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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Hizbullah: Feltman, Kouchner Informed Lebanese Officials that Israel is Serious in its Threats

2010-11-16

[An Nahar] Hizbullah MP Kamel al-Rifai stated that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, and U.S. Senator John I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry ... the Senate's current foreign policy expert, filling the empty broghans of Joe Biden... had informed Lebanese officials during their recent visits to Leb that Israel is serious in its threats against the country. He told the daily Asharq al-Awsat Monday that the latest information indicates that the American administration gave Israel the green light to do as it pleases in Leb, adding that Kerry sent this message to the Syrian leadership. The MP interpreted this as a sign of a U.S. agenda against the resistance in Leb and Paleostine to be executed through Israel. "The Resistance will not grant Israel an excuse to launch an offensive, even though it does not need justifications for its wars," Rifai added.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Hariri Won't Attend Session that'd Witness a Vote in Favor of March 8, Report

2010-11-10

[An Nahar] The cabinet session tomorrow will possibly determine the path of the ongoing conflict between the parliamentary majority and minority on the one side, and between the Syrian-Iranian axis and the American-Arab axis on the other, according to Western diplomatic sources. The sources told the Central News Agency that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's description of the situation in Leb as "extremely dangerous" is accurate, noting that "nobody knows if there will be security risks or political risks." "There is a camp that cannot stand waiting anymore that is facing another camp that has no alternative but to wait", sources added. On the other hand, as majority sources did not rule out that the recent visits to Leb by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and U.S. Senator John I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry would represent an issue of debate in Cabinet and regarding the false witnesses issue, they noted that the Opposition believes that "these two visits have put Leb back, even in theory, in the international sphere." These sources added that the Opposition saw in these visits a defusing of the momentum created by Iran's diminutive President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad's landmark visit to Beirut and the visits of some Lebanese officials to Damascus. In this context, Grand Serail sources denied a circulated scenario of a possible postponement of Wednesday's cabinet session, stressing that "all things are subject to developments and change." The sources stressed that Premier Saad Hariri will not attend a session that would witness a vote in favor of the March 8 forces. "There is a tendency to hold the meeting without resorting to a vote," Opposition sources told the agency, pointing out that "the Opposition does not mind referring the issue of false witnesses to ordinary courts if it could not be referred to the Judicial Council."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Geagea: If We Had to Choose between Government, STL, It'd Be Better to Have No Government

2010-11-09

If we had to choose between the government and the Special Tribunal for Leb, then it would be better to have no government, and let no one think that we can be blackmailed, Lebanese Forces A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb... leader Samir Geagea ... Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense ... announced Monday. "Let them refrain from using the provocative approach with us," Geagea added. In a chat with news hounds, Geagea reminded that "the popular majority, using the Taef Accord's logic, was with us (March 14 Those are the good guys, insofar as Leb has good guys... forces), and we gained the majority in Parliament, and we're not willing to speak contrary to this logic." "Any mulling of a new Taef must be collectively made by all Lebanese parties, and I don't believe that any party is willing to raise a new problem by reconsidering the basis of the Lebanese regime," Geagea added. As the LF leader said that a major maneuver was taking place "in a bid to refer the case of martyr premier Rafik Hariri and all martyrs once again to the Lebanese Judiciary," ... whose judges are more susceptible to control and intimidation... he reminisced that "the Lebanese had exerted their utmost efforts in order to establish the STL and fulfill justice." Commenting on Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem's ... Grand Vizier of the Hezbullies... latest remarks that the March 8 camp ... the opposition to the Mar. 14th movement, consisting of Hezbullies and its allies, so-called in commoration of their Mar. 8th, 2006 demonstration of strength in Beirut ... has the popular majority, Geagea called on the top Hizbullah official to "re-examine the results of the 2009 parliamentary elections." As to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner recent remarks about a "new Taef Accord," Geagea said: "Minister Kouchner did not raise anything in this regard during our meeting." Answering a question about "STL's politicization, especially after U.S. official John I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry said that the indictment will not accuse a community or a party, but rather individuals," Geagea reminisced STL Prosecutor Danielle Bellemare's remarks, "which all were in that vein." He noted that some Western officials were only echoing what Bellemare has personally revealed. As to a potential strife in the Christian arena after Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji vowed to confront any possible discord, Geagea ruled out any potential strife, "neither in the Christian arena, nor in the national arena given the State's stance in this regard." Also Monday, Geagea held talks in Maarab with Saudi Ambassador to Leb Ali Awadh Assiri, who described the Lebanese as "intelligent." "It is impossible that they don't reach what benefits this country," Assiri added. The ambassador conveyed the hopes of King of the Arabians Abdullah to "see all political forces sitting at one table, because a Lebanese solution is what will remain and last, rather than a solution imported or imposed on the Lebanese." Asked about the meeting that gathered him to the ambassadors of Iran and Syria, Assiri said: "A friendly relation connects us as ambassadors, and the meeting was social and brotherly because our concerns and efforts are common, on the grounds that Leb deserves more time to resolves its issues."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Kouchner in Beirut in Bid to Ease Political Tensions

