LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
September 20/17
Compiled &
Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
The Bulletin's Link on the
lccc Site
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/newselias/english.september19.17.htm
News Bulletin Achieves Since 2006
Bible Quotations For
Today
False Teachers
02 Peter 02 /01-22: “False
prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false
teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue
doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring
upon themselves sudden destruction. Even so, many will follow their immoral
ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth.
In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you
made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their
Destroyer has been wide awake! God did not spare the angels who sinned, but
threw them into hell, where they are kept chained in darkness, waiting for the
Day of Judgment. God did not spare the ancient world, but brought the flood on
the world of godless people; the only ones he saved were Noah, who preached
righteousness, and seven other people. God condemned the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah, destroying them with fire, and made them an example of what will
happen to the godless. He rescued Lot, a good man, who was distressed by the
immoral conduct of lawless people. That good man lived among them, and day after
day he suffered agony as he saw and heard their evil actions. And so the Lord
knows how to rescue godly people from their trials and how to keep the wicked
under punishment for the Day of Judgment, especially those who follow their
filthy bodily lusts and despise God’s authority. These false teachers are bold
and arrogant, and show no respect for the glorious beings above; instead, they
insult them. Even the angels, who are so much stronger and mightier than these
false teachers, do not accuse them with insults in the presence of the Lord. But
these people act by instinct, like wild animals born to be captured and killed;
they attack with insults anything they do not understand. They will be destroyed
like wild animals, and they will be paid with suffering for the suffering they
have caused. Pleasure for them is to do anything in broad daylight that will
satisfy their bodily appetites; they are a shame and a disgrace as they join you
in your meals, all the while enjoying their deceitful ways! They want to look
for nothing but the chance to commit adultery; their appetite for sin is never
satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be
greedy. They are under God’s curse! They have left the straight path and have
lost their way; they have followed the path taken by Balaam son of Beor, who
loved the money he would get for doing wrong and was rebuked for his sin. His
donkey spoke with a human voice and stopped the prophet’s insane action. These
people are like dried-up springs, like clouds blown along by a storm; God has
reserved a place for them in the deepest darkness. They make proud and stupid
statements, and use immoral bodily lusts to trap those who are just beginning to
escape from among people who live in error. They promise them freedom while they
themselves are slaves of destructive habits—for we are slaves of anything that
has conquered us. If people have escaped from the corrupting forces of the world
through their knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and then are again
caught and conquered by them, such people are in worse condition at the end than
they were at the beginning. It would have been much better for them never to
have known the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn away from the
sacred command that was given them. What happened to them shows that the
proverbs are true: “A dog goes back to what it has vomited” and “A pig that has
been washed goes back to roll in the mud.”
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
published on September 19-20/17
Mission Impossible: Putin Seeks Syria Deal That Both Iran
and Israel Can Swallow/Haaretz/Anshel Pfeffer (Kiev) September 19/17
Developing consensus to resolve the crisis in Iraq/Adnan Hussein/Al Arabiya/September
19/17
Syria, Iraq and the hurricane/Ghassan Charbel/Al Arabiya/September 19/17
Qatar enters Turkey-EU fray to ‘resolve’ crisis with GCC/Shehab Al-Makahleh/Al
Arabiya/September 19/17
Qatar beginning to feel the pinch/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/September
19/17
Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on
September 19-20/17
Israel Shoots Down Iranian-made Hezbollah Drone Over Syria
Border
UNIFIL head chairs regular tripartite meeting with LAF and 'IDF' officials
Aoun meets Abbas in New York
Aoun meets Jordan King, Palestinian President in New York
Aoun Holds NY Talks with Jordanian, Palestinian Leaders
Israel Says 'Hizbullah-Operated' Drone over Golan Heights was Intercepted
Kataeb: Ruling Class Seeking to Manipulate Results of Legislative Vote
Berri Chairs Parliament Meeting, Reiterates Need to Cut Extension Term Despite
Opposition
Israeli Warplanes Stage Raids on Border East of Shebaa
Report: Al-Talli Allegedly Seeks 'Vengeance' against Nasrallah
Shorter visits Hariri, welcomes preparations for upcoming elections
Lebanese Army Commander, Al Hajjar tackle judicial affairs
Geagea, UNHCR representative discuss Syrian refugees' return
EU at IBEF underlines committment to sustainable energy in Lebanon and the
region
UN Information Centre launches oneyear partnership with 'Assabil' Organization
Mission Impossible: Putin Seeks Syria Deal That Both Iran and Israel Can Swallow
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports
And News published on
September 19-20/17
Trump Says Iranians 'Want Change', Threatens to 'Totally Destroy N.
Korea'
US President Trump slams Iran in first speech to UN
Tillerson: Iran nuclear deal must be changed for US to remain in pact
U.N. Chief Says World is Afraid of Nuclear War with N. Korea
UN chief urges Myanmar to halt military campaign against Rohingya
Qatari Emir at the UN calls for ‘unconditional dialogue’
Egypt Says Sisi Met Israel PM at UN for First Public Talks
Egypt’s Sisi on Qatar: It’s time to confront supporters of terrorism
US military official: Iran continues to arm Houthi militias
Saudi Crown Prince, British Defense Minister sign military agreement
Saudi minister praises Barzani’s ‘wisdom’ amid tensions over Kurdish referendum
Saudi forces carry out operations near Yemen border, killing 70 Houthis
7.1 magnitude quake kills hundreds as buildings crumble in Mexico
More than 150 million children globally are victims of forced labor
Latest Lebanese Related News published on
September 19-20/17
Israel Shoots Down Iranian-made Hezbollah Drone Over Syria Border
Amos Harel/ Noa Shpigel and Jack
Khoury/Haaretz/ Sep 19, 2017/The Israel Defense Forces shot down an Iranian-made
drone operated by Hezbollah on Tuesday afternoon after the drone entered the
demilitarized zone along the border between Israel and Syria on the Golan
Heights. The Israel Air Force’s aerial defense command fired a Patriot missile
and destroyed the drone. The interception of the drone took place just hours
before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to speak to the United
Nations General Assembly in New York. A large part of his speech is expected to
be devoted to Israeli claims concerning Iranian military involvement in Syria.
Israel Demanded 60km Buffer but Russia Let Iranian Forces in Syria Approach the
Border With Ballistic Missile Radar,
The remotely piloted vehicle, intended for intelligence gathering missions, was
identified as it took off from Damascus International Airport. It then flew to
the southwest toward Israel. When the Air Force’s air defense control center
identified the drone entering the demilitarized zone on the Golan, the IDF
decided to shoot it down. Fighter jets were scrambled to the area, but did not
fire at the drone. The drone was intercepted by a Patriot missile fired by an
anti-aircraft battery located in the Galilee. The drone fell inside Syrian
territory in a region controlled by the Assad regime near the city of Quneitra.
UNIFIL head chairs regular tripartite meeting with LAF and 'IDF'
officials
Tue 19 Sep 2017/NNA - UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General
Michael Beary, today chaired a regular tripartite meeting with senior officials
from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at the
UN position at Ras Al Naqoura, a statement by the UNIFIL indicated on Tuesday.
"Discussions centered on issues related to the implementation of UNIFIL's
mandate under UN Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), which was recently
extended through the adoption of Security Council resolution 2373 (2017); air
and ground violations; the situation along the Blue Line; as well as the issue
of withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Ghajar," the statement read. "In
light of the 30 August Security Council meeting, which extended UNIFIL's mandate
until 31 August 2018, Major General Beary noted that the unanimity in the
Council gives UNIFIL the necessary backing to carry out its mandate," it said.
"The Major General noted that he was 'very encouraged' to hear a reiterated
commitment from all sides in implementing Security Council resolutions 1701 and
2373 including the new modalities of implementation related to operational and
reporting requirements," it added.
"He called for continued strong support from both sides 'in the timely sharing
of information and utilizing our liaison and coordination mechanism
efficiently,' and noted that UNIFIL will 'work with LAF to facilitate any
increase in its presence in the Area of Operations," it indicated. "UNIFIL will
continue to make all efforts to execute its mandate to the fullest," he said,
stressing the need to "continue to make all efforts to maintain security and
stability" in collaboration with both parties. "The one thing that could
successfully guide us to stability remains our liaison and coordination
mechanisms and the fact that we could candidly and openly talk about these
issues here in this room," Major General Beary added. "We need to collectively
think about how we can build towards a permanent ceasefire."Tripartite meetings
have been held regularly under the auspices of UNIFIL since the end of the 2006
war. They have become an essential conflict management and confidence building
mechanism between the parties. UNIFIL currently has around 10,500 peacekeepers
coming from 41 troop contributing countries. The Mission maintains an intensive
level of operational and other activities amounting to approximately 13,500
activities per month, day and night, in the area of operations. About 17 per
cent of these activities are carried out jointly with the LAF. UNIFIL is
complemented by a seven-vessel Maritime Task Force.
