Patriarch begins pastoral trip to Europe
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir is to leave for Paris Thursday at the start of a European pastoral trip, during which he is due to hold talks with French President Jacques Chirac.
Sfeir is due to hold a meeting and have lunch with Chirac on Friday within the framework of a  seven day official visit to France during which he is expected to meet with the head of the French Senate, Christian Poncelet, the head of the National Assembly Jean-Marie Debre, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Minister of the Interior and Culture Nicolas Sarkozy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin, the Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, and  UNESCO’s director-general, Koichiro Matsuura.
On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Sfeir is to be the guest of honor at a dinner at the Quai D’Orsay.

Helou supporters pay tribute to runner-up
The Democratic Renewal Movement, which supported Henri Pierre Helou, the winner of Sunday’s Baabda-Aley by-election, paid tribute Tuesday to the runner-up, Hikmat Deeb, who acquired 25,291 votes.
In a statement, the movement slammed the government for bragging about observing neutrality in the elections. “It is as if the government was doing the public a favor by being neutral, completely disregarding the fact that it is the government’s duty to remain neutral,” the statement said.
It added that the government should show its neutrality “not in a by-election, but in a fully fledged election contest like the one due for 2005, in which candidates allied closely to the government take part.”

Trade relations with China touted as essential to future
The vice-president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Robert Debbas, stressed on Tuesday the importance of reinforcing the economic and commercial relations between Lebanon and China.
Speaking before an official delegation from the Chinese province of Jiangxu, led by Su Jenhu, who is the province’s deputy director-general for foreign affairs, Debbas said that Lebanon was looking forward to developing relations, particularly with Jiangxu, according to a statement released by the federation.
The statement said that the federation possessed centers specialized in economic studies, in addition to specialists who could provide the delegation with any required information.
Debbas added that the federation “seeks to coordinate and cooperate” with businessmen in both countries in order to encourage common investments to serve the economies of China and Lebanon.

Skaff promises to protect image of Lebanese industry
Industry Ministry Elias Skaff stressed on Tuesday that he would not allow “anyone to harm Lebanon’s image abroad through marketing Lebanese products” that do not meet required standards and qualifications.
Speaking at a ceremony to launch “Quality Club” at the headquarters of the Institute of Industrial Research, Skaff said quality was “the golden key” to market Lebanese products locally and internationally, adding that the priority was in protecting the Lebanese consumer.

ISF chief meets with Korean ambassador
The head of the Internal Security Forces, Brigadier General Marwan Zein, held talks Tuesday with South Korean Ambassador Young Sun Kim.
The talks, which took place at the ISF’s headquarters in Achrafieh, were aimed at facilitating mutual acquaintance and cooperation between Lebanon and South Korea, a statement by the ISF said.

Berri reiterates call for peace talks to resume
Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated his call Tuesday for resumption of peace talks on the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian peace tracks.
Speaking to reporters after conferring with the Vatican’s Foreign Minister Jean-Louis Tauran, he called on the UN to adopt a more significant role in Iraq.
He also praised Pope John Paul II’s stance on the issue of the conflict of civilizations.

Italian body donates computers to center in Marjayoun
The Observatory for Cultural and Audiovisual Communications (OCCAM) in Milan, Italy, has donated computers to Southern Lebanon, said a statement issued Tuesday by the UN Information Center.
OCCAM donated 10 computers to the ESCWA run computer center in Marjayoun, as part of its digital villages in South Lebanon project.

6 women to attend NGO leaders training program in US
The Lebanese Women’s Leadership Consortium, in cooperation with the US Embassy, announced Tuesday that it will select six women to participate in an 18 day training program in the US to strengthen NGOs here.
The Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development in Ohio will host the training in April-May, 2004.
The training will enhance the skills of female NGO leaders, including advocacy, management, grassroots support, volunteer recruitment, fundraising, financial management and media relations.
Women working at NGO’s in leadership positions, and woman leaders who are focusing on NGO development issues in academic institutions can apply to the program by Oct. 15.
Interested women can email inquiries to pas@inco.com.lb or Glc_NGOLebanon@hotmail.com.

Saydet Louaizeh School holds workshop
The Saydet Louaizeh School wrapped up a six-day workshop Tuesday, entitled The Institution Project.
The workshop, which started Monday, at the Saydet Louaizeh School in Faytroun, saw the participation of some 340 teachers, officials and representatives of the family committee.