issue number 142 |May 2014 MILITARY GOVERNMENTS IN LEBANON VACANCIES IN GRADE 1 POSTS THE MONTHLY INTERVIEWS ROLA AL-MOURAD

www.iimonthly.com Published by Information International sal

LEBANON’S RENT ACT

A NEW DRAIN ON THE PUBLIC PURSE

Lebanon 5,000LL | Saudi Arabia 15SR | UAE 15DHR | Jordan 2JD| Syria 75SYP | Iraq 3,500IQD | Kuwait 1.5KD | Qatar 15QR | Bahrain 2BD | Oman 2OR | Yemen 15YRI | Egypt 10EP | Europe 5Euros May INDEX 2014

4 LEBANON’S RENT ACT: A NEW DRAIN ON THE PUBLIC PURSE

8 NEW RENT ACT: PROBLEM, CRISIS AND SOLUTION INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL’S ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION

11 MILITARY GOVERNMENTS IN LEBANON

15 LEBANON’S MPS: UNDERWORKED YET OVERPAID

16 VACANCIES IN GRADE 1 POSTS BY SECT

18 WHEN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BORROWS FUNDS FROM ITS EMPLOYEE P: 25 P: 11 20 HASSAN CHALAK

22 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN PORTUGAL

23 POST-TRAUMATIC HEADACHES DR. HANNA SAADAH

24 FRACTAL MATHEMATICS: ANTOINE BOUTROS

25 INTERVIEW: ROLA AL-MOURAD

27 AMEL ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL

29 DEBUNKING MYTH#81: CAN ALCOHOL REALLY MAKE US FEEL WARMER?

30 MUST-READ BOOKS: MEDICAMENTS… MAFIA OR P: 8 SYSTEMIC CRISIS? ISMAIL SOUKARIEH

31 MUST-READ CHILDREN’S BOOK: ABC, WE ARE THE ALPHABETS 47 ON THE BELIEFS AND PLOTS 32 LEBANON FAMILIES: FAMILIES DENOTING OF AL-QAEDA (2) LEBANESE TOWNS (14) MILITARY AND SUICIDE OPERATIONS

33 DISCOVER LEBANON: LASSA 49 REAL ESTATE PRICES- MARCH 2014

34 DISCOVER THE WORLD: LESOTHO 50 DID YOU KNOW THAT?: POVERTY INDICATORS AROUND THE WORLD 35 MARCH 2014 HIGHLIGHTS 50 RAFIC HARIRI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 39 THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- LEBANON TRAFFIC - FEBRUARY 2014 30 YEARS AFTER THE MAY 17 AGREEMENT,WHAT DID IT STIPULATE? 51 LEBANON’S STATS

46 THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- ARAB WORLD THE INDEPENDENCE OF TRANSJORDAN |EDITORIAL

O BANKERS OF LEBANON, SET THE TIRES ABLAZE!

It is common knowledge that at stake is not the issue treasury bond interest, it would be worthwhile noting that a of the pay scale; it is not the issue of public property decrease as modest as 1% (from 6.5% to 5.5% on average) encroachments or of tax evasion and inequity nor is it the in the interest rates that these banks earn from treasury bonds issue of mismanagement and of squandered funds at the could save the treasury approximately USD 600 million. Lebanese customs and the land registration services; the issue is not simply one of the decline in public education Third: pushing up electricity tariffs and improving the or of the brain drain nor is it one of social security or collection of bills. Instead of the current bracket-based lack thereof. At stake is not the issue of the pollution of billing system, the cost of electricity consumption below Lebanon’s air, water and soil either; it is not an issue of 500 KWh should stand at LBP 100 per KWh, thus raising heritage destruction nor one of amnesty laws or of thousands the bill to LBP 50,000 rather than LBP 35,000 while LBP of missing persons who have faded into oblivion; it is 300 should be charged per KWh when the consumption neither an issue of intermittent power supply and poor road exceeds 500KWh. The consumer’s bill would thus jump from the current LBP 135,000 to LBP 185,000 for every positions of responsibility or of citizens acting as goons 1000 KWh. for the Zua’ama; it is certainly not an issue of the Zua’ma Enforcing a stricter collection system and reducing waste complaining that they are being victimized by their people or of foreign powers meddling in our domestic affairs. At by more than USD 600 billion annually. stake is an amalgamation of all these tragedies combined. Hence, commoners and capitalists would both exercise The state uses public funds to support the banking sector, their shared responsibility toward the state. yet the banks expect us to lend a sympathetic ear to them. The state subsidizes private education through scholarships Fourth: restructuring the taxation system is a must. Fining exceeding USD 200 million annually, so that public school those who encroach on public property is also a must as teachers can enroll their children in private schools. Our state administrative apparatus has become devoid of staff for the majority of civil servants are contracted on a daily basis or serving by proxy. Public institutions such as the Banque customs. du Liban, Casino du Liban, the Port of Beirut, Middle East Most ironic are 1) the parents who object to the revised Airlines and the National Social Security Fund pay fat teachers’ salaries to spare themselves additional tuition cat salaries to their employees, yet their budgets remain fees without ever questioning the reasons that lead to the outside the state budget. Railway workers are without a alarming decline in free public education, 2) the teachers who demand higher pay without bothering to conduct self cocoons. As for our intelligentsia- university professors, authors and thinkers- they lament the loss of values and the tycoons who threaten to strike despite their violation of the decay of the state while they solicit the Zua’ama for a title NSSF laws while blaming employees if they strike. or a position. And the list could go on endlessly. Addressing all these issues requires time, but unfortunately, after deduction of tax, soared to roughly USD 8 billion in both the people and their representatives in Parliament 6 years (2007-2012), while the taxation levied stood at were apparently a little tied up with other engagements. roughly USD 1.5 billion. Paradoxically, the banks had the Let the solution then be by urging a slew of rapid new laws audacity to challenge additional taxes under the pretext of and resolutions upon which solutions might be built. protecting the Lebanese citizen. First: approving the pay scales as proposed, which would Banks on strike!? Have higher taxes levied on their gains mean adding an extra USD 2 billion annually to public and let bankers set tires ablaze if they so wish? Let bankers expenditure. and daily wage workers become partners in destiny! Second: increasing taxes on bank deposits interest, which Has anyone taken notice that the sectarian rhetoric is according to the 2013 statistics, stand at roughly USD 600 currently off the table!? No segregated Sunni, Shia’a and million, by raising the rate of interest paid on bank accounts Christians now. All of them, from both the March 8 and over USD 500,000 from 5% to 10%, thus increasing the March 14 camps, are now united for and by the lira. revenue earned from taxation on bank account interest from USD 600 million to USD 1200 million. If the banks What system is it which they speak to us of? were to complain about the new taxation introduced on 4 | LEADER LEBANON’S RENT ACT A NEW DRAIN ON THE PUBLIC PURSE

approved the much anticipated rent law in its session held on Tuesday April 1, 2014. Contrary to previous rent laws, this law contains brand new provisions that, if enforced, are likely to transform the real estate market realities be it in terms of sales or of rent. However, the old tenants’ strong objections to the new law, which might even escalate in the future, render the enforcement process uncertain.

Previous Laws For many decades, Lebanon has not enjoyed a First: fair rent act. The previous laws accorded tenants agreement is less than three years, the lease shall extensive rights that almost transformed them into still be considered for a period of three years. landlords or partners of landlords to the detriment " Second: excluded from the previous provision steep price increases, tenants continued to pay are all the seasonal leases concerned with summer the same rent, preventing landlords from deriving and winter vacation premises and the leases of remunerative returns to such an extent that revenues property granted by employers to employees with #$& or without a charge. to what is spent on living costs in a few days. Thus, most landlords inched closer to poverty, lamenting Third: if the period of the lease agreement, whether the diminution of their property and waiting for the of built property or land, exceeds three years, the day when they could recover it or when rental fees property may not be passed to a third party unless it P

This reality has effectively led to sharp passivity in This new law known as the ‘freedom of contract’ the rental market, for landlords were afraid to face law entitled tenants to rent any property for three the same fate that their peers had encountered. A rent consecutive years at the same rental rates. After the '**+ expiry of the lease period, either a new agreement the rental crisis, creating a distinction between new could be arranged for an equal, higher or lower rental and old leases. amount or tenants must vacate their tenancy without receiving any compensation. These new mechanisms New Leases pumped momentum into the stagnating rental market Law no. 159 dated July 22, 1992 stipulated the repeal and landlords returned to renting out their property of Article 543 of the Obligations and Contract Law without fears from tenants taking their place. relating to the leases signed after the effective date of the new law and replaced it with the following: Old Leases The lease agreements signed prior to July 22, 1990 “The leases of both residential and non-residential fell under the provisions of Law no. 160 promulgated property shall be subject to freedom of contract and on July 22, 1992. Unlike its predecessors, which to the will of the contracting parties in all that does used to either extend the lease agreements unchanged not contradict the following binding provisions: '<=

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. LEADER | 5 prescribed a rental increase that was commensurate with the pay increases in the private sector. It stipulated the following: “Raising rental fees by half the successive determined by the decrees pertaining to the cost of living and the pay of employees as of July 1, 1987 &&P

Law no. 160 also postulated doubling the rental fees according to the year of the lease agreement in favor of landlords and granted them the right to regain their property should they or a member of their family need the dwelling for personal use, provided that they pay the tenant a compensation estimated by the courts of not less than 25% and not more than 50% of the property value.

However, this law still failed to do landlords justice especially since it was extended several times since its initial approval.

Extension Rent Act No. 160/92 has been extended 12 times since 1996. The following Table 1 shows those extensions noting that the last one expired on March 31, 2012.

Extensions of the 1992 Rent Act Table 1 Number and date of issuance of the extension law Extension duration Law No. 171 dated August 29, 2011 From Jan 1, 2011 till March 31, 2012

Law No. 93 dated March 6, 2010 From July 1, 2009 till December 31, 2010

Law No. 24 dated September 5, 2008 From Jan 1, 2007 till June 30, 2009

Law No. 750 dated May 15, 2006 From Jan 1, 2006 till December 31, 2006

Law No. 637 dated November 20, 2004 From July 1, 2004 till December 31, 2005

Law No. 557 dated January 30, 2004 From Jan 1, 2004 till June 30, 2004

Law No. 526 dated July 16, 2003 From July 1, 2003 till December 31 , 2003

Law No.494 dated December 12, 2002 From July 1, 2001 till June 20, 2003

Law No. 206 dated May 26, 2000 From July 1, 1999 till June 30, 2001

Law No. 721 dated November 5, 1998 From Jan 1, 1998 till June 30, 1999

Law No.605 dated February 28, 1997 From Jan 1,1997 till December 31, 1997

Law No. 504 dated June 6, 1996 From Jan 1, 1996 till December 31 1996 Source: Laws of extension of Rent Act 160/92

issue 142 | May 2014 6 | LEADER

New Rent Act employees for accommodation with or without a charge, Non-Residential Premises: Lease Extension until 2018 @ & With respect to the rent of non-residential property, established by the law and most ironically 5) the leases the Rent Act approved recently has generally favored on the state and the municipal public properties. tenants through the following: It extended the lease agreements signed prior to The newly approved Rent Act extended lease agreements by July 23, 1992 until December 31, 2018. nine years starting on the date of its entry into force (a law It eliminated the rent increase set at half the wage usually becomes effective six months after its having been GQVXY replaced it with an annual increase equivalent to half Republic sign this law, it would come into effect at the end of October) and permitted a further extension of three additional Central Administration of Statistics the year before, provided that the increase does not exceed 5%. rental rates paid during the ninth year, which are relatively It dictated the doubling of rent in several cases, most high compared to the rent prices before the rent increase. notably when the tenant becomes an owner of built properties or of shares in rented properties whose Rent increase: During the period of the lease agreement actual total value is ten times the rent of the premises extension, rents increase by a gradual percentage- a he occupies. However, this remains hard to prove percentage of the dwelling’s rental value in the free market- amid the current chaos affecting the real estate market. that is either agreed upon by the mutual consent of the contracting parties or determined, in case of disagreement, Residential Premises: Liberated after 9 Years by two court experts. The second option would be costly As previously mentioned, the previous rent acts adopted for both the landlord and the tenant, for the latter would since 1992 used to extend the lease agreements of be entitled to appeal against the valuation carried out by residential premises after linking the rent increase to the experts appointed by the landlord, should he consider " it unfair, by submitting a counter estimation by other government-appointed experts. If the two reports differ, the rent, these increases remained far lower than the actual matter would then be referred to a judicial committee (see worth of the premises and landlords have for decades the section on committee formation below) in the Mohafaza continued to demand that the pre-1992 lease agreements where the dwelling is located to resolve the issue. The be liberated or that the rental fees be raised by the R& particularly between 1985 and 1993 when the rate of The free market rental value is determined on the exchange of the Lebanese pound collapsed drastically basis of 5% of the sale value of the rented dwelling in against the US dollar and other foreign currencies. its current condition if vacant.

Conversely, instead of tying rent increases to half the After determining the free market rental value, the rental pay increase, the newly approved law tied it to another fees would be raised on an annual basis as follows: indicator: a percentage of the rented premises’ value, By 15% of the difference between the rent provided that the lease agreements would cease after applicable before the entry into force of the new 9 years, which is where the major problem lies. While Rent Act and the above-mentioned rental value for previous rent acts favored tenants over landlords, the new rental provisions prioritized the interests of the latter. By 20% of the difference between the rent applicable before the entry into force of the new What provisions did the Rent Act contain? Rent Act and the above-mentioned rental value Subject to the provisions of this law are all the lease agreements regarding built property signed prior to July & 23, 1992 with the exception of: 1) the leases of agricultural After this time, between the seventh and the ninth extended land and the facilities on it, 2) the seasonal leases years, the property will be rented at free market prices. concerned with summer and winter vacation premises, By the end of the ninth year, the lease agreement will 3) the leases of property granted by employers to be liberated and may be extended for another 3 years.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. LEADER | 7

times the minimum wage by paying the rental increases, Example either fully or partly, depending on the case. This fund, Assuming the annual rent of a residential unit which excludes foreign tenants and Lebanese tenants stood at USD 1000 prior to July 23, 1992 and its who rent property deemed luxurious according to the free market rental value was estimated at USD +*~<}  * 15000 (5% * USD 300,000 = USD 15,000 with 1967 and Law no. 10/74 dated March 25, 1974. USD 300,000 being the property’s sale value), the difference between the rent being paid and the free The implementation of the provisions related to the rent market rental value would thus be: USD 15,000- increases and the applications submitted to the fund USD 1000= USD 14,000. for assistance will be entrusted to a judicial committee Q&'^_$`{|+'== consisting of a judge- active or retired- and of four the rent would therefore jump to USD 3100 in the members, one representing landlords, one tenants and `{|^+==`{|}== the other two speaking for the Ministry of Finance and third and USD 9400 in the fourth year. the Ministry of Social Affairs respectively. Raising the fees by 20% or USD 2800 would translate € V into pushing annual rental fees up to USD 12,200 in depending on the income of the tenant and his `{|'^=== household. If the average household income is not is the free market rental value of the property in at least twice the minimum wage (USD 900), the question. The rent remains unchanged in the three assistance of the fund is to cover the entire difference following years until its total liberation by the end between the old and revised rental fees, meaning of the ninth year. The tenant may either continue the landlord would not have to pay a penny and the to occupy the property for another three years at state would shoulder the rent increase. If the average the same rent he paid in the ninth year, i.e. the free household income is anywhere between double and market price, or may vacate the premises should the triple the minimum wage (USD 1350), the fund landlord refuse to renew the lease agreement. will assist the tenant by paying him/her 30% of the average household income and of the new rental fees.

Eviction in case of necessity However, no studies have been conducted into the cost If the landlord wishes to recover his property for of this fund and the amounts and burdens that it should # bear, let alone the waste and mismanagement that nine-year extension period, he shall pay the tenant a might occur were it to fail to verify the actual income compensation equivalent to the rental cost sustained of tenants. The chances are that most tenants would & refrain from declaring their authentic monthly income market rental value. However, if he plans to evict and would instead turn to the fund for help, thus transforming it into just another portal for squandering building hosting the rented unit and replace it with public funds while the state continues incapable of a newer one, he shall in this case pay the tenant a paying its most fundamental dues and obligations. compensation amounting to the annual rents paid Increasing rents remains pointless if not accompanied market rental value. These compensations are by far with a modern and restructured taxation systen, not to lower than those stipulated by Rent Act No. 160/92. mention that the crisis cannot be fully resoved unless State Fund In order to address the problems that could arise from of both old and new landlords. In the absence of a data the implementation of this Rent Act, particularly among base for every tenant and landlord, all talk about a state the poor and segments of the middle class, the Rent Act fund or an effective rent act will be deemed an empty prescribed the formation of a residential rent fund under rhetoric. the Ministry of Finance in order to assist all the affected tenants whose monthly income does not exceed three

issue 142 | May 2014 8 | ACTIVITIES

INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL’S ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION NEW RENT ACT: PROBLEM, CRISIS AND SOLUTION

Information International held on Wednesday, 16th of April 2014, its monthly round- table discussion under the title ‘New Rent Act: Problem, Crisis and Solution’ in the presence of Attorney at Law Dr. Mohammed Moughrabi and former MP Nazeeh Mansour. In addition to a number of jurists and interested activists, representatives of both the Landlords’ Association and the Tenants’ Association attended the session and participated in the debate. Below is the speech digest of interlocutors.

Dr. Mohammed Moughrabi’s intervention focused on to the right of investment currently in force, without four main areas: Rent Acts, the emergence of the problem, the need for any legal text. His right could even border the new Rent Act and the solution. on usufruct entitlement.