2010-11-06

[An Nahar] French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrived in Leb on Friday hoping to ease tensions between rival factions over a U.N. probe into the 2005 murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. Because nothing eases tensions faster than a visit by your old colonial masters ... Kouchner began his two-day visit by meeting President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace, in the presence of French Ambassador to Leb Denis Pietton. The French minister conveyed a French message of support for Leb and its president, according to Leb's state-run National News Agency. Talks tackled the current developments and means of enhancing Lebanese-French relations in all fields and on all levels. Kouchner then headed to the Center House for talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who later threw a dinner banquet in honor of the French minister. Kouchner will also meet the representatives of parliamentary blocs before wrapping up his visit on Saturday. The French foreign ministry had said Kouchner would urge "restraint" and reaffirm Gay Paree' support for the government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the son of the slain ex-premier. "During this period of increased tensions, Bernard Kouchner will urge everyone to observe restraint and show responsibility," deputy foreign ministry spokeswoman Christine Farges said in Gay Paree. Kouchner will also reiterate France's support for the Special Tribunal for Leb (STL) tasked with investigating Rafik Hariri's 2005 liquidation in a massive bombing, she said. France has been a staunch backer of the STL, but the court has become the focus of a standoff between the Western-backed government coalition headed by Saad Hariri and the Iranian- and Syrian-backed gang Hizbullah. There are unconfirmed reports that the court stands to indict members of Hizbullah in relation to Hariri's murder, and the group has rejected such an outcome and called on the Lebanese to boycott the work of the tribunal. The crisis has raised fears of an outbreak of sectarian violence pitting Hariri's mainly Sunni supporters against the Shiite Hizbullah, by far the most powerful political and military force in the country. Hizbullah charges the STL has been politicized and that any indictment against its members would be based on such testimony.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Kouchner meets Suleiman, affirms support to Lebanon

2010-11-06

(KUNA) -- French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner held talks with Lebanese officials Friday and reaffirmed support to the country's stability. President Michel Suleiman received Kouchner and discussed ways of further cementing bilateral relations, a statement by the Presidential Palace said. Kouchner conveyed a message that France was fully behind Leb and President Suleiman, it said. Koucher, who arrived here earlier today, is due to meet Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Butrus Safir and Foreign Minister Ali Al-Shami and representatives of Lebanese political parties. Lebanese Parliament speaker Nabih Knobby Berri, the Hizbullah sock puppet visited France last week and met with President Nicolas Sarkozy and Kouchner, and discussed the special international tribunal investigating the liquidation of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Kouchner: France Unwilling to Back a Lebanese Agreement to Annul the STL

