December 19, 2008

Lebanonwire

Lebanon Press Highlights

Washington neutral over Russia's 'MiGs' to Lebanon - link

Murr says Russian grant is unconditional

Two-session voting gave birth to half the Constitutional Council in Parliament

Suleiman: Competition required but variance paralyses country - Link

European project to resolve Palestinian issue keeps 50,000 of them in Lebanon - Link

Paris: Extending Hariri's probe mandate sets up conditions to move to court - Link

Three parliamentary sessions produce 8 laws, questioning without accountability, and elections of Constitutional Council members - Link

Berri to Siniora: He who doesn't protect his borders doesn't defend his capital, honor and dignity

Siniora's Response: All what donor countries gave was not enough, so we borrowed from the Central Bank because the Parliament was out of order

Profiles of the five new Constitutional Council members - Link

Torbey: Christian-Christian reconciliation a done deed - Link

Hale: We trust the Lebanese will choose independence-protecting leaders in free elections - Link

Shibani: We are ready to provide defense support in the framework of a cooperation protocol with Lebanon - Link

Carlos Edde: Aoun's visit to Syria was part of a policy aiming at transforming Christians into a religious minority in the region - Link

Qasem: Aoun's popularity among the Christians has increased - Link

From An-Nahar's diplomatic pouch - Link

Syrian Oficial: Aoun has repented and Assad trusts him

The general is strong in words, weak in action and unable to reassure the Christians

As-Safir

Washington upset with the Russian grant & Murr denies conditions - link

'Coup' against parliamentary consensus undermines Constitutional Council and government!

4 long parliamentary days begins with a luncheon between Berri and Siniora & ends with another - Link

Parliament elects 5 Constitutional Council members, bickers with government over compensations

Siniora presents financial reading affirming borrowing to satisfy demands - Links

Says demand exceeds potentials and I do not intend to levy new taxes

Suleiman: A strong state protects everyone with its unity, including the resistance - Link

Hale reiterates US support for 'a free and independent Lebanon' and for international resolutions - Link

Constitutional Council members - Link

Speech by Nasrallah, rallies in provinces in denouncement of Gaza siege - Link

Active forces to stage massive rallies today in solidarity with Gaza

Qassem: Fabricated political tension aims at improving elections conditions - Link

Ban Ki-moon to Siniora: Tribunal in March - Link

Abu Jmara decides to continue boycotting cabinet sessions - Link

Al-Mustaqbal

Siniora: Government is the one to bear responsibility for reconstruction after the July aggressions - Link

Parliament elects 5 Constitutional Council members 4 of them by majority

Hariri calls for government-parliament solidarity to resolve issue of relief and the displaced

Hale meets Suleiman in Baabda - link

Australian government confirms Kaldas will head probe in Hariri tribunal - Link

Murr: There are no political conditions in the MiG 29 grant - Link

Hale after meeting Chatah: Lebanon's independence is not subject to bartering - link

Justice and peace are March 14 option in 2009 and its elections - Nassir Al Asaad - link

Al-Akhbar

Eavesdropping center: High technical services that eliminates agencies' disorder - Link

Constitutional Council: Majority impairs agreement with Suleiman, sets confusion among the opposition

Saudi deposit: Siniora's scandal in the Parliament - Rasha Abu Zaki - Link

Akkar: The only confrontation between Aoun and Future - Ghassan Saoud - Link

Rebuke in Riyadh for not spending the donation and completing reconstruction in south - Ibrahim al Amine - Link

Murr sees Russian grant as a proof of non-subordination and Hezbollah welcomes  - Link