Rent Acts To further attest that the rental right has become an in Resolution no. 19 L.R. issued by the French High rem right, Act no. 159/92 amended Article 543 of the ‚+<'*@=ƒGQV Obligations and Contracts Law, dictating in its third „ }<' +* paragraph the registration of lease agreements exceeding recognizable law in this respect. It gave tenants the three years and not falling under Act 160/92 at the cadastral right to extend their lease agreements unilaterally for registry so that it could be applied to third parties. one year only, under the prevailing conditions. Emergence of the problem On December 28, 1940, the French Acting High Not all lease agreements date back to before 1940. As  † <‡ † ƒG a matter of fact, people continued to erect and rent out QV „ ‡^‡ ^ '*@' buildings under the successive exceptional rent acts extending lease agreements until the end of 1941, without and the ensuing rental fees were therefore arranged and the need for any action on the part of the tenants, and agreed upon equitably, by the mutual consent of both the raising the rental fees of commercial and industrial shops. landlord and the tenant and the rent was set at 10% of the dwelling’s value. If, for example, the value of the dwelling The Rent Act was later extended or new rent acts were stood at LBP 50,000, the rent would then be LBP 5000. issued which were also subject to several extensions. Act no. 160/1992 was the last among those, and its May 9, 1967 marked the issuance of Act no. 29, which '+='+ extended the previous lease agreements, excluding luxury residential buildings, which were not to be evicted Of the provisions not contrary to the Rent Acts is & Article 597 of the Obligations and Contracts Law, unless in exchange for a compensation. However, Act which stipulates that the lease agreement shall not no. 10/1974 dated March 25, 1974 effectively eliminated be terminated upon relinquishment of the premises’ the exclusion, extending all lease agreements signed or ownership, whether the disposal is voluntary or extended prior to its issuance. And the depreciation of the obligatory. Article 598 of the same law establishes Lebanese currency only added insult to the injury to the that the new owner/landlord can only evict the tenant detriment of both the landlord and the tenant. if the latter does not have a written lease agreement with a correct date, meaning that the new landlord What’s in the new Rent Act? must abide by the previous lease agreement devised A highly distinctive feature of the new Rent Act is that it by his predecessor, even if the property ownership had grants the landlord a property restitution right entitling him been transferred forcibly. to recover his property for demolition purposes, for family exigency or for any other necessity. The Act distinguished Under Article 598 and with the legal extensions of the between those who rented their premises before the Act lease agreements over 74 years, the tenant would have 29/1967 and those who did so after this date, granting the thus acquired an in rem right over the dwelling, similar latter half the compensation given to the former.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. ACTIVITIES | 9

For a family exigency: A compensation equivalent to the €"#ˆ & neighborhood. Its local people were forced to move and free market rental value, meaning 20% of the rented unit’s the old buildings demolished, replaced by skyscrapers value for tenants before Act 29/1967 and 10% for tenants where nobody lives. after this date. Should the Rent Act be signed, established tenants in For demolition purposes: A compensation equivalent to Lebanese cities will probably be stripped of their human, & constitutional and legal rights and encounter a similar fate free market rental value, meaning 30% of the rented unit’s to that of the approximately 10,000 residents of Mina Al- value for tenants before Act 29/1967 and 15% for tenants Hosn who have all disappeared from the neighborhood. after this date. Solution For any other reason: A compensation equivalent to the Operating a cheap public transport network that allows rental cost over three years meaning 15% of the rented people to live just one hour or less away from the city unit’s value. and thus be able to easily commute to work daily. The diverse means of telecommunications and services The foregoing compensations are reduced by 1/9 with can even enable people to work from many locations every subsequent year. outside the city.

However, the previous Rent Act no. 160/92 set the Keeping the accommodation costs at no more than 20% compensation to be paid for the evicted tenant in the of the salary. case of property demolition or recovery at 35% to 50% and court rulings put it at no less than 40% on average. Entitling the tenant under Act 160/1992 to buy the Therefore, the essence of the new Rent Act is not restricted dwelling he has been renting at 50% of its real price. If to raising the rental fees to 5% of the unit’s value within he fails to use this right within a certain period of time, 6 years- although the percentage stands at 2.5% at best the landlord can use the dwelling without providing any in most countries around the world- but also making the reason for eviction, in return for a compensation that eviction of the tenant possible in return for a derisory amounts to roughly half the dwelling’s value. Either way, the state offers established landlords compensation equivalent to 10% or more of the dwelling’s real value Moughrabi proceeded to explain that in the past the along with the sum of money they obtain from tenants. landlords sold their property at the market price that Y approximately one fourth of its price on the grounds via long-term installment loans (15 to 25 years) at a that it was occupied. This effectively means that the new subsidized interest rate not exceeding 2% and allowing landlords to whom the property was handed down at a for securities’ settlement at the Central Bank (BDL). moderate cost are practically not affected- but are, rather, # " Dr. Nazih Mansour evict old tenants in exchange for a trivial sum of money Former MP, Dr. Nazih Mansour highlighted the work and to level their units to the ground and then raise the of the ad hoc parliamentary committee within the prices of their property to three times its value at the time Administration and Justice Committee, which toiled more of purchase. than 10 years to only end up devising a Rent Act that failed both to be consistent with the spirit of the constitution { and to take into account both the landlord and the tenant. landlords, the Construction Act also allows them to “Upon examining the Rent Act, one must dissect the double the price of their property again by amalgamating law and analyze its components to detect the degree of the small plots between 300m2 and 600m2 into one plot of its objectivity at the constitutional, social and political nearly 1000 m2 to 1200 m2 or more, as per the easement &P|V†" zone. The Act also allows the construction of high-rise that has been approved recently in Parliament will have '‡& several implications in terms of the displacement of low- sold to major investors, most of whom do no reside in income people, particularly the elderly who had lost their

issue 142 | May 2014 10 | ACTIVITIES

Dr. Mansour regretted the transformation of the rental saga Zaki Taha Mr. Zaki Taha, representative of the Association for of them are in his opinion victims of the extemporaneous Defending Tenants, noted that the Rent Act would raise policy of the state, which he held accountable for the rents from 2.5% to 5% and argued that it has been devised current rental crisis and which he urged to solve the at the service of banks, which could seize old buildings predicaments that the new Rent Act has created. Of the and replace them with skyscrapers. He also stressed that solutions that Dr. Mansour proposed: && ‰ ‰|R & old tenants are entitled, slamming the approval of the housing loans at subsidized interest rates from a Rent Act by a one article only, which, according to him, new housing institution since the Lebanon Housing violates the Parliament’s by-law. Institute has become a broker between banks and borrowers and relinquished its real functions. Imad Jabri Economist Imad Jabri laid forth solutions inspired by ‰ the French system, emphasizing that the bequeathing of provide for residential projects for low-income property must be stopped. segments. Ibrahim Mhannah State expropriation of the properties rented by Actuary Ibrahim Mhannah told about his experience of Q‰ and re-renting them out at rates that take into account the blatant price contradiction between what he and the personal circumstances of every tenant. others used to pay, depicting how the management of the building would impose massive and arbitrary rent Dr. Mansour criticized the proposed fund deeming it a increases on him. Mhannah urged the formation of a Š foundation concerned with nursing the elderly who are for squandering public money, especially that it is not renting residences to live in. based on proper statistics and research addressing the size of the problem, the number of old tenants and the reality Eline Neemeh of rented buildings. Dr. Eline Neemeh from the Association of Landlords placed the constitution above all other considerations and Hassan Nsouli counter-argued Dr. Moghrabi saying that it should prevail Representing the Syndicate of Landlords, Hassan Nsouli over all international treaties and agreements. Neemeh urged a clear determination of the Lebanese economic asserted that, contrary to common belief, the new Rent system arguing that the system, which is largely free, Act came as no surprise and had been under discussion becomes market-oriented when it comes to rents only. since 1992. She pointed that staying at a residence for “It is established that any agreement is a function of forty years and being entitled to another 12 years now, i.e. mutual consent between the concerned parties. As far as 52 years in total, should be more than enough for tenants, the old lease agreements are concerned, this consent has warning that the repeal of the law by the President of the expired 83 years ago but through inequitable laws, the Republic, should it happen, would bring things back to R& scratch. those tenants who pass down the dwellings to their sons #P ‹ Antoine Karam to the fact that the old rented buildings have become Speaking for the Committee for Tenants’ Rights, Engineer uninhabitable and might collapse any time because the Antoine Karam considered the right to housing and to landlords are incapable of renovating and maintaining the intellectual property as sacred, pointing that the tragedy buildings with the negligible rental fees they obtain, urging befalls both tenants and landlords alike and the solution the liberation of contracts on the grounds that however does not reside in the proposed Rent Act, because the Act long the tenant resides in a certain dwelling, this does not might realize what the Civil War could not realize, causing qualify him to occupy the residence permanently nor does the displacement of people across all regions and sects. V ˆ Saudi model of contract liberation, suggesting that such a Dr. Mohammad Saleh begged to differ with Dr. Neemeh’s model can lead to reduced prices, one of the advantages assertion, prioritizing international covenants and treaties of the new Rent Act. over the Constitution.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PUBLIC SECTOR | 11 MILITARY GOVERNMENTS IN LEBANON

Since Lebanon’s independence in 1943 until the resignation of Najib Mikati’s government in March 2013 and its transition toward a caretaker system that continued to operate even !" #!"#$% governments surfaced in times of crises and it remains to be seen whether the experience with military governments in Lebanon will be repeated again.

&"# Lebanon endured in 1952 a severe political crisis, lead President El-Khoury to realize that his demise whose signs had started to manifest themselves in 1947 was inevitable. And so, Fouad Chehab, the then when early general elections, branded as fraudulent, Commander of the Army, was appointed as head of were held to bring to power a new legislature that a tripartite transitional government formed by virtue would support the aspirations of the President of the of Decree No. 9442, dated September 18, 1952. The Republic, Sheikh Bechara El-Khoury, to remain in government consisted of: '*@*€ Lebanese Army Commander Fouad Chehab renewal of Khoury’s presidential term, together with (Maronite): Prime Minister and Minister of the public criticism directed at him and the rumors National Defense and Interior. of corruption that targeted his brother, Selim, dubbed O{ {P & Nazem Akkari (Sunni): Vice Prime Minister and against the President. These resulted in the formation Minister of Foreign affairs, Public Works, National of an opposing parliamentary front that called for his Education, Post and Telegraph, Information, resignation. Against the strike staged to force him out Agriculture and Health. Y Ž#‘ crisis by forming a cabinet under Nazem Akkari on ‰ € ƒQ G“  September 9, 1952. The Akkari government survived National Economy, Social Affairs, Justice and & Finance. before Parliament. On the same day, President Bechara El-Khoury On September 14, a number of MPs submitted a handed his resignation to Parliament. As soon as he petition to the Speaker urging him to relay to the  President his people’s desire to oust him. The petition by saying: included the following: “In compliance with the “His Excellency President Bechara El-Khoury has we, the undersigned, hereby urge the President submitted his resignation to Parliament and I, as per † $ Constitution, have taken charge as Prime Minister. his resignation. Anyone who takes sides with the The Cabinet, which consists of myself and of Mr. President is considered to be defying the public will Nazem Akkari and Mr. Bassil Trad will be assuming P the presidential duties in pursuance of Article 62 of the Lebanese Constitution, until it becomes feasible That same day, President Bechara El-Khoury made for Parliament to elect a new president as soon as a second attempt requesting Nazem Akkari to resign possible. from his post and designating Saeb Salam to form a new government. However, the Salam government And while I supplicate the Lord to guide Lebanon was also short-lived and could not appear before toward what secures its welfare and the contentment Y of its citizens, I urge all the Lebanese to resort to

issue 142 | May 2014 12 | PUBLIC SECTOR

utter self-composure and to cling to solidarity and from the Phalangists and the combatants allied fraternity among themselves and not to stage any with them, thus prompting the Army’s intervention demonstration of any kind in order to fend off the in an indirect manner. It had been mentioned that potential implications that may disturb security and && P happen following the formation of a government that would take upon itself such a responsibility or Following the election of Camille Chamoun to the the appointment of a Prime Minister who would Presidency of the Republic on September 23, PM provide a political cover for it. Fouad Chehab handed him his letter of resignation which read as follows: Clashes were intensifying and expanding so “Whereas the mission of the government I chaired uncontrollably that many labeled them as has come to an end upon your election as President OP of the Republic, and whereas your election has paved way for the emergence of a new constitutional Chiyyah and Ain Remmaneh. government, my fellows in power and I, hereby approach you with our resignation, hoping that Your Below is the lineup of the government: Excellency’s mandate will bring ease and prosperity † ‰ Q ‹" P Rifai (Sunni): Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Public Health, Industry and Oil. € #& & „ #& |{‰Q & & ‚Š ‘ ƒQ G“ • Y and assumed a caretaker status for another seven Minister and Minister of Information, National days, without appearing in Parliament or presenting Education and Fine Arts. a ministerial statement. "  Q „ First military government "Qƒ“‹ € & Defense and Electrical and Hydraulic Resources. formed entirely by members of the military was during the 1975 Civil War. On the heels of the escalating  { Q { ˆ ‹ violence and the resignation of PM Rashid As-Solh, (Druze): Minister of Interior, Housing and and against failure to form a cabinet under Rashid Cooperatives. Karami or Saeb Salam, President Suleiman Frangieh resorted to forming a military government on May ‰ Q V „ Ž#‘ 23, 1975. Several developments accompanied the ƒ{“Ž€Q formation of the government: Planning. Extreme political pressure on the President of the Republic to designate Karami without any prior ‰Q ‰‚ƒQ condition or agreement regarding the deployment Catholic): Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Post, of the Lebanese Army to bring back order. Telegraph and Telephone.

Counter pressures protesting the designation ‰ Q – „  of Karami and advocating any Sunni showing (Shia’a): Minister of Public Works and Transport and of Agriculture.

Meetings and communications with Arab Lucient Mounir Dahdah (Maronite): the only non- ambassadors in order to reach a truce, which the military member of the government. He handled Lebanese state would announce responsibly and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants would delegate joint Lebanese-Palestinian military and of Tourism. committees to execute this truce, independently

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PUBLIC SECTOR | 13

This government, which was considered a last- government before the expiry of the presidential term ditch attempt to prevent chaos, was greeted with and there was a suggestion to nominate Suleiman staunch political opposition by different blocs and Frangieh as Prime Minister on the condition that he movements, more precisely by Saeb Salam, Rashid withdrew from the presidential battle, a proposition Karami, Raymond Edde and Kamal Jumblat (see his that failed to gain support from the Lebanese Forces, stance at the end of the article), while it drew strong YYYQ YQ Meantime, the US-Syrian negotiations mediated Against its failure to elicit the desired impact, the by Richard Murphey conduced to agreement over government ended up tendering its resignation on Mikhael Daher as a presidential candidate. The May 26, three days after its formation, without agreement scheduled to materialize in the election standing before Parliament or submitting a ministerial session on September 22 was challenged by the statement. It continued its caretaker responsibilities ƒY"Q until a new government headed by Rashid Karami Forces, Phalanges Party, Al-Ahrar and the Army was formed in July 1975. Q"„   Second military government notorious warning: “It is either Mikhael Daher or P ‰ € Y" QR and speedy negotiations kicked off to form a {+'*‡‡` transitional government. days in power, he maintained indefatigable efforts to extend his mandate for another year or two, but to no Several propositions arose to defy the deadlock. avail. Having failed at his endeavor, he set out in his However, the idea of Dani Chamoun replacing his last hours as President to form a new government that father and Omar Karami replacing his brother was would assume the presidential functions until a new also rejected by the Christians, and the calls on MP president was elected, for the existing government Pierre El-Helou to form a government hit a snag. had been operating under a caretaker status following the resignation of PM Rashid Karami on May 4, 1987 Options were narrowed down under tight time and his death later on June 1, 1987 in an explosion that constraints, and the last two decrees under Amine targeted the helicopter transporting him from Tripoli Q'^ ‰ ‰ Y " Q the night of September 22/23, 1988. issued a decree appointing the Minister of Labor, National Education and Fine Arts in the resigned '# ($ )* stipulated the appointment of government, Salim El-Hoss, as acting Prime Minister Q"Y who would serve as caretaker until a new government was formed. 2- Decree No. 5388 stipulated the formation of a government consisting of the Lebanese Army But the formation of the government was delayed and Military Council as follows: the country transitioned into the presidential elections Q  ‹ " ƒ“ Y phase when Speaker Hussein Husseini called for a Minister and Minister of National Defense and parliamentary session on August 18, 1988 to elect Information. a new President of the Republic. However, only 38 MPs appeared in Parliament at the scheduled date,  „ ‹ " ‚ ƒQ which entailed the postponement of the session. Orthodox): Vice Prime Minister and Minister On September 2, PM Salim El-Hoss addressed a of Post, Telecommunications, Housing, Y Q Cooperatives, Economy and Trade. government wished to retract its resignation, but the President responded with a counter letter detailing ‰QŽ ƒQ the unconstitutionality and unlawfulness of the Catholic): Minister of Finance, Industry and Oil. demand. Efforts continued to shape a new transitional

issue 142 | May 2014 14 | PUBLIC SECTOR

Kamal Jumblat: Against military rule ŠQ €‰| “First, this is a violation of the constitutional (Druze): Minister of Public Works and Transport, norms, which entail that the appointed Prime Tourism and Labor. Minister refers to the highest representative power, Parliament, to make the necessary consultations ‰ Q ‹  " with all the country’s political blocs and parties. Quraytem (Sunni): Minister of Interior, Foreign Therefore the formation of this government is Affairs and National Education and Fine Arts. deemed an infringement of the constitution and not one President has dared to make such a transgression  ˆ ‚ ƒ{R“  before, even during the French mandate period. Electrical and Hydraulic Resources, Agriculture and Justice. Second, this government is encouraging military However, Muslim ministers (Abou Dargham, swirl of military governments. Qraytem, Jaber) announced their resignation from the government immediately after the decrees were Third, we are against any military rule in Lebanon out pledged their support to Salim El-Hoss. And for it is the parties, the syndicates and the civic so, September 24 marked the prelude to reinforcing divisions: a civilian government under Salim Eh- represent the Lebanese people. We have always Hoss at the Serail against a military one under Michel prided ourselves for being the only Arab country Aoun at the Baabda Palace. The situation remained as with a democratic parliamentary system enjoying such until the election of Elias El-Hrawi as President full liberties and adopting the principle of popular on November 24, 1989. sovereignty.

