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Chinese interested in connecting Lebanon to the Silk Road via Iraq, Syria

23-10-2018

As part of Arab-Chinese cooperation’s efforts to participate in reviving the Silk Road, An Nahar newspaper mentioned the recent visit to Beijing made by a delegation of the Arab Chinese Cooperation & Development Association (ACCDA) at the invitation of the highest Chinese economic committee, the China International Chamber of Commerce. This was followed by an extraordinary meeting of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and deputy director for the Department of West Asia and North Africa, Zhang Jian Wei, with ACCDA president, Qassem Tfaili. This meeting, according to An Nahar, reflects the interest of the Chinese Department, which networks with over 400 associations and parties worldwide, in the Arab world and, particularly in the emerging ACCDA (founded in 2017). The newspaper quoted Jian Wei as telling the Arab delegation that the international department will present the Arab ideas and proposals to the concerned authorities in China to receive direct support, while the Arab delegation called for fostering cooperation in the fields of education, investments and exhibitions. An Nahar went on to say that from a Lebanese perspective the issue seems very ambitious and requires the following of an extensive and complex roadmap requiring first and foremost the mobilization of large-scale funding for infrastructure projects, roads, energy and transportation networks. The newspaper noted the interest of the Communist Party’s Central Committee in the Arab-Chinese cooperation to revive the Silk Road which connects China in one of its side roads with the Eastern Arab Mediterranean Coast via Iraqi and Syrian territory up to Beirut. In the same vein, the new shipping line from China to the International Port of Tripoli was opened on October 9 with the docking of the Cmacgm Congo vessel to the port carrying nearly 10,000 containers, according to Tripoli Port director, Ahmad Tamer, who said the new route boasts huge ships (50m wide and 300m long). Furthermore, the chairman of Fransabank Group, Adnan Kassar, hosted Chinamex on October 19 in Beirut, which manages and invests in the permanent Chinese Expo, Dragonmart, to promote Chinese companies and products around the world. Kassar stressed the common interest of China and his country in strengthening bilateral cooperation and partnerships, not only for the Lebanese market, but also for African and Arab markets via Lebanon. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, September 28, October 20, 23, 2018)

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Mitigated sentence for wife killer soldier

23-10-2018

In the latest of incidents of violence against women, the Military Court yesterday issued a mitigated verdict in the case of the soldier who killed his wife and her lover inside the marital house in Hadat, sentencing him to a temporary period in military detention, Al Mustaqbal reported. Recalling, the murder dates back to September, 20017, when the assailant and his brother were detained for 18 months and released. In his defense of the soldier, the attorney argued that the various reports in the case point to and confirm adultery on part of the wife victim. “Who can accept the cheating of his wife, particularly when the husband is a soldier in the Army,” the attorney claimed. He, furthermore, considered it as a non-criminal homicide committed in self-defense and in defense of honor, allowing the husband and his brother to benefit from mitigated factors. (Al Mustaqbal, October 23, 2018)

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Role of women in inter-Mediterranean dialogue

23-10-2018

The European Parliament in Brussels hosted on October 17 the AFACOM forum, in cooperation with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). The forum tackled the role of women in the dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean as a cultural intermediary that would contribute in promoting the culture of dialogue, the values of coexistence and tolerance and the challenges they face. The forum also discussed the role of women as factors for change and ambassadors for peace through education, politics, economy, culture and interfaith dialogue, in addition to the role of NGOs and media outlets in accentuating common values and human rights and the struggle of Palestinian women for their national rights. The Future Movement Political Bureau member, Nawal Mdalalli, who participated in the above forum, spotlighted the female figures who have caused social and political change, as well as, Arab women who made success stories in Europe and the world and left their mark in the public and political life there. Mdalalli pointed out that the political participation of women in Lebanon is still weak for several reasons, including the non-commitment of the new elections law to the inclusion of women’s representation quota which, if approved, would have increased the rate of female presence in the Parliament. Currently, they did not yet exceed 4% despite the successes in many leadership areas, Mdalalli said. (Al Mustaqbal, October 23, 2018)

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Honoring of Ann Marie Afeish, Director General of Museums

