April 22, 2005

AL-HARIRI FAMILY CHOOSES RAFIQ AL-HARIRI'S SON SAAD TO ASSUME HIS FATHER'S POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND HIS WIFE TO BE IN CHARGE OF THE SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH WERE SPONSORED BY LEBANON'S MARTYR. MIQATI FORMS THE NEW LEBANESE GOVERNMENT INCLUDING 14 MINISTERS AND CONFIRM CHANGES IN THE SECURITY AUTHORITIES AND HIS INSISTANCE TO UNVEIL THE TRUTH ABOUT AL-HARIRI'S KILLING. THE PRIME MINISTER PAYS A VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA. UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS A MUCH-AWAITED REPORT ON SYRIA'S WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON IS NOT FINISHED AND WOULD BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK. At the closure of the condolences for the martyrdom of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and his companions, the family of the late Leader held a meeting headed by his spouse Mrs. Nazek Rafiq Hariri and attended by his children Bahaa, Saad, Ayman, Fahd, Hind, Oday and Joumana. The family issued the following statement: In the Name of Allah, The Almighty, The Merciful Dear Lebanese people, People of fidelity, steadfastness and dignity, Recently, the Lebanese people, from all affiliations and categories, were receiving condolences after the painful tragedy that shook Lebanon and the Arab nation with the passing of the nation's martyr Rafiq Hariri. The late Martyr's beloved capital, Beirut, the precious Lebanese regions and the brotherly and friendly countries mourned a unique person, who spent his life serving his fellow citizens, his nation and humanity. Today, it is high time to draw will, determination, strength and unity from the deep suffering engulfing the nation in order to announce the resumption of Martyr Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri's drive towards its national and human goals. It is also time to work in order to underline his revival project, stressing Lebanon's Arabism, independence, sovereignty, freedom, prosperity and democratic system. Today, we appeal to the soul of our Great Martyr, with all the faith, courage and patience, Allah placed in us, quoting the verse "O (thou) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back thou to thy Lord,-well pleased (thyself), and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter thou, then, among My devotees! Yea, enter thou My Heaven!" In parallel, we bring to the mind of all those who participated, plotted or perpetrated the terrorist crime, the words of our Prophet, Peace be upon him, saying that should the whole world vanish is easier for Allah than an unfair bloodshed. It is an opportunity to say to those criminal killers that Lebanon will not die by a murder that targeted Rafiq Hariri's life. Conversely, Lebanon stood up to face this crime with an unprecedented national unity. The Lebanese people arose to be on a par with the nation and the Great Martyr. Time has come to implement the State of Law. Let it be known that "the State of evil lasts for only an hour, while the State of Law lasts forever". Since we are from Lebanon and to all Lebanon; from the capital to the North, South, Mount Lebanon and Bekaa, we stress that we will be on the footsteps of Rafiq Hariri. We will solely adopt his beliefs, disregarding any sectarian, confessional or regional considerations in our human or political work. We will draw from our nation the values our late Martyr implanted in his family and beloved ones. Hence, the family of Martyr Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri unanimously decided the following: "First, Mrs. Nazek Rafiq Hariri, will be in charge of the supervision and management of all charitable and social institutions sponsored by Lebanon's Martyr, drawing assistance from Allah, as well as from every honest Lebanese citizen, with an unwavering steadfastness. She will refer to the values, principles and morals stemming from the charitable and social work implanted by Lebanon's Martyr, late Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Second, Mr. Saad Rafiq Hariri will assume the historic responsibility and leadership of all national and political affairs, in order to resume the national reconstruction drive at all levels. He will take into account Lebanon's dignity, independence and national unity, which Lebanon, the Arab nation and the international community's Martyr Rafiq Hariri called and died for. Third, all family members of the late Martyr call upon the larger family of Rafiq Hariri, the proud Lebanese people, to assist and support the guardian mother Nazek Hariri and the cherished son and brother Saad Rafiq Hariri in assuming the major responsibility of fulfilling their human, national and political duties. The family of the late Martyr expresses its appreciation, affection and gratitude to every Lebanese citizen who raised the flag of freedom, in fidelity to the soul of Rafiq Hariri. The family stresses its determination to resume the path and calls to continue working together in order to revive the dream of a beloved and glimmering Arab and democratic Lebanon. We express our thanks to all the Lebanese, to the honorable Arab brothers, namely the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to the friends worldwide, chiefly France, who constantly stood by our side. We pledge to remain loyal to the soul of the Great