Future military government Fourth, the military rule would divide the country Prior to the 1990 Taif Accord, the President of the in an alarming manner, especially given our Republic was the sole authority entitled to designate knowledge that the majority considers it a direct and appoint the Prime Minister. The appointment of slap to their national will and their right to full the Cabinet was no exception to this rule provided that participation and to be represented by a Muslim "^ Lebanese Constitution stipulates that the President of in Lebanon and expresses the will of the Muslims. the Republic shall appoint ministers, nominate from among them a Prime Minister and dismiss them from Fifth, this is indicative of the involvement of some P entities in the Phalanges’ operations in preparation for the rise of military power. The situation changed drastically after the Taef "{ Sixth, the military rule would pose a threat to government became subject to binding parliamentary the existence of the Palestinians in Lebanon and consultations carried out by the President of the to the resistance in particular, much as it would Republic and disclosed to the Speaker of Parliament, meaning that the selection of a Prime Minister became dictated by a quasi-election process rather than the challenge. decision and will of the President. Seventh, the formation of this government would Therefore, the arising of a new military government undoubtedly harm our relations with the Arab is not possible in the future, except if the majority of world, as most of the Arab governments would be Parliament were to approve it. harboring fears from any internal abuse against the Palestinians, the resistance and the majority of the P

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PUBLIC SECTOR | 15

LEBANON’S MPS: UNDERWORKED YET OVERPAID

The mandate of the legislature elected on June 9, 2009 expired on June 20, 2013. Parliamentary elections should have occurred prior to the end of the parliamentary tenure but the situation unfolding in Lebanon as a result of the unrest in Syria and the sharp political and sectarian divisions, coupled with the failure to decide on a new electoral law that would draw unanimous consensus have prevented the holding of #+!/7!#$

Term extension law Lebanon’s Parliament held on May 31, 2013, the day Despite the validity of some of the above-mentioned marking the end of its regular mandate, a session Š that approved Law no. 246, which authorized the extension of the mandate. extension of the legislature’s mandate by 17 months to expire on November 20, 2014 Financial Cost Since the beginning of its extended mandate on Below are the compelling reasons listed for the June 20, 2013 to date (March 20, 2014), Parliament approval of the extension: has convened only once on October 22, 2013 to The security turmoil plaguing the country with elect the parliamentary committees and members clear and direct implications for the normality of of the bureau. Although supervisory and legislative life in many regions across Lebanon activities are at the heart of the parliamentary work, The critical political escalation and divisions, no sessions have been convened for these purposes. which frequently assume sharp sectarian Apart from the few MPs who persist in attending the dimensions, threatening the stirring up of strife. parliamentary committees’ meetings, the majority of The unrestrained use of weapons disturbing the parliamentarians are practically unemployed, yet they stability of the regions and the image of the state. continue to receive their regular pay and allocations, The call from both Arab and foreign countries for which amount to LBP 10,943,375 per MP every their citizens to leave Lebanon. month. The cost of all MPs combined thus then soars The negative implications of the much anticipated to LBP 1,400,752,000 or USD 930,000 monthly. presidential elections on the suffering economy, and the commercial and tourism sectors. € The existence of several similar precedents in the allocated to MPs since their extension of the mandate past. stand at roughly LBP 12,606,768,000 or USD 8.4 Under exceptional circumstances, an exceptional million, in exchange for no legislative productivity. legitimacy arises allowing the legislature to It remains to be seen whether the chamber has the contravene the provisions and principles of the courage to approve a law that would freeze the pay of constitution or the rules that carry a constitutional YŠ value in preservation of the general order (as was emboldened to prolong their mandate earlier. per the Resolution issued by the Constitutional Council and used as a basis for the extension)

issue 142 | May 2014 16 | PUBLIC SECTOR

VACANCIES IN GRADE 1 POSTS BY SECT

G R Q ' @@ && Head of the Higher Council of Customs (June 2011) By sect, the vacancies are distributed as follows: Vice President of the Council for Development and Reconstruction (The Council’s tenure expired in 2009 Sunni: 14 Posts and the Vice President continues to assume his functions) Q&ƒ+==+ `Y|Qƒ+==^ Maronite: 10 Posts ˆGQŽ†GƒG+==^ |QGƒ+==+ Member of the Higher Council of Customs (January Member of the Higher Council of Customs (2006) 2005) ˆ | Q R ˆ | Q ˆ Institute (May 2007) Administrative Affairs at the Presidency of the Republic Chairman of the National Institute of Administration (September 2006) (January 2008) Member of the Council for South Lebanon (2006) |Q"$ƒ+='= | Q ‹ „ |Q‹"&ƒ"+='= Administration (July 2008) |Qƒ‚+='= President of the Council for Development and Vice President of the Council for Development and Reconstruction (The Council’s tenure expired in 2009 Reconstruction (January 2011) and the President continues to assume his functions) | Q &  |Q&"&ƒ|+='= Agriculture (2011) Y { | Q  |Q†Ž"ƒ+=' Interior and Municipalities (June 2011) | Q „& |& Greek Catholics: 4 Posts Authority of Lebanon (The IDAL’s tenure expired in Head of the Economic and Social Council (since the ‚+==*|Q expiry of the Council’s tenure in 2008) his position) Head of the Beirut Stock Exchange Committee |Q‚ƒ‹& (February 2009) 2013) |Q†‰ Head of the Higher Relief Committee (November 2013) of Public Works and Transport (November 2010) |Q€ ƒ+=' Druze: 3 Posts |Q|ƒ+==+ &=>7< | Q  {R Q&‰ƒ‚+==^ Affairs in Parliament (April 2013) |Qƒ+==} |Q&{&R&ƒ+=' {Q|& Reconstruction (The council’s tenure expired end of ;< 2009) |Q{"ƒ‚ |Qˆ€" 2005) the Prime Ministry (Vacant since years) | Q  Ž Q„„ƒŽ+='+ Commerce (November 2005) |Q" {QYƒˆ at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (July 2013) 2005. Yet, he proceeds with his functions temporarily) Chair of the Central Fund for the Displaced (March |Qˆ" 2014) Prime Ministry (2007) In addition to the above-mentioned vacant posts, seven new |QŽ{ posts have been introduced recently and we are yet to know (April 2011) to which sects they will be assigned. These posts are:

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PUBLIC SECTOR | 17

Q&" Q&‰ˆ Ombudsman Head of Liban Telecom Head of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (This post is likely to be passed down from the Evangelicals to the Maronite) |QŽ–€ |Q„

Reality of Grade 1 posts and their equivalent Table 1 Sect Posts Occupied Vacant Maronite 44 34 10 Greek Orthodox 12 5 7 Greek Catholic 13 9 4 Armenian Orthodox 3 3 - Shia’a 33 26 7 Sunni 31 18 13 Druze 11 8 3 Alawi 1 1 - Total 148 103 45 Source: Information International based on official vacancies and appointments

New Appointments The Tamam Salam government has approved 15 appointments to the following positions: Date of Post Name of the appointee Sect Appointment Previous position Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation Samir Hammoud Sunni April 2, 2014 Acting Public Prosecutor Director General of Internal Security Forces Ibrahim Basbous Sunni April 2, 2014 Acting Director General First Deputy Governor of Banque du Liban Raed Sharafeddine Shia’a March 31, 2014 Same position Second Deputy Governor of Banque du Liban Saad Amine Endari Druze March 31, 2014 Same position Third Deputy Governor of Banque du Mohammad Ahmad Liban Baasiri Sunni March 31, 2014 Same position Fourth Deputy Governor of Banque du Armenian Liban Harout Samuelian Orthodox March 31, 2014 Same position Director General of Political Affairs and the Displaced at the Ministry of Interior Faten Ali Younes Shia’a April 2, 2014 First Auditor at the Audit Court and Municipalities Director General of the Lebanese Head of Technical Department at the Standards Institution Lana Youssef Dergham Maronite April 2, 2014 Lebanese Standards Institution Governor of the South Mansour Adeeb Daou Druze April 2, 2014 Qaemaqam of Aley Head of the Audit Court Ahmad Hamdan Shia’a April 2, 2014 First Investigative Judge in Beqa’a Health, Social and Agricultural Public Administrative Inspector at the Inspector at the Central Inspection Habib Chafik Merhi Maronite April 2, 2014 Central Inspection. Chairman and Director General of Electricité du Liban Kamal Hayek Maronite April 2, 2014 Same position Head of the Administrative and Director General of the National Jean Abi Fadel Maronite April 2, 2014 Financial Affairs Department at the Employment Office National Employment Office Director General for Cereals and Sugar Head of the Cultural and Fine Arts Beets Hannah Boulos Amil Maronite April 2, 2014 Department at the Ministry of Culture. Fatima Sayegh Consultant at the State’s Shura Head of the Civil Service Council Ouwaydat Sunni April 16, 2014 Council Source: Appointments issued by the Cabinet

issue 142 | May 2014 18 | PUBLIC SECTOR

WHEN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BORROWS FUNDS FROM ITS EMPLOYEE

He who follows the course of events in Lebanon’s public administrations and ministries is likely to come across numerous cases that would induce not only wonder but even ridicule and irony. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education stood testament to the satiric peculiarities marring public administrations, when one of its employees undertook the #!@#"+@#=!/QU that were paid off later at zero interest. Why was he the one to provide the funding and not others? And why did 50 people attend an event that should in principle have been limited to players and to a few administrators and coaches?

Facts In June 2011, the Ministry of Education and Higher the fees of participation in the championship. As part of Education received an invitation from the Secretary the arrangement, the Cabinet issued Decision No. 124, Q " ` Y Ž dated October 5, 2011 whereby it approved Lebanon’s and School Sports to participate in the Arab Schools’ participation in the tournament and the transfer of the Championship hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia funds necessary from the Budget Reserves to cover in the city of Al-Taif between September 24, 2011 and the necessary expenses. The Ministry of Education October 7, 2011. and Higher Education later devised a reconciliation agreement to repay Mr. Hammoud and the agreement G " ' +=''  was approved by the Legislation Advisory Committee intention to participate and referred the matter to the at the Ministry of Justice on November 28, 2011. Cabinet for approval, requesting funding worth LBP *=Q& Delegation had still not approved of the funding by the date of The delegation formed by Minister of Education departure, Mr. Adnan Hammoud, Head of the Sports and Higher Education, Hassan Diab, consisted of 50 and Scout Activities Unit, decided to bear the costs of members: the delegation’s trip, training and equipment as well as

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PUBLIC SECTOR | 19

Tips: LBP 240,000 Chair of delegation 1 Deputy chair 2 Medications: LBP 97,000 Player 26 While some of the above expenses may seem Referee 2 feasible, skepticism surrounds the costs reported Coache 2 for accommodation and transport as well as those pertaining to training and equipment, particularly as Assistant coache 2 accommodation expenses are incumbent on the host Physiotherapist 2 country. Therefore the allocated amount might have been spent on the participation of team members and Technical coordinator 1 administrators at an average of USD 50 per diem. Administrator 2 Lebanon’s attendance in the championships, and Physician 2 Financial officer 1 attendance, lead to the following remarks:

Press officer 2 What are the motives and reasons that might push a civil Administrative supervisor 1 && fees from his personal money prior to the Cabinet’s Equipment officer 1 approval? If the Cabinet had refused to approve the Technical director 1 funding, who would have paid him back? Head of the Arab Union’s Technical Committee 1 (Mr. Adnan Hammoud) Why would the Cabinet delay in approving the Member of the Arab Union’s Scientific Committee 1 & reconciliation agreement with the right holder and Total 50 subsequently an approval from the Legislation Source: Minutes of Cabinet session dated 5-10-2011 Advisory Committee?

Distribution of Expenses What is the point of such a large multiple-member The expenses amounted to LBP 90.054 million and R broke down as follows: are in such a precarious state? Airline tickets: LBP 27,597,000 or LBP 525,000 per ticket Why did the government not seek private sponsorship for this event so as to spare the Treasury further Accommodation and transport expenses in the spending, even if many considered it to be modest and KSA: LBP 40,099,000 relatively affordable (USD 40,000)?

Equipment and training: LBP 18,721,000

Contribution to the Arab Union for Physical Education and School Sports: LBP 3 million

Insurance: LBP 300,000

issue 142 | May 2014 20| PROMINENT FORGOTTEN FIGURES HASSAN CHALAK

Hassan Chalak left a non-erasable mark on the Lebanese administration and remains to date one of the most recognizable personalities to public institutions. On the ninth anniversary of his death, Dr. Chalak, the minister, university professor and former president of the Civil Service Council deserves to be remembered.

Birth and Marriage Hassan Salim Chalak was born to a poor family on May 15, 1934 in the Ejd Ebrin town of the Koura Qada’a. He had four siblings- two brothers and two sisters- and got married to Khadija Chalak who bore him 3 children: Nadine, Hadi and Salim.

He pursued elementary education at the Maqassed Islamic Charitable School, named at the time in his town “Committees for Educating the Children Y  •P the College of Islamic Education in Tripoli and obtained his secondary degree from a public high school in 1957. He moved to Cairo where he pursued his law studies between 1958 and 1962 and it was not until 1989 that he obtained his state doctorate in general law from the Lebanese University. His thesis addressed administrative reform in Lebanon (1952-1983).

Career Chalak began his professional career as a teacher at the Beit Leef and Bint Jbeil schools in 1956. As soon as obtained his law degree, he shifted to administration and took on the following positions: Hassan Chalak He shifted to administration and took on the following positions: Supervisor at the Civil Service Board from April Head of the Civil Service Board from 1992 until 17, 163 until 1968 May 1998 when he retired. First supervisor at the Civil Service Board from However, retirement was not the end of his 168 until 1970 professional career but rather a portal that Head of the Supervision and Studies Department enabled him to assume an even higher post. In at the Civil Service Board from 1970 until 1988. December 1998, he was appointed as Minister of "|Q" State for Administrative Reform and remained YRG'*‡‡'**+ G+‡+===

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PROMINENT FORGOTTEN FIGURES |21

Professor at the Lebanese University and at the Council? Why weren’t our reports published in Higher Judicial Institute. G QV ™„& Ministerial work Service Council and ministers would be resolved During his tenure as Minister of State for unless the CSC President was summoned to the Administrative Reform, Chalak’s work revolved Cabinet. Today however, the Cabinet no longer mainly around the following: takes the CSC opinion into account until after it Ž realizes the adverse effects of the issue at hand and respect and modernizing its structure. acknowledges the soundness of its opinion, which P Developing human capital and keeping the work force in light of the most recent technologies Chalak believed that the administrative reform & cannot be realized through the dismissal of employees but rather through the wise selection Spreading a new administrative culture through and training of staff, the clear determination of their the organization of workshops that address rights and obligations as well as through tangible & rewards and punishments, of which dismissal is implications as well as the management of one example. human resources the modernization of the bidding mechanisms. The Audit Court stood up to the President of the Republic Camille Chamoun in 1955 and protested Publications over a World Bank loan amounting to USD 27 Hassan Chalak left numerous writing and million to establish the Litani River Authority. compositions including: Imagine what it has got to be like today for USD Administrative Reform in Lebanon 18 billion!

Lebanese Administration: Past, Present and Chalak branded the state administration as a Hoped-For Future wilderness abounding with wicked beasts that ought to be purged and converted into a heaven for the Dozens of lectures and papers tackling the righteous. He reported that the annual CSC report Lebanese administration and public institutions he drafted in 1998 was the main trigger for the and the reforms achieved under Camille battle waged against him, for it covered his holistic Chamoun and Fouad Chehab. conception of the problems, obstacles and behind- the-scenes secrets of the Lebanese administration, Positions in the run-up to his retirement. In his report, In response to statements attributed to late PM Chalak held the ruling class accountable for the †ˆˆ deterioration of the Lebanese public administration Chalak was good at memorizing laws at the Civil indirectly and expressed his opinions frankly Service Council but not as good at implementing # them, Chalak said: “if there is some truth in those {Š Y†ˆ& he entered it, and viewed that he has paid dearly from appearing in Parliament? Why was I denied for attempting to free the Lebanese administration appearance before the Cabinet every time a dispute from the grip of politicians. arose between a minister and the Civil Service

issue 142 | May 2014 22 | ELECTORAL LAWS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN PORTUGAL

V+U+!#@ became a democratic republic. Portuguese parliamentary representation is restricted to a single chamber known as the Assembly of the Republic. Under the Portuguese system, the President enjoys limited prerogatives while the real power resides with the government, which stems from Parliament.

Voting Age Portuguese citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to accounting for 58% of the total eligible voters. The vote. Women did not qualify for this right until 1976. results broke down as follows: Social Democratic Party: 108 seats Socialist Party: 74 seats Number of Seats People’s Party: 24 seats The Assembly of the Republic consists of 230 Democratic Unionist Alliance: 16 seats members elected by direct vote. They are distributed Left Bloc: 8 seats as follows: 226 members representing the residents of Portugal in 20 electoral districts, the largest of Portuguese Proportionality- The D’Hondt which is the capital, Lisbon, which is allocated 47 Method seats. Members of the unicameral legislature are For instance, the total votes cast for each list/party elected in proportion to their number of registered ^# & electors. 1, then by 2, then 3 right up to 5. For each of the 2 members representing the Portuguese voters 5 highest quotients produced after the division, the residing in Europe. corresponding party obtains a seat. 2 members representing the Portuguese in the rest of the world. R@=& '==€&$“@=&#+=&# 13,4 votes- 10 and 8. Voting System The Assembly of the Republic is elected directly in one For the second party, which gained 25 votes, the electoral round where voters can vote according to a quotients would be: 25 votes- 12,5 votes- 8,4 votes- closed list proportional representation system that adopts 6,2 and 5 votes the method of the Belgian mathematician Victor D’Hondt, which is a highest averages method for allocating, favoring In the case of the third party, which received 15 votes, large coalitions over scattered small parties. the quotients would be: 15 votes- 7,5 votes- 5 votes- 3,7 votes and 3. %># The Assembly of the Republic is elected for four years. The quotients corresponding to the fourth party with 10 votes would be: 10 votes- 5 votes- 3,4 votes- 2,5 and 2 votes. Most Recent Elections The most recent Portuguese elections were held "|Rˆ on June 5, 2011 following the dissolution of the entitled to 3 seats, the second to 2 and the third party Assembly of the Republic and the call for early to 1 seat, whereas the fourth party returns from the elections. The number of voters stood at 5,525,254 electoral round empty-handed.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. HEALTH |23

POST-TRAUMATIC HEADACHES (A MODERN EPIDEMIC) |Dr. Hanna Saadah|

The three commonest causes of traumatic head and neck injuries are: 1) motor vehicle accidents, 2) falls and sports-related mishaps, and 3) blast injuries from explosions. Although it is counter intuitive that minor head and neck injuries can cause more disabling headaches than major ones, nevertheless, that seems to be the consistent clinical observation. Hence, current terminology refers to traumatic head and neck injuries as either mild-and-nonstructural, or as severe-and-structural. This article deals only with the mild-and-nonstructural types.