23-10-2018

The Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Massimo Marotti, awarded the director general and president of the National Council of Museums in Lebanon, Anne Marie Affeish, with the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity in recognition for her work and efforts in preserving the Lebanese cultural legacy. During the ceremony held on Sunday at his villa in Naccache, Marotti praised Affeish as an expert in archeology and museum science and her valuable contribution to combating the smuggling of antiques. She is the example of a dedicated state employee who works with high ethics, Marotti said. In turn, Affeish thanked the ambassador for the honoring, expressing her appreciation for his government’s valuable contributions to the National Museum which had a special impression, especially in the restoration of the Tyre cemetery and the Museum basement. She stressed the importance of cooperation between Italy and the Lebanese Directorate of Archeology. (Al Mustaqbal, October 23, 2018)

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Proud Lebanon denounces veto on LGBT rights

22-10-2018

Responding to Official Lebanon’s vote against LGBT rights at the 139th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU) in Geneva (http://www.lkdg.org/node/17903), Proud Lebanon director, Bertho Makso, said human rights are indivisible, and hence, LGBT rights should definitely be not treated as a secondary or unimportant. Makso said it is time to revolutionize Lebanese laws in order to put an end to all forms of discrimination, while observing the developments in medicine and psychiatry which no longer consider homosexuality as a mental disorder. Makso elucidated the work of Proud Lebanon which, he stressed, does not conflict with religions or religious institutions, saying, “We respect everyone and our struggle is part of reform of the legislation regulating the status of gays and LGBT persons in Lebanon.” He alluded to a panel discussion organized last week on the situation of the LGBT community, with emphasis on Article 534 of the Penal Code, that states that any sexual intercourse against nature is punishable by one-month to one-year imprisonment, and a fine from LBP 200,000 and one million. He said the session was held away from the media in the presence of the Deputy UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), Philippe Lazzarini, and representative of ministries and diplomats, revealing that the interventions pointed to Lebanon’s non-observance of international treaties on LGBT rights which it endorsed and signed. ( L’Orient Le Jour, October 20, 2018)

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Nassib Crossing unconditionally accessible to Lebanese good from Syrian side

22-10-2018

Al Diyar newspaper today spotlighted the reopening of the Nassib Crossing on the Syrian-Jordanian borders with Lebanon which is expected to save large amounts of money on Lebanese importers and provide jobs to scores of truck drivers who were forced to stop work. On the other hand, Al Diyar pointed to the continued closure by Americans of the Tanf and Bukamal outposts between Syrian and Iraq. Citing visitors to Damascus, the newspaper wrote that the reopening, despite the denunciation by some Lebanese officials, mainly the Future Movement and its chief, of the Sryian government, happened based on two key principles. The first, is the approach made by President Michel Aoun to his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, alluding to a question raised by Lebanon on the cost or requisites for restoring the transit movement, and to which Assad replied, nothing. The second principle, the newspaper argued, is that the Nassib and other crossings are regulated by certain inter-state controls and agreements, therefore, the actual use of these border points between Syria and Arab countries, and achieving an all-out return of refugees and reconstruction of Syria are separate issues. On the Jordanian part, the government enforced restrictions on the transit movement of goods (the crossing will be open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm), which increases vehicular queueing in the next couple of weeks and slows down the transactions by exporters in timely manner. On the subject, LIA vice president, Ziad Bekdash, explained that the export activity through Nassib crossing remains the cheapest and fastest compared to the maritime bridge, demanding a reconsideration of the increase of transit fees imposed by Syria. (c.f: https://bit.ly/2OYOQtB). (Al Diyar, October 20, 22, 2018)

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My Nationality is A Right for Me and My Family Campaign meeting in Shuf

