with a minimum of martyrs. Today, fearlessly and in the spirit of the revolution, we must advance the plan outlined by [Supreme Leader] Khamenei in the second stage [of the revolution]…”[2]
At a February 24, 2019 event in Kerman honoring fighters and prisoners in the Sacred Defense, i.e. the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, IRGC deputy commander Hossein Salami said: “The 41st Tharallah Division was a divine division that broke through every line it attacked and excelled at sending the enemy fleeing. The division’s commander, the courageous and famous Qassem Soleimani [today IRGC Qods Force commander] shines, today as well, like a star in the firmament of bold Iran and of the world… The death of our martyrs not only failed to dim the strength of the IRGC. Rather, a new spirit prevails in the Muslim ummah. The culture of the martyrs has created strength, and the world powers, which seem great, have been defeated by our martyrs… A nation which exchanges life for death in the path of God will neither lose nor fear any power, great as it may be, and will not surrender to the enemy…
“Today, Iran shines throughout the world as the power of Islam. We live with the martyrs, and they are the code to our everlasting life. We must conclude the war with the enemy and then move to a political campaign…
“The enemy weakened each time it was confronted with our will. The great lesson [learned] from the martyrs is not to fear the enemy. We will resist the enemy starting today until we attain the final victory in the future. Forty years of the revolution have shown us that with resistance we can be victorious sooner [and] at less cost – so if you do not want to play on the enemy’s soil, fear not, because God is with us, and the promise-breakers are not the decision-makers – for God’s promise is the triumph of Islam.
“Resistance is leading us to a result, in which we will give the enemy no points. In every battle, we must give the enemy an answer within the battle… If the enemy chooses war, we will all be the attackers, and martyrdom will not mean that only we will be killed. Not one of us will be martyred until we kill dozens of the enemy…
“We are not at war with any country. We are not [one of the countries] that start wars – although if anyone wants to attack [us], we will not let him be. In war, the beginning may be in the enemy’s favor, but there is no doubt that the end will be in our favor. We will show the enemy that he will fail any way he approaches the Iranian nation. The enemy’s political domination will be removed from the Islamic lands, and we will destroy it.”[3]
Qods Force Commander Soleimani: “Death Is The Martyr’s Graduation Ceremony; In Reality, God Is Awarding Him The Prize Of Martyrdom For His Efforts”
On February 21, Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani spoke in Babol, Mazandaran province, at a memorial ceremony for IRGC generals and martyrs. The following are the main points of his speech:
“The essence of the culture of sacrifice and martyrdom is wisdom, values, and sanctity. Many aware, insightful people insist on being present in this arena, and 100,000 from this province [Mazandaran] have signed up with the resistance axis to defend the holy sites.
“The dissemination of the culture of sacrifice and martyrdom plays an influential role and has a very positive impact on the dimensions of conduct, morality, and nationalism in Islamic society… The [idea of] defending the holy sites was born in the school of the Sacred Defense [i.e. the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war]… Death is the martyr’s graduation ceremony. In reality, God is awarding him the prize of martyrdom for his efforts. The [Islamic] exegetes connect knowledge of God, which is the main knowledge, with martyrdom, and believe that anyone attaining martyrdom has reached the main knowledge and becomes a true believer…
“One of the important issues set out by Imam Khomeini is the issue of Palestine and the Wahhabi danger [from Saudi Arabia], and now the issue of Palestine has become the most [important] in Islamic society. When he founded the revolution, he stressed the Wahhabi danger on the part of the [Saudi] revolutionaries. He considered the Islam of capital, superstition, and cultural stagnation to be American Islam, and Wahhabism was proof of this. Wahhabism is the cause of conflict and schism, and of bloodshed, in the region. Today, the enemy’s entanglement in Palestine [is the result] of Wahhabism and the cult of American Islam, [both of] which will undoubtedly soon be destroyed.
“Today, if the Islamic world feels that it has deterrence [capabilities] and significant power, and an enemy like the Zionist regime does not dare attack the Islamic state [of Iran], it is thanks to the existence of the Hizbullah stream in Lebanon and Islamic streams such as Hamas in Palestine. And they, as clarified by the great architect of the revolution [Khomeini], are an outcome of the Islamic Revolution…
“No decision by the regime is implemented anywhere without [serving our] national interests. Islam and support for Islam are part of the national interests, and without reliance on Islam we would not have had the strength to maintain the power of the resistance.