Aoun meets Abbas in New York
The Daily Star/September 19/17/NEW
YORK: President Michel Aoun met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud
Abbas Tuesday in New York while both leaders attend the United Nations General
Assembly.Following his meeting with Abbas, Aoun sat with King Abdullah II bin
Al-Hussein of Jordan for a brief meeting. Then later in the evening he sat with
Austrian President Heinz Fischer. The meeting came just hours after U.S.
President Donald Trump gave a speech slamming regional supporters of terrorism,
laying out a hard line against Iran and warning of the threat of Islamic
extremists. Trump's speech also comes as he’s placed a renewed focus on the
Arab-Israel peace talks. After arriving in New York Monday, Aoun met with Arab
League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned of a dark future for the
region, as the latter took his first meetings after arriving in the U.S. Monday.
“There is no positive breakthrough in sight with the war in Yemen or with the
Qatar crisis,” a source close to the meeting at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New
York told The Daily Star. He also met with Peter Maurer, president of the
International Committee of the Red Cross, to discuss assistance for Lebanon,
refugees in the country and those missing since the Lebanese Civil War.
Aoun meets Jordan King, Palestinian President in New
York
Tue 19 Sep 2017/NNA - President of the
republic, Michel Aoun, held talks in New York on Tuesday with Jordanian King
Abdullah II, over the means to bolster the bilateral ties between the two
countries on all levels. The pair also discussed an array of regional affairs,
in addition to the current situation in the Middle East, especially in terms of
fighting terrorism. During the meeting, King Abdullah congratulated his Lebanese
counterpart on "the liberation of the Anti-Lebanon region from terrorists,
confirming Jordan's support for Lebanon and its political, military, and
security institutions."
Also, Aoun held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, over the
bilateral relations, in addition to the Palestinian Cause developments and the
current situation in the region. Abbas did not fail to felicitate Aoun on the
latest victory scored against terrorists along the eastern borders. Aoun's
meetings were held on the sidelines of his participation in the 72nd regular
session of the United Nations' General Assembly in New York.
Aoun Holds NY Talks with Jordanian, Palestinian Leaders
Naharnet/September 19/17/President Michel Aoun on Tuesday held separate talks in
New York with Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas.The talks were held on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the U.N.
General Assembly. Aoun's discussions with Jordan's monarch tackled “the
bilateral ties between the two countries and means to strengthen them in all
fields,” the National News Agency said. The two leaders also recalled their
meeting in Amman during Aoun's participation in the Arab Summit and discussed
the situations in the region, especially in terms of the anti-terror fight, NNA
added. King Abdullah for his part congratulated the Lebanese president on
“Lebanon's liberation of the outskirts of the Eastern Mountain Belt from
terrorist groups,” stressing that “Jordan stands by Lebanon and its political,
military and security institutions.”
Aoun's talks with Abbas meanwhile tackled “the bilateral ties, the situations in
the region and the developments of the Palestinian cause.”Abbas also
congratulated Aoun on “Lebanon's liberation of its land from terrorism.”
Aoun is scheduled to address the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday.
Israel Says 'Hizbullah-Operated' Drone over Golan
Heights was Intercepted
Agence France Presse/Associated Press/Naharnet/September 19/17/Israel's military
fired a Patriot missile on Tuesday to bring down what it said was an
Iranian-made drone operated by Hizbullah on a reconnaissance mission over the
Golan Heights. The drone took off from a Damascus military airport before
entering the demilitarized zone approaching the Israeli-controlled part of the
Golan Heights, Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus told the AFP news
agency. "We scrambled fighter jets but they did not engage the UAV," Conricus
said. "It was instead shot down by one Patriot missile that was fired by Israeli
air defense soldiers."He said details of the drone were still being evaluated,
including whether or not it was armed. It fell in the buffer zone between the
Israeli- and Syrian-controlled parts of the Golan. "Our message is that the IDF
(Israeli army) will not allow any violation of Israeli sovereignty, and we will
not allow Iranian forces, Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad or Shiite militias of any
kind to approach the Israeli borders," Conricus said. He said if any other
attempts to violate Israel's sovereignty are made, it "will respond
swiftly."Conricus said Hizbullah, which has sent forces to back Syrian President
Bashar Assad in the Syrian civil war, routinely uses drones on surveillance
missions. But it is rare for the pilotless aircraft to enter Israeli airspace.
Conricus also stressed that said Israel did not seek any further escalation.
Israel and Syria are still technically at war, though the armistice line on the
Golan Heights had remained largely quiet for decades until civil war erupted in
Syria in 2011. Israel seized 1,200 square kilometers (460 square miles) of the
Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a
move never recognized by the international community.
The aerial showdown took place as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was
preparing to address the U.N. General Assembly, where his speech is expected to
focus on concerns of Iran's rising influence across the region, particularly in
neighboring Syria.
The Israeli military spokesman said the decision to shoot down the drone had no
link with Netanyahu's expected speech.
Kataeb: Ruling Class Seeking to Manipulate Results of
Legislative Vote
Naharnet/September 19/17/The opposition Kataeb Party on Tuesday accused the
ruling political class of seeking to “manipulate the results” of the upcoming
parliamentary elections. In a statement issued after the weekly meeting of its
political bureau, the party urged “all Lebanese, especially opinion leaders to
act urgently, after corruption and the approach of suspicious deals reached an
indescribable extent, at the expense of citizens and the treasury.” It called on
citizens to “raise their voice against the performance of a ruling class that
has proved its failure – from renouncing sovereignty to undermining elections to
its failure to resolve the garbage crisis as well as its insistence on the power
ships deal.” And slamming the ruling class over its “procrastination” in the
issue of organizing parliamentary by-elections in Tripoli and Keserwan and the
subsequent cancellation of the polls, Kataeb warned of “the ruling political
class' intentions to manipulate the results of the legislative elections,
whether through turning the Electoral Supervisory Commission into a body that is
loyal to the ruling parties or by seeking to control voters' choices through
magnetic cards and the issue of pre-registration.”“This is all aimed at securing
the election of the same parties,” Kataeb warned.
Berri Chairs Parliament Meeting, Reiterates Need to Cut
Extension Term Despite Opposition
Naharnet/September 19/17/Lawmakers convened on Tuesday in a parliament session
in Nejmeh Square under the chairmanship of Speaker Nabih Berri to tackle 42
items on the agenda in addition to the oil and gas exploration petroleum
activities file. At the beginning of the meeting, Berri announced that his
Development and Liberation bloc had submitted a draft law under which the
extended term of the current parliament would expire on December 31, 2017
instead of May 21, 2018. For his part, MP Butros Harb stressed that politicians
“must make up their minds otherwise the parliamentary elections will be
wasted.”Democratic Gathering bloc MP Wael Abou Faour also stressed the need to
stage the polls, he addressed Berri saying: “We have great confidence in your
wisdom and in Hariri's to help stage the polls on time. No political or
technical reasons should obstruct them.”Berri's suggestion was criticized by
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil who argued that such a measure would “harm the
reforms” that were introduced with the formation of the country's new electoral
law. According to the Speaker, the draft law stipulates that parliament's term
-- which has been extended three times since 2009 -- would expire on December
31, 2017, and that the elections should be held before this date in line with
the electoral law's stipulations. The Cabinet had on Sunday approved a
suggestion to upgrade the national identity card into a “biometric identity
card” that enables citizens to use their IDs to cast votes in the upcoming
parliamentary elections. The introduction of biometric voting cards was one of
the excuses that the legislature had announced in order to extend its own term
for a third time. The upcoming parliamentary elections are slated to be held
under a proportional representation electoral law for the first time in
Lebanon's history.
Israeli Warplanes Stage Raids on Border East of Shebaa
Naharnet/September 19/17/Israeli warplanes have executed two air raids on al-Rashaha
hill located at the Lebanese-Syrian borders east of the Shebaa town, the
National News Agency said on Tuesday. “Two intense explosions were heard east of
Shebaa particularly on al-Rashaha hills,” said VDL (93.3).
It added that the raids have coincided with “intense Israeli overflights in the
region and that the planes have release heat balloons.”Israeli warplanes
regularly violate Lebanon's airspace. Lebanon has filed a complaint with the
United Nations against Israel last week for violating the country's airspace and
flying low over the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. Israeli jets have flown low
over Sidon, causing at least one sonic boom.
