The President of the Republic, Mr. Elias Al-Hrawi, received yesterday in Baabda the President and vice-president of the Parliament, Mr. Nabih Berreh and Mr. Elie El-Ferezli, besides the members of the new Parliament Bureau secretaries Camil Ziadeh and Ayman Chokeir, and representatives Jack Joekhadaryan, Abd Errahman Abd Errahman and Michel Moussa.
The Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir met yesterday with a German delegation, along with the director of Press and Audio-Visual Department in the Catholic Information Center, father Youssef Mowaness.
Sfeir declared that German people understands the Lebanese crisis, since there was war on their land as in Lebanon, and since both countries were once divided.
He added that Lebanon was occupied by foreign armies, and hoped that, while the Lebanese work to recover the total Lebanese sovereignty, the German government would support Lebanon in the international meetings.
Sfeir was then joined by deputy Chaker Abou Soleiman, who said after the meeting that the Maronite Patriarch was asking all officials to carry on thorough administration reforms. Abou Soleiman declared that everyone should work in the aim of a better situation, since it is a national task .
Bkerkeh was also visited by deputy Cheikh Elias-Khazen, who discussed with Cardinal Sfeir the construction of Highway A2, from Antelias to Tabarja, which causes heavy damages in Kesrouan region, and costs 240 million dollars, while another highway costs only 60 million dollars. Furthermore, people in the region are rejecting the project.
Today afternoon, the French President, Mr. Jack Chirac, will arrive to Beirut in a second visit within less than 6 months.
Mr. Chirac will hold in the evening a meeting with the President of the Republic, Mr. Elias Al-Hrawi. Tomorrow, he will meet with the President of Parliament, Mr. Nabil Berreh and the Prime Minister Mr. Rafiq Al-Hariri .
He will also run a dialogue with 150 university students, and have lunch with president Al-Hariri in the latter's own house.
On the other hand, the French Secretary of State, Mr. Herve Decharrette, will meet with the Maronite Patriarch, as well as with his Lebanese peer, Mr. Farez Bweiz.
Another meeting will be held between the French and Lebanese Ministers of Trade, Messrs Hyves Galand and Yassin Jaber.
During an interview with the French News Agency (A.F.P.), the Prime Minister Mr. Rafiq Al-Hariri said the French president visit to Lebanon is very important, since the European and French role in the region must complete the American one. Al-Hariri was shocked by the incident which occurred in Israel, between Mr. Chirac and the Israeli police forces.
The head of the High Islamic Shiite Council, Imam Mohdi Shams Eddine, along with his vice-president, Sheikh Abd El-Amir Qabalan, visited yesterday the substitute of the Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Mohammad Rachid Qablani, and discussed with him the media issue.
Shams Eddine declared the concluded agreement, concerning the religious media, did not work, for some communities would thus be deprived. He also announced a Christian-Islamic summit was being pondered over, and would be very possible. Qablani, on the other hand, reaffirmed that Friday sermons must always be broadcasted on the Lebanese radio station, and not exclusively on Lebanon radio, the religious programs department.
The head of the Drouz community, Sheikh Bahjat Ghayth said the last Cabinet decision was unjust because it ignored the community media rights, which caused anger among its members. Ghayth prompted officials to review the matter before it would be too late.
On the occasion of the French President visit to Lebanon , traffic measures were taken by the general department of the Lebanese police forces, and its as follows :
1-Thursday October 24th 1996, from 17:30 till 20:30, the following roads and places will be cut off : The Presidential Palace road, Assayad square, Chevrolet square, Furn Echeback, Sami Solh Boulevard, Attayouneh square, Chatila square, the Airport bridge and road.
2-Friday October 25th 1996
A-From 8:00 till 9:15 A.M. The Presidential Palace road, Assayad square, Chevrolet square, Furn Echeback, Al-Mathaf square, Damascus road till Sodico square.
B-From 10:15 till 11:00 A.M. the French cultural center, Sodico square, Gaumont Palace, Ryad Solh street, the parliament building.
C-From 10:30 till 11:40 A.M. the parliament building, Banks street, Ayn Mrayseh, Al-Manara Corniche, the Military Club, Nasr Restaurant, the embassy of Saudi Arabia, Qoraytem Palace.
D-From 12:30 till 13:35: Qoraytem- Bristol Hotel roads.