Martyr, his belief, dream and will." Saadeddine Hariri, the son of late former Premier Rafiq Hariri, looks set to follow in his father's footsteps, rising from successful businessman to what many expect to be an accomplished politician. Hariri's family announced that Saad would be taking on his father's political role and is expected to run in May's parliamentary elections. Saad is the general manager of Saudi Oger, the late Hariri's construction company that has a turnover of over $2 billion and employs some 35,000 people. He was the managing director of the company from 1994 until 1998. In this capacity he manages one of the largest companies in the Middle East, which is involved in building projects in Saudi Arabia, as well as other parts of the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the United States. In addition to heading Saudi Oger, Hariri is also the chairman of Omnia holdings, and board member of Oger international, Enterprise de Travaux Internationaux, Saudi Investment Bank, Saudi Research and Marketing Group and Future Television. Hariri is a graduate of Georgetown University Washington D.C. with a bachelor degree in international business. He was born in April 1970 and is married to Lara al-Azem and has two children, Hussameddine, 6, and Lulua, 3. The late leader's sister, Sidon MP Bahia Hariri, and her brother Shafiq said they "had all the faith in Saad and his ability to continue in his father's path," calling on the Lebanese to "unite around the family to help them fulfill their responsibilities." Bahia Hariri became the political voice of the family and rallied hundreds of thousands of Lebanese around her calls for national unity in the face of the political crisis triggered by the assassination. Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Margherita Boniver was in Beirut on 11 and 12 April, where she met with Bahia Hariri, sister of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Undersecretary Boniver met also with the leaders of the Lebanese Council of Women in order to discuss more effective forms of collaboration. In a statement at the end of the visit Boniver announced that the aim of her visit was to stress the support of the Italian government not only to the family of the late prime minister Rafiq Al-Hairir but also to the Lebanese people. In her statement she praised the late Prime Minister. On the other hand Prime Minister Nagib Miqati formed a new unity government to take troubled Lebanon towards May elections and establish a "new beginning" after two months of deep political crisis. Miqati said the government contained representatives of various sides from Lebanon's religious and political groups, and comprised 14 mainly technocratic members, down from 30 ministers in the previous government. The government, which received the cautious approval of the opposition, was made-up of mostly new faces, with eight backed by pro-Syrian loyalists and five closer to the opposition. Miqati, a telecommunications tycoon close to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was named after vowing to fulfil opposition demands for holding timely legislative elections and sacking security officials and the public prosecutor following the February assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri. MP Ghinwa Jalloul, from the Hariri block, said the new government included "provocative" members, in an apparent reference to Foreign Minister Mahmud Hammud who has been accused of obstructing the inquiry into Hariri's killing. "But we want to be positive ... we want to give a second chance," she said. After a meeting with President Emile Lahoud and Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, Miqati said the new cabinet "groups all Lebanese factions." "It has the balance requested at this moment... as it will be a short-lived government to hold elections ... if possible within the constitutional deadline" expiring at the end of May. Miqati said the new cabinet was a "qualitative leap ... an establishment of a new beginning" to hold the elections after which "a government of national unity that groups everybody will see the light." He said the first cabinet session will be held later Tuesday to form the commission due to draft the ministerial declaration which will be "ready at the begining of next week for parliament approval." In the new line-up, the outgoing foreign minister, kept his portfolio, while his son-in-law, former minister Elias Murr, was granted the defense ministry. The new interior minister is Hassan Sabaa, a senior general security officer close to the opposition and who will be in charge of running the upcoming elections. Among ministers close to opposition circles was Culture and Education minister Ghassan Salameh, who had occupied the same position under Hariri's premiership in 2000 before a short-lived consultancy job with the UN in Iraq. Opposition and Syrian loyalist MPs, each with their own agenda, had joined forces to facilitate Miqati's task in forming the government, helping to end to Lebanon's worst political crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. Tensions in Lebanon have been acute since Hariri's murder on February 14 in a massive Beirut bomb blast, which prompted unprecedented street protests and forced Syria to end its military presence in the country. International pressure for elections to be held on time has