Report: Al-Talli Allegedly Seeks 'Vengeance' against
Nasrallah
Naharnet/September 19/17/Top official of the jihadist al-Nusra Front group in
the border region between Syria and Lebanon, Abu Malek al-Talli, has reportedly
given orders to his “elements in the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh" to
stand by for “vengeance against Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,” al-Joumhouria
daily reported on Tuesday. Citing unnamed Palestinian sources in Sidon's Ain el-Hilweh,
the daily said that “security reports claimed that al-Talli --settled in Syria's
Idlib-- has given instructions to his elements in Ain el-Hilweh asking them not
to leave the camp under any circumstances, and to stay in preparation for what
he called the start of a revenge battle against Nasrallah.” “It is difficult to
know the organizational magnitude of al-Nusra Front or the Islamic State
organizations inside the camp,” added the sources, “their presence is more of an
ideological form than a clear organizational state,” they said on condition of
anonymity. They added that “a list of names being circulated in media outlets
and even with the security apparatuses of the most wanted terrorists hiding in
the camp, does not include all the names of the primary terrorist symbols inside
Ain el-Hilweh. “There are some unknown most dangerous radicals inside the camp
who have close links to the IS, al-Nusra and other very dangerous global groups
in Iraq, Syria and around the world,” added the sources. Information obtained by
the daily said that another “two terrorists from the Egyptian nationality are
hiding in the camp, in addition to Abou Khattab and Abou Masaab,” two dangerous
jihadist commanders.
Shorter visits Hariri, welcomes preparations for
upcoming elections
Tue 19 Sep 2017/NNA - British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter, visited on
Tuesday afternoon Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, and welcomed preparations
underway for holding forthcoming parliamentary elections. On emerging,
Ambassador Shorter said: "I was pleased to meet with the Prime Minister and
discuss how we can further deepen the partnership between the UK and Lebanon. I
was able to offer the Prime Minister in person my congratulations on the
Lebanese Army’s Fajr el Jouroud operation, as well as my condolences for those
who gave their lives during this operation and who were captured in 2014."
Shorter added: "I particularly took the chance to praise the Lebanese security
forces for the superb job they have done keeping Lebanon safe. We regularly
discuss security matters with our Lebanese counterparts and will continue to do
so." Shorter welcomed that preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections
are underway, particularly the appointment of the Supervisory Commission.
"Holding parliamentary elections will be a key moment to reaffirm Lebanon’s
status as a democracy," the Ambassador concluded.
Lebanese Army Commander, Al Hajjar tackle judicial
affairs
Tue 19 Sep 2017/NNA - Army Commander,
General Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday received at his Yarzeh office, the State
Commissioner to the Military Tribunal, Judge Hani Helmi Al-Hajjar, with talks
reportedly touching on a range of judicial matters.
Geagea, UNHCR representative discuss Syrian refugees'
return
Tue 19 Sep 2017/NNA - Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, welcomed, at his
Maarab residence on Tuesday, UNHCR Representative Mireille Girard, with whom he
discussed the condition of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and the necessity to
help them return safe and sound to their homeland. Accordingly, the pair shone
light on the policy that would ensure the refugees' return, with both sides
highlighting the obligation to reach an international solution that would end
the Syrian crisis and facilitate the transportation of the displaced to the
agreed de-escalation zones.
EU at IBEF underlines committment to sustainable energy
in Lebanon and the region
Tue 19 Sep 2017/NNA - The European Union once again participated in the
International Beirut Energy Forum 2017 for Sustainable Development (IBEF), which
is being organised by the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) from 18
to 20 September. In a press release by the Delegation of the European Union to
Lebanon, it said: "The European Union's participation in IBEF demonstrates its
continuous support to renewable energy and energy efficiency in Lebanon and the
Mediterranean region. Through many initiatives, the EU plays a pivotal role in
this sector. The EU is the largest contributor of climate finance to developing
countries, providing more than half of global development assistance." In her
opening remarks, Ambassador Christina Lassen, Head of the Delegation of the
European Union, said: "Lebanon is suffering from a chronic shortage of energy
supply while demand is increasing on a daily basis. This considerable demand for
energy needs to be reduced, through energy efficiency initiatives.""The EU
stands firmly alongside Lebanon and other countries in the region as they work
towards the objectives set in their nationally determined contributions and is
keen to keep the momentum for energy efficiency in Lebanon through strong
cooperation with numerous partners," she added. On Tuesday 19 September, Ms
Irene Mingasson, responsible for the "Regional Cooperation with the Southern
Neighborhood Region" at the European Commission, presented the energy strategy
of the European Union with its neighbor partner countries in the session "Il
Mare Nostrum: Fostering the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation". This session
offered the opportunity to highlight the efficient synergies between the
EU-funded projects implemented in Lebanon and those implemented at regional
level.
Mingasson said: "We acknowledge the huge potential for energy efficiency, an
enormous quantity of untapped renewable energy sources, and a unique opportunity
for improving our energy security, which would pave the way for strong economic
development, job opportunities, more stability and an overall improved
wellbeing.""But for all of this, we need to be ambitious, we need to endorse our
responsibilities, we need to work together, we need efficient partnerships," she
stressed. The Forum played host for the closing event of the EU-funded project
"Towards sustainable energy consumption in selected local communities in the
district of Zghorta, North of Lebanon", in the presence of Mingasson. Press
release said: "The project is part of the EU-SUDEP programme (Sustainable Urban
Demonstration Energy Projects) and is implemented by the Rene Moawad Foundation
in the village of Ardeh and its neighborhoods. SUDEP supports local communities
in the implementation of sustainable energy actions, leading to an increase in
energy efficiency, energy savings and renewable energy sources. The project
funded innovative energy saving measures to help reduce energy expenditure and,
as a result, boost the budget of the municipality in the area." In her
intervention, Mingasson said that the project "is an example of how a successful
partnership between the EU, organizations such as the Rene Moawad Foundation and
the local authorities of Lebanon functions.""This project is merely about
optimizing energy consumption; it is also about improving the quality of life of
the citizens in the local communities around Ardeh and strengthening the
capacities of local authorities," she pointed out.
UN Information Centre launches oneyear partnership with
'Assabil' Organization
Tue 19 Sep 2017/NNA - The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Beirut
launched today a one-year partnership with the non-governmental organization "Assabil",
which encourages reading by establishing, supporting and promoting accessible
free public libraries all over Lebanon, the UNIC indicated in a press release on
Tuesday. This partnership falls under the fourth goal of the Sustainable
Development Goals (Quality Education), which urges all learners to acquire
knowledge and skills needed to support sustainable development, promote a
culture of peace, non-violence and global citizenship, and appreciate cultural
diversity and the role of culture in sustainable development. This partnership
also falls under the 17th goal of the Sustainable Development Goals
(Partnerships for the Goals) which urges similar partnerships for the success of
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The partnership includes various
activities that will be implemented throughout the year, including: Educational
Courses for students and schools visiting the libraries affiliated with the "Assabil"
on the SDGs, the UN's "Together" campaign to promote respect, safety and dignity
for refugees and migrants, and the Culture of Peace; Movie Screenings on the
UN's international, regional and local work; and Book Reviews on UN priorities.
UNIC Beirut and "Assabil" will also commemorate together UN International Days,
including International Women's Day (8 March), World Book and Copyright Day (23
April), and UN Arabic Language Day (18 December), among others. In that regard,
UNIC Beirut Acting Director Margo El-Helou said that encouraging reading and
visiting libraries are basics that must be focused on amidst the electronic
revolution the world is experiencing today. She pointed out to the importance of
the partnership with "Assabil" in raising awareness about the UN and its
priorities in Lebanon and the region, particularly since the NGO attracts
thousands of students during the academic year. Commenting on joint activities
that will be implemented, Helou said the aim is to involve libraries and their
visitors in the process of achieving sustainable development and the 17 Global
Goals, a process that the UN has already embarked on with its various partners
since the beginning of 2016. "Assabil" President Maude Estephan Hachem, for her
part, said this partnership is an honor for the NGO, which - through its
activities - meets UN's goals of promoting a culture of peace, adding that this
was an opportunity to reach out to a vast audience of students to achieve the
common goals. Hachem said that Assabil's libraries constitute a space for
meeting and dialogue among various categories of society in Lebanon that allows
for learning about diverse cultures and enhances mutual respect. She concluded
that these libraries provide knowledge resources that help everyone develop
their abilities and skills; and work to spread the habit of reading among young
people as a cornerstone of self-growth and development of critical thinking.
ASSABIL is a non-governmental organization established in 1997 to encourage all
people to visit public libraries and benefit from the unlimited information they
provide free of charge. It organizes frequent cultural and social activities in
its libraries, and provides advisory services to individuals and associations
interested in establishing public libraries. Assabil runs a mobile public
library that works with public schools and associations dealing with
marginalized groups.