Š Unlike the many other headache types where women the incidence and chronicity of post-traumatic constitute the majority of sufferers; in the Seattle study, headaches. In cultures where stoicism is high and men and women were equally represented. Moreover, the expectations of post-traumatic headaches are low, those over age 60 tended to develop fewer headaches the incidence and chronicity are quite low. However, than their younger counterparts. in cultures where stoicism is low and expectations of post-traumatic headaches are high, the incidence Common Imaging-studies of the head and neck are and chronicity are quite high. Consequently, highly always done but are seldom helpful. If they show minor developed societies report higher incidences than the structural changes, these changes do not correlate & # with the clinical state and persist unchanged whether traumatic headaches continues to evolve. the headaches resolve, improve, or become chronic. Imaging-studies mainly serve to rule out some of the Post-traumatic headaches can include migraine serious structural consequences of trauma such as headaches, tension headaches, cluster headaches, fractures, hematomas, contusions, intracranial bleeds, neck-strain headaches, whiplash headaches and mixed or brain edema. headache syndromes. Pre-existing headaches can also worsen after trauma. Thus, post-traumatic headaches Whereas soft-tissue bodily injuries usually heal represent a wide spectrum of headache types, with most quickly, neck injuries do not seem to heal well in patients experiencing more than one type at any one post-traumatic headache victims. Moreover, the Oˆ&™P disturbances to head and neck that cause the post- a good question to ask patients who have suffered from traumatic headache syndrome are submicroscopic, head or neck trauma. With millions of concussions metabolic, neurochemical, and may only be detected occurring globally, post-traumatic headaches have with special research tools that are not yet applicable become a common cause of physical and mental to clinical use. Invisible, nonstructural, and poorly disabilities. & # traumatic headaches today. Different studies from different parts of the world report post-traumatic headaches in 30% to 90% of those The management of post-traumatic headaches is injured. Headaches may begin soon after the injury complex and not standardized. Headache doctors or may develop weeks, months or even years later. tend to treat post-traumatic headaches according to the Although most post-traumatic headaches do improve types they manifest. If the types are mainly episodic with time, about a quarter may persist longer than a migraine and tension, then the usual treatments for year and some may even become persistent, lasting for these two types are given. If the headache is continuous many years or even for life. and persistent, other treatments are tried based on the physician’s experience and the available literature. A prospective study from Seattle (Lucas et al. Treatments are individualized and they vary widely, Cephalalgia, Vol. 34(2) 2014) followed 212 post- and may involve medications, injections, physical traumatic patients for a year. They recorded headaches therapy, exercises, and psychotherapy. Moreover, in more than half of the patients, and found that most therapeutic trials, which may work for one individual, may not work for another. tended to persist for a year or more in about one third of sufferers. Headaches that were severe and occurred Head and neck trauma not only can cause new soon after trauma, in contrast to those that developed headaches, it can also worsen the preexisting ones plus later on, portended frequent and chronic headaches. add new headache types to them. It is fortunate that About two thirds of the headaches began more than one most patients do improve with time, but the sizable week after the injury, and about half of the headaches minority of chronic sufferers does present an ongoing were migraine types. therapeutic and medical challenge. www.hannasaadah.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] issue 142 | May 2014 24|EYEING HORIZONS

|Antoine Boutros| FRACTAL MATHEMATICS

%+!##@ of chaos. Usually, the human heart beats at a regular rate and can therefore be presented as a perfect example for the dynamics of regularity. Our article this month will tackle a number of theories- such as the theory of chaos and the fractal mathematics emanating thereof- that could be employed as new and unconventional portals to medicine and treatment.

Topology is a branch of mathematics that studies the Fractal specialists often invite their readers to & contemplate these representations in the hope of deformations including stretching and bending. The € study of topology began with the French mathematician thing to perceive upon observation of these patterns is ˆY their similarity to the forms and shapes found in nature. mathematicians of recent years. He is also recognized Yet, these patterns are in fact simulated representations, & " the element of chaos in nature. Merging topology with dynamical systems facilitates the determination of the they are not actual mountains and bushes- neither aggregate behavior of these systems. on earth nor on the moon or on any other planet- but rather various simulated representations poured out In fact, the fractal uses modern dynamics to represent from the imagination and the mathematical equation a complex series of patterns or observations. The of their illustrator. They are geometric computerized shapes characterized by their utter simplicity, for each and fascinating art often gives rise to exquisite results. detail therein is generated by a set of instructions, not €&$ exceeding a few lines, given to a computer, which them to belong in the artistic realm, in the fullest sense undertakes their illustration via repetition, by using a of the word. Yet, they, in fact, are nothing more but one different scale every time. It may also be observed that of the derivatives of math. these patterns are nothing like traditional geometry and & & of their fractal dimensions, where each dimension may data into intricate graphic images that are far from be less than an integer, which makes them convenient conventional in the sense that they are not straight to solve numerous natural phenomena whose features lines, angles, squares, circles, triangles or polygons change with time. and so on, but are rather complex patterns similar to a For tens of thousands of years, men have learned to large extent to what we can see in nature: in mountains, carve and color surfaces to come up with pictures that valleys and tree branches in spiral-like colorful somehow represent reality, and the caves abounding combinations. These patterns are characterized by with ancient depictions are countless. However, distinctive features and similar details, with every computer-generated images are completely different, detail being an identical repetition of the mother requiring additional skills, because for the device to structure, thus making the patterns self-similar. The illustrate the thoughts of the painter on the screen, one iterated self-similar constructs are not intended to must translate these thoughts into the language of the only generate unusual graphical representations device, i.e. the binary system. out of habit but aim to use mathematics to simulate ambiguous phenomena in nature and to contemplate Certainly, in addition to the digital binary language, their expansion and dynamics to study the underlying there must be a certain logic that runs the device. But chaos through graphical representative models. before we can proceed to explain fractals, we must Whereas traditional curved shapes and lines seem and computerized graphics. exhibit self-similar and minute branching patterns.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. www.irthsumer.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] INTERVIEW |25

THE MONTHLY INTERVIEWS

ROLA AL-MOURAD

“THE 10452 KM2 PARTY AIMS TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT”

The past ten years have been marked by the birth of several political parties and associations in Lebanon. Of these parties, which total nearly 50, is a newly burgeoning party dubbed the 10452 KM2 Party. For more insight into the objectives, functions and members of the 10452 KM2 Party, The Monthly conducted an interview with the party’s co-founder Mrs. Rola Al-Mourad.

Rola Al-Mourad When and why was the new 10452 KM2 Party formed? The party was established in March 2014 after a landscape by encouraging them to express their culmination of several years of social and public choices and beliefs freely and independently from efforts that a group of female friends and I had the patriarchal supremacy of fathers or husbands. spearheaded through social, cultural and political Those days when women were held captive by activism and involvement in diverse symposiums the four walls of their household and the choices and seminars. We realized that these events did of men are long gone and a great future lies ahead not live up to the aspirations and the objectives for the Lebanese woman who has demonstrated her intended for giving the Lebanese woman the role she deserves in public life and in politics. Š Despite her membership in political parties, unfortunately, the Lebanese woman plays no lead What are the principles that the 10452 KM2 Party maintains? presence in Parliament and in the elected municipal The principles we live by include: and ekhtiyariyah councils remains very modest. Separating state and religion and rebuilding Our new political party has a clear mission to the state in a way that is guaranteed to ensure accentuate the female role and to empower women full separation of government and religious towards a productive contribution to the political affairs. Religion should be taught in households,

issue 142 | May 2014 26| INTERVIEW

churches and mosques, not inculcated in schools, injustices such as the children of the Lebanese towards the attainment of a civil state, especially women married to non-Lebanese spouses and that sectarianism was, admittedly, one of the the women living in isolated rural areas. We also primary reasons that triggered the Lebanese aim to strengthen the ties between the residents of Civil War and its persistence reinforces the Lebanon and the Lebanese diasporas abroad and to promote citizenship and the concept of being “a VP Working towards social justice and helping the marginalized classes by reconsidering the Is membership limited to women? existing rules and regulations, mainly those š & # pertaining to income tax laws. in the Arab world and therefore the doors of membership will be open strictly for women in the Achieving sustainable development and initial stages. Men are welcomed to join later but balancing services and opportunities in an they won’t be assigned any key positions. What equitable manner between large cities and rural we really want is for women to realize their actual areas and outskirts such as Akkar and Hermel, worth and assume their active role in promoting which suffer dreary living conditions. domestic peace, a role which we deem them more $ Halting the foreign acquisition of Lebanese land. understanding of nurturing and motherhood. This law is sixty years old and was issued under different economic circumstances. It is true that What is the role that the party has to play now the foreign land acquisition has sparked urban as Lebanon moves closer to parliamentary expansion and attracted foreign capital and elections? deposits, but it has ushered many challenges on We are gearing up for the elections, even before the other hand including but not restricted to the the issuance of the electoral law, and we will stark decline in the Lebanese capacity to own nominate the largest possible number of female land and property due to the surge in prices. Soon, candidates within electoral lists in order to enhance & their chances of success. I believe that our success any land at all and this would be a horrible will push us many steps forward, which will crime against future generations. We are all too create a dynamic to delve into future challenges absorbed in politics and security issues to realize such as ministership and the 2016 municipal and that the essence of the problem is elsewhere. ekhtiyariyah elections. Even if all our political and security crises were solved in the upcoming days or months, the real Do you have any last words? problem would still linger. I hope that the Lebanese will greet our bourgeoning party with support and positivism because What are you mostly involved in at this stage? empowering women is tantamount to empowering We are only just emerging and we are now seeking the entire nation. € Beirut. We are also planning to open the door for nominations for membership in order to complete Founding members the party’s structural units. Preparing the studies The party’s founding committee consists of Rola and the documents concerned with the topics that Al-Mourad, Olfat Sabeh, Josephine Zoughaib, address the objectives of the party is under way Laurie Hayakyan, Rasiya Saadah, Mona Salem, and a special attention is being accorded to the Hayat Hadareh and Linda Bourghol. underprivileged segments or to those facing legal

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 27

AMEL ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL

Establishment of Amel Amel is a non-governmental, non-sectarian care, rural development, vocational training, child organization, which was founded in the aftermath protection, human rights and refugee assistance. of Israel’s 1978 invasion of South Lebanon by Dr. Kamel Mohanna and a team of doctors, professors, Activities journalists and social experts. They all joined their The devotion exhibited by Amel in delivering efforts together to address the havoc that the invasion high-quality services and promoting development had caused on the country. Amel is recognized as a programs has helped the association earn vast trust public utility pursuant to the presidential Decree no. and reputation among the public. The scope of its 5832 dated August 10, 1994. projects covers health, development, human rights and education to name but a few. 31 years after having raised the slogan ‘Together for the Sake of the Country and the Citizen’, Amel & +='= Health Sector which further promoted its partnership with numerous In addition to its twelve medical centers, Amel international organizations such as the World Health has three movable dispensaries designed to reach Organization, the United Nations Development vulnerable individuals who are incapable of visiting Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner { for Refugees, the European Union, etc. plight of the Syrian refugees, the association has been operating its three dispensaries on a daily basis Amel’s approach is based on a plan of three Ps, in those regions in Lebanon where there are refugees ‘Principle-Position-Practice’, and its motto is positive to provide assistance to the sick, the children and thinking and everlasting optimism. The association pregnant women. An average of 70 to 100 medical comprises roughly 600 activists aspiring to narrow check-ups is provided every day. down social and regional inequalities and to build a The medical assistance offered by Amel’s medical civil state where all citizens enjoy equal opportunities centers is estimated at approximately 1500 services and well-being. š& pregnant women do not have to pay for the offered Since 2001, Amel has had special consultative status health care, other patients are charged affordable fees within the United Nations Economic and Social aimed to help the association maintain its high-quality Council. It is also a member of the International Council care, against the backdrop of the limited support from of Voluntary Agencies and a founding member of the the Lebanese government and international donors. assembly of non-governmental organizations. Development of Human Capacity The association aims to support underprivileged Since its establishment, Amel has demonstrated segments through programs that address health undisputed capability to transform the life of both men

issue 142 | May 2014 28 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART

and women, old and young, who live on the fringes Child Protection of society in the marginalized areas, through training In coordination with the UNICEF, the Amel courses in sewing and embroidery, hairdressing, Association International implements the Child nursing, languages, car mechanics, computer literacy, Protection Program targeting both Lebanese and etc. Amel’s collaboration with the Byblos Institute Syrian refugee children, especially since the traumas in Harat Hreik has yielded the formation of a center the Syrian children have suffered in their home land for practical training under the slogan ‘Humanizing and the dire living conditions they are facing here the Private Sector and Professionalizing the coupled with their forceful abandonment of their Human Sector’ aimed at providing employment for familiar environment have left them with mental health issues. The child protection activities are The association has also established an agricultural currently undertaken in six centers in the Beqa’a co-op for rural development in Ebl El-Saqi, south region and Beirut and more than 600 children have of Lebanon, which has given 320 women and 100 participated in the program, a number that is likely to shepherds the opportunity to have training in soap rise in the future. production, herbal medicine and basic oils. The co- op was furnished with the necessary equipment and The Program organizes recreational activities for accredited marketing strategies were utilized to help children and awareness sessions for parents on the co-op achieve self-sustainability. Amel’s imprint potential risks such as security deterioration, street was also felt in the suburbs of Beirut where it opened a bullying, early marriage, local violence and child craft center in Ain El-Roummaneh to involve women labor. It is also noteworthy that the Amel House of in artisan work and teach them certain crafts such as Human Rights headquartered in Beirut conducts jewelry-making. The center has opened its doors to summer courses on international law and the armed Syrian women who have sought refuge in Lebanon to help them earn their living, even if only partially, by making and selling accessories. Future Projects and Challenges Amel is currently seeking to obtain a license to open Education a university and work is under way to set up a branch „ " " of the association in the US after having initiated International is known for its implementation of branches in Europe, not to mention its indefatigable an educational program that targets the children pursuit to expand its existing services and activities of Iraqi refugees in Lebanon. However, the tragic and to reach out to the largest possible segments of displacement of the Syrians has proven to be beyond the population. the association’s capacity. For this reason, Amel has taken the shared responsibility with Caritas and Save The greatest challenge facing Amel is funding the Children to facilitate the enrollment of 10,100 because the need remains always greater than what Syrian refugee children in public schools in South € Lebanon and the Beqa’a region. account for 53% of the association’s budget in addition to the revenues collected from the annual G&‡==& local support events. from the association’s Accelerated Learning Programs and remedial classes were given to roughly Highest among the issues of concern hindering the 1470 participants in order to bridge the gap between action of Amel are the absence of institutional insight the Lebanese and the Syrian educational curricula. and the failure to acknowledge the existence of others In addition to the foregoing, Amel subsidizes the as well as the lack of rationality in addressing the education of 3000 Syrian refugee children in the concerns of citizens. suburbs of Beirut.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. DEBUNKING MYTH #81 CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 29

CAN ALCOHOL REALLY MAKE US FEEL WARMER?

Myth: for our cold bodies. Wine and brandy are probably the most recommended for their ability to warm up a body when all else has failed.

Fact: While many could probably attest to this feeling of warmth that they gain when drinking alcohol in the winter time, this is only an impression that our body gives when in reality it is actually getting colder. This means that while drinking alcohol makes us feel warmer, „ warm because it dilates our blood vessels, which causes blood to move closer to the skin. Normally, our bodies feel cold when blood moves away from our limbs- and therefore away from our skin- and towards internal organs. This happens for example after we have eaten, and blood is concentrated around the digestive system. Alcohol works the other way around by causing blood to move towards the skin instead. This movement causes a drop in body temperature, as the heat is lost during the process. It is important to note that this drop is also indifferent to outside temperature, meaning the alcohol will affect our body’s temperature the same way anytime. Alcohol also affects the body’s temperature in other ways. After a certain amount of through sweating. Sweating in turn contributes to a further decline in temperature. && create warmth, is reversed after drinking. When the body’s ability to shiver is reduced, it also becomes colder. It appears therefore that traditional heating appliances and thick clothing are irreplaceable. The instant warm and fuzzy feeling we attain after a drink or two will quickly subside and our body’s ability to adapt to the cold will only be hindered.

issue 142 | May 2014 30 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART MUST-READ BOOKS

MEDICAMENTS… MAFIA OR SYSTEMIC CRISIS? ISMAIL SOUKARIEH

published in 2010 by Dar al-Farabi. The author of the book is Ismail Soukarieh, a Member of Parliament who represented the Beqa’a region in two parliamentary '**<+=== between 2005 and 2009.

