News from Beirut January 7  1997  .......

LEBANON-south monitoring committee

A  5 nations monitoring committee is to resume today its investigations over 4 complaints-two each by Lebanon and Israel. The committee has held  Jan 6 a  six hours meeting to investigate the claims and adjourned until today. A decision is expected today over the complaints.Lebanon provided  a video tape proving that the two attacks by Hizbullah were launched from uninhabited areas but Israeli team did not regard it.  Lebanon complaints center on Israeli shelling of the village of  Baraachit where two civilians were killed on Dec 19 and Israeli air raid on Jan 3 at the Loueize village.

In Jerusalem, the Israeli prime minister received the commander of the Israeli backed SLA militia Antoine Lahd. Mr Netanyahu vowed Israeli will stand by its allies in times of war or peace. He said ''under any concept of peace, we will take a special care to protect the interests of our allies in south Lebanon''.

In Beirut president Hrawi, at a traditional reception held each new year to diplomatic corp at Baabda palace, president Hrawi said neither Israeli  raids in South nor the assault at the vehicle at Tabarja or any other attempt to destabilise security will shake the stability we have restored.

He also said the all over and just peace we have chosen with Syria is our option and who wants such peace we ready for but who seeks capitulation he will not find. He added that Lebanon will not be the victim of peace because the peace of the region is from the peace of Lebanon.

P.Hrawi called the USA to lift travel ban in order to embody its auspices to the conference of Lebanon's friends adding that Lebanon deserves every support to its development plan from each brother and friend. The Papal Nuncio hoped that the regional changes will not disturb efforts exerted aiming at rebuilding Lebanon so that an all over, just and serious peace could be reached. He hoped the promised financing to Lebanon at Washington conference to allow reconstruction and development of Lebanon in a balanced way and rebuild Lebanon external aspect, but Lebanon should remain itself in its core and distinguished values of freedom, independence and cultural international openness.

The US embassy charge d'affaires in Lebanon said the lift of travel ban is under study in Washington and a decision is expected by secretary of state Warren Christopher before he leaves office by 20th Jan.

Lebanon-council of ministers meeting and agenda

Lebanon council of ministers is scheduled to meet Jan 8 with 46 topics on agenda namely a draft bill to amend labor law,another bill aims at creating special financial resources to the displaced fund. Other topics include;

• Lebanon to join the agreement over protecting nuclear substances
• Organising the profession of marketing agricultural products.
• Agreement to protect and encourage mutual investments in Lebanon and Spain.
• Modifying employment conditions at the Ministry of  Tourism.
• Application of social security provision over hospitalization abroad.
• Definition of the construction and development council organizational structure.
• Transfer of an allocation from CDR to P.T.T.
• Allow the American life insurance to posses real estate property in Lebanon.
• To see to foreign ministry request to host in Lebanon the 19th session of   ESCWA.
• Foreign ministry request to attend a conference on small lendings to be held in Washington.
• Attendance of some engineers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment a seminar on the safe use of fertilizers to be held in Cairo.
• Acceptance of humanitarian aids extended by the French embassy in Lebanon.
• Exempting food stuffs extended to high relief committee from customs.
• Imports of ammunition and arms by private company and the Interior Ministry opinion regarding license.
• Appointment of a physician and policemen by Burj Hammoud municipality.
• Defense ministry request to grant financial assistance to some families of the army martyrs.
• The dispatch of Education Ministry envoy to Cairo to attend childhood seminar in Cairo.
• Dispatch an education ministry envoy to Camerone-Africa to attend Francofone sport plays conference.
• Participation of some engineers of the electricity administration in a seminar in Tunisia.
• P.T.T request to dispatch employees to attend several conferences abroad.

Lebanon-speaker's prospects of l997

Lebanon speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, speaking Jan 6 to press reporters, said the l997 will not be a year of peace and not a year of political and security pressures. He pointed out that Israeli prime minister Netanyahu wants to make Hebron the ''last Hebron''. He revealed that Egyptian president Husni Mubarak told him Israeli former prime minister Rabin was ready to give up Golan to Syria but expected latter to trade that in normalization.

Lebanon-journalist Attallah released

Pierre Atallah, 35 years old sub editor of An Nahar who was detained with many others earlier, has been released Jan 6 on bail by investigating judge. Atallah ended a 3 weeks detention but his case is far from over and he may be summoned in coming weeks for further interrogations and a decision has not been made to stand or not for trial.

Miscellaneous :

• The new law under which election of the municipal councils will take place is to increase total number of the councils from 600 to over 1500 all over Lebanon. The law will transform each QADAA into a governorate in a bid to ease reform of administration.
• Lebanon press association says it is not difficult to conciliate requirements of security with the freedom and human rights.
• A large luxurious complex is to be opened in Beirut today including some 16 thousands m2 with 165 shops, 4 cinemas, chains of restaurants and amusement centers. Cost of the complex mall is millions of US dollars and owned  by the families of Mansour and Khanafer. The complex name is Concorde square.
• Byblos private bank is First such bank to be on Beirut stock exchange .
• Following a 102 million USdollar project to enlarge Beirut seaport and another project costing 30 million USdollar to Sidon port, now more money will be spend on the ports of  Tripoli and Tyre. The argument is whether Lebanon's shore can tolerate such ports namely in view of the pending peace process.
• Solidere and Lebanese bank of commerce shares are up at Beirut exchange market.
• Free trade zone in Beirut reopened after 22 years war induced closure.
• Minister of economy held meetings to ensure enough supplies during the month of Ramadan.
• Beirut stock exchange market, reopened Jan 1996 following 13 years of closure, ended the year with 31838 traded shares compared to 27100 at the opening.
• Finance minister is affirmative that no expenditure will be decided unless equivalent revenue is possible and available.
• Economy minister says there will be reduction of prices and discounts during Ramadan and ministry is supervising prices and markets.
• Lebanon private banks altogether employ total of 14282 who represent 2 percent  of  Lebanon labor power. Their total yearly salaries amount up to 196 billion L.L and monthly average salary of 860 thousand L.L. Out of total employees there are 36 percent below age of 40 years, 38 percent are females.
• Former member of parliament Fuad Saad says central government put hands on money belongs to municipalities and transform it into treasury bonds and pays no interest on the amounts. Mr Saad described the government action as piracy.

Sports

Algerian national soccer team is due to arrive Jan 8 to Beirut to play with its counterpart Lebanon national team.

3 games are scheduled for today in the 20th phase of Lebanon football tournament.The games are between Hikme and Homentment, Shabab Sahel-Homenmen, and Akhaa-Tadamoun.

Back to Lebanon.com Local News Wire