Mission Impossible: Putin Seeks Syria Deal That Both Iran and Israel Can
Swallowالمهمة المستحيلة: بوتين يسعى لإتفاق يرضي الإيرانيين والإسرائيليين
Haaretz/Anshel Pfeffer (Kiev) Sep 19,
2017
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/?p=58863
Sources say Moscow is planning to
propose formula whereby no foreign country will be allowed to turn Syria into
platform for attacking neighboring states.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is working on what sounds to Israelis like
science fiction but in Moscow makes perfect sense – a deal on the power
structure in Syria that both Israel and Iran can live with. Two years after
Russian warplanes began landing in Khmeimim air base, carrying out devastating
bombing missions on rebel-held parts of Syria and killing thousands of
civilians, along with rebel fighters opposed to President Bashar Assad’s regime
and Islamic State fighters, Putin now controls Syria’s future.
The Obama administration was unwilling to play a major role in Syria and the
Trump administration has yet to formulate a clear regional policy – and Russia
has filled the vacuum.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu realized early on that Putin was determined to
play a pivotal role in Syria, and flew to Moscow to meet with him in September
2015. As a result of that meeting, a “deconfliction mechanism” was established
between the Israeli and Russian air forces, including a hotline installed
between the Russian operations center and Israel Defense Forces headquarters in
Tel Aviv.
Israel has continued carrying out airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Syria
[according to foreign media reports], including within the area dominated by
Russian air power, without any official response from the Kremlin. Netanyahu and
Putin have continued meeting every few months and speaking frequently by
telephone. At the same time, Russia has worked together with Iran and its proxy,
Hezbollah, and they have supplied thousands of fighters on the ground for
Assad’s regime.
Putin doesn’t want to lose Iran or Israel,” said Andrey Kortunov, director
general of the Russian International Affairs Council – an influential think tank
in Moscow that was established by the president’s office six years ago. “There
is mutual respect between [Putin] and Netanyahu, and Russia has a special
attitude toward Israel’s military activity in Syria and has warned Assad and
Hezbollah not to retaliate,” he added.
Kortunov was a speaker at the annual conference of Kiev’s Yalta European
Strategy forum last week, representing Russian positions.
Hezbollah and Syrian flags on a military vehicle in Western Qalamoun, Syria,
August 2017. He highlighted the way Putin recently brought Iran and Turkey
together in the Syrian cease-fire talks in Astana. Now Turkey is willing to
contemplate Assad’s regime reestablishing itself across Syria and is cooperating
with Iran in various spheres – including against Kurdish attempts to gain
independence from Iraq.
Russia has also engaged with Jordan and the Saudis in an effort to get them to
end their support for the Syrian rebels. Now Putin believes he can broker an
agreement between Israel and Iran.
There are those within the Israeli security establishment and intelligence
community who believe a wedge can be driven between Russia and Iran, and have
been advising Netanyahu to try and orchestrate one in his dealings with Putin.
Netanyahu, of course, wants to believe he is capable of doing so, but that is
totally unrealistic.
“Iran has supplied Putin with boots on the ground in Syria,” said one Western
diplomat who has spent years working with the Russians. “Putin isn’t just going
to give up on that.”A veteran journalist based in Moscow explained that “thanks
to the Iranians, the Russians have been able to operate in Syria with few
casualties of their own. This has kept the Syrian campaign popular among the
Russian public.”There are some discordant notes in the Russian-Iranian
relationship. Putin doesn’t want to be seen by the Sunni majority in the Middle
East – as well as Russia’s millions of Sunni Muslim citizens – as enabling the
Iranians to build a “Shia crescent” across the region. And Moscow has refused
Iranian demands to share the naval port of Tartus, currently being used by
Russia.
The Syrian and Russian governments have yet to sign a long-term agreement for
Russian control of the port (a similar deal has already been signed for Khmeimim
air base, near Latakia) due to Iranian pressure on Assad to allow it a presence
there as well.
In a number of cases in recent months, Russia refused to help Iranian-backed
forces in the Euphrates Valley, eastern Syria, when they clashed with Kurdish
fighters supported by the United States and came under fire from U.S. aircraft.
But the fact that Russian and Iranian interests don’t always coincide and that,
historically, Russia and Iran have been geopolitical rivals going back decades
doesn’t mean the Kremlin is going to ditch its current alliance with Iran
anytime soon.
According to well-placed sources in Moscow, Putin is planning to propose a
formula to Netanyahu whereby no foreign country will be allowed to turn Syria
into a platform for attacking neighboring states. This won’t go as far as
Netanyahu’s insistence that Iran be prevented from establishing a permanent
presence in Syria. If enforced, though, it would prevent them from establishing
air and missile bases there. Netanyahu is unlikely to accept such a formula in
public, but he is unlikely to have much of a choice.
Putin may respect Netanyahu and Israel’s military capabilities, and he continues
to turn a blind eye toward Israel’s reported bombing operations in Syria, but he
isn’t about to give up his Iranian boots on the ground.
**Anshel Pfeffer/Haaretz Correspondent
Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on
September 19-20/17
Trump Says Iranians 'Want Change', Threatens to 'Totally Destroy N.
Korea'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/September 19/17/President Donald
Trump warned "Rocket Man" Kim Jong-Un is on a "suicide mission" and threatened
to "totally destroy" North Korea if it targets the United States or its allies,
in a bellicose maiden address to the U.N. Tuesday. Appearing for the first time
before the 193-member organization that emerged from the ashes of World War II,
Trump boasted of America's military strength, signaled he was ready to rip up a
nuclear accord with the "murderous regime" in Tehran, and berated US foes in
Pyongyang, Venezuela, Syria and Cuba.
"The United States has great strength and patience," Trump said -- as he
followed in the footsteps of U.S. presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama -
"but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but
to totally destroy North Korea," he warned.
"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," he said,
using his new nickname for the North Korean leader. "The United States is ready,
willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary." In a veiled
criticism of China and Russia, who were barely mentioned in the rest of the
speech, Trump said any trade with North Korea was morally questionable. Trump
pilloried Iran as a corrupt "rogue state" and threatened to rip up the landmark
international deal struck in 2015 to curb Tehran's nuclear program. "Frankly,
that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've
heard the last of it," Trump told the UN General Assembly. "Believe me. It is
time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its
pursuit of death and destruction."But, the U.S. leader added, the greatest
threat to the Tehran regime was not the American military, but the Iranian
people who want change.
'America's interests'
The packed General Assembly hall greeted Trump's tough rhetoric and calls for
individual nation states -- rather than supranational bodies -- to form the
basis of the global order with periods of silence punctuated by polite applause
during his 42 minutes of remarks. Trump did not back away from his populist
"America First" campaign rhetoric, but instead suggested it should be an example
to other UN members. "Our respect for sovereignty is also a call for action. All
people deserve a government that cares for their safety, their interests.""As
long as I hold this office, I will defend America's interests above all else,
but in fulfilling our obligations to our nations, we also realize that it's in
everyone's interests to seek the future where all nations can be sovereign,
prosperous and secure," he said. After decades in which America has led the
drive toward a global rules-based order, Trump indicated his foreign policy
would define the national interest more narrowly. "For too long the American
people were told that mammoth, multinational trade deals, unaccountable
international tribunals and powerful global bureaucracies were the best way to
promote their success," Trump said. "But as those promises flowed, millions of
jobs vanished and thousands of factories disappeared." The speech provoked
strong responses almost immediately -- drawing praise from Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu although against expectations Trump did not mention
the Middle East Peace peace process, which he has promised to pursue.
"In over 30 years in my experience with the U.N., I never heard a bolder or more
courageous speech," said Netanyahu. "President Trump spoke the truth about the
great dangers facing our world and issued a powerful call to confront them in
order to ensure the future of humanity," he said in a statement. At home in the
United States however, Trump was pilloried by among others veteran Democratic
Senator Diane Feinstein. "The goals of the United Nations are to foster peace
and promote global cooperation," she said. "Today, the president used it as a
stage to threaten war.""He aims to unify the world through tactics of
intimidation, but in reality he only further isolates the United States," she
said.
US President Trump slams Iran in first speech to UN
Agencies Tuesday, 19 September 2017/United States President Donald Trump says at
the United Nations that the Iranian government is an “economically depleted
rogue state” whose chief export is violence.
Trump told world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly that the world
cannot allow the “murderous regime” to continue its destabilizing activities
while building dangerous missiles. The president also questioned the 2015
nuclear deal with Iran. He says world leaders “cannot abide” by the agreement if
it “provides cover” for Iran to eventually build its nuclear program. The
administration last week extended sanctions relief to Iran, avoiding imminent
action that could implode the landmark agreement.
