Bishop Rai: Sfeir hasn’t received any invitation from Syria

The Syrian president Bashar al Assad complained the other day that he has not received any invitation to visit Lebanon and today Maronite Bishop of Jbeil Beshara Rai said that “the Syrians have not sent any invitation to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to visit Damascus.”
“I hope relations between Lebanon and Syria follow the diplomatic path and that the previous chapter has ended,” added Rai in an interview with MTV network.
Commenting on the disputes within the Christian community Rai said:
“We want the Maronites to play their role … and we support diversity within unity, Lebanon is characterized by diversity within unity and it loses its value in absence of diversified opinions and visions,”
Rai said that Bkirki supports inter-Christian reconciliation but added “the dispute in Lebanon, which is being incited by foreign powers, is between the Sunnis and Shiites, “calling on everyone to avoid the slide toward civil strife.

The woman who attacked the Pope is a Swiss-Italian

The woman who assaulted Pope Benedict XVI was identified as Susanna Maiolo, 25, a Swiss-Italian national.
Vatican spokesman, Rev Federico Lombardi, said Miss Maiolo had psychiatric problems and was taken to a clinic for treatment.
She was also involved in a similar incident at last year’s midnight mass in which she rushed at the Pope but was stopped by a security guard before she reached him. Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Al Akhbar: Jumblatt’s road to Damascus is thru Baabdat

One would think that the pro-Syrian media is thrilled about about the prospects of a visit by PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt to Syria, but it appears that is not the case.
The pro-Syrian Al Akhbar newspaper has been speculating about the preconditions that the Syrian regime has imposed on Jumblatt before such a trip and today the paper has reported that the Syrian public opinion is dead against Jumblatt’s visit . The paper did not reveal how it was able to obtain a public opinion in Syria .
The al Akhbar also reported that according to its contacts in Syria the road to Damascus goes through Baabdat (Emile Lahoud’s residence). According to the paper “even though Jumblatt has already fulfilled many conditions imposed on him by Syria such as his reconciliation with Hezbollah, Wiam Wahab, FPM leader Michel Aoun, Syrian Socialist national party and Marada leader Suleiman Franjiyeh…but all these are nothing but few steps in a thousand mile trip” the paper added
The March 14 was very upset when Jumblatt started attacking the US and praising Syria.
According to analysts Jumblatt’s U-Turn has left him in a position between a rock and the hard place

Aoun- Geagea handshake makes history

Not since former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami shook hands with the former Israeli president Moshe Katsav at Pope John Paul II’s funeral in Rome in 2005 has a handshake attracted so much attention.
Following the end of the Christmas mass at Bkirki, FPM leader General Michel Aoun shook hands with Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and those standing next to him including Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea . The event attracted a lot of attention by the media .
The question is will this handshake result in the same backlash as the famous Khatami – Katsav handshake ? Both the Iranians and Israelis blasted their leaders for committing such a “crime” and Khatami in the end had to deny ever shaking hands calling the news another Zionist propaganda.

Suleiman is proud of 2009 accomplishments

Following a private meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki just before the Christmas mass Lebanese president Michel Suleiman vowed to launch institution-building and hoped for political, security and economic stability.
Suleiman proudly recognized the 2009 accomplishments at all levels in the government – political, security, diplomatic and economic.
Earlier he told As-Safir newspaper “Who would have imagined … that we will emerge from our national crisis?”
“Who could have imagined all those get-togethers and reconciliation that took place after (parliamentary) elections? And who would have imagined that Prime Minister Saad Hariri will visit Damascus?
Suleiman said the time has come to move toward institution-building and reform.
He said reform will begin with administrative appointments.

Jumblatt: There is no longer big and small in this country

Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt and his son, Taymour, were Friday at Bkirki to wish Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir merry Christmas. They also met with him privately.
Jumblatt refused to talk politics following the end of the meeting with Sfeir but when he was asked whether he was planning to stay to attend a meeting between Sfeir and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Jumblatt said jokingly: “I will leave before the big guys show up because when the big guys show up the little ones leave.” He then added: “There is no longer big and small in this country.”

Syria names its representatives to the Border Demarcation Committee

Syria has named its representatives to the Border Demarcation Committee, well-informed sources told An-Nahar daily in remarks published Friday, but did not reveal their names
Lebanon has yet to announce the names its representatives to the Border Demarcation Committee, which is expected to hold its first meeting at the beginning of the new year.

Hariri headed to Paris on a private trip

Lebanese PM Saad Hariri headed to Paris Thursday evening on a private trip that will last several days

Sison: UN 1559 resolution should be fully implemented

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison, told LBC : Resolution 1559 as far as Hezbollah arms are concerned should be implemented …this is important for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and stability, noting that the demand for “the disarmament of militias in Lebanon and is spelled out in UN resolution 1559 and therefore it is not a matter of concern to the U.S. only but to the international community also
Sison said “We look forward to working with the Hariri government at the political, economic and social but we will not deal with Hezbollah , since it is a terrorist organization.”
Sison said the United States supports good relationship between Syria and Lebanon on the basis outlined by PM Hariri

Former US President Carter offers apology to Jews

Former US President Jimmy Carter apologized for any words or deeds that may have upset the Jewish community in an open letter meant to improve an often-tense relationship. He said he was offering an Al Het, a prayer said on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. It signifies a plea for forgiveness.

Carter’s apology was welcomed by Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a vocal critic of Carter’s views on Israel.

“When a former president reaches out to the Jewish community and asks for forgiveness, it’s incumbent of us to accept it,” he said in a telephone interview from Jerusalem. “To what extent this is an epiphany, only time will tell. There certainly was a lot of hurt, a lot of angry words that need to be repaired. But this is a good start.” Source: myway.com