Vatican envoy ends follow-up visit to Bkirki
The secretary-general of the Vatican Council on Thursday concluded a two-day visit to Bkirki, where he evaluated the achievements of the Synod Follow-up Committee in Lebanon.
Cardinal Jean Paul Scott’s visit aimed to follow up on the application of the “Apostolic Exhortation” since it was presented to Lebanon by Pope John Paul II, during his visit to the country in 1997.
The cardinal told reporters that the committee made “good progress” in the application of the Apostolic Exhortation.
“However, you know that time to achieve results was difficult to measure … and can only be perceived through actions and cooperation between the (six) churches (in Lebanon).”
Sfeir thanked Scott for his visit to provide help in the application of the exhortation, adding that Lebanon’s achievements would be sent soon to Catholic Bishop Councils in the world to inform them about the Church’s activities here.

Palestinian Islamist sentenced to death for Sidon murder
The Beirut Criminal Court Thursday sentenced the Palestinian leader of the Islamic group Esbat al-Ansar to death in absentia on charges of inciting a homicide.
Ahmad Abdel-Karim Saadi, known as Abu Mohjen, was convicted of inciting his followers to kill Mohammed Nemr Sonallah in Sidon in 1994. The killing stemmed from political rivalries between the group called Esbat al-Ansar, which is headed by Abu Mohjen, and the Al-Ahbash organization, to which the dead man belonged.
Abu Mohjen is presumed to be hiding in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp.
The same court, headed by Magistrate George Ghantous, convicted Palestinians Mohammed Hussein Mustafa, 41, and Abdullah Salem Daher, 35, of deliberately murdering Sonallah. Both men are still at large.
“This is not the first death sentence delivered in absentia against Abu Mohjen for crimes ranging from homicides to committing terrorist acts,” judicial sources stated.

Group demands action over illegal dumping
The Byblos Ecologia Association for Environment and Development urged the Mount Lebanon prosecutor to speed up investigations into the dumping of industrial wastes in Bshelleh.
In a letter forwarded Thursday to Chief Public Prosecutor Jean Fahd, the association called for help from the authorities to continue their investigations concerning the illegal dumping, and to fine perpetrators, once identified, in compliance with the law.
The letter indicated that environmental crimes were not of lesser importance than other crimes, because they inflict damage on “a whole group, not an individual.”
The association said it depended on the integrity of the judiciary to bring to justice those who inflict harm on the health of the public, pollute ground water and spread toxins in the forests and villages.

First lady makes visits to historic convent
First lady Andree Lahoud on Thursday toured the historic site of Deir al-Qalaa, established in the first century AD in the Beit Mery area, with the director-general of antiquities, Frederic Husseini.
Husseini briefed Lahoud on efforts by the Directorate-General of Antiquities in cooperation with the convent of the Maronite Antonine Order to restore the convent and re-open it.
The first lady was also informed about current research on preserving the remaining ruins as a national treasure and important tourist attraction. Several personalities accompanied Lahoud on her visit including Father Roland Mrad, head of the Deir al-Qalaa convent, and Beit Mery Mayor Antoine Assaf.
Lahoud thanked all concerned parties for their efforts to restore Deir al-Qalaa to its former position as an important historic site.

Khomeini’s daughter pays visit to Khiam On her first official visit
to Lebanon since the liberation of the South, the daughter of Iran’s late Ayatollah Khomeini went to the South on Thursday to pay a visit to the notorious Khiam detention center.
Zahraa Mustafawi was accompanied by a delegation of prominent personalities including the Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Ali Sobhani.
Mustafawi was shown a documentary about the prison, which included the methods of torture used by Israeli guards against detainees, as well as the day the prisoners were liberated, May 25, 2000.
Mustafawi questioned whether the word “terrorist” was being applied to the right individuals or countries and urged the “free world” to defend the intifada and to boycott American and Israeli goods.
Mustafawi then toured the prison cells, before heading toward Fatima Gate, where the delegation observed a large number of Israeli soldiers and several armored vehicles on the other side of the border.

Germany invites prison officials for penitentiary tour
Five officials from the Lebanese prison administration have been invited to the Ministry of Justice in the German state of Saxony for a visit “within the framework of cooperation in the penitentiary field,” according to the German Embassy.
An embassy statement, issued Thursday, added that the delegation will meet with officers, psychologists and social workers “on various topics of the German penitentiary system.”
Additionally, the Lebanese officials will have the opportunity to visit pretrial detention and detention centers in Leipzig and Dresden.”
The invitation comes as a response to a visit by Harald Preusker, head of the prisons department of the Saxony Ministry of Justice, to Roumieh prison last December.
During his stay, Preusker participated in a workshop organized by the Lebanese prison administration in collaboration with the Goethe Institute and the German Embassy.

Lahoud emphasizes ‘united stand and national determination’
President Emile Lahoud said Thursday that a “united stand and national determination” were required to face the challenges confronting the country.
Lahoud told an army delegation that thanks to such a stand, the people had succeeded in liberating most of their occupied territory and were now looking forward confidently to recovering the Shebaa Farms.

PM moves to keep nepotism out of cellular process
Premier Rafik Hariri has proposed adding an article to the law relating to cellular phone licensing for presentation at a parliamentary session next Tuesday.
The article, which was distributed by Hariri to ministers prior to Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, bans members of the executive authorities, including members and employees of the Higher Privatization Council or working for it, as well as anyone involved in decision-making in privatization operations, from having any link whatsoever with the private firms taking part in the related bids or auctions for the licenses.
The ban applies to spouses and relatives up to the fourth degree and continues for two years after termination of an official’s duties.
Parliaments’ Joint Committees endorsed the draft law on privatizating the cellular sector earlier this week.

Berri sees Israeli hand in recent assassinations
Speaker Nabih Berri said Thursday that recent security breaches here were an attempt to “subjugate” both Lebanon and Syria, but added that people would “continue to confront such plots.”
Addressing a Red Cross delegation which visited him at his residence, Berri said: “The Israeli enemy will not leave us alone and continues to target us. But we are in a better security situation than previously, despite what happened.”
Berri was referring to the killing of a pro-Lebanese Forces engineer, Ramzi Irani, and a Palestinian militant leader, Jihad Jibril.

Hizbullah targeted in French court case
The widow of Michel Seurat, a French hostage who died in captivity in Lebanon, has been quoted as saying the target of a court case launched in France was Hizbullah.
“We will track down Hizbullah” and take them to the new international court in The Hague if necessary, Marie Seurat told L’Orient-Le Jour in an interview published Thursday.
On Wednesday, Seurat and five former hostages held in Lebanon in the 1980s lodged the case against unnamed defendants in Paris for kidnapping and unlawful detention. ­ AFP

Husseini reiterates opposition to exploitative privatization
Baalbek-Hermel MP Hussein Husseini on Thursday reiterated his rejection of privatization that exploits the country’s resources, particularly that of the cellular phone sector.
The comments during a meeting with President Emile Lahoud during which Husseini congratulated the head of state on the second anniversary of liberation and paid tribute to Lahoud’s “distinguished role in realizing this great national achievement.”
On Wednesday Husseini walked out of a meeting of Parliament’s Joint Committees, which ratified a draft bill authorizing the government to auction two licenses for the country’s cellular network to private investors. Husseini complained that the proceedings were unconstitutional because Parliament was conceding its powers to the government.

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