“Wahhabism had Jewish roots, and it created the [force of] destruction and ruin called ISIS. It caused over half a trillion [dollars] in damage to two Arab countries [Iraq and Syria], and killed hundreds of thousands of people by means of the foreigners [who came] to these countries, and over three thousand mosques were blown up. This Wahhabi phenomenon created great damage, and [Iran’s] Islamic regime came to support both these countries, and succeeded in flattening this toxic storm before it reached Iran’s borders.
“Had the toxic storm reached Iran’s borders, it would have caused a great catastrophe. The action of the Islamic regime in the region made Iran secure, and a source of strength in the region, and [also made] Iran influential and the decisionmaker in all the Islamic streams. The operation of the revolution was very effective in strengthening Iran’s defensive capability. The strength in Iran was created by the revolution, and there is nothing like it in the region…
“The main aim of the arrogance [i.e. the U.S.] is to efface [Iran’s] identity, and to weaken and flatten Iran. The entire Iranian nation loves this regime…”[4]
Qods Force deputy commander Esmail Qaani also spoke on February 21, 2019, in Qom. In his speech at the second international conference in memory of 140 clerics martyred in Syria, he told families of Iranian, Iraqi, Pakistani, and Afghan martyrs:
“…In all the major Islamic and Shi’ite events, clerics were always the high-quality pioneers in the arena. [Ayatollah] Khomeini said: ‘In every social movement based on truth, the clerics of Islam were the first whose martyred blood spilled from their foreheads.’ He also said: ‘Do you know of any social movement whose pioneers – its clerics and seminary scholars – did not take part and did not drown in their blood and become martyrs?’ America and the usurping Zionists and their allies plan a new scheme every day to strike Iran’s Islamic Revolution. We must not sit idly by; every second we must fight the enemy in the arena of the struggle. The clerics of Islam play a central role in the arena of the struggle against the lie. We, the soldiers of the Rule of the Jurisprudent always follow in the footsteps of the clerics, and in fact perpetuate the legitimacy of our deeds by means of the pioneering enterprise of the clerics, including Ayatollah [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei.
“This Islamic Revolution has much to say and many plans [to carry out], both inside and outside the country. The constant presence of the people in the arena, the wise guidance of [Supreme Leader] Khamenei, and the martyrdom and efforts of those who maintain the security of this state make Iran unceasingly lead its plans, despite the enemies’ hostility and obstacles… The reason for the failure of the [American] plans is Iran’s mighty presence in the arena… Iran is working to obtain one important result in all the plans it carries out in the region – and that is to prepare people for the arena of battle. It is not possible to attain this result except by means of the pioneering of the clerics who teach the fighters belief in one God, religion, and recognition of God.
“Khomeini once said: ‘If a global Basij of fighters of Islam is established, no one would dare to insult the [Prophet] Mohammad’s spiritual children.’ This sentence can be understood as follows: Although we achieved much in the Iran-Iraq war, we are still lacking one thing – a global army. In the Iran-Iraq war, on the battlefield, fighters from 30 Iranian provinces sat around every table. But today on the battlefield, brave men from 30 countries around the world sit at every table. And this is the art of the Islamic Revolution and the art of the cleric who leads the regime [i.e. Supreme Leader Khamenei], and it is the art of the regime that is based on the Rule of the Jurisprudent. We must always esteem the martyrs, because it is they who gave their lives to disseminate the school of the Imam Hossein and to establish the global rule of the Mahdi [i.e. the Shi’ite messiah].”[5]
Rahim Safavi, Advisor To Iran’s Chief Of Staff: “Without Building A Civilization, We Cannot Influence Developments In The World And In The Region”
On March 10, 2019, Rahim Safavi, aide and senior advisor to the Iranian Chief of Staff, spoke at the first conference on “Researching the Future and the Islamic World,” saying:
“The first generation of the [Islamic] Revolution has succeeded in bringing the revolution to victory in the last 40 years, and also in bringing the Islamic regime to this point in the mission. Now it is the turn of the young people, who will take the next step of the revolution…
“The Imam [Khomeini] successfully melded the Islamic and Iranian civilizations… Today, the heart of Islamic culture and civilization beats in Iran, and Wahhabi Islam in Saudi Arabia and [the Islam of] Al-Azhar in Egypt cannot dominate the Islamic world.