22-10-2018

In partnership with My Nationality is A Right for Me and My Family Campaign, the PSP party affiliated Progressive Women Union- Shuf Office, organized a talk entitled, ‘The right of the Lebanese woman in conferring nationality to her family’ at the National Public Library of Baaqline. The Democratic Gathering MP, Hadi Abulhosson, who participated in the talk, said Lebanon will see a fair nationality law if all the political factions broke free of the outdated confessional and sectarian restrictions. Today, he said, the PSP has boldly, confidently and determinedly decided to take the challenge and submit the draft bill that observes women’s rights. Abulhosson enumerated the explanatory statements of the proposal referred to parliament on August 6 (c.f: http://lkdg.org/ar/node/17714), hoping it comes out with a modern legislation that plays fair to the rightful persons and addresses the many social and moral damages suffered by them. Similarly, My Nationality Campaign coordinator, Karima Chebbo, said, “Time and time again we have faced the same ridiculous contentions, like demographic distribution and naturalization,” asking why Lebanese men married to non-Lebanon have the right to pass nationality to their family and women cannot. Rights are indivisible, Chebbo maintained, and the law should apply to men and women equally. (NNA, October 19, 2018)

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Algeria bans veil at work

22-10-2018

The General Directorate of Public Service announced on Thursday the official and permanent ban of niqab (full-face veil) or any clothing that hides the identity of the individual at the workplace. The statement called on ministers, governors and government officials to strictly apply the instructions which oblige state workers to respect the rules and requirements of security and communication at the level of their interests that requires recognition of their identity automatically and permanently, especially at the workplace. It mandated public employees to strictly abide by the new terms prohibiting any indecent act or conduct regardless of the nature of their duty and compliance with the public service regulations, notably “neutrality, continuity and transparency.” The Directorate also emphasized adherence to the above prohibiting any dress that impairs the exercise of public administration functions, particularly the full face veil. To recall, that in October last year, the ministry of education officially began enforcing the ban of niqab in schools, for female students, teachers and staff. (Al Diyar, October 20, 2018)

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Four trucks to Jordan, Gulf via Nassib-Jaber crossing

19-10-2018

Following the reopening on October 15 of the Nassib-Jaber crossing on the Syrian-Jordanian borders, (:https://bit.ly/2yrCzYr), Al Diyar daily reported that four trucks carrying Syrian products have arrived to the crossing on their way to Jordan and GCC countries. The first Jordanian trucks will depart through the crossing within the next couple of days, restoring the trade exchange movement between the Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Europe and Turkey, according to the chief of Jordanian Truck Owners, Mohamad Kheir Daoud. Official Lebanon and concerned parties welcomed the decision. The trade minister, Raed Khoury, tweeted, “Finally, we witness the long-awaited opening of the crossing”, stressing his ministry’s constant contact with the farmers to this end. For his part, vice president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA), Ziad Dakach, described the occasion as a winning lottery card for Lebanon, mentioning the USD 2 billion losses incurred on the industrial sector as a result of the closure of the crossing. Also, the president of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan, welcomed the Syrian decision, stating that it revives Lebanon’s economy and props productive sectors, notably, agriculture. Likewise, while the head of the South Farmers Congregation, Mohamad Husseini, pointed out that the land crossings are the only outlet for the Lebanese industrial and agricultural exports, the chief of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi, clarified that raising the export tariffs on the Syrian part will not delay the start of the export activity. (Al Diyar, October 17, 18, 19, 2018)

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National strategy needed to fight poverty in Lebanon

19-10-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper highlighted the national program to support the poorest families (http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/12106), citing a memo released earlier this month by the director general of the ministry of social affairs (MoSA) that allows poor families to apply in order to benefit from the program launched since 2011. This type of programs, Al Akhbar wrote, while aimed in part to help needy households, is but a partial solution that does not achieve the desired results, or replace a national strategy to combat the prevalent poverty. In the absence of accurate official statistics on the absolute number of people under this category, excluding MoSA estimates which puts the average rate of families living in extreme poverty between 8% and 12%, the above program does not cover all the poor families in the country, Al Akhbar said. The newspaper quoted one of the program’s sponsors as admitting the loopholes that could emerge in its implementation, in terms of the inflated number of inapplicable recipients on the one hand, and those who are virtually in need of assistance, on the other. In this respect, the newspaper pointed to the exaggerated number of applicants (exceeding 200,000), while the number of those who benefitted stood at 44,000, including 10.000 on the bottom rung. To recall, the program benefits include, obtaining a 3-year card which enables its holders to benefit from hospitalization and education services, in addition to a food card, which entitles each family member to get USD 27 each month, provided the maximum number of members be not more than five. (Al Akhbar, October 19, 2018)

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