increased this month, with the French foreign ministry saying holding elections would be the new government's "first task". Miqati has said the new government would also focus on "meeting the economic challenges in the country and protecting monetary stability" in a country with debt of 34 billion dollars. Meanwhile, the top Syrian military official in Lebanon, Brigadier General Rustom Ghazaleh, visited Lebanese leaders on an official farewell tour. Ghazaleh's visit comes ahead of an April 26 farewell ceremony for Syrian troops which served in Lebanon in the last 29 years. It will be held at the Riyad air base in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley. Syria still needs to pull out its remaining 1,500 troops from Lebanon under a pledge to complete its withdrawal by the end of the month, under pressure from the United Nations, the United States and France. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the death of ex-Lebanese minister Bassel Fleihan from wounds sustained in the Hariri blast "makes us more determined than ever to help the Lebanese people run their own affairs." "Free and fair democratic elections on time would help honor his memory," Boucher said. The United Nations has launched an international commission of inquiry into Hariri's assassination after a UN fact-finding mission found serious shortcomings in Lebanon's own investigation. Officials expected that UN chief Kofi Annan would delay by a week the progress report he was due to present on Tuesday on Syria's implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 which calls for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon. The line-up of the new 14-member Lebanese cabinet formed Tuesday by prime minister-designate Nagib Miqati, is as follows: - Prime Minister: Nagib Miqati (Sunni Muslim, new) - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense: Elias Murr (Greek Orthodox, new) - Foreign Minister: Mahmud Hammud (Shiite, unchanged) - Interior Minister: Hassan Sabaa (Sunni, new) - Finance, economy and trade: Demianos Qattar (Maronite, new) - Culture, Education Minister: Ghassan Salameh (Greek Catholic, new) - Public Works, Transport and Refugees: Adel Hamiyeh (Druze, new) - Health, Social Affairs Minister: Mohammad Khalifeh (Shiite, unchanged) - Telecommunication, sports and youth minister: Alain Taburian (Armenian, state minister in previous government) - Justice Minister: Khaled Qabbani (Sunni, new) - Industry and Energy Minister: Bassam Yammin (Maronite, new) - Information, Tourism Minister: Charles Rizk (Maronite, new) - Environment, Administrative Development: Tareq Mitri (Greek Orthodox, new) - Labour, Agriculture Minister: Trad Hamadeh (Shiite, new) Lebanese President Emile Lahoud set the newly formed Cabinet's priorities as exposing the truth behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri with "full cooperation with an international investigation commission," speeding up the release of an electoral law, holding parliamentary elections on time and reviving the Lebanese economy. The president officially welcomed the newly formed Cabinet Wednesday, wishing them success in their efforts. Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati convened his Cabinet's first meeting y, with one minister absent. Incoming Education and Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh has yet to return to the country after his appointment. Lahoud asked the Cabinet to observe a minute of silence before beginning the session in memory of former ministers Ali Khalil, Nasri Maalouf and Bassil Fleihan, who have all passed away in the past months. Miqati thanked Lahoud for his trust in the new government, saying: "The delicate situation requires that we work swiftly." The Cabinet then formed the committee charged with writing the body's policy statement that will be presented to Parliament next week. After discussions on the statement, Parliament will hold a vote of confidence on the new Cabinet. The committee held its first meeting to draft the statement immediately following the Cabinet session. The Cabinet will to convene again Friday morning to discuss the policy statement. Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt's Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc discussed the Cabinet and stressed holding the elections as a priority, said sources of participants in the Mukhtara meeting. The bloc will wait for the policy statement's endorsement to take the appropriate stand, the sources said, adding that it will also monitor how much the government cooperates with the international investigation committee. Jumblatt and participants in the meeting refused to make any comment. After the meetings, Miqati boarded a plane for Medina, Saudi Arabia, where he prayed at the Prophet's Mosque. He was received at Prince Mohammed Ibn Abdul Aziz airport by the Governor of Al Madinah Al Munawarrah Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz and a number of high-ranking officials. Miqati began his first day as prime minister at the Grand Serail, where he was saluted by the Serail's Guards far from the eyes and cameras of the media. Speaking after meeting with several ministers, Miqati said he reminded them to tend to people's daily problems, even if elections are the main issue now. Following the meetings, Miqati made comments aimed at various segments of society. Addressing the nation's