2010-10-27

[An Nahar] French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Tuesday denied that France was willing to "back a Lebanese agreement that would annul the Special Tribunal for Leb," reiterating his country's support for international justice. After meeting with Speaker Nabih Knobby Berri, the Hizbullah sock puppet in Gay Paree, Kouchner stressed that "no country can influence the tribunal and no one knows the content of the indictment." He described the so-called false witnesses issue as an "additional" problem that the Lebanese judiciary must look into. The French minister hoped that "Premier Saad Hariri's government is not at risk" so that Leb does not go back to "the previous impasse." He said that Berri, for his part, does not think that the government is in jeopardy. Kouchner said that Leb "is living a period of relative tension, compared to the previous stages of tension." Commenting on the recent visit of Iran's diminutive President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad to Leb, the French minister said "it went good protocol-wise, but it didn't contribute to pacification, because what he said in South Leb were not words of peace." On the other hand, Kouchner voiced his willingness to organize a conference that would gather the Lebanese parties in France, an initiative that was welcomed by Berri, according to the French minister. France's "relation with Syria is fine and Leb is part of the region," Kouchner said, adding that Gay Paree "does not separate the Lebanese crisis from the situation in the region, and discussions with the Lebanese do not only tackle the domestic issues, but also the rest of the dossiers."

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Afghanistan

Mullah Omar is in Pakistan and everyone knows it: La Belle France

2010-09-15

[Dawn] Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Blinky Omar is based in Pakistain and everyone knows it, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Tuesday, calling on Islamabad to do more to help end the conflict. "It's not a secret for anyone, everyone knows that Mullah Omar is in Quetta, if he's not now in Karachi," Kouchner told French lawmakers, referring to two major Pak cities known to harbour Islamic myrmidon cells. "Taliban leaders have been given shelter in Pakistain. I'm not revealing anything," Kouchner said, telling parliament's foreign relations committee why Afghanistan has called on Pakistain to help negotiate a peace deal. This is why we usually have the diplomatic corps speak for the country. They generally manage not to actually say things like this, which so annoy the recipients. It is awfully refreshing when it happens, though, and one can hope something salutary will result.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Report: France Rejected Jumblat's Call to 'Abolish' Tribunal Indictment

2010-09-13

[An Nahar] Paris considers the call of Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat to "abolish" the indictment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as "inconsistent with France's stances," Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported Sunday. Several sources in Paris told the newspaper that Jumblat has made his stance clear to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner last Thursday. The Druze leader expressed fears that the indictment would lead to Sunni-Shiite strife in Lebanon and told Kouchner that France would be "held responsible if civil war was ignited in the country," the sources said. However, the French foreign minister was also clear in his stance, saying Paris supports the international tribunal and does not interfere in the work of Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare. The sources wondered how several Lebanese officials who had pleaded with France to establish the court are now demanding to abolish the indictment. "This is unacceptable because France does not change its stances," the sources told al-Hayat.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

French FM meets Assad, calls for easing of tensions

2010-05-24

BEIRUT - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called in Damascus and Beirut on Sunday for an easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours, urging all sides to respect a 2006 ceasefire in Lebanon. “We cannot be resigned to a constant state of tension, even if it is decreasing,' Kouchner told journalists after a meeting in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He renewed an appeal for all sides to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended a devastating month-long war in 2006 between Israel and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. The resolution bans the delivery of arms to the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah. That's working well, and an appeal from the French will guarantee perfect compliance ... In Damascus, Kouchner expressed France's concern over Hezbollah's weaponry, to which Assad gave assurances it was not in the interests of Damascus, Tehran or Hezbollah to trigger a new conflict, a French diplomatic source said. The source said that France as a peace broker also wanted to encourage Syria to ease tensions in the region and not to facilitate the delivery of arms to Hezbollah. In the meeting with Kouchner, Assad accused the West of overlooking Israeli violations in the region. “The region has changed and the West's policy in the area is no longer acceptable, keeping silent over Israeli violations is no longer acceptable,' Syria's official news agency SANA quoted Assad as saying. “If the West wants security and stability to be established in the Middle East, they (Western countries) must start to play an effective role to contain Israel and put an end to its extremist policies,' Assad said.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Six world powers open Iran sanctions talks