The crises that riddle Lebanon’s pharmaceutical industry '*@ # government under Riyadh Solh. Countless promises and plans have since been made to provide all social classes with medicinal drugs of the highest quality and at the most affordable prices but none of them has ever form a special parliamentary committee to tackle the materialized. To date, the concerned parties continue thorny and far-reaching implications of the medicines V$ issue. brink of chaos and criminal activity, to such an extent In 2002, the National Health Committee was formed that 30% of pharmaceutical products are said to be both under the chairmanship of Soukarieh. Reform was at counterfeit and smuggled into the country. the forefront of the aspects marking the committee’s work. Over the course of 12 years, it was able to craft € #&# political, has manipulated the medicines industry, R prompting the emergence of undesired trends: a massive of quality control testing on medicines, which left increase in the number of medicines, without any tangible patients at the mercy of the trader’s conscience- or improvement in their effectiveness or in the quality of lack of it. Over 6000 medicinal products were found health services; uncontrolled dispensing of medicines to to have been registered without undergoing any form treat mental illnesses without prescriptions, with Lebanon š recording the highest level of consumption worldwide; 30% of the medicines circulating in the market posed a 20% of the most consumed medicines are among the most threat to the public health as they were either counterfeit expensive worldwide, not to mention that the industry or withdrawn from the world market but somehow still V available in Lebanon. by 10 exporters who control 90% of the market, while local pharmaceutical production hardly accounts for 8%. “I was appalled, rather frightened, by the dreadful state of affairs at some supervisory entities, the Central OŽ& $ Inspection in particular, and by their ways of handling & „ R P &P Soukarieh as he sets out to chronicle his experiences in the industry, documenting the queries he raised brings along with the answers he obtained as well as the the crisis-ridden medicines industry to the public eye interrogations he directed at the government in the areas categorizing the sector’s shady practices under the &„ label of the administrative corruption unfolding in reports touching on relevant matters were also part of Lebanon’s public administrations, particularly in the Sukarieh’s documentation. The book approaches the Ministry of Public Health, which has been struck by a public health and drug sector from all its angles, using chronic illness resulting from political interference in an overarching perspective pointing out to the need to the appointment of supervisory committees.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MUST-READ CHILDREN’S BOOK CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 31

ABC, WE ARE THE ALPHABETS

Written by Rayan Choukair Kenaan and co-illustrated by Farah Merhi and Marian Moussalli, ! is an imaginative alphabet book designed to introduce children aged from 3 to 7 to the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet. Through its vivid pictures and colors, !makes the learning of alphabet a fun process.

Each page of the book provides room for a rhyming text linked to each letter of the Arabic alphabet and aimed to accentuate the letter through abundant use of simple words, including fruits and animals, starting with the respective letters.

! was published in 2012 by Yuki Press.

issue 142 | May 2014 32 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART LEBANON FAMILIES

FAMILY NAMES DENOTING LEBANESE TOWNS (14)

In the fourteenth part of the series exploring the families named after Lebanese towns, The Monthly continues to track these families, which carried different names initially but were given later the names of the towns into which they moved. Some of them maintained their # #" mainstream sects of the region where they settled.

Choueiri (Al-Choueiri): 1020 members This family is named after Choueir, a town located in the Qada’a of Matn, 35 km from Beirut, at an altitude The Hadsheetis who are also Maronite are distributed of 1200 m above the sea level. The town of Choueir is as follows: home to 7000 people belonging to 3 different Christian Hadsheet: 488 members “Gƒ^^_Qƒ=_ Wadi el-Ratl, Hermel: 298 and Maronites (16%). Al-Qdam, Baalbeck: 770 Sharbeen, Hermel: 195 The Choueiris are distributed by sect and region as Hadath el-Habbi, Bsharri: 20 follows: Shlifa, Baalbeck: 30 Maronite Sed el-Baouchrieh: 38 ‚QV‘“‡ Hammana: 6 Ain Roummaneh: 60 Deir el-Ahmar, Baalbeck: 160 Sin el-Fil: 15 Hrar Akkar: 6 Hasbaya, Baabda: 35 Karmsaddeh, Zgharta: 24 Damour, Shouf: 63 Zouaitri, Kessrouan: 12 Q‘“'= Zahle: 25 Choueir: 9 Al-Qebbeh, Tripoli: 40 Barqa, Baalbeck: 40 Greek Orthodox Riyaq, Zahle: 32 Hadath: 15 Nabha el-Mehfara: 60 Al-Jwar, Matn: 14 Hay el-Saydeh, Bsharri: 10 Hammana: 63 Zgharta: 15 Harat al-Botm, Baabda: 20 Mansourieh, Matn: 15 Al-Zaazin, Matn: 6 Jdeeta, Zahle: 13 Dekwaneh: 14 Sebnay, Baabda: 30 Barsawi (Al-Barsawi): 55 members Choueir: 75 This family name is derived from the town of Barsa, Mansourieh: 45 which is situated in the Qada’a of Koura, 80 km from Aley: 12 Beirut, at an altitude of 150 m above the sea level. 75% Mkalles: 18 ‰RQ Aabey, Aley: 6 Orthodox. The town is home to roughly 2300 people.

Greek Catholics The Barsawis are also Maronite settled in the town of Maaser el-Shouf: 103 Baz’oun in the Qada’a of Bsharri. Antelias: 10 Khraibeh, Shouf: 10 Choukini (Al-Choukini): 41 members Dahr el-Sawan, Matn: 6 The Choukini family is named after Choukine, a town Tahwitat Nahr: 18 located in the Qada’a of Nabatieh, 80 km from Beirut at an altitude of 500 m above the sea level. Choukine hosts Hadsheeti (Al-Hadsheeti): 2950 members a Shia’a population of 1500 members. This family name is inspired from the town of Hadsheet in the Qada’a of Bsharri, which is situated 120 km from The Choukini family consists of 41 Shia’a members Beirut, at an altitude of 1250 m above the sea level, settled in: with a predominantly Maronite population. Hadsheet is Choukine: 16 home to 8100 people. Nabatieh: 25

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. DISCOVER LEBANON CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 33 LASSA

SECTARIAN AND LAND DISPUTES Tripoli

Zgharta Balamand Roads A‘arjes The disputes with a pronounced sectarian Ehden Becharre The Cedars Batroun Hadet Hasroun character that erupted between Maronite Ras Baalbeck Deir el Ahmar Maqne Jbail Qasr el-Banat patriarchate of Jounieh and the residents of the Lassa Hadath Iaat Ghazir village of Lassa have brought this predominantly Baalbeck Jounieh

Shia’a village under scrutiny. Niha

BEIRUT Zahle Baabda Shtaura Etymology Aley Dahr el-Baidar Bhamdoun Anjar Author Anis Fraiha reports that the name of the village Deir el-Qamar Meshref Beiteddine Moukhtara is likely to be a compound name consisting of two Yanta Qaraoun Lake

Saida Jezzine probably has Hebrew origins, designating ‘god’. Libbaya Aiha Lassa thus means the village of god or a sanctuary Nabatiye Hasbaya Marjayoun of worship. Beaufort Castle Sour Location Lassa is located in Jbeil, 90 kilometers from Beirut, at an altitude of 1100 meters above the sea level. It extends across 745 hectares and can be reached via Educational Institutions the Nahr Ibrahim- Qartaba- Afqa road. The public school in Lassa has closed due to a shortage of students and the village currently has no Population educational institutions. The registered population is estimated at 4500 in the personal status records of Lassa, almost all of whom Local Authorities are Shia’a Muslims with the Maronites constituting Lassa’s 15-member municipal council was a 6% minority. Lassa has 300 houses but most of its established pursuant to Decision No. 253 dated residents live outside the village. March 12, 1964, which stipulated the formation of a single municipality for the two villages of Lassa Voters "#Q€ In 2000, registered voters numbered 2248, of whom "#Q 1300 cast their votes. This number increased to 2759 council. in 2009 with 1909 exercising their right to vote. In 2013, the registered voting population stood at 3000. The share of Lassa’s municipality of the Independent Voters are distributed over the following families: Municipal Fund revenues stood in 2008 at LBP 164.5 million. It rose to LBP 219.1 million and further to Shia’a LBP 255.5 million in 2009 and 2010 respectively. In Meqdad: 1956 voters accounting for 65% of the 2011, the council was allocated LBP 228.3 million. total voting population Eitawi: 283 Economic Life Seifeddine: 240 Agriculture, self-employment and quarrying are all Zeineddine: 180 sources of income that sustain Lassa’s families. Hamoud: 18 Melhem: 15 Land Disputes Jaber: 15 The Maronite patriarchate of Jounieh claims that the residents of Lassa are trespassing on the property Maronite boundaries of the patriarchate. The claim has triggered Oubeid: 140 a persistent dispute in the village, further exacerbated Awad: 52 by the fact that Lassa’s residents are predominantly Al-Khoury: 10 {R" Al-Chami: 16 recently to resolve the dispute and survey the Mansour: 6 contested areas.

issue 142 | May 2014 34 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART DISCOVER THE WORLD

LESOTHO THE POOREST KINGDOM IN THE WORLD

The terms ‘king’ and ‘queen’ are often associated with wealth and opulence. However, the Kingdom of Lesotho is an exception to this notion, as it ranks among the poorest countries worldwide with the poor accounting for roughly half of the population and the annual per capita income standing at USD 2000.

Location Political System and Elections The Kingdom of Lesotho is an inland country Before assuming its present name following the 1966 surrounded entirely by South Africa along a border constitution, the Kingdom of Lesotho was a British of 909 km. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. protectorate called the independent Basotho land. The country is a constitutional monarchy where the Area Prime Minister is head of the executive authority. Lesotho is a mountainous country extending across King Letsie III serves a largely ceremonial function 30,355 km2, with its lowest point 1400 meters above and has no executive power. the sea level and highest at 3,482 meters. Between 1986 and 1991, the country witnessed Population & Lesotho’s population is estimated at 2,000,000. Its R „ & {" growth rate does not exceed 0.34% and is considered among the lowest growth rates around the word. The its troops to Lesotho to put an end to the war that age structure of the population is extremely young erupted between the government and its adversaries and people under the age of 24 account for 53.3% of who accused the ruling party, Lesotho Congress for the population. Democracy, of electoral fraud in 1988 when the party won 79 seats out of 80. Negotiations concluded with Religion agreement to hold new elections. Catholics make up around 85% of Lesotho’s population and members professing other local Currently, Lesotho’s National Assembly consists religions comprise the remaining 15%. of 120 members, 80 of whom are elected directly according to a plurality voting system in the electoral Language constituencies and 40 according to closed-list Having been a British colony prior to the proportionality. In addition to the National Assembly, Ž Lesotho’s legislature consists of a Congress made up of 33 members who are divided into 22 country Economy leaders and 11 members elected by the parties. R Q|Y `{| @' +='+ which was up by 4% from 2011. While the tertiary The legislature (National Assembly and Congress) is ^‡_RQ|Y &| especially the mining sector, accounts for 35% and held in May 2012, registered voters numbered agriculture for only 7%. The tertiary sector depends 1,127,980 with roughly half of them- 654,451- casting on tourism and the remittances of those working their ballots. The Lesotho Congress for Democracy in South Africa, thus providing a notable source of chaired by PM Pakalitha Mosisili who came to power income amidst the rise in unemployment rates (25%). in 1998 won 48 seats but three smaller parties gained It can be said that Lesotho’s economy is inextricably a total of 59 seats and formed a coalition that headed linked to that of South Africa. the government under Tom Thabane.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MEDIA |35 MARCH 2014 HIGHLIGHTS March 1 “The resistance will not be legitimized as possible. French President Francois “The dweller of the Baabda Palace can no and let us go back to a caretaker government Hollande reiterates the need to abide by P PY{Q the constitutional time frames so that the says Hezbollah in response to the statement the Phalanges Party’s meeting, condemning government can appear before Parliament. made previously by President Michel Suleiman, the campaign attacking the President of the President Suleiman holds a number of who hits back by urging full recognition of the Republic. meetings on the sidelines of the conference National Dialogue resolutions. Hezbollah buries four of its members in including a meeting with the US Secretary Speaker Nabih Berri reiterates to his Beqa’a and South Lebanon. of State John Kerry. guests that the ministerial policy statement ‚"† The monthly statement of the Maronite will not emerge unless it makes mention an article slandering the President of the bishops condemns the derogatory assault of the word ‘resistance’. Former PM Saad Republic by journalist Ibrahim Al-Amin to on President Michel Suleiman and urges Hariri and the March 14 Forces counter- the State Prosecution. all parties to stop the campaign against his argue that they will not agree on any dignity out of respect for the nation and the statement if the word ‘resistance’ is not March 4 presidency of the republic. The statement President Michel Suleiman arrives in commends the efforts of the security forces † " France, chairing Lebanon’s delegation at over the construction of a bridge and a the Friends of Lebanon Conference. He also Minister of Interior and Municipalities highway in the area. "R{Q Nouhad Al-Mashnouq meets the and the Special Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Association of Muslim Scholars delegation March 2 Brahimi. chaired by Sheikh Adnan Imama and urges In an interview with the NBN’s political Minister of Youth and Sports, Brigadier moderation in speech. talk show ‘Al-Osbou’ Fi Sa’a’, Minister Q "  ˆ " Ž Q O &P March 6 Bassil says that however stiff, the ‘army, President of the Republic meant “the army, President Michel Suleiman reports upon people, resistance’ formula has prevailed the resistance, coexistence, justice and his return from France that Hezbollah’s PO P reaction was expected, stressing his support formation of the government, the policy speech intended to facilitate the birth of the statement is not going to mention this policy statement. as the resistance clause is concerned and ‰|P Ibrahim Al-Amin, Editor-in-Chief of Al- stating that the Baabda Declaration has Hussein Amoun, a Lebanese national Akhbar daily, asserts that he will not appear become a frame of reference. wanted for rigging Joumana Houmaid’s in court unless the President of the Republic Minister of Interior and Municipalities && and the Minister of Justice are summoned ‹ "#$ & Q in Syria. & Michel Aoun and former President Amine March kicks off with a demonstration in them. Hezbollah voices its support of Al- Q Saida marking the 39th anniversary of the Amin. The Future Bloc deplores during assassination of Maarouf Saad, and former “The era of immorality and insulting is its meeting the superiority with which MP Ossama Saad calls for a plan to deter long gone and the time has come to build the Hezbollah is treating the President of the terrorists and to confront seditious attempts. P Republic urging the inclusion of the Baabda Minister of Labor Sajaan Qazzi reveals ‚"†"#"R Declaration in the policy statement. to Al-Liwaa newspaper his intention to a tweet. A Middle East Airlines’ passenger plane withdraw from the committee tasked with Q  " „$ devising the policy statement if the time following the Change and Reform Bloc the son of the Iraqi transport minister missed wasting continues. meeting that occupation is what gives any ‰ MP Walid Jumblat and former Minister resistance its legitimacy, warning from the aircraft from landing. Wiam Wahhab attend a reconciliatory fall of the government and stressing that he The Higher Islamic Council chaired meeting in the town of Shouf of Mazra’a will not object to visiting the Kingdom of by the anti-Mufti Qabbani Minister Omar and all speeches reiterate forgiveness and Saudi Arabia if they send him an invitation. Mesqawi . the need to expose whoever commits an act Speaker Nabih Berri adjourns the that threatens security. legislative session scheduled for today to /# another time due to lack of quorum. Minister of Foreign Affairs and March 3 Ž Q ‰  The eighth session devoted to devise March 5 to attend a summit for the Arab League the policy statement is adjourned until next Paris hosts a conference to support Ministers of Foreign Affairs and tells week after the failure to reach an agreement OP over the resistance and the Baabda Syrian refugees and attendees decide big to be changed by one person or group. Declaration items. to start a fund for this purpose as soon

issue 142 | May 2014 | 36 MEDIA MARCH 2014 HIGHLIGHTS

The Minister of Youth and Sports Abdul Military Investigative Judge Fadi the Kfarshouba hills and the Lebanese Mouttaleb Hennawi views the relationship Sawwan issues two arrest warrants against "#QŠ between President Suleiman and Hezbollah Naim Abbas and Joumana Houmayed. legitimate means and emphasizes the right of is strong asserting that the stumbling blocks Lebanese citizen Hadi Qassab is found the Lebanese to resist the Israeli occupation it has been facing recently are an ephemeral dead inside his dorm at the US University of &P‚ summer cloud. Massachusetts. Qassab had reportedly been "†&& The National Liberal Party suspends its poisoned. the resistance-related clause and the three participation in the meetings of the March Phalanges ministers keep their decision '@Q{ March 11 hanging until Saturday. The Lebanese Army contains the clashes The ministerial committee fails to devise The March 14 Forces hold a celebration that erupted at a Hezbollah checkpoint in the policy statement and refers the matter at the BIEL compound in Beirut marked Al-Labwi, Beqa’a, between members of to the Cabinet session scheduled for next by vivid speeches for former PM Fouad the party and Army Intelligence agents and Thursday. { {QY Sheikh Hamzah Shukr says that he was OG V { Q { { detained at that same checkpoint. Lebanese people for not abiding by the calls on Hezbollah to return from Syria and The Abdullah Azzam Brigades posts dialogue sessions’ resolutions,’ states QY a statement on Twitter apologizing for the President Michel Suleiman, adding that the the Republic from the March 14 coalition. civilian casualties of the Iranian Embassy policy statement should be written with the The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant bombing. ink of the Baabda Declaration. tweets responsibility for the attack against the Israeli patrol in the occupied town March 8 March 12 of Mazraat Al-Basra, south of Lebanon Young Michel Sakr, son of the pro- President Michel Suleiman and his and Israel retaliates by launching missiles Lebanese Forces businessman Ibrahim Sakr, Finnish counterpart check on Finland’s against Mazraat Halta and the Kfarshouba gets released without any ransom being paid. contingent in UNIFIL in South Lebanon. hills. His father expresses gratitude to all who The former visited earlier UNIFIL’s € contributed to Michel’s release and accuses headquarters in Naqoura and reiterated the continues in Tripoli raising the death toll to Shia’a groups of carrying out the abduction. ongoing effort to equip the Lebanese Army. 6 and injuring 50. The incident sparked outrage among Zahleh The Lebanese Army Intelligence releases residents, who blocked all roads leading to March 13 Jalal Kalash, the director of Sheikh Salem the town in protest against the kidnapping. The Cabinet adjourns its open session "#† Q held for the discussion of the ministerial Security at Beirut’s airport on allegations of March 9 statement until Friday and PM Tamam supplying Tripoli’s battle front leaders with The group of nuns kidnapped in Syria Salam announces his intent to resign if the weapons. are freed and transported to the Lebanese impasse is not surmounted. A number of Lebanese politicians town of Ersal and then back into Syria The killing of a national in Tripoli re- including Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and thanks to efforts mediated by Qatar and triggers tension in the city and results in the former President of the Republic Emile ŠQ"„ death of a female child and injuring 22 other Lahoud and his son visit Syrian Minister March 8 Forces win the elections of people. of Foreign Affairs Walid Al-Mouallem Beirut’s Order of Engineers snatching 9 President Michel Suleiman reiterates in hospital to check up on his health after '=& during the luncheon he held in honor of undergoing heart surgery at the American branches. his Finnish counterpart that Lebanon is no University Hospital in Beirut. € longer a soft target for Israel stressing that Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ouzai and Beer Hassan reopen after an the Lebanese Army and the UNIFIL are Q † " earlier decision to shut them down due to both tasked President Suleiman and PM Salam about security reasons. An-Nusra Front claims responsibility the statement made by Lebanon’s Minister for the missiles that landed in Nabi Sheet in of Interior and Municipalities Nouhad Al- March 10 Beqa’a. Mashnouq in Morocco and the two assert PM Tamam Salam expects the The Lebanese Army Command "#$R formulation of the policy statement to end announces that the Army’s most recent personal position, not Lebanon’s, reiterating tomorrow. security measures have led to a noticeable the country’s strong desire to maintain a Speaker Nabih Beeri reports that if the decrease in car bombings and abductions good relationship with Iran. Al-Mashnouq government fails to devise its ministerial and tightened the grip around the throats of had accused Iran of attempting to destabilize statement within one month, it will be terrorists. Lebanon for the past 30 years. deemed resigned. He will then meet the President of the Republic to discuss March 14 March 15 parliamentary consultation to name a PM- The Cabinet approves the policy Speaker Nabih Berri schedules the designate and form a new government. statement after 3 hours of deliberations that parliamentary sessions to discuss the policy The assassination of the high-ranking focused primarily on the paragraph related  to resistance, which read as follows: “The on the 19th and 20th of March. Jamil Zeidan, sparks tensions in the Ain El- &R The elaborated meeting of the Phalanges Helwi camp. and endeavor to liberate the Sheba’a farms, politburo concludes by requesting

