Assad: Netanyahu is not a peace partner

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday, following his meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, that peace in the Middle East was impossible because of the actions of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu’s government “cannot be considered a partner as long as it responds to calls for peace with settlements and the judaization of [Muslim] holy sites” in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Assad said. (more…)

Moussa: Lebanon’s participation in Libya summit should not be discussed through the media

Following his meeting on Wednesday with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said that Lebanon’s participation in the March Arab League summit in Libya should not be discussed through the media because it would complicate the situation, the National News Agency (NNA) has reported. (more…)

Hariri: peace, stability and security only way to fight terrorism

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in an interview published Sunday :”The only way to fight extremism is through peace, stability and security.”
Hariri stressed that he did not go to Damascus to build a relationship with Syrian President Bashar Assad, but with the Syrians.
Hariri pointed to Italy’s “vital role” in Lebanon and expressed hope that Rome would not cut the number of troops working among the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon ( UNIFIL).
“We hope Italy would not reduce the number of its troops nor would it change its policy” toward Lebanon, Hariri said.
He wondered why Christians and other people are emigrating .
“It’s because there is no peace, security or stability,” Hariri answered himself, noting the presence of 1 million Iraqi refugees in Syria and at least 500,000 others in Jordan.
“The problem with the Christians,” Hariri explained, “is that they are a small community, and they feel they have to leave.”
Turning to Lebanon, Hariri stressed that Christian-Muslim equity will “stay forever.”
Regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Hariri said the STL did not lose momentum.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his family pictured with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State

Italian embassy in Tehran attacked by pro-regime mob

Italy will boycott celebrations marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Tehran on Thursday to send a message of concern over attacks on the Italian embassy there. 
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the embassy was attacked by dozens of people throwing stones. Attackers included pro-Iranian government militia members dressed in civilian clothing.
The protests were reportedly in response to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s call for strengthening of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. allheadlinenews

Iranian pro-regime demonstrators tear down a street sign named “Rome”, during a demonstration outside the Italian embassy in Tehran February 9, 2010.

Change of command at UNIFIL

Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas of Spain assumed the command of The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziano of Italy.

In a farewell speech during a ceremony at UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, Graziano looked back at his three years in command of UNIFIL, pointing to major improvements in the situation on the ground in south Lebanon.

The ceremony was attended by several Lebanese and foreign officials including Defense Minister Elias Murr, Spanish Defense Minister Carmen Chacon Piqueras, Italian Deputy Defense Minister Giuseppe Cossiga, Lebanese Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, Italian and Spanish Chiefs of Defense, General Camporini and General Rodriguez Fernandez, Members of Lebanese Parliament, senior officers of the Lebanese Armed Forces and many others. Asarta, in his first speech recalled his previous stint with UNIFIL as Sector East Commander from December 2008 to April 2009.

“We are here to assist the parties to maintain the cessation of hostilities and to move forward towards a permanent ceasefire,” said Asarta. He added: “In this spirit, I shall do my very best to ensure the successful implementation of our mandate in southern Lebanon.”
Following his meeting with Spanish Defense Minister Carmen Chacon Piqueras on Thursday, President Michel Suleiman commended the efforts made by Spain on all levels, especially its participation in UNIFIL and its leadership of the forces in 2010.

Italian PM leaves hospital

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has been released from the hospital, four days after he was attacked at a Milan rally by a man wielding a statuette.
Sunday’s attack left Mr. Berlusconi with a broken nose and some chipped teeth. Doctors had planned to release the 73-year-old leader from the hospital Wednesday, but kept him under observation for an extra day after he experienced additional pain and had trouble eating. Source: VOA

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi waves from his car as he arrives at his home in Arcore, Italy, 17 Dec 2009

Attack left Italian PM with a broken nose and two broken teeth

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, is to spend a second night in hospital after an attack at a rally in Milan left him with a broken nose and two broken teeth. Aljazeera.net

Attacker breaks Berlusconi’s nose

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was rushed to the hospital Sunday evening with a fractured nose and bloodied lip after a man threw a statuette at the premier’s face from close range at the end of a political rally. WSJ