Tillerson: Iran nuclear deal must be changed for US to
remain in pact
Reuters, Washington Wednesday, 20 September 2017/US Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson said on Tuesday the Iran nuclear agreement must be changed or the
United States could not remain part of the pact. Tillerson, in an interview on
Fox News, said the so-called sunset clauses, under which some of the 2015 deal’s
restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program expire over time, were of particular
concern. “If we’re going to stick with the Iran deal there has to be changes
made to it. The sunset provisions simply is not a sensible way forward,”
Tillerson said. “It’s just simply ... kicking the can down the road again for
someone in the future to have to deal with.”
U.N. Chief Says World is Afraid of Nuclear War with N. Korea
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/September 19/17/Global anxieties about a nuclear
war are at their highest level in decades, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres said Tuesday as he opened a gathering of world leaders dominated by the
crisis with North Korea.
Addressing the high-level debate at the General Assembly, Guterres said millions
of people are living in dread as a result of North Korea's provocative nuclear
and missile tests. "The use of nuclear weapons should be unthinkable," Guterres
told the 193-nation assembly meeting in New York. "But today global anxieties
about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the Cold
War."The fear of nuclear warfare "is not abstract", he added. "Millions of
people live under a shadow of dread cast by the provocative nuclear and missile
tests" carried out by Pyongyang. The United States backed by Japan, South Korea
and its western allies are pushing for a strong international response to North
Korea after it conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test and fired
missiles over Japan. But China and Russia have warned that U.S. talk of military
options to address the North Korean crisis would have a catastrophic result and
are pushing for diplomatic talks. Guterres warned that rising tensions were
increasing the chance of miscalculation and that "fiery talk can lead to fatal
misunderstandings."He called for a political solution, saying "this is a time
for statesmanship.""We must not sleepwalk our way into war," he said.
UN chief urges Myanmar to halt military campaign against
Rohingya
AFP, United Nations Tuesday, 19 September 2017/UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged Myanmar to halt its military
campaign against Rohingya Muslims, just hours after Aung San Suu Kyi failed to
quell an international outcry in a much-anticipated address.
Addressing the opening of the UN General Assembly, Guterres said he "took note"
of Suu Kyi's pledge to abide by the recommendations of a report by former UN
chief Kofi Annan that has advocated citizenship for the Rohingyas.
"But let me be clear," Guterres said. "The authorities in Myanmar must end the
military operations, and allow unhindered humanitarian access."
More than 420,000 Rohingya have been forced to flee violence in Myanmar's
northern Rakhine state in what the United Nations has described as "ethnic
cleansing." In her nationwide address, Suu Kyi insisted that army "clearance
operations" in response to attacks by Rohingya militants had finished on
September 5 and denied that Rakhine was in flames. "More than 50 percent of the
villages of Muslims are intact," she said. The Nobel laureate called for
patience and understanding of the unfurling crisis in her "fragile democracy"
and pledged to resettle some refugees, but she did not speak out against the
military campaign. "We are all shocked by the dramatic escalation of sectarian
tensions in Myanmar's Rakhine state," Guterres told world leaders. In an
interview earlier this week, Guterres described the address by Suu Kyi as "a
last chance" to speak out and put in motion an end to the mass exodus. The
1.1-million strong Rohingya have suffered years of discrimination in Myanmar,
where they are denied citizenship even though many have longstanding roots in
the country. Myanmar's second Vice President, Henry van Thio, is to take the
podium at the assembly on Wednesday after Suu Kyi decided against attending this
year's world gathering.
Qatari Emir at the UN calls for ‘unconditional dialogue’
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Tuesday, 19 September 2017/Qatar’s Emir Sheikh
Tamim al-Thani gave his first public address at the United Nations General
Assembly since several countries broke of diplomatic and economic ties with Doha
over the country’s support for terrorism. At the UN, Al-Thani said his
government was prepared for “unconditional dialogue that was based on respect
for sovereignty”. The Emir of Qatar claimed that "the four countries have
planned to subject Qatar to a comprehensive custody," as he put it and that his
country faced a “mass media campaign that had been prepared in advance”. Saudi
Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Yemen and Egypt severed ties with Qatar in June
following a diplomatic rift over Doha’s foreign policies.
Egypt Says Sisi Met Israel PM at UN for First Public Talks
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/September 19/17/Egyptian President Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi met Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu publicly for the first time in
New York to discuss Middle East peace after US President Donald Trump said he
would push for resuming stalled negotiations.
Monday's meeting, which follows mediation in Cairo between Palestinian
arch-rivals Fatah and Hamas, reflects Egypt's will to return to the forefront of
the Middle East diplomatic scene. The two met on the sidelines of the United
Nations General Assembly to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which
has been at a standstill since 2014, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement
Tuesday. Sisi emphasised the importance of "resuming negotiations between the
Israeli and Palestinian sides to reach a comprehensive solution," the presidency
said. The two leaders discussed "ways to resume the peace process and establish
a Palestinian state," it said. Trump also met Netanyahu on Monday, and repeated
that an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal was "possible", saying his administration
would do its utmost to push it. Sisi has been involved in secret talks with the
Israeli premier in the past.
The Egyptian president joined Netanyahu for talks with then US secretary of
state John Kerry hosted by King Abdullah II in the Jordanian city of Aqaba in
February 2016, a former US official confirmed to AFP earlier this year. Monday's
meeting followed a rare phone conversation earlier in the day between
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniya
following Egyptian-mediated reconciliation talks. Abbas's internationally
recognised Palestinian Authority is located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank,
but it has had no control in Gaza for a decade -- after the Islamist movement
Hamas seized the territory in a near civil war in 2007. After Haniya met
Egyptian officials in Cairo last week, Hamas announced it agreed to demands by
Fatah to dissolve what is seen as a rival administration in Gaza, while saying
it was ready for elections and negotiations to form a unity government. -
Egyptian mediation -The developments signalled a shift in Egypt's approach to
the Islamist Palestinian group following years of tensions with Cairo accusing
Hamas of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood group.
The Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation after Sisi, the former
army chief, led the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July
2013. Egypt's mediation also comes as relations improve between Sisi and the
United States after Trump's arrival at the White House in January.
Trump's predecessor Barack Obama had temporarily frozen military aid to Egypt
following a deadly crackdown on Morsi's supporters. Trump's aides -- led by his
Middle East envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner and senior international
negotiations aide Jason Greenblatt -- have been shuttling between leaders from
the two sides in recent months. Palestinian leaders had been put off by Trump's
administration after the president suggested he was not committed to a two-state
deal. "It would be utterly ridiculous if Mr Trump doesn't eventually say that,"
Nabil Shaath, a senior Abbas adviser, told journalists in Ramallah on Monday
when asked about the two-state solution. Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister
Tzachi Hanegbi welcomed Netanyahu's meeting with Sisi."We hope that the next
meetings will take on a routine character," Hanegbi, a close friend of
Netanyahu, said on Israeli military radio.Trump visited Israel and the occupied
West Bank in May.
Egypt’s Sisi on Qatar: It’s time to confront supporters of
terrorism
Ashraf Abd al-Hameed, Al Arabiya.net – Cairo Tuesday, 19 September 2017/Egyptian
President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi who is in New York for the UN General Assembly
session said the time has come to efficiently confront parties that support
terrorism and get them to bear their responsibility.
He specifically addressed Qatar and said it must respond to the four boycotting
countries’ demands to show that it does not aim to harm Arab countries’
interests or interfere in their internal affairs. Sisi also met with Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York to discuss the Middle East peace
process in their first public talks, his office said on Tuesday. Sisi emphasized
the importance of "resuming negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides to reach a comprehensive solution," the statement said. The Egyptian
president also met with former American officials and with delegations from
research centers, Jewish organizations and think tanks on Monday. Ambassador
Alaa Youssef, the president’s spokesperson, said the president welcomed these
American figures who contribute to creating the American vision and direct
decision-making circles on how to address different international affairs. Sisi
also confirmed the importance of strategic relations between Egypt and the US,
noting that Egypt is concerned about improving and developing these ties.
War on terrorism
According to Youssef, Sisi discussed Egyptian developments and said Egypt has
been fighting a war against terrorism and extremism over the past years. Sisi
added that the international community must adopt a comprehensive approach to
confront terror groups and deal with funding and arming them and limit their
ability to recruit fighters. Commenting on the situation of human rights in
Egypt, Sisi said there is now a constitutional framework that organizes
relations between state authorities and gives several jurisdictions to the
elected parliament. He added that Egypt is keen on respecting human rights which
must not be summed up in political rights as they must also include economic and
social rights. Regarding the regional situation, Sisi said it’s important not to
divide countries in the Middle East as this will lead to more conflicts. isi
discussed Egypt’s efforts to revive the peace process and said Egypt supports
all international initiatives which aim to reach a fair settlement according to
international references. He added that in the past phase, Egypt talked with the
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to narrow the gap and reach a
reconciliation so the Palestinian Authority can return to Gaza. Sisi also said
that achieving peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis cannot be imposed
by foreign parties as it must be based on both parties’ willingness.