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. | MARCH 2014 HIGHLIGHTS MEDIA 37

The Lebanese Army enters Arsal, setting Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs concerned with the resistance in the policy up a number of checkpoints and conducting ‹& statement. patrols while the security meeting at the & The rockets launched from the outskirts Baabda Palace discusses the measures Syrian forces shoot dead a shepherd and of Arsal toward the towns of An-Nabi necessary to help the army stabilizing the his companion in Majda Anjar. Othman and Al-Labwi kill a resident of the town. former. Al-Labwi inhabitants protest against 5 people injured in the ongoing clashes March 22 the violence by blocking the road leading to in Tripoli. Attempt to abduct Baalbeck’s Maronite Arsal. The inhabitants of Arsal condemn the “My candidacy for President of the bishop Samaan Atallah in the town of Iaat attack and urge immediate action to reopen †P near Baalbeck falters. the road. Q""#" The Internal Security Forces break into The Lebanese Army arrests a car ridden Syrian forces bomb a number of areas in the National Social Security Fund building with arms and explosives in the town of Wadi Khaled. in Wata el-Msaytbeh to investigate reports Shadra in Chtoura. President Michel Suleiman voices his March 20 US Ambassador to Lebanon David understanding of the Phalanges’ stance The policy statement discussion sessions Hale returns from his trip to the US and regarding the policy statement, in front of conclude after the delivery of 35 speeches & delegation from the Phalanges Youth. with the Tamam Salam government winning country does not interfere in the process of *< @ ƒ Y presidential elections but instead assists in it. March 16 Nicolas Fattoush and the three Lebanese  € A suicide bomber blows himself up in Forces MPs Elie Kairouz, Tony Abou following rumors about the death of Ali Eid. a car in An-Nabi Othman leaving 4 dead Khater and Chant Janajian) and 1 abstention Eid appears on TV later to deny the rumors. and 11 injured. The An-Nusra Front claims (Imad Al-Hout). “Our government is not to responsibility for the explosion. &&&P March 23 Hezbollah supporters rally in a number PM Tamam Salam in his speech. Supporters of Shaker El-Berjawi clash of Lebanese regions in celebration of the “I do not believe in any compromise with the Future Movement and other triumph in the Syrian town of Yabrud. over the presidential elections and we will „ &  The ongoing battles in Tripoli’s twentieth do all that is in our power to bring a March Sportive leaving one dead and 13 injured. '+ '@ P The Lebanese Army intervenes to halt the those injured to 60. says the Lebanese Forces leader Samir Both gunmen and civilians are reported Q‚ MP Walid Jumblat urges Hezbollah to have crossed from the Syrian town of "† to dissolve the resistance brigades in an Yabroud to Arsal. Renewed clashes in Tripoli kill one interview on Al-Jadeed TV. person and wound 16 others. President Suleiman attends the mass March 18 commemorating the hundredth anniversary President Michel Suleiman calls on March 21 of the death of Saint Rafqa in the town of convening the national dialogue session on US President Barack Obama passes Jrabta and calls on holding the presidential Monday, March 31. his good wishes to PM Tamam Salam on elections on time and on a defense strategy Demonstrators block a number of the phone, emphasizing the need to respect where the state and the Lebanese army are roads in Qasqas, Al-Masnaa and Al-Awali constitutional deadlines and to hold the the reference. and burn photos of Hezbollah’s Secretary presidential elections on time. {"Ž#" Q ˆ ‹ € President Michel Suleiman stresses that in a video lashing out at Bahiya el-Hariri demand the reopening of the Labwi-Arsal he rejects term extension and his priority and the Lebanese Army, which according to road. revolves now around passing down the him is controlled by Hezbollah. He adds that Former PM Saad Hariri warns from the torch to his successor. Minister Marwan Charbel had informed provocation campaigns targeting Arsal and Continued battles in Tripoli raise death him that the decision to eradicate Hezbollah Tripoli, reiterating the role of the state in toll to 25 and those injured to 125. had been taken but Charbel denies the ensuring the safety of citizens. In response to the criticism aimed by allegations. PM Tamam Salam receives his former Minister Wiam Wahhab at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and predecessor Najib Mikati and a number | Q Q { Ž Q ‰ › Y € Q { Abbas Ibrahim over his frequent trips to counterpart during the convention of the to discuss the means of addressing the { Q { Arab League ministers of foreign affairs security situation in the city and to devise an saying: “Neither Wahhab nor anyone else in Kuwait and requests his assistance in economic and security plan for it. has the right to evaluate the Directorate releasing the bishops abducted in Syria. QQ{P March 19 The Patriarch of the Syriac March 24 Parliament begins its discussion on Orthodox Church Ignatius Zakka Iwas, the President Michel Suleiman arrives in the policy statement and the speeches are leader of one of world’s oldest Christian Kuwait at the head of Lebanon’s delegation marked by calm and non-escalation of Q to the Arab League Summit. words. illness.

issue 142 | May 2014 | 38 MEDIA MARCH 2014 HIGHLIGHTS

PM Tama Salam meets President Michel Minister of Public Health Wael Bou Suicide explosion targets a Lebanese Suleiman and reports that the situation will Faour orders a decrease in the prices of Army checkpoint in Wadi Ain Aata in the not improve unless the presidential elections medicines and the cost of the swelling outskirts of Arsal killing 3 soldiers and are held. hospitalization bill. wounding 4 others. The explosives were Minister of Interior and Municipalities Minister of Telecommunications Boutros estimated at 100 kilograms and the Brigades Nouhad Al-Mashnouq meets a number Harb holds a press conference to announce of the Free Sunni in Baalbeck claims of heads of municipalities at the residence discounts on local and international phone calls. responsibility for the attack. of former Minister Michel El-Murr in Al- The Union Coordination Committee Rabieh and delivers a speech praising El- /# calls for strike action next Wednesday to Murr. € accelerate the approval of the pay scales. "ŽQ Baabda Palace and approves the security plan Bassil warns during a press conference from devised for Tripoli and Western Beqa’a. It also March 30 allowing formation of Syrian groupings. agrees to deliver telecoms data in its entirety President Michel Suleiman attends the € " @== to the security forces amid the protests and Alphabet and Poetry Festival held in Jbeil grams of explosives at the Lebanese reserve expressed by the Amal Movement, and expresses his regret that some of the University Faculty of Sciences in Tripoli. Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement. political parties have decided to boycott Sami Al-Atrash, who is accused the dialogue sessions. Suleiman says that March 25 of killing members of the military and the weapons should be in the hands of the In his speech during the Arab League detonating bomb-laden cars, dies during a Lebanese Army exclusively. Summit held in Kuwait, President Michel raid conducted by the Lebanese Army on MP Walid Jumblat visits Speaker Nabih Suleiman urges the Arab states to help his cache in the outskirts of Arsal. Berri and voices his intention to attend the Lebanon address the burden of Syrian Continued tensions in Tripoli claim the dialogue sessions unconditionally. refugees and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabbah life of a Lebanese soldier. Hezbollah, the Syrian Social Nationalist el-Ahmad extends gratitude to Suleiman. Party, Suleiman Frangieh and Talal Erslan Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil March 28 announce that that they will boycott the announces that his withdrawal from the Arab Patriarch Al-Rai heads a meeting in scheduled dialogue sessions. League meeting during Syrian National Bkerki in the presence of former President In an interview with the NBN’s political Coalition chief Ahmed Jarba’s speech was " Q Q  " talk show ‘Al-Osbou’ Fi Sa’a’, LF leader in harmony with his own convictions and MP Suleiman Frangieh and a representative { Q allegiances. QV Aoun as a candidate for presidency if " due to security reasons. Hezbollah agrees to hand over its weapons in the western Bekaa town of Aana, after Speaker Nabih Berri receives PM to the Lebanese Army. members of the Internal Security Forces Tamam Salam at his residence in Ain el- The Lebanese Army dismantles a bomb attempted to shut down his gas station. Tineh where they discussed the general set to be detonated in Tripoli. { Q status quo, particularly the presidential thinks that his candidacy for president is elections. Salam addresses a delegation March 31 self-evident. of the Press Syndicate saying that the The dialogue session convenes in the Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara government is not aspiring to replace the absence of Hezbollah and its allies as well Boutros Al-Rai urges Speaker Nabh Berri to presidential vacuum. as the Lebanese Forces. President Michel call for a session as soon as possible to elect Preparations set in motion to execute the Suleiman opens the session by playing a a President of the Republic. security plan in Tripoli. two-minute audio recording of the June, A Syrian woman attempts to commit Joint parliamentary committees convene 2012 Dialogue session in which the rival ` ‹ to discuss the pay scales. parties agreed on the Baabda Declaration. by setting herself alight before bystanders The committee formed by Speaker Nabih {&Q' rushed to save her. Some speculate that she Berri for presidential elections continues its mark the Cabinet session held at the Baabda may have been protesting the lack of support Palace and the Cabinet suspends the session offered to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. {Q until Wednesday after approving the An Israeli force trespasses the barbed- ISF member Pierre Bayeh shot dead by appointments of three BDL vice-governors wire fence in the outskirts of the town of gunmen in Tripoli. and renewing the term of the fourth. The Aitroun. Lebanese Ministers of Interior and Cabinet also approves the Saudi donation to of Public Transport deny the allegations arm the Lebanese Army and the renewal of March 26 suggesting the presence of torture chambers the contracts with mobile operators. President Suleiman returns from Kuwait run by partisan groups at the Beirut airport as The Lebanese Army dismantles a car after attending the Arab League Summit. reported by As-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper. bomb including 200 kg of explosives in The Higher Defense Council convenes Wadi Hamid in Arsal. in Baabda to discuss the security situation March 29 EDL daily-waged workers protest over and takes a number of decisions to stabilize In a televised speech broadcast during the the draft law proposed regarding full-time Tripoli and the Beqa’a region. opening of a cultural foundation in Ainata, employment. "#{ @= ˆVR{Q{ˆ Telecoms Minister Boutros Harb anniversary at BIEL. Nasrallah says “gold will be gold but wood reduces the tariff on prepaid telephone calls „P and international calls.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MEDIA |39

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- LEBANON

30 YEARS AFTER THE MAY 17 AGREEMENT WHAT DID IT STIPULATE?

Some believe that the annulled 1969 Cairo Agreement was brokered to surrender Lebanon to Palestinian domination under the auspices of Egyptian President Jamal Abdul Nasser. Likewise, the 1989 Taif Accord is viewed to have been an attempt to bend Lebanon to the ;+V@!/!! with Israel in 1983- and abrogated later- is said to have driven the country under the Israeli grip after Israeli troops had invaded Beirut in 1982. What were the circumstances and clauses of this agreement and was it the best among the options available at the time?

Circumstances In June 1982, the Israeli troops invaded Lebanon and were †Š& capable of advancing to Beirut and occupying large parts of the UN Charter and recognizing their right and obligation the country, save in the North and the Beqa’a. The invasion to coexist in peace with each other as well as with other entailed the retreat of the Palestinian forces and the election of states within safe and recognized boundaries; {‰QY†Q advocated the signing of a peace agreement with Israel to Having agreed to end the state of war between them and secure its withdrawal from Lebanon. With large-scale US to maintain lasting peace for both states and to avoid the involvement, Lebanon began direct negotiations with Israel mutual threats and the use of power; that culminated in what was known as the May 17 Agreement, after the Lebanese Cabinet had approved its content in its Desiring to establish their mutual relations according to session dated May 14, 1983 and authorized Dr. Antoine Fattal, the provisions prescribed by this Agreement; head of the Lebanese negotiating delegation, to sign it. In Parliament, the May 17 Agreement received 65 ayes, 2 nayes And having granted their delegates full authority to sign (Najah Wakim and Zaher Khatib) and 4 abstentions during the this Agreement in the presence of the US representative, session held on June 14, 1983. 19 MPs did not attend. they have agreed to the following:

Agreement Abrogation Article 1 The agreement elicited massive opposition from several 1- The Parties pledge to respect the sovereignty, political and sectarian groups, which translated into political independence and territorial integrity of each heightened violence in the country. Israel’s failure other and deem the existing international boundaries to keep its side of the agreement translated into a new between them inviolable. wave of hostilities leading eventually to its abrogation 2- € Y during the same parliamentary session where the Cairo Lebanon and Israel has ceased to exist. Agreement was cancelled. The May 17 Agreement was 3- Pursuant to the paragraphs 1 and 2, Israel agrees to revoked pursuant to Law No. 25/87 dated June 15, 1987. withdraw its armed forces from Lebanon according to the Annex of the present Agreement. Today, after more than 30 years, a critical question remains Article 2 hanging in the air: Was the signing of the May 17 Agreement In light of the principles of the UN Charter and of a wise choice that could have spared Lebanon the atrocities international law, the Parties agree to settle their disputes of the Israeli wars in 1996 and 2006 had it survived or were by peaceful means in such a matter as to promote justice, the security arrangement annexes it contained more likely international peace and security, and justice. to turn Lebanon into an Israeli protectorate? Article 3 ^+7/#! In order to provide maximum security for both Lebanon the State of Israel and the Government of the and Israel, the Parties agree to establish and implement State of Lebanon security arrangements including the creation of a €{„Q&{“ security zone, as provided for in the Annex of the present Cognizant of the importance of maintaining and promoting Agreement (the security zone constitutes a violation of international peace based on freedom, equality, justice and Lebanon’s sovereignty as it subjects the Lebanese armed respect for fundamental human rights; forces to certain arrangements that limit their capacities)

issue 142 | May 2014 40| MEDIA

Article 4 entrusted with the supervision of the implementation 1- The territories of each Party shall never be used to of all areas covered by the present Agreement. In launch hostile or terrorist activities against the other matters involving security arrangements, it will Party or its people. deal with unresolved problems referred to it by the 2- Each Party shall prevent the existence or establishment Security Arrangements Committee established in of irregular forces, armed gangs or any organizations, subparagraph c below. Decisions of this Committee will be taken unanimously. at or conducting terrorist acts against the territory of b. The Joint Liaison Committee will address itself on the other party, or performing any other activity that a continuing basis to the development of mutual poses threats to the security of the other party and the relations between Israel and Lebanon, inter alia the safety of its people. To this end, all agreements and regulation of the movement of goods, products and arrangements that permit the presence and operation persons, communications, etc. on the territory of either Party of elements hostile to c. Within the framework of the Joint Liaison Committee, the other party shall be deemed null and void. there will be a Security Arrangements Committee 3- Without prejudice to their natural right to self defense pursuant to the international law, each Party shall Annex of the present Agreement. refrain: d. Subcommittees of the Joint Liaison Committee may a- From performing, inciting, assisting or be established as the need arises. participating in any threats or any military, e. The Joint Liaison Committee will meet in Israel and subversive, instigative or aggressive acts against Lebanon, alternately. the other Party, its population or property, both f. Each Party, if it so desires and unless there is an agreed within its territory or originating there from, or in the territory of the other Party. territory of the other Party in order to carry out the b- From using the territory of the other Party to above-mentioned functions within the framework launch a military attack against a third state. of the Joint Liaison Committee and to assist in the c- From interfering in the internal or external affairs implementation of the present Agreement. Y ƒ g. The members of the Joint Liaison Committee from each the political and media liberties bestowed by the of the Parties will be headed by a senior government Constitution.) 4- The Parties ensure that preventive action and legal h. " proceedings will be taken against all individuals and their personnel and the personnel of each Party in groups that commit any acts at odds with this Article. connection with the implementation of the present Agreement will be the subject of a protocol to be Article 5 concluded between the Parties in the Joint Liaison In conformity with their deal to terminate the state of war Committee. Pending the conclusion of this protocol, and within the framework of constitutional statutes, the &# Parties shall abstain from any form of hostile propaganda will be treated in accordance with the pertinent against each other. provisions of the Convention on Special Missions of 8 December 1969, including those provisions Article 6 concerning privileges and immunities. The foregoing Save the right of innocent passage in accordance with is without prejudice to the positions of the Parties international law, each Party will prevent entry into, concerning that Convention. deployment in, or passage through its territory, its air space 2- During the six-month period after the withdrawal and its territorial sea, by military forces, armament, or of all Israeli forces from Lebanon in accordance military equipment of any state hostile to the other Party. with Article I of the present Agreement and the simultaneous restoration of Lebanese governmental # authority along the international boundary between Except as provided in the present Agreement, nothing Israel and Lebanon, and in light of the termination will preclude the deployment on Lebanese territory of the state of war, the Parties shall initiate, within of international forces requested and accepted by the ‚ Q& in order to conclude agreements on the movement of authority. New contributors to such forces shall be goods, products and persons and their implementation selected from among states having diplomatic relations on a non-discriminatory basis. with both Parties to the present Agreement. Article 9 Article 8 1- The Parties take all the measures necessary for the 1- a. Upon entry into force of the present Agreement, a abrogation of treaties, laws and regulations deemed in Joint Liaison Committee will be established by the " Š parties, in which the USA will be a participant, and conformity with its constitutional procedures, within one will commence its functions. This Committee will be year from the entry into force of the present Agreement. issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MEDIA |41