youth, he said: "Your concerns, aspirations and all they think about are in our mind and we follow up on those issues with the ministers." Speaking to the country's finance and business leaders, Miqati said: "Lebanon is the natural center for economic revival and the government will accompany economic growth." He also urged the media to be optimistic and see the glass as half-full "because we will fill it together." Former Justice Minister Adnan Addoum returned to his post as state prosecutor Wednesday, some five months after being appointed minister. New Justice Minister Qabbani is expected to take over Addoum's ministerial position Friday. The opposition had urged Miqati to dismiss Addoum from his post as state prosecutor, in addition to the country's security chiefs, after Hariri's assassination. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Miqati said one of the of the new government's priorities is maintaining the national principles, on top of which cementing relations with Syria. In a statement following the announcement of the new government on Tuesday, Miqati said "The government will work on boosting the national unity, solving main problems, protecting resistance and confirming the national principles built on al-Taif Accord." He added that his government will hold elections as soon as possible and cooperate with the International Committee investigating in the assassination of Former Premier Rafiq al-Hariri. On the other hand President Bush said the United States expects Syrian troops and intelligence services to be "completely out" of Lebanon before that country's parliamentary elections. He added that the international community will want to help Lebanon build its economy and democracy following the end of occupation. Speaking to the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation April 18, Bush said he is pleased that Syrian troops are beginning to leave Lebanon. The president said the United States expects Syria "to be completely out" to allow the Lebanese people to vote in free parliamentary elections. Bush said the elections should be held "as scheduled" before the end of May, and "need to be free and fair, without interference." He added that he hopes international election monitors will be used to help the Lebanese people "feel comfortable about going out and voting and expressing their opinion." The president said the United States and Europe want to work closely with international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank "to help this country get back on its feet after occupation; help this new democracy succeed." Bush added, "there will be plenty of help" and that people "no matter what their politics may be, really want Lebanon to succeed." The president said many Lebanese Americans have been calling upon him to work for a free Lebanon, and added, "If the spirit of those Lebanese Americans is strong here, imagine what the spirit will be of their relatives and friends in Beirut." When asked about U.S.-Syrian relations, Bush responded that for the relationship to improve Syria must end the smuggling of money, people and arms into Iraq; completely withdraw from Lebanon; and make sure the Lebanese group Hezbollah is no longer receiving support from Syria. "We put Hezbollah on the terrorist list for a reason: they've killed Americans in the past," Bush said. He also said Lebanon cannot be a free country if there is a group in the country "like an armed militia." "In other words, there needs to be police organized by the state, a military organized by the state," Bush said. Asked about the prospects of renewed peace talks between Syria and Israel, Bush said both countries have "a lot of obligations" they must currently attend to. Syria must leave Lebanon and prevent people on its territory from inciting violence in Iraq, while Israel has obligations to fulfill under the road map, as well as its planned withdrawal from Gaza, Bush said. The road map toward a permanent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict specifies the steps for the two parties to take to reach a settlement, and a timeline for doing so, under the auspices of the Quartet -- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. At the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said a much-awaited report on Syria's pledged withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon was not finished and would be released next week. "First of all, the report is not ready and besides, we are waiting on developments in the region, both in Lebanon and Syria," he told reporters. "I'll be able to give a fuller report to the Security Council in a couple of days or a week," he said, adding it was now likely to be released on April 26. Tuesday had been the original release date. A council diplomat who asked not to be named said Syria had asked for a delay until it had pulled all its forces out of the country, but that UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen had declined the request. "They would've liked it to conclude there are no Syrian troops in Lebanon. But he said, 'I'm not going to wait because then he could keep delaying it,'" the diplomat said. Resolution 1559, pushed by France and the United States and adopted by the Security Council last year, called on Syria to pull its forces out of its smaller neighbour. Roed-Larsen is tasked with verifying the pullout.