US military official: Iran continues to arm Houthi militias
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Tuesday, 19 September 2017/A senior US military
official revealed the Iranian violations of international resolutions, which
prohibit the arming of the Houthi militia in Yemen. Commander of the US Navy's
Fifth Fleet in the Gulf, Vice Adm. Kevin M. Donegan, said in his last statement
before his term of office ended, that the Fifth Fleet stationed off the Arabian
Peninsula was helping block the gaps that allowed the militias to carry out
their naval attacks after the coup. He also referred to Iran's smuggling of
sophisticated military arms that enable the Houthis to launch ballistic missiles
to further ranges. The American Admiral also revealed that the types of weapons
that Iran succeeded in smuggling to Yemen are the first of its kind since the
date of the militia coup; anti-ship and ballistic missiles, deadly sea mines and
even explosive boats. Iran continues to smuggle into Yemen despite the
international embargo making it a constant threat to the security of the region,
especially international marine traffic, he added. Admiral Donegan who is
preparing to take on his new duties at the Pentagon denied any possible effects
of the Qatari crisis with the four countries on the course of military
operations to combat Iran's terrorist armed militias in the Gulf. Earlier
independent reports had confirmed, at the end of last year, Iran's involvement
in documented operations to arm the Houthis via a pipeline through Somalia.
The coalition forces seized at the time a number of boats loaded with
Iranian-made weapons.
Saudi Crown Prince, British Defense Minister sign military
agreement
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Tuesday, 19 September 2017/Saudi Arabia’s Crown
Prince and Defense Minist Mohammed bin Salman has met in Jeddah with British
Defense Secretary Michael Fallon where a military and security deal was signed.
During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral relations between the two
countries, especially the mechanisms of joint coordination in the field of
defense, as well as discussing developments in the region and efforts exerted to
combat them. The Saudi crown prince and British defense minister signed a
Framework Agreement on Military and Security Cooperation between the Saudi
government and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland. The meeting was attended by the Assistant Minister of Defense,
Mr. Mohammed Al Ayash, the Advisor to the Royal Court, the General Supervisor of
the Office of His Highness the Minister of Defense Fahad Al-Issa, the Deputy
Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili and a number of
senior officials of the Ministry of Defense, Military officials in the United
Kingdom.
Saudi minister praises Barzani’s ‘wisdom’ amid tensions
over Kurdish referendum
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Tuesday, 19 September 2017/Saudi
Minister of State for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan on Tuesday praised Kurdish
leader Masoud Barzani’s “wisdom” in accepting international mediation between
Erbil and Baghdad. Tensions between both sides have recently erupted in the wake
of an upcoming referendum on the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan announced by
the Kurdish leadership. Iraq’s supreme court on Monday ordered the suspension of
the September 25 referendum to examine whether such a poll would be
constitutional. Sabhan tweeted: “I look forward to President Masoud Barzani’s
wisdom and bravery to accept the international mediations to resolve the current
crisis within the framework of the UN proposals and spare Iraq from crises it
does not need.”Earlier this week, Barzani received Sabhan as part of a Saudi
offer of mediation. Sabhan, the former Saudi’s ambassador to Iraq, also conveyed
greetings from Saudi’s King Salman to the role of the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces
and Kurdish people, a Kurdish statement said. Barzani said Erbil has not closed
the door of dialogue on anyone and, on behalf of the people of the Kurdistan
Region, thanked the stance and consideration of King Salman. Barzani emphasized
the significance of the historical relations between Erbil and Riyadh. Last
week, Barzani vowed to press ahead with a referendum on Kurdish independence on
Sept. 25 despite a vote by Iraq’s parliament to reject the move. Earlier the
parliament in Baghdad authorized the prime minister to “take all measures” to
preserve Iraq’s unity. Kurdish lawmakers walked out of the session before the
vote and issued statements rejecting the decision. Western powers fear a
plebiscite in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region - including the oil-rich
city of Kirkuk - could ignite conflict with the central government in Baghdad
and divert attention from the war against ISIS militants. Iraq’s neighbors -
Turkey, Iran and Syria - also oppose the referendum, fearing it could fan
separatism among their own ethnic Kurdish populations.
Saudi forces carry out operations near Yemen border,
killing 70 Houthis
Hani al-Sufayan, Al Arabiya Tuesday, 19 September 2017/Military operations
carried out by Saudi forces succeeded in supporting coalition aircrafts against
Houthi militias and the guards of Yemen’s former leader Ali Abdullah Saleh off
the border in the past day.
Al Arabiya was able to confirm that a military plan developed by the joint
operations command of the Saudi forces, in addition to the coalition’s support,
was carried out in multiple areas aimed at targeting the support of the Houthi
and Saleh militias from inside Yemen toward the Yemeni provinces and districts
overlooking the Saudi border. The first operation was carried out by members of
the Yemeni army backed by Apache helicopters and Saudi artillery in Wadi
Abdullah, located in Harad which extends from Yemen to the Saudi border, after
militias attempted to penetrate the control points on the Saudi border. They
failed after facing Saudi border troops who were able to kill more than 20
Houthis while others escaped. The second operation took place opposite al-Raboah
border city, where Saudi forces carried out an operation on the positions of the
militias, whose mission was to launch missiles toward populated areas across the
border. The operation succeeded in destroying those sites and killing the
militants after the advance of a Saudi infantry battalion. The third operation,
the largest which lasted a whole day, was off Najran, where the Joint Operations
Room spotted huge Houthi support elements and vehicles moving toward the Saudi
border city. Saudi forces carried out a military plan that destroyed this
support that advance.
7.1 magnitude quake kills hundreds as buildings crumble in
Mexico
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Wednesday, 20 September 2017/The
number of people killed in a devastating earthquake that struck Mexico City and
nearby regions on Tuesday has risen to 138, the government said according to AFP.
The figure was a sharp jump over the 105 deaths previously given by the
government disaster response agency CENAPRED. “A total of 138 people have sadly
lost their lives,” the director of the government’s civil protection service,
Luis Felipe Puente, told the Televisa television network. He said there were 36
deaths in Mexico City and the rest in regions just to the south and the west of
it. Morelos state, directly south of the capital, suffered 64 deaths. Puebla, to
the southeast, had 29 deaths. And nine people died in Mexico state, which lies
just to the west of Mexico City. The 7.1 magnitude earthquake stunned central
Mexico on Tuesday, killing hundreds of people as buildings collapsed in plumes
of dust. Thousands fled into the streets in panic, and many stayed to help
rescue those trapped. Scores of buildings collapsed into mounds of rubble or
were severely damaged in in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby
states. The quake is the deadliest in Mexico since a 1985 quake on the same date
killed thousands. It came less than two weeks after another powerful quake left
90 dead in the country’s south. At one site, reporters saw onlookers cheer as a
woman was pulled from the rubble. Rescuers immediately called for silence so
that they could listen for others who might be trapped. The quake caused
buildings to sway sickeningly in Mexico City and sent people throughout the city
fleeing from homes and offices, and many people remained in the streets for
hours, fearful of returning to the structures.
Alarms blared and traffic stopped around the Angel of Independence monument on
the iconic Reforma Avenue.
Electricity and cellphone service was interrupted in many areas and traffic was
snarled as signal lights went dark. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude
7.1 hit at 1:14 pm (9:41 pm Mecca) and it was centered near the Puebla state
town of Raboso, about 123 kilometers southeast of Mexico City.
Puebla Gov. Tony Gali tweeted that there had been damaged buildings in the city
of Cholula including collapsed church steeples. Earlier in the day workplaces
across the city held readiness drills on the anniversary of the 1985 quake, a
magnitude 8.0 shake, which killed thousands of people and devastated large parts
of Mexico City. In that tragedy, too, ordinary citizens played a crucial role in
rescue efforts that overwhelmed officials. Market stall vendor Edith Lopez, 25,
said she was in a taxi a few blocks away when the quake struck. She said she saw
glass bursting out of the windows of some buildings. She was anxiously trying to
locate her children, whom she had left in the care of her disabled mother.Local
media broadcast video of whitecap waves churning the city’s normally placid
canals of Xochimilco as boats bobbed up and down. Mexico City’s international
airport suspended operations and was checking facilities for any damage. Much of
Mexico City is built on former lakebed, and the soil can amplify the effects of
earthquakes centered hundreds of miles away. The new quake appears to be
unrelated to the magnitude 8.1 temblor that hit Sept. 7 off Mexico’s southern
coast and which also was felt strongly in the capital. US Geological Survey
seismologist Paul Earle noted that the epicenters of the two quakes are 650
kilometers apart and most aftershocks are within 100 kilometers.There have been
19 earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or larger within 250 kilometers of Tuesday’s
quake in the past century, Earle said. Earth usually has about 15 to 20
earthquakes this size or larger each year, Earle said. Initial calculations show
that more than 30 million people would have felt moderate shaking from Tuesday’s
quake. The US Geological Survey predicts “significant casualty and damage are
likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”(AP, Reuters)
More than 150 million children globally are victims of
forced labor
Ellen Wulfhorst, Reuters New York Tuesday, 19 September 2017/More
than 150 million children, or nearly one in 10 globally, are victims of forced
labor and progress in reducing that number has slowed, a leading United Nations’
anti-slavery group said on Tuesday. Nearly half of children in forced labor do
hazardous work and more than a third do not go to school, said a report by the
U.N. labor agency, the International Labour Organization (ILO). Although the
number of child laborers has fallen by 94 million since 2000, the decline slowed
from 2012 to 2016, they said.