2- The Parties undertake not to apply existing a. The Lebanese Army, Lebanese Police, Lebanese obligations, enter into any obligations, or adopt laws Internal Security Forces, and the Lebanese Auxiliary " Force (ANSAR), organized under the full authority of Q&V Article 10 armed forces and elements permitted in the Security 1- €"Y Region except as designated elsewhere in this Annex. in conformity with their respective constitutional The Security Arrangements Committee may approve procedures. It shall enter into force on the exchange {† Lebanese armed elements similar to ANSAR. the previous agreements between Israel and Lebanon. b. Lebanese Police, Lebanese Internal Security Forces, 2- To Annex, the Appendix and the Map attached thereto, and ANSAR may be stationed in the Security Region and the Agreed Minutes to the present Agreement without restrictions as to their numbers. These forces shall be considered integral parts thereof. and elements will be equipped only with personal and 3- €" light automatic weapons and, for the Internal Security or superseded by mutual agreement of the Parties. Forces, armored scout or commando cars as listed in the Appendix. Article 11 c. Two Lebanese Army brigades may be stationed in Disputes between the Parties arising out of the the Security Region. One will be the Lebanese Army interpretation or application of the present Agreement will Territorial Brigade stationed in the area extending be settled by negotiation in the Joint Liaison Committee. „# O ‰P Any dispute of this character not so resolved shall be delineated on the attached Map. The other will be a submitted to conciliation and, if unresolved, thereafter to regular Lebanese Army brigade stationed in the area & O‰PO"P€ may carry their organic weapons and equipment Article 12 listed in the Appendix. Additional units equipped in The present Agreement shall be communicated to the accordance with the Appendix may be deployed in Secretariat of the United Nations for registration in the Security Region for training purposes, including conformity with the provisions of Article 102 of the the training of conscripts, or, in the case of operational Charter of the United Nations. emergency situations, following coordination in Done at Kiryat Shmona and Khaldeh this seventeenth accordance with procedures to be established by the day of May, 1983, in triplicate in four authentic texts in Security Arrangements Committee. the Hebrew, Arabic, English, and French languages. In d. The existing local units will be integrated as such into case of any divergence of interpretation, the English and the Lebanese Army, in conformity with Lebanese French texts will be equally authoritative. Army regulations. The existing local civil guard shall Q& † “" be integrated into ANSAR and accorded a proper Fattal status under Lebanese law to enable it to continue Q&{„“|&‘ guarding the villages in the Security Region. The Q& ` { "“ process of extending Lebanese authority over these Maurice Deiber units and civil guard, under the supervision of the Security Arrangements Committee, shall start Annex of Security Arrangements immediately after the entry into force of the present 1. Security Region Agreement and shall terminate prior to the completion a. "{†Q& of the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. undertakes to implement the security arrangements e. Within the Security Region, Lebanese Army units agreed upon in this Annex is hereby established. may maintain their organic anti-aircraft weapons b. The Security Region is bounded, as delineated on the " G { Map attached to this Annex, in the north by a line Region, Lebanon may deploy personal, low, and O"P medium altitude air defense missiles. After a period Lebanese international boundary. of three years from the date of entry into force of the present Agreement, the provision concerning the area 2. Security Arrangements outside the Security Region may be reviewed by the The Lebanese authorities will enforce special security Security Arrangements Committee at the request of measures aimed at detecting and preventing hostile either Party. activities as well as the introduction into or movement f. Military electronic equipment in the Security Region through the Security Region of unauthorized armed men "| or military equipment. ground radars within ten kilometers of the Israeli- Lebanese boundary should be approved by the The following security arrangements will apply equally { "  Q throughout the Security Region except as noted: throughout the Security Region will be deployed so

issue 142 | May 2014 42| MEDIA

that their sector of search does not cross the Israeli- d. The Security Arrangements Committee shall deal Lebanese boundary. This provision does not apply to with any complaint submitted to it not later than 24 && hours after submission. g. The provision mentioned in paragraph e. applies also e. Meetings of the Security Arrangements Committee to anti-aircraft missiles on Lebanese Navy vessels. shall be held at least once every two weeks in Israel In the Security Region, Lebanon may deploy naval and in Lebanon, alternately. In the event that either elements and establish and maintain naval bases or Party requests a special meeting, it will be convened other shore installations required to accomplish the +@€ naval mission. The coastal installations in the Security 48 hours after the date of entry into force of the †" present Agreement. h. „& f. Joint Supervisory Teams the Lebanese military authorities will give advance (1) The Security Arrangements Committee will & { establish Joint Supervisory Teams (Israel-Lebanon) Region according to procedures to be determined by subordinate to it and composed of an equal number of the Security Arrangements Committee. Approval of representatives from each Party. $ (2) € & i. (1) The forces, weapons and military equipment the implementation of the provisions of the security which may be stationed, stocked, introduced into, arrangements in the Agreement and this Annex. or transported through the Security Region are only € those mentioned in this Annex and its Appendix. violations to the Security Arrangements Committee (2) No infrastructure, auxiliary installations, or && equipment capable of assisting the activation of (3) The Security Arrangements Committee shall weapons that are not permitted by this Annex or its assign a Joint Supervisory Team, when requested, to Appendix shall be maintained or established in the check border security arrangements on the Israeli side Security Region. (3) These provisions also apply of the international boundary in accord with Article 4 whenever a clause of this Annex relates to areas of the present Agreement. outside the Security Region. (4) The teams will enjoy freedom of movement in the air, sea, and land as necessary for the performance of 3. Security Arrangements Committee their tasks within the Security Region. a. Within the framework of the Joint Liaison (5) The Security Arrangements Committee Committee, a Security Arrangements Committee will will determine all administrative and technical be established. arrangements concerning the functioning of the teams b. The Security Arrangements Committee will be including their working procedures, their number, composed of an equal number of Israeli and their meaning, their armament, and their equipment. & (6) Upon submission of a report to the Security A representative of the United States of America " will participate in meetings of the Committee at the complaint of either Party by the teams, the respective request of either Party. Decisions of the Security Party shall immediately, and in any case not later Arrangements Committee will be reached by +@ agreement of the Parties. rectify the violation. The Party shall immediately c. The Security Arrangements Committee shall supervise notify the Security Arrangements Committee of the implementation of the security arrangements in the ` & present Agreement and this Annex and the timetable the teams will ascertain that the violation has been and modalities, as well as all other aspects relating to withdrawals described in the present Agreements _` The Joint Supervisory Teams shall be subject and this Annex. To this end, and by agreement of the to termination upon 90 days notice by either Party Parties, it will: given at any time after two years from the date of (1) Supervise the implementation of the undertakings entry into force of the present Agreement. Alternative of the Parties under the present Agreement and this & Annex. advance of such termination through the Joint Liaison (2) Establish and operate Joint Supervisory Teams as Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Joint detailed below. Liaison Committee may determine at any time that (3) Address and seek to resolve any problems arising there is no further need for such arrangements. out of the implementation of the security arrangements g. The Security Arrangements Committee will ensure in the present Agreement and this Annex and discuss that practical and rapid contacts between the two any violation reported by the Joint Supervisory Teams Parties are established along the boundary to prevent or any complaint concerning a violation submitted by incidents and facilitate coordination between the one of the Parties. forces on the terrain.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MEDIA |43

4.„Q& Armored Personnel Carriers request appropriate action in the United Nations Security - 127 M I 13A I/ VCC-L, plus 44 M 113 family vehicles Council for one unit of the United Nations Interim forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to be stationed in the Sidon Artillery/ Mortars area. The presence of this unit will lend support to the - 18 155MM towed howitzers (also 105MM/122MM) Q&" - 12 120MM mortars in asserting governmental authority and protection in - 27 81MM mortars (mounted on M-125 tracked mortar the Palestinian refugee camp areas. For a period of 12 carriers) months, the unit in the Sidon area may send teams to the Palestinian refugee camp areas in the vicinity of Anti-tank Weapons Sidon and Tyre to survey and observe, if requested by # ''+†YQ Q& # =#ƒ'=<~€Gš~ to the Security Arrangements Committee. Police and MILAN) security functions shall remain the sole responsibility Q& 2. Air Defense Weapons the provisions of the present Agreement shall be fully - 12 40MM or less guns (not radar-guided) implemented in these areas. - 2. Brigade Communications Equipment: # @‡+"‹~Q†#'<= 5. Three months after completion of the withdrawal of all - 74 AN/VRC-46 Israeli forces from Lebanon, the Security Arrangements - 16 AN/VRC-47 Committee will conduct a full-scale review of the - 9 AN/VRC-49 adequacy of the security arrangements delineated in this # @Q†"#* Annex in order to improve them. - 539 TA-312 - 27 SB-22 6. Withdrawal of Israeli Forces - 8 SB-993 a. Within 8 to 12 weeks of the entry into force of the # @"~Q†#'=< present Agreement, all Israeli forces will have been withdrawn from Lebanon. This is consistent with the 3. Brigade Surveillance Equipment: objective of Lebanon that all external forces withdraw - Mortar locating radars from Lebanon. - Artillery locating radars b. The Israel Defense Forces and the Lebanese Armed # Q& Forces will maintain continuous liaison during - Night observation devices the withdrawal and will exchange all necessary - Unattended ground sensors information through the Security Arrangements Committee. The Israel Defense Forces will cooperate 4. In accordance with the provisions of the Annex, during the withdrawal in order to facilitate the armored vehicles for the Internal Security Forces will be Q& as follows: Lebanon as the Israeli armed forces withdraw. - 24 armored wheeled vehicles with guns up to 40MM Appendix 5. In accordance with the provisions of the Annex, there In accordance with the provisions of the Annex, the will be no limitations on the coastal installations in the Lebanese Armed Forces may carry, introduce, station, Security Region, except on the following four categories: stock, or transport through the Security Region all - Coastal sea surveillance radars: 5 weapons and equipment organic to each standard - Coastal defense guns: 15 50MM or less Lebanese Armed Force brigade. Individual and crew- - Coastal air defense guns: 15 40MM or less (not radar- served weapons, including light automatic weapons guided) normally found in a mechanized infantry unit, are not - Shore-to-sea missiles: None prohibited by this Appendix. 6. The Lebanese Army Infantry Brigade and Territorial 1. Weapon systems listed below presently organic to Brigade in the Security Region are each organized as each brigade in the Security Region are authorized in the follows: number shown: - 1 Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company Tanks Off: 14 Enl: 173 - 40 tanks - 3 Infantry Battalions Off: 31 ea Enl: 654 ea - 4 medium tracked recovery vehicles - 1 Artillery Battalion Off. 39 Enl: 672 - 1 Tank Battalion Armored Cars - 3 Tanks - 10 AML-90/Saladin/etc. - 1 Reconnaissance Company Off: 37 Enl: 579

issue 142 | May 2014 44| MEDIA

- 1 Logistics Battalion Off: 26 Enl: 344 Annex - 1 Engineer Company Off. 6 Enl: 125 Paragraph 1.b - 1 Anti-Tank Company Off: 4 Enl: 117 It is agreed that, in the portion of Jabal Baruk shown - 1 Anti-Air Artillery Company Off: 4 Enl: 146 on the map attachment to the Annex, only civilian - Total: 4,341 Off: 223 Enl: 4,118 telecommunications installations, such as television ><|>#}~<|~$ be emplaced. The restrictions on weapons and military Agreed Minutes equipment that are detailed in the Appendix to the Annex will also apply in that area. Article 4.4 Annex necessary to ensure implementation of this paragraph. Paragraph 2.d € Q& Article 6 Territorial Brigade established on April 6, 1983, mentioned Without prejudice to the provisions of the Annex in subparagraph c, will encompass the existing local units regarding the Security Region, it is agreed that non- which had been formed into a near brigade-sized unit, along combat military aircraft of a foreign state on non-military with Lebanese Army personnel from among the inhabitants missions shall not be considered military equipment. of the Security Region, in conformity with Lebanese Army regulations. This brigade will be in charge of security in the # area extending from the Israeli-Lebanese boundary to “Line It is agreed that, in the event of disagreement as to ‰P"" OP Lebanese Armed Forces and elements in this area, including Article 6 of the Agreement, the prohibitions of Article the Lebanese Police, Lebanese Internal Security Forces and 6 shall be applied to any state which does not maintain ANSAR, will be subordinated to the brigade commander. diplomatic relations with both Parties. The organization of the existing local units will be adapted, under the supervision of the Security Arrangements Article 8.1.b Committee, in conformity with the Table of Organization It is agreed that, at the request of either Party, the Joint for the Territorial Brigade as shown in the Appendix. Liaison Committee shall begin to examine the question of claims by citizens of either Party on properties in the Annex territory of the other Party. Paragraph 2.g 1. An area extending from: 33 degrees 15 minutes N 35 Article 8.1.h degrees 12.6 minutes E; to 33 degrees 05.5 minutes N It is understood that each Party will certify to the other 35 degrees 06.1 minutes E; to 33 degrees 15 minutes N 35 degrees 08.2 minutes E; to 33 degrees 05.5 minutes & N 35 degrees 01.4 minutes E; which is at present closed for civil navigation, will be maintained by Lebanon. Article 8.2 It is agreed that the negotiations will be concluded as 2. In order to prevent incidents, there will be continuous soon as possible. communications between the southern command of the Lebanese Navy and the Israeli Navy in order to Article 9 exchange information concerning suspected vessels. It is understood that this provision shall apply mutatis The procedures for the abovementioned exchange mutandis to agreements concluded by the Parties of information will be established by the Security pursuant to Article 8, paragraph 2. Arrangements Committee.

Article 10 3. The Lebanese Navy will act promptly in order to It is agreed that both parties will request the United ascertain the identity of such suspected vessels. In States of America to promote the expeditious resolution emergency cases, there will be direct communications of disputes arising out of the interpretation or application between vessels. of the present Agreement. Annex Article 11 Paragraph 3.f It is agreed that the phrase “an agreed procedure for 1. The Joint Supervisory Teams will carry out P # their functions in recognition of the fact that the mechanism which will produce a resolution of the responsibility for military, police, and other control dispute which is binding on the Parties. operations rests with the Lebanese Armed Forces, police, and other authorized Lebanese organizations, and not with the teams.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MEDIA |45

2. If the Joint Supervisory Teams uncover evidence of Annex a violation or a potential violation, they will contact Paragraph 3.f and 5 the proper Lebanese authorities through the Security 1. Two Security Arrangements Supervision Centers will Arrangements Supervision Centers created pursuant be set up by the Security Arrangements Committee to the Agreed Minute to paragraph 3.f(5) of the in the Security Region. The exact locations of Annex, in order to assure that Lebanese authorities the Centers will be determined by the Security take appropriate neutralizing and preventive action in Arrangements Committee in accord with the principle a timely way. They will ascertain that the action taken that the Centers should be located in the vicinity of & Hasbaya and Mayfadun and should not be situated in Security Arrangements Committee. populated areas.