2010-04-09

Six major powers opened talks here Thursday to discuss imposing new UN sanctions on Iran, as China's envoy to the United Nations said it was an "important negotiation." "It's a very important negotiation," Chinese ambassador Li Baodong told reporters as he went into the talks. The talks bring together the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany, who have been negotiating with Iran for months. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had said in Paris on Wednesday that China had agreed to join the so-called P5+1 talks in New York, home to the UN headquarters, but admitted he was unsure if sanctions would be on the table. "What will this discussion be like? Will we be able to talk about a text, of content? Will we be going through the motions? I don't know," Kouchner said. "China will participate in the relevant discussions," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu confirmed to reporters. "China still believes dialogue and consultation are the best way to solve the nuclear issue." China has until now refused to back Western calls for new sanctions against Tehran, and last week played host to the Islamic republic's chief nuclear negotiator. Beijing has a close diplomatic and trade relationship with Iran, dominated by its imports of Iranian energy resources. Last week, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said China was ready for "serious negotiations" on Iran, a move hailed by the White House as an "important step," but Beijing has so far not signaled any policy shift. The United States and its allies suspect Iran is secretly trying to develop the atomic bomb, but Tehran says its nuclear drive is purely for civilian energy purposes, and that it has the right to nuclear technology.

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Iraq

Iraq on alert after deadly embassy explosions

2010-04-06

[Al Arabiya Latest] Iraq's security forces were on high alert Monday after three suicide car bombs targeting regional and European embassies rocked Baghdad, killing up to 42 people. Officials said the near-simultaneous attacks, which a minister said bore the signature of al-Qaeda, had also wounded as many as 224 people. Two were suicide attacks against the Egyptian and Iranian embassies, while a third struck an intersection near the German, Spanish and Syrian missions. The attacks came as Iraq's political parties struggled to form a government. "How much longer will this last?" Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, whose coalition finished second in the March 7 general election, held a meeting with Iraq's national security council over Sunday's blasts, a statement from his office said. Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim Atta said a bomb-laden car had also been intercepted in Masbah, central Baghdad, apparently heading towards the headquarters of police tasked with diplomatic protection. Its driver was arrested and the device was defused, he said. "It looks like (al-Qaeda)," Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told AFP. "I really feel it's early, however, unless we ensure the investigation is complete" to say who was behind the blasts, he added. "They bear the same marks of previous attacks, in the timing, the targeting, the simultaneous attacks on different targets in different places to have maximum impact," Zebari said. He was referring to coordinated bombings in August, October, December and January that killed more than 400 people. The two bombs that battered the diplomatic western neighborhood of Mansur were followed soon afterwards by a third huge explosion outside the Iranian embassy in central Baghdad. "The explosion was really strong," taxi driver Abu Ahmed told AFP of the blast at the Iranian embassy, which caused no casualties among its staff. "They never kill ministers, officials or heads of state. They kill taxi drivers, public employees and shopkeepers," he added. "How much longer will this last?" "Barbaric" German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin she was "profoundly affected" by the blasts, while the Arab League said that they sought to destabilize Iraq at a "delicate moment." French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner condemned the bombings as "barbaric." EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton condemned the attacks, saying in a statement that it was important that Iraq's political parties and leaders "continue to strengthen Iraq's democratic institutions." "No terrorist attack should prevent Iraqis from achieving their fundamental right of a peaceful and normal life," she said. The attacks came as Iraqi political parties negotiate to form a government, nearly a month after an election that left none of the four main blocs with enough seats to form a 163-seat parliamentary majority on its own. Former premier Iyad Allawi, whose bloc finished first in the election, has accused Iran of seeking to prevent him becoming prime minister again by inviting all major parties except his secular bloc to Tehran. Security officials had warned that protracted coalition building could give insurgents an opportunity to further destabilize the country.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Kouchner: West must seek new sanctions on Iran

2010-03-24

[Iran Press TV Latest] French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says there has remained "no other choice" but imposing new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. "The defiant attitude adopted by the Iranian government now leaves us no other choice: we have to seek new sanctions," Kouchner told the French Senate on Tuesday. "We will continue to seek dialogue but what responses have we got so far? Nothing tangible," AFP quoted France's top diplomat as saying. Kouchner also claimed that Tehran's nuclear program did not have "credible" goals. The French foreign minister's allegations against Iran's nuclear program comes while the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have declared that they have found no evidence of any diversion of nuclear materials from civilian to military applications by Iran.

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