F-From 14:00 till 14:45: Bristol Hotel, Verdun street, Corniche Al-Mazraa, Al-Mathaf square, Al-Adlyeh square, Tahwita-Furn Echeback, Chevrolet square, Assayad square, Damascus road, the Ministry of Defense.
G-From 14:15 till 15:00: The Ministry of Defense building, Officers Club, The Presidential Palace.
H-From 14:30 till 16:25: The Presidential Palace, Assayad square, Chevrolet square, Furn Echeback, Sami Solh boulevard, Attayouneh Airport bridge and road.
3- Excluded are all vehicles of invited people, official diplomatic and press bodies, besides the police forces, who are entrusted with security.
The first day of these consultations gave a majority of voices to president Al-Hariri. Among 87 deputies consulted, 74 proposed president Rafiq Al-Hariri as the next prime Minister, while 13 deputies didn't nominate anyone. Three deputies were absent, Dr. Selim El-Hoss, who is in visit to Damascus where he will meet the Syrian President and vice-president , the other two were Messrs Omar Karameh and Najah Wakim.
The President of the Republic, Mr. Elias Al-Hrawi, started the consultations by receiving president Berreh. Then, president Al-Hariri arrived and joined them. Both Berreh and Al-Hariri didn't declare anything.
At 11:30 A.M. President Al-Hariri met with deputy Hossein El-Husseini, who said he proposed a rescue government, which would gain the people's trust before the parliament's confidence.
The next deputy consulted, vice president of the parliament, Mr. Elie El-Ferezli also nominated president Al-Hariri for the post of prime Minister, hoping the new government will fulfill its promises.
Afterwards, President Al-Hrawi consulted blocs of Liberation and Development, Beirut Decision and Armenian deputies, which all proposed president Al-Hariri.
Mr. Al-Hariri was also nominated by the Bloc of Northern Matn Deputies headed by Minister Michel El-Murr.
In the afternoon, the President of the Republic received the bloc of National Strife, Minister Walid Jounblat declared, on behalf of the bloc members, that the critical situation of the country required a general policy, and not a specific person. He added that he proposed a certain plan of action. As for deputy Zaher El-Khatib, member of the same bloc, he refused proposing president Al-Hariri.
Deputy Ghassan El-Achkar reaffirmed on behalf of the Nationalist Party Bloc, the nomination president Al-Hariri.
Al-Wahd Bloc also proposed president Rafiq Al-Hariri for the post of Prime Minister. Likewise did deputies Tammam Salam, Isam Fares, Mohammad Yousef Baydoun and Talal Irslan. The Bekaa deputies were consulted and proposed President Al-Hariri for the post.
Furthermore, deputies Basem Sabeh, Wajih El-Baarini, Saleh El-Khayr, Jihad Assamad, Talal El-Murrhbi, John Obeid and Mahmoud Awad nominated president Al-Hariri, and called for a national government, which would deal efficiently with social problems, and adopt an even strategy of development in all regions.
Finally, President Al-Hrawi met with the Bloc of Kesrouan Decision the.Minister of Foreign Affairs Fares Bweiz called for a prime Minister capable of handling the economy, while deputy Elias El-Kazen asked for a parliamentary government.
By the end of the third period matches of the Lebanese Football Series, Al-Ansar ranked first (with 9 points), Chabab Assahel second (9 points) , Al-Homentmen third ( 7points ), and Al-Homenmen fourth ( 7points ).
Yesterday 4 matches were held and these are the results.
1-Al-Homentmen v/s Al-Homenmen (3-3) (at Jamal Abd Ennaser stadium-Bekaa) .The goals were scored by Artan (21st minutes), Terou (30th minutes) and Wartan (70th minutes) for Al-Homentmen, and by Babkane (23rd minutes), Babkane (28th minutes) and Abd Ellatif El-Helou (68th minutes) for Al-Homenmen.
2- Al-Ansar v/s Al-Aka-Aley (3-0) (at Bourj Hammoud local stadium, goals by Peter (4th minutes), Peter (12th minutes), Selim Hamza (80th minutes).
3-Al-Hekmeh v/s Racing (2-2) (at Assafa stadium, Wata Mosaitbeh, goals by Hicham Ali (28th minutes), and Hicham Ali (66th minutes) . For the Racing and by Achoud (40th minutes) and Achoud (71th minutes) .
4-Al-Bourj v/s Annejmeh (1-1) (at Tripoli local stadium, goals by Ali Kazem (38th minutes) for Annejmeh and Malarbi (88th minutes) for Al-Bourj ) .
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