Tunisia says 4 policemen killed in Al-Qaeda attack
Tunis, Feb 18, 2015 (AFP) - Four Tunisian police were killed early Wednesday in an attack by suspected Al-Qaeda-linked...
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Berri urges accord ahead of void in Cabinet
Berri urges accord ahead of void in Cabinet
Parties must reach an agreement on a formula to replace the current decision-making mechanism in order to allow for...
Geagea: Anti-terror strategy must be in state’s hand
BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea Wednesday agreed with Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah that Lebanon should develop a national strategy to fight terrorism, but stressed that the power of decision-making must be in the hands of the government.
"Nasrallah called for the establishment of a national strategy to counter terrorism, but it must include all parties and the [final] decision should be in the hands of the state,” Geagea told a news conference.
“This strategy should not mean that Hezbollah will take a decision and then all the Lebanese bear the consequences,” he added.
“Therefore, we hope to reach a national strategy that does not put us in another place."
Geagea said he agrees with Nasrallah that “terrorism” and “Israel” are Lebanon’s enemy, “but we disagree on who takes the decision to confront Israel, where? and how?”
Geagea also said preliminary talks between representatives of the Lebanese Forces and Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement have come a long way.
“There is progress, but we are still looking into the presidential issue and other issues, too,” he said. “We are now preparing the basic principles.”
"We are working to overcome all the obstacles that some are trying to create,” Geagea added. “And we will exert every effort to make this dialogue a success, but so far we have not reached a clear vision on the presidential election.”
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Sleiman’s term ended in May with lawmakers failing to elect a successor over lack of consensus.
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Lebanon to release FSA commander
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Salam, Bassil meet EU delegation over added assistance
BEIRUT: The European Union is seeking to increase political and financial support to Lebanon in an effort to preserve the country’s stability, an EU delegation told Prime Minister Tammam Salam Wednesday.
According to a statement released by the premier’s news office, Salam met Wednesday with EU Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst and a delegation from The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs commission at the Grand Serail.
Citing the threat of terrorism to Lebanon, the civil wars in Syria and Iraq, as well as the mass influx of refugees, Elmar Brok, Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, said “[The EU] must help Lebanon so its stability won’t be exposed to any turmoil.”
Brok said that the deterioration of Lebanese security would be “catastrophic” and vowed the EU's firm support to prevent such an occurrence.
Eichhorst and the EU delegation also met with Foreign Affairs Minister Gebran Bassil later Wednesday, according to a statement released by Bassil’s office.
After the meeting, Brok expressed European solidarity with Lebanon, saying that the EU would look in to the possibility of increasing financial assistance to Lebanon in light of the multiple challenges facing the country.
According to the statement, Wednesday’s meeting was a follow up to the EU-Lebanon Association Council meeting which was held in Brussels earlier this month.
During the Brussels meeting, Bassil and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini signed a special protocol that allows Lebanon to participate in EU programs restricted to member states.
It remains unclear what programs Lebanon would become a party to, but the general theme of the meeting revolved around security, political and economic ties between Lebanon and the EU.
Hariri, UN official discuss Lebanon, region
Hariri, UN official discuss Lebanon, region
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag to discuss the...
Tripoli salafi sheikh arrested after deportation from Turkey
Mufti backs south Lebanon stability
Marjayoun-Hasbaya Mufti Sheikh Hasan Dalla Wednesday urged U.N. peacekeepers and the Lebanese Army to boost efforts to...
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