“The aim [of ISIS leader] Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was to remove the latent energy from the Islamic world and to destroy Syria and Iraq for the Zionists; meanwhile, Iran has triumphed in this battle.
“Islam is capable of building a civilization. This [capability] is hidden in the heart of the Quran, and in statements by the followers of the Imam Ali [i.e., the Shi’ites]. Without building a civilization, we cannot influence developments in the world and in the region. For this reason, the Americans fear not our strength but our capability of building a civilization.
“Today, a united Islamic army has been created in Syria. Today, we have succeeded in reaching the Mediterranean, by using our ideological strength.”[6]
Amir Abdallahian, Special Aide To Majlis Speaker: “Iran Will Present A Successful Example In All Arenas for Centuries [To Come] – Until The Coming Of The Imam Mahdi”
Amir Abdallahian, special aide to Iran’s Majlis speaker, said on the occasion of the Persian New Year:
“The Islamic Revolution created a new political-security order in the region. Over the past seven years, 81 countries have tried to bring down the political regime in Iran, as in Syria, but without success. The new political order that is based on the resistance axis has managed to break ISIS’s bones and force American to abandon its game in the region and in Syria because of its high cost…
“Today, [President] Trump does not dare enter Baghdad, and this is America’s weakness. This is at a time when Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani, who is tracked by dozens of enemy security apparatuses, easily enters the most dangerous places in this region. All these are America’s weak points, and Iran’s strong points. Iran’s friends and enemies know that the new political and security arrangements called the ‘resistance axis’ are playing a crucial role in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
“When we speak about exporting the Islamic Revolution, some mistakenly think that we want to export our thought in order to overturn the situation in the region. They allege that the ‘export of the Islamic Revolution’ means exporting Iranian missiles to a particular region. [But] we are talking about exporting [revolutionary] values.
“The foreign media uses negative propaganda so that others will not see the achievements of the Islamic Revolution. The Iranian people and [Supreme Leader] Khamenei have made the Islamic Revolution advance. The plan to partition Syria and Iraq was meant to conclude with partitioning Iran. This matter was a common threat to all three countries – but at the moment of truth, Khamenei said that the Iranians must go to Syria and Iraq and do something to protect the security of Iran and the region. The result was that today we are witnessing the defeat of ISIS in Syria and in Iraq. Forty years after the revolution, Iran is not defending itself from within its borders – it is defending the country from hundreds of kilometers away…
“The Islamic Revolution has transformed the traditional hegemonic game of American in the world. The situation created for Trump in Iraq will undoubtedly happen to others as well. Iran will present a successful example in all arenas for centuries [to come], until the coming of the Imam Mahdi.”[7]
[1] See previous MEMRI reports in this series on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s goals for ‘The Second Phase Of The Islamic Revolution’ in Iran, as outlined at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution: MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 7981, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Announces The Goals Of ‘The Second Phase Of The Islamic Revolution’ For The Next 40 Years – Part Two: ‘You Must Preserve Your Revolution… And Bring It Ever Closer To Its Great Aspiration – The Creation Of A New Islamic Civilization, And Preparations For The Rise Of The Sun Of The Mahdi’, April 3, 2019, and MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1441, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Announces The Goals Of ‘The Second Phase Of The Islamic Revolution’ For The Next 40 Years: ‘The Challenge Is Mighty Iran’s Presence At The Borders Of The Zionist Regime’, February 13, 2019.
[2] Tasnim (Iran), February 19, 2019.
[3] ISNA (Iran), February 24, 2019.
[4] Tasnim (Iran), February 21, 2019.
[5] Fars (Iran), February 21, 2019.
[6] Tasnim (Iran) March 10, 2019.
[7] Fars (Iran), March 19, 2019.
https://www.memri.org/reports/goals-second-phase-islamic-revolution-iran-next-40-years-%E2%80%93-part-three-irgc-commanders-speak