The faltering progress imperils efforts to end child labor by 2025 as laid out
in the United Nations’ latest set of global goals agreed in 2015 to tackle
poverty and inequality. Houtan Homayounpour, technical specialist on forced
labor at the Geneva-based ILO, said the world was not on track to end child
labor in eight years with estimates that 121 million children would still be in
child labor in 2025 at this rate. “We need to pick up the pace,” he told the
Thomson Reuters Foundation. A total of 152 million children - 64 million girls
and 88 million boys - are victims of child labor, according to the latest ILO
estimate.
More than two-thirds of these children are working on a family farm or in a
family business with 71 percent overall employed in agriculture. Nine out of
every 10 live in Africa and the Asia and Pacific region, the ILO said, with
sub-Saharan Africa experiencing a rise in child labor from 2012 to 2016.“Africa,
where child labor is highest in both proportionate and absolute terms, and where
progress has stalled, remains a particular priority,” the ILO said in its
report. The report noted a strong link between child labor and conflict and
disaster which caused joblessness and displacement that make children
vulnerable.
Among children in forced labor between ages 5 and 14, a third, or 36 million, do
not go to school. The ILO said its findings came from surveying households in
all regions of the world and using data from the U.N. and world governments.
Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials
from miscellaneous sources published on
September 19-20/17
Developing consensus to resolve the crisis in Iraq
Adnan Hussein/Al Arabiya/September 19/17
The worst expected scenario to resolve the current crisis between Erbil and
Baghdad is for a solution to be imposed by foreign parties either directly or
indirectly by exerting pressure.
Foreign solutions often reflect the domestic parties’ incapability to confront
problems and manage crises. They also reveal that these domestic parties do not
trust one another, and this makes it likely for crises to erupt again. Foreign
parties’ interferences to resolve local crises enables them to gain or
strengthen a foothold thus allowing them to exploit their influence and
relations to cause different problems according to whatever suits their
interests. There is no problem that does not have a solution especially in
politics. A constructive dialogue guarantees reaching middle-ground solutions.
The current crisis between Baghdad’s and Erbil’s government is no exception.
There’s definitely a solution, a peaceful one in particular. The challenge
though lies in how to reach one with the least amount of losses and
repercussions. Iraqi parties involved accuse each other of violating the
constitution. Truth be told, the constitution and its provisions have been
continuously violated for the past 11 years, ever since it went into effect. All
partners of the political process have violated the constitution; however, the
difference lies in how much and to what extent it was violated. Iraqi parties
accuse each other of violating the constitution. Truth be told, the constitution
and its provisions have been violated for 11 years
Major violations
The biggest violation was adopting the sectarian and nationalistic quota system,
which was supposed to be abandoned after the parliament’s term ended in 2010.
The second biggest violation was not being loyal to amending the constitution
which was supposed to be finalized in the end of 2006 or at the beginning of
2007. The third biggest violation was not implementing some of the
constitution’s articles, specifically Article 140, and not legislating the
required laws to build the state, such as laws pertaining to the federal council
law, oil and gas, the special committee tasked with monitoring the privatization
of federal imports, the federal court, the military service and unions. The
solution thus lies in ending all violations of the constitution and its
provisions. This begins with cancelling the unconstitutional quota system,
amending the constitution and legislating all the laws, which should have been
issued already.
This is a purely local solution that will be accepted by Baghdad’s and Erbil’s
governments and the Iraqi people who’ve been calling for reforms. Adopting this
solution and implementing it will mark the biggest reform operation. More
importantly, this means there is no need for foreign solutions. We will thus
deter the threats of foreign interferences in our local affairs and pave the way
for a phase where we trust one another and believe in ourselves.
Syria, Iraq and the hurricane
Ghassan Charbel/Al Arabiya/September 19/17
An Arab man is glued to his television. The scenes are spectacular and
unprecedented. The most powerful country in the world stands alarmed and tries
to salvage what can be saved. Nature’s anger is a beast that cannot be detained.
The hurricane speed exceeded 200 kilometers per hour. It uprooted everything:
roofs, houses, power poles and advertising boards. The rain is cold and
ruthless. Heavy floods have swept trucks and cars away. Public squares have
turned into swamps with pieces from smashed houses floating over. Authorities
declared a state of emergency. All state bodies were put on alert. Millions of
people were evacuated. Television stations broadcast images of families leaving
their homes, wrapped only with tears, fleeing to safe shelters… Men grieving for
their houses, which they put too much effort to build… As if enormous tusks had
pounced onto a wide area and implanted into its depths… Blood, mud and horror
poured. It is Hurricane Irma, which has quickly occupied a prominent place in
world record books.
Losses were estimated at $150 billion. Many houses will suffer from darkness,
waiting for the start of reconstruction. The next day, the Arab man skims
through an issue of Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. It is the issue of this Thursday,
September 14th.
The source of the story is the National Agenda for the Future of Syria, which is
supervised by Syrian and international experts under the umbrella of the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). According to
the report, the cost of the Syrian war amounted to $327 billion; including $227
billion due to lost opportunities and $100 billion due to destruction.
The issue of who governs Syria must be resolved by the Syrian people under a
constitution based on citizenship and justice
Vulnerable to destruction
The Arab man delved into the details of the report. The housing sector was the
most vulnerable to destruction as it incurred 30 percent of losses or about $30
billion. The proportion of destruction in the industrial sector reached nearly
18 percent, 9 percent for the electricity and water sector, and 7 percent for
the agricultural sector. Statistics do not include destruction in the cities of
Raqqa and Deir al-Zour.
The Arab man read the Syrian numbers as someone rubbing salt into his wounds. He
was eager to search the Internet to know the cost of Iraqi storms, the tornado
of Kuwait’s invasion, that of the invasion of Iraq and its consequences, the
Sunni-Shiite strife and its aftermath… the fall of Mosul into the hands of ISIS,
the hurricane of corruption, which is not less destructive than the blood
hurricanes.
It is enough to hear an Iraqi politician say: “We have spent more than one
hundred billion dollars to resolve the problem of electricity and the problem
still exists”. The Arab man disregarded the figures. He remembered that the
Iraqi and Syrian hurricanes have produced more than one million deaths and much
more wounded and disabled. The loss of lives is much more painful than that of
walls.
He felt the enormous difference between hurricanes. As soon as Irma recedes,
reconstruction works will begin to remove its effects. There is a state there.
There are institutions; a public opinion that monitors, judges and holds
accountable. Our hurricanes are different.
At the beginning of the hurricane that hit Florida, normal questions were
raised: Are the rescue and civil defense bodies ready for their duty? What
lessons can be learned to limit the losses when nature gets angry after years or
decades?
Different hurricanes
Our hurricanes are different. They are more severe and terrifying: winds coming
from outside clash with the internal gaps. The state is decomposed and the map
is broken. The components are fragmented. The national fabric is torn down. The
army is disintegrated and militias are in a state of war.
The national flag is isolated and a forest of foreign flags surrounds the
country. Flags from distant and nearby states, with conflicting stories and
differing grudges. A Chechen man comes to kill a Syrian in favor of the regime,
or an Afghan comes to kill a Syrian in favor of the opposition…
The hurricane exposes us. Countries that used to boast about their cohesion are
divided and fragmented. A country, which used to have a powerful role, has
become very frail to the extent that seeing its population getting killed is no
longer a shock.
The country, which used to be a main player on the regional map, has become a
playground for small armies, which are drawing with Syrian blood tiny maps
protected by international or regional powers… areas of influence… and a
decision that is lost in nearby and distant capitals…
Hurricanes expose us. They reveal that we are futile countries, lost peoples,
and wasted institutions. No army saves the country from outer dangers. Security
does not save the citizen from criminals. The Constitution does not protect
people’s rights. The courts do not dare harass the perpetrators.