3. The Joint Supervisory Teams will commence limited 2. Under the overall direction of the Security activities as early as possible following the coming Arrangements Committee, the purpose of each Center into force of the Agreement for the purpose of is to: monitoring the implementation of the Israel Defense a) Control, supervise, and direct Joint Supervisory Forces withdrawal arrangements. Their other Teams functioning in the sector of the Security & & & V Region assigned to it. " b) Serve as a center of communications connected of the Israeli armed forces. to the Joint Supervisory Teams and appropriate 4. Joint Supervisory Teams will conduct daily headquarters. & c) Serve as a meeting place in Lebanon for the • Security Arrangements Committee. and in the air. d) Receive, analyze, and process all information necessary for the function of the Joint Supervisory 5. Each Joint Supervisory Team will be commanded by Teams, on behalf of the Security Arrangements VŠ Committee. of the team when making decisions in unforeseen & 3. Operational Arrangements: mission. a) The Centers will be commanded by Lebanese "G 6. While on a mission, the Joint Supervisory Team b) The Centers will function 24 hours a day. leader at his discretion could react to any unforeseen c) The exact number of personnel in each Center situation which could require immediate action. The will be decided by the Security Arrangements team leader will report any such situation and the Committee. action taken to the Security Arrangements Supervision d) Israeli personnel will be stationed in Israel when Center. not engaged in activities in the Centers. €Q& 7. The Joint Supervisory Teams will not use force except for providing security and logistical support for in self defense. the Centers. f) The Joint Supervisory Teams will ordinarily 8. The Security Arrangements Committee will decide commence their missions from the Centers after inter alia on the pattern of activity of the Joint & Supervisory Teams, their weaponry and equipment,  their mode of transport, and the areas in which g) Each center will contain a situation room, the teams will operate on the basis of the rule of communications equipment, facilities for Security reason and pragmatic considerations. The Security " Arrangements Committee will determine the overall pattern of activity with a view to avoiding undue disruption to normal civilian life as well as with a Annex view to preventing the teams from becoming targets Paragraph 3.g of attack. In order to prevent incidents and facilitate coordination between the forces on the terrain, “practical and rapid 9. Up to a maximum of eight Joint Supervisory Teams P will function simultaneously. communications between the respective military commanders and their staffs in the immediate border region, as well as direct face-to-face consultations.

issue 142 | May 2014 46|ARAB WORLD FOCUS

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- THE ARAB WORLD THE INDEPENDENCE OF TRANSJORDAN

From the Levantine Emirate of Transjordan to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in May 1946, the ##!@#!\+#$

The political life in modern-day Jordan, known previously as Transjordan, dates back to the period of the League of Nations, requesting the dispatching of an Ottoman rule. Transjordan was considered part of the impartial committee to ensure that the national demands Levant and since 1908 was represented in the Ottoman be met. In a counter response, Britain expanded Parliament by one deputy. its interference in the country’s internal affairs and cancelled the electoral law, bringing local military forces At the end of the Ottoman rule and as Britain and France under inspection and limiting the political liberties as set out to implement the terms of Sykes-Picot agreement, & Syria was put under the French mandate, which resulted in the fall of the Arab government formed by King Despite the formation of a new government under Faisal in Damascus. Britain took control of Transjordan Ibrahim Hashem in 1934 and the holding of elections, and delegated the administration of affairs to its newly the Zionist threat and its expansion in Palestine appointed High Commissioner in Jerusalem, Herbert dominated the thoughts of people and created terror Samuel. Samuel introduced two local governments, among them. Despite Emir Abdullah’s endeavors to one in Al-Karak and the other in Amman. A third persuade the British to exclude Transjordan from the government was later formed in Taybeh and comprised Balfour Declaration, the Jews insisted that it was part of all northern areas of Transjordan. the alleged Israeli territory and went out of their way to purchase land in the area on the one hand and to permeate The establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan is the political life through Transjordanian parties on the associated with the Hashemite Emir Abdullah, son of „ King Hussein Ben Ali, who as soon as he had arrived of the moderate Liberal Party through leaks disclosed in the country, started to seek the support of people to the Jewish Agency of Israel. The period until 1937 and local governments, urging them to rally around was marked by heightened tensions, particularly after him. This, coupled with his overt intention to entice a numerous Transjordanians had joined the ranks of revolution that would liberate Transjordan from foreign rebels in Palestine. The growing opposition to Britain’s occupation, worried the French and threatened their & presence in Syria. Britain interceded with the Emir’s British government to amend a number of laws such father, King Hussein, to persuade his son not to take as those of ownership and personal status in order to any action to the detriment of France, promising prevent the exacerbation of the situation. in return Transjordan autonomous rule under Emir Abdullah. Hence, British Colonial Secretary, Winston In 1945, Transjordan allied itself with Britain against Churchill was dispatched in March 1921 to meet Emir Q„ Abdullah and agree upon the formation of an emirate full independence after the end of World War II for and a constitutional government. Subsequently, local the support it demonstrated during the war. In light of governments were dissolved and merged into one entity Transjordan’s position in World War II and with the known as the government of the Emirate of Transjordan national forces’ indefatigable call for independence, as per the agreement signed between the two parties on Emir Abdullah was summoned to London to attend May 25, 1923, which granted the emirate the right to negotiations for independence. The negotiations & & resulted in the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, which preconditions were met. was signed by Prime Minister Ibrahim Hashem and Britain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ernest Bevin, on Both an advisory council and an elected people’s March 12, 1946 and whereby Britain ended its mandate in Transjordan. The state’s name was changed into the Britain to grant Transjordan full independence. Yet, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Abdullah I was Britain persisted in its dilatory maneuvers in the hope recognized as a constitutional monarch. May 25 was of brokering a written agreement that would guarantee ‚R„| its interests in the area. Infuriated by the British

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. ARAB WORLD FOCUS|47 ON THE BELIEFS AND PLOTS OF AL-QAEDA (2) MILITARY AND SUICIDE OPERATIONS

The armed clashes that erupted between the Lebanese Army and radical Islamists in the outskirts '\#+@#+€@ V#!+@!+@#$V #+=+#=(~Q#\# !! = + ^ V V !€ Lebanese Army. The Nahr El-Bared clashes divided the Lebanese into two camps: those asserting the presence of Al-Qaeda in Lebanon through militant Islamist organizations operating in Tripoli #@!#$ƒV war in Syria, the previous controversy was thrust again into the forefront.

It was only after the Abdallah Azzam Brigades, an demolished by a small booby-trap bomb, but we offshoot of Al-Qaeda, admitted their involvement were at risk of disposing of our large explosives’ in the attack against the Iranian embassy in Beirut, supply during our movements, we may under these and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria claimed circumstances use explosives in huge amounts so responsibility for the bombings on al-Aridi Street that not only will the enemy building be leveled to in the Southern Suburb of Beirut in early January the ground but swallowed up into its furthest depths. +='@ Hence, the horror of our foes will be multiplied and Al-Qaeda had expanded to Lebanon. Yet, they we will have scored notable media gains, for their still had dissenting opinions over what triggered losses will be too heavy to conceal from the public. the expansion. Was it provoked by Hezbollah’s This has been tried and tested several times and it involvement in the Syrian war as the March 14 has proved to be successful. Forces claim or was Al-Qaeda planning to relocate the war to Lebanon so as to provoke a Sunni-Shia’a At the heart of the principles deemed a mainstay strife? of wars both in past and present and acknowledged by strategists and historians, is the fact that the In light of the tremendous panic that took over mobilization of jihadists in wars accelerates the the Lebanese and their constant worry about fall of enemies, all enemies, and that the easiest future bombings, this debate has become a minute means to defeat the greatest military opponents is detail in an overarching crisis, fueled by Islamist to drain them both militarily and economically. In declarations that Lebanon has become a Land of an attempt to justify his blunders, the mendacious Jihad, not Nusra, where war and military operations Rumsfeld was surprisingly truthful when he said would play themselves out. to journalists “What more do you expect from us? Do not forget that we are spending billions of All this leads us to probe and investigate the P mental outlook of Al-Qaeda and its position on Another foreign researcher reported that the USSR military action and suicide operations, which demise was mainly ascribed to the exhaustion of assume different names- martyrdom or terrorism- its economic and military powers in small-scale depending on the political and Islamic leanings of wars, in addition to its invasion of Afghanistan and the party discussing the operations. the ensuing aftermath. He added that the US will Of Al-Qaeda’s stances: probably meet a similar fate in its current wars, concluding humorously that its enemies need not In the case of an easily reachable target- a building promote any form of attrition to expedite the fall for enemy meetings, for instance- that could be of the US, because Bush is on this mission himself.

issue 142 | May 2014 48|ARAB WORLD FOCUS

Even the smallest stages of a military operation- Wave-like operations favor groups whose military such as the preparation, storage and cleaning of # & from the site of operations as well as those who regulations that every member needs to learn at want the enemies to know that the waves of terror least in so far as his sphere of specialty requires. will not end and that they will pay dearly for their In this context, it is worthwhile noting that the actions, for an interim cease of operations by no assassination attempt of one of Egypt’s most malignant tyrants, Minister of Information Safwat succumb the Muslim nations to their will. The fact El-Sherif, failed because one of the two members in of the matter is that the jihadists will be preparing charge of the assassination had stored the arms in a & humid place on the eve of the operation. When the enemy with endless terror and thus the enemy had turn came for the assassin to shoot the minister after better spare the Muslims their evil or at least tone it down so that Allah might accomplish a matter Š already destined. attempt failed. Whenever a ten-member jihadist group confronts The rate of military operations will grow an extremely easy operation- naturally not progressively so as to communicate to the public, including martyrdom - that requires one or two the peoples of the world and the belittled enemy members at most, although only one or two are troops a real and practical message that the power of # jihadists is on the rise, for all of them are ignorant of it is recommended to engage all ten jihadists in these dynamics and the swelling operations- whether Q in terms of numbers, magnitude or outreach, would demonstrate power and intimidate the enemy. This inculcate into their minds an impression that the will set tongues wagging among people and in jihadists are advancing steadily while the enemy is the media and both the public and the enemy will crawling back toward inevitable defeat. This would thus anticipate larger mobilization and numerical embolden the peoples and revive their hopes, paving superiority in future operations, which would way for a spontaneous and continuous ascent of Š the movement. For this reason, we had better start spread fear of confronting them. with small-scale operations and move gradually into movements of greater scope, even if we were Diversify and expand the strikes of spite against capable of launching large operations right from the Jewish enemy and the crusaders in every ‹ nook and corner of the Islamic world and even from the escalation of military activities such as outside it if possible thus causing a dispersion of elevating the youth and familiarizing them with the the enemy’s efforts and resources to the highest confrontation and so on. possible extent. For instance, an attack against a tourist site that hosts crusaders in Indonesia would It is worthwhile pinpointing that the part related result in the deployment of an additional number to the outreach of the operations mentioned earlier of security forces, many times higher than usual, is not at odds with the concept of progression. We in all tourist resorts around the world as well as in may start with small-scale operations in the largest a drastic increase in spending. Likewise, targeting geographic area in those places that are far apart a usurious bank for the crusaders in Turkey would from each other; then, in later stages, heighten entail larger security vigilance in all the banks of the intensity of operations while narrowing down crusaders worldwide and more depletion… The the distances between the divergent targets. & Furthermore, the escalation of operations may small and separate groups coupled with recurrent serve for a certain phase only and the operations attacks- two or three- on the same target will keep may assume later a regular pace or a wave-like the enemy on alert and drain its powers. aspect depending on developments.

issue 142 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PRICES |49

REAL ESTATE PRICES- MARCH 2014

Towards In comparison with the preceding months, the real estate market saw a marked Prices of some apartments sold in March 2014 Table 2 recovery in March 2014. Sales rose by approximately Region Area m2 Price (USD) USD/m2 „„@+ Beirut government after more than 10 months of impasse. Ramlet el-Bayda 350 1,540,000 4,400 However modest, this percentage still constitutes @"!###@ Rmeil 120 288,000 2,400 the stark passivity that has dominated the market in Gemmayzeh 145 282,750 1,950 the past few months. This recovery will not, however, Zqaq el-Blat 150 255,000 1,700 necessarily pave way for future upturns because the Burj Abi Haidar 180 360,000 2,000 factors that caused stagnation in the sector are still present, especially the spillover of the Syrian war Verdun 270 810,000 3,000 to Lebanon and the domestic political and security Ras el-Nabee 200 400,000 2,000 instability. Baabda Yarzi 250 725,000 2,900 The prices, which many deem relatively high, maintained stable levels and forecasts differ on Hazmieh 150 292,500 1,950 whether they will take on an upward trend or remain Hazmieh 300 870,000 2,900 unchanged. Baabda 220 462,000 2,100 Tables 1 and 2 illustrate the prices of some estates Hadath and apartments sold in March 2014. (Hay el-Amerkan) 160 296,000 1,850 Ain el-Roummaneh 130 184,600 1,420 Prices of some estates sold in February 2014 Table 1 Ghoubairy 120 168,000 1,400 2 2 Region Area m Price (USD) USD/m Matn Beirut Rabwi 250 275,000 1,100 Adlieh 550 3,520,000 6,400 Awkar 180 180,000 1,000 Ashrafieh (Azarieh) 240 2,184,000 9,100 Mansourieh 170 323,000 1,900 Ain Mreisseh 300 3,900,000 13,000 Ain Saadeh 150 232,500 1,550 Baabda Hazmieh 620 1,240,000 2,000 Dbayeh 165 288,200 1,750 Matn Monteverde 210 382,200 1,820 Monteverde 850 1,062,500 1,250 Antelias 130 188,500 1,450 Ain Saadeh 3,100 2,170,000 700 Aley Qornat Chehwan 980 803,600 820 Choueifat 250 350,000 1,400 Broumana 1,000 750,000 750 Aramoun 150 105,000 700 Aley Bshamoun 120 120,000 1,000 Abadieh 1,500 375,000 250 Doha Hoss 200 320,000 1,600 Bshamoun 1,100 550,000 500 Khaldeh 180 216,000 1,200 Aley 980 539,000 550 Kessrouan Kessrouan Ballouneh 820 943,000 1,150 Jounieh (Ghadeer) 200 300,000 1,500 Ajaltoun 1,350 364,600 270 Haret Sakhr 150 165,000 1,100 Faraya 1,650 660,000 400 Adoniss 170 214,200 1,260 Source: Compiled by Information International. Source: Compiled by Information International.

issue 142 | May 2014 50| Did you know that?

Poverty Indicators around the World

20.6% of the population of the world’s the population of South Asia. In East Asia and population lived at $1.25 in 2010, down from the Pacific, this was at 29.7% and at 12% in the 43.1% in 1990 according to the World Bank. Middle East and North Africa.

48.5% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa Despite the decline in the number of people lived at $1.25 in 2010, making the region with living in extreme poverty over recent years, it the highest concentration of people living at is expected that 1 billion will still be living in the poverty line in the world. It is followed by extreme poverty by 2015. South Asia where this percentage is at 31%. 84% of the Chinese population was living on In the Middle East and North Africa, 2.4% lived $1.25 a day in 1981. According to the World at $1.25 a day. Bank, the most recent numbers from the country show that this has decreased to 11.8%. 69.9% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa lived at $2 a day in 2010, as well as 66.7% of

Beirut International Airport  Rafic Hariri International Airport Traffic - Beirut International Airport  February 2014

Rafic Hariri International Airport traffic in February 2014 compared to January 2014 and Table 1 February 2013 Compared to % of change % of change January 2014 and Traffic January 2014 February February January/February February February 2013, 2014 2013 2014 2013/2014 the number of passengers using Arriving airplanes 2,473 2,160 2,141 -12.6 +0.9 the Rafic Hariri Departing airplanes 2,463 2,159 2,146 -12.3 +0.6 International Airport decreased in Total no. of airplanes 4,936 4,319 4,287 -12.5 +0.7 February 2014 by 16.5% and 6.9% Arriving passengers 200,024 180,375 192,003 -9.8 -6 respectively. The Departing passengers 249,498 194,465 210,514 -22 -7.6 traffic of departing passengers Transit passengers 954 1,266 1451 +32.7 -12.7 registered the highest decline Total no. of passengers 450,476 379,106 403,968 -16.5 -6.9 by 22% or 55,033 Imported goods (per ton) 4,407 4,437 4,449 +0.7 -0.2 passengers. Exported goods (per ton) 2,502 2,551 2,592 +1.9 -1.6 Total amount of goods 6,909 6,988 7,041 +1.1 -0.7 Source: Information International based on the Directorate General of Aviation Stats & Numbers |51 Stats& Numbers Publications

LBP 490 billion are the Publications by Publications by Kutub (in Arabic): distributions of the Independent Information International (in Arabic): 1- May Ziadeh, Evolution of a Free Female Thinker Municipal Fund for 2012 and 1- Salaries and Remunerations in the Public Sector 1008 is the number of benefiting 2- Mission in Hijaz - Lion Roche municipalities. 2- Public Seaside Properties 3- Aleppo Cuisine LBP 300 million is the 3- Lebanon’s Parliamentary History 1920-2000 4- From An-Nabk to Florida contribution granted by the 4- Taxes and Fees Lebanese government, through 5- Institution of Aesthetic Discourse -Saad el-Kassab 5- Lebanon in Figures 1992-2002 the Ministry of Social Affairs, to the 6- Al A’mal Al She’rya Al-Kamila -Kamal Keir beik Yadouna Foundation. 6- Lebanon in Figures 2003-2004 7- Majhoulat Gibran LBP 20 billion is the treasury 7- Lebanon in Figures 2005-2006

advance assigned for the 8- Lebanon in Figures 2007-2008 8- Shweir and Its Hills, A phtographic record completion of the Saida Port 9- Lebanon’s MPs and Lebanese Parliamentary 9- The Wars of Lajat 1837-1838 Project. The allocations were Elections 1960 - 2009 provided on the grounds that the 10- New Funerary Phoenician Stelae, Private Collection requested works are classified 10- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, candidate and confession-North District under the clause of urgent and exceptional expenses. 11- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, candidate and confession-Beirut District LBP 100 billion is the treasury 12- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, advance granted to OGERO candidate and confession-Mount Lebanon District for the purpose of covering 13- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, the salaries and indemnities of candidate and confession-Beqa’a District employees working on contract 14- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, candidate or permanent basis in 2014. and confession-South and Nabatiyeh District LBP 4 billion is the 15- Municipal Elections 2010 compensation paid by the Higher Relief Committee for damages sustained due to the suicide bombing that targeted the Iranian Publications by INMA (in Arabic): Embassy in Beer Hassan on 1- “I am Responsible, All of Us are Responsible” November 19, 2013. 2- “Our Environment is Our Home” LBP 294 million is the treasury 3- “My Society is My Responsibility” advance obtained by the Higher Relief Committee for the 4- “My Society is My Responsibility” Workbook To Subscribe: renovation of the building of 5- “I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards Al-Borj Building, 4th Floor, Martyrs Square State Building” Beirut Central District Patriarch Youssef Howayek in the Telephone: 961-1-983008/9 961-3-262376 town of Halta in Batroun, an action 6- “I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards Fax: 961-1-980630 State Building” Workbook [email protected] that does not acquire a character 7- “Lebanon Wars, why?” www.iimonthly.com of urgency and should rather be www.information-international.com 8- Discrimination in Lebanon © Information International SAL All rights considered a private matter. reserved License No. 180/2003 NEW FUNERARY PHOENICIAN STELAE

This booklet is an insightful scholarly publication that sheds light on Jawad "R millennium BC. The 66 stelae displayed in the booklet were discovered during the excavations conducted in Tyre Al-Bass and were amassed patiently by Mr. Adra with the aim that they might unveil some of the features that marked the life of the Phoenicians. It is to be hoped that this collection will offer to experts and researchers new information about the cemeteries, rituals and culture of the Phoenician society in the historic city of Tyre.

NOW IN BOOKSTORES

© Kutub, All Rights Reserved Al-Borj Building, 4th Floor Martyr’s Square, Commercial Center Beirut - Lebanon P.O.BOX: 11-4353 Beirut, Lebanon Tel: (961-1) 983008/9 Fax: (961-1) 980630 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.kutubltd.com