Testing ground
The hurricane shakes us. Our country becomes a platform for all kinds of
newcomers, as if we were a testing ground for bombs and knives, for those
seeking alternative wars, and those carrying ideas that are more treacherous
than daggers, for the promoters of policies of revenge, for those wanting to
change the balance of powers by using people’s blood, for the promoters of
injustice and darkness, and for cruelty in all its forms.
The fury of nature can uproot a roof, smash cars and break columns, but it
cannot dismantle a state and fragment a map. The absence of a real state is what
triggers hurricanes. Outside storms cannot uproot a nation that is built on the
values citizenship and justice; a state with a constitution that guarantees the
rights of citizens and defines mechanisms for the rotation of power and for
improvement.
Internal gaps are the first ally for the poisonous wind coming from outside.
Feelings of marginalization tempt some people to jump out of the train and plant
bombs to blow it up or change its trajectory.
I am an Arab and I only want Iraq to be a stable, prosperous and natural country
that plays its role in its surrounding environment and leads its citizens to the
future. Who governs Iraq is a matter that must be left to the Iraqis on the
basis of citizenship and democracy that guarantees rights of minorities before
those of the majority.
I am an Arab and I only want Syria to be a stable and prosperous country that
plays its natural role in its surrounding environment… A country, which does not
live in the shadow of a forest of flags that have infiltrated from conflicting
locations to deepen the wounds of the Syrian components… A state, which poses no
danger to itself or to its neighbors…
The issue of who governs Syria must be resolved by the Syrian people under a
constitution based on citizenship and justice. The absence of a fair, modern
state transforms minorities into buried mines. The absence of an actual state
makes the land favorable to hurricanes.
The first lesson learned from hurricanes is to re-install the idea of the state,
which applies its constitution and practices on all citizens, as citizens of one
nation; not guns to be used by the leaders at the moment of collapse.
Qatar enters Turkey-EU fray to ‘resolve’ crisis with GCC?
Shehab Al-Makahleh/Al Arabiya/September 19/17
Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit to Ankara, before he headed
to Berlin and Paris on his way to New York for the United Nations General
Assembly meetings, sent several political signals and messages.
One of the messages was directed toward Qatari people and to the Qatari
opposition conference, which was held in London on September 14, that the regime
in Doha remains strong.
The second message aims to seek assistance from Turkey as a strategic partner,
along with Germany and France as mediators. In other words, Qatar is now looking
beyond Turkey and reaching out to Germany and France to seek support.
The late announcement by the Turkish presidency of Tamim’s visit indicates that
it was not planned or was not on the agenda. It was a result of the 148th
foreign ministers’ ordinary session at the Arab League Council’s inauguration on
September 13 which was not a cordial coming together of Qatar with Saudi Arabia,
the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt.
In fact, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Sa’ad Al
Muraikhi, made a provocative remark when he referred to Iran as an “honorable
state”.
Tamim seeks from Turkish President Rejeb Teyyep Erdogan further economic,
military, political and security support for Doha, especially after the Emir’s
visit to Al Udeid Airbase where he inspected a number of combat aircraft,
helicopters and transport aircraft in addition to air military pieces and
vehicles.
On his Al Udeid visit, Tamim focused on the air operations plan and tasks and
duties of the Qatari Air Force. Over10,000 American troops are stationed at Al-Udeid
base in Qatar. From a Turkish perspective, the current crisis between Doha and
other countries is a precursor to a changing reality in the Gulf, as anomalous
political polarization is shaping the region with Turkey developing warm ties
with Qatar over the past few years.
From a Turkish perspective, the current crisis between Doha and other countries
is a precursor to a changing reality in the Gulf
Turning ‘peacemaker’ in Europe
The visit of Tamim to Germany and his meeting with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel aims to orchestrate German support for Qatari stand in lieu of Tamim’s
role toward reconciling current tense ties between Erdogan and Merkel. The
German Chancellor had recently said she would support the end of Ankara’s
membership talks with the European Union. Ankara and Berlin have been at odds
with each other, particularly since the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey and
Erdogan’s several calls to citizens of Turkish origin in Germany not to vote for
Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union or other major parties in the country, which
described them as “enemies of Turkey”. Tamim is also trying to profit from
Turkey’s animosity with some countries in the Middle East and in the EU. The
Qatari regime wishes to exploit differences between Ankara and Berlin to eke out
more concessions and support from them over the “Qatari dispute” with Arab
countries. Thus, Tamim is trying to resolve Qatar’s issues with the GCC states
by offering to solve the problem of other countries.
The ideological agenda
It should be noted that relations between Qatar and Turkey have been steadily
improving over the last 15 years with both countries having shared investments
and signed military training deals. However, it is the UAE and not Qatar that is
a major investor in Turkey.
Still, Qatar’s investments amount to $20 billion and the volume of investments
of Turkish companies operating in Qatar stands at $11.6 billion. The volume of
Turkish trade with Qatar has reached a record high of $1.7 billion and is
expected to exceed $2 billion in light of the growing cooperation between the
two countries. Meanwhile, Turkey’s stance does not align with the position of
the UAE at present. So the economic and investment dynamic should not be
considered the major driver for Ankara’s support to Qatar. The reason is the
ideology of both countries that favour the Muslim Brotherhood and their
collective strategies that have an impact on countries of the Middle East. Also
read: Qatari Opposition: Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani’s statement widely accepted in
Qatar. The visit of the Emir of Qatar to Turkey coincided with the arrival of
the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak to Turkey at the official
invitation of the Turkish premier Benali Yildirim. There is no indication that
there was any prior coordination by any party to meet or hold a tripartite
meeting to discuss developments in the region and the Gulf crisis.
In particular, the Kuwaiti prime minister’s visit was scheduled for four days
and aimed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the economic fields. On the
sidelines of the visit, the Turkish-Kuwaiti Economic Forum will be held in
Istanbul.
Qatar beginning to feel the pinch
Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/September 19/17
Measures taken by the four countries, which decided to confront Qatar, are
highly likely to succeed no matter how much Doha’s government resists. The
political meetings held in New York this week will shed light on the crisis and
its path. If Qatar accepts to make the required concessions, it will succeed in
ending all these pressures against it. However, if it seeks to compromise by
accepting some conditions and stalling others, the crisis will prolong till next
year. The entire world benefits from confronting Qatar. Qatar is a small country
with massive financial surpluses and a huge desire to create chaos in the region
and across the world, and it has actually caused a lot of destruction. The
Middle East has almost gotten rid of all regimes that fund and mobilize chaos,
except two, Qatar and Iran. By ending the Qatari role, problems will decrease
and religious extremist groups will lose power. Iran will thus be alone.
Qatar is a small country with massive financial surpluses and a huge desire to
create chaos in the region and across the world. Qatar has been responsible for
chaos, extremism and even partially terrorism, for over two decades. No one
confronted it at the beginning as they underestimated it and its influence. Its
role eventually grew and it began to fuel more crises and hid behind alliances.
The four boycotting countries that are capable of confronting it coming together
overturned the table and besieged Qatar itself.
Qatar is a dangerous country when not monitored. It has a surplus of oil and gas
revenues, which it can use to fund extremist organizations across the world and
work to topple regimes that oppose it. This makes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain
and the UAE adamant to end Qatar’s practices and confront its policies.
Significance and interests
Most countries which are asked to choose between the four boycotting countries
and Qatar choose the former considering their influence, significance and
interests. Prior to the meetings held on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly’s session, Qatar sought to convince superpowers to support it against
the four boycotting countries but it actually failed. Germany’s chancellor
advised Qatar’s Emir to negotiate with the four countries, i.e. he has to make
concessions. This week is decisive for the Qataris as they are trying to
convince the US to mediate again and seal an “appropriate” political deal with
the anti-terror quartet. Qatar’s command may not succeed due to what it did last
time when Trump mediated based on an initiative by Kuwait’s Emir. It was due to
Qatar’s Emir that these efforts failed less than an hour after the White House
announced its mediation.
Why does Qatar request mediations and then thwart them? It is because Qatar is
ruled by two men: Emir Tamim, who approves decisions but does not have the
authority to execute them, and his father, the former emir, and the latter’s
former foreign minister, who still controls state institutions.
If paving the way to reach a solution does not happen in these two weeks, the
crisis may prolong for a year or even two years, and as Saudi Foreign Minister
Adel al-Jubeir put it, the Arab quartet has nothing to lose from boycotting
Qatar.
Doha however has a lot to lose as it cannot live with all these pressures.
Although the country’s port and airport are open, Qatar’s authorities feel
suffocated due to this boycott. Pressures are not limited to closing the only
land border crossing with Saudi Arabia as Doha is also being pursued by regional
and international institutions. With the passage of time, the Qataris and
foreigners will begin to realize that if the crisis is not resolved soon, it
will prolong and weaken the state.