issue number 120 |July 2012 JUSTICE COUNCIL HALF OF THE LEBANESE ARE NATURALIZED “THE MONTHLY” INTERVIEWS EMILEI HAYEK
www.iimonthly.com Published by Information International sal
FOREIGN ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY 65 THOUSAND NON-LEBANESE OWN OVER 34.8 MILLION M2
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 July INDEX 2012
4 FOREIGN ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY
8 JUSTICE COUNCIL
14 ELECTORAL REALITY AT THE QADA’A OF KOURA DISTRICT
17 HALF OF THE LEBANESE ARE NATURALIZED
18 THE LOST TRUTH BETWEEN USD 11 BILLION AND LBP 8900 BILLION
20 CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF STATISTICS P: 42 P: 26 22 LBP 110 MILLION FOR THE CAR OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
23 POST-TRAUMATIC INTERCOSTAL NEURALGIA: DR. HANNA SAADAH
24 THE FULL CONTROL OF THE SECRET OF LIFE: ANTOINE BOUTROS
25 EATING DISORDERS: WHEN NUTRITION AND PSYCHOLOGY COME TOGETHER: DR. MICHEL NAWFAL
26 INTERVIEW: EMILE HAYEK P: 20
28 VIDEO GAMES
29 NOBEL PRIZES IN MEDICINE (2) 42 QUARRIES OF THE FATTOUSH FAMILY
32 MAKHZOUMI FOUNDATION 43 MAY 2012 HIGHLIGHTS
34 POPULAR CULTURE 46 SYRIAN PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
35 DEBUNKING MYTH #59: HYPNOSIS 47 REAL ESTATE PRICES IN LEBANON - MAY 36 MUST-READ BOOKS: ME, MODERNITY AND A 2012 SHE’IR MAGAZINE 48 FOOD PRICES - MAY 2012 37 MUST-READ CHILDREN’S BOOK: “NEGLECTED ADVICES” “FORGETFUL DONKEY” 50 LARGEST NUMBER OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION AROUND THE WORLD 38 LEBANON FAMILIES: NAQASH FAMILIES 50 BEIRUT RAFIC HARIRI INTERNATIONAL 39 DISCOVER LEBANON: AIRPORT - MAY 2012
40 CIVIL STRIFE INTRO (5) 51 LEBANON STATS LEBANON 2012 4 | LEADER
FOREIGN ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY 65 THOUSAND FOREIGNERS WITH OVER 34.8 MILLION M2
from the community. The Christian Zu’ama feel threatened by this phenomenon as most of the property sold is of “Christian ownership” while the majority of investors are “Muslim Arabs”, which plunges the matter into a religious and political sphere. MP Boutros Harb proposed a draft law banning Lebanese nationals from selling land to their counterparts from different religions. As Muslim Zu’ama remain silent and express no concerns over this subject, the Maronite Patriarch and other Christian leaders are urging Christians to preserve their land for fear of losing their identity. In compliance with the recommendations of the highest Christian authorities, the bishops and monasteries formed a committee of Christian investors to purchase the property of prospective Christian sellers. However, this move failed to curb sales to non-Christian and non-Lebanese investors, especially since they pay substantial amounts of money that defeat all spiritual and religious appeals soliciting Christians to retain their land.
Although the Lebanese law has not, so far, placed any Foreign property acquisition faded later with only restrictions on the acquisition of land by Lebanese 1 million m2 set aside between September 1, 2010 nationals from different religious groups, Law No. and February 18, 2011. The decline manifested itself 11614 dated January 4, 1969 and its subsequent amendments, notably Law No. 296 dated April 3, thousand m2, and this trend continued to linger in the 2001 have governed the foreign ownership of property according to the following: It is prohibited to grant real estate rights to Decreased land acquisitions in 2011 and early 2012 are individuals who do not hold the nationality of a attributed to: recognized state and to all other individuals if their The unrest in Syria and other Arab countries and its acquisition of property contradicts the constitutional spillover on Lebanon provisions regarding naturalization. This legal The dramatic rise in prices in the Lebanese real text aims, according to the Lebanese legislator, at ! ! ! banning the Palestinians from acquiring land in The concern raised every now and then in protest of Lebanon in order to prevent naturalization. foreign acquisition of property Foreigners have the right to acquire up to 3000 m2 The decline in the areas suitable for construction of land across the Lebanese territory. Acquisition of due the purchasing operations and the expansion in a larger area entails a Cabinet decree that is usually construction issued in a spontaneous and regular manner after The resignation of the government in early 2011 and the delay in the formation of a new government Foreign real estate property shall not exceed 3% of the total surface of the Lebanese territory, with a cap Status quo of foreign acquisition of property of 3% of the surface of a particular Qada’a and 10% Table 2 highlights the following matters: of that of the Beirut Mohafaza. The total area owned by the non-Lebanese to date amounts to 35 million m2, which constitutes 0.335% Decline in acquisitions of the total Lebanese territory and remains far from Table 2 shows that the total property that has been the limit set by the law at 3%. It is noteworthy acquired by foreigners from January 4, 1969 until April however, that the foreign owned property is in its 5, 2006 stands at 15.8 million m2 against 18 million entirety suitable for construction and investment m2 in the four years between 2006 and 2010, which and might represent over half of the total Lebanese exceeds the total amount of property acquired in 37 land appropriate for such purposes years.
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The highest acquisition rate in the Aqdiyah reaches Table 1, one decree was passed in 2011 entitling nearly the maximum limit allowed in Baabda the Kuwaiti ambassador to Lebanon to divide the (2.629%) and Aley (2.148%) and in the Mohafaza property he had acquired by virtue of a previous of Beirut where 6.724% out of the 10% set by the decree into small estates. law are acquired by foreigners. Land acquisitions in the rest of the Aqdiyah are still at minimum levels. From the beginning of this year until late April, there were 8 decrees allowing foreign ownership of Whereas foreign acquisition of property registered ! / * lower rates in a number of Aqdiyah such as Nabatieh, decrees were the ruler of the United Arab Emirates, Western Beqa’a, Zahle, Koura and Chouf last year, ! ; ! ! < ; \ ! #$! & = ' + # / ! ' * + # ' ! ' * largest acquisition operation (18,378 m2), which was approved in the Cabinet during a session held on Foreign ownership of Lebanese property has January 25, 2012. The draft decree stated that Araya reached 64,590 owners compared to 25,793 in 2006. is located in the Qada’a of Aley, but it turned out it The average size of an acquired property dropped belongs to the Qada’a of Baabda, so the Cabinet re- from 614 m2 to 540 m2. approved the property acquisition decree on February 28, 2012 after correcting this error. The concerned There were no decrees authorizing foreign parties assert the error was inadvertent, while others acquisition of property in 2011 (properties over 3000 argue that it was deliberate as licensing foreigners m2) and the operations covered only small areas. ' *! * ! especially that the foreign property acquisition rate is Foreign acquisition of property decrees in 2011 approaching its limit there (3%). However, a certain until late April 2012 compromise managed to decrease the rate in Baabda A number of decrees allowing foreigners to acquire from 3% to 2.7%, thus allowing the correction of cadastral rights in Lebanon were issued in 2011 until the decree and the licensing of property acquisition late April 2012. Such decrees are necessary to approve there rather than in Aley where 2.148% of property is the acquisition of an area over 3000 m2 or of several acquired by foreigners. areas, with a total exceeding 3000 m2. As shown in
Foreign acquisition of property decrees Table 1
2 Name and nationality of land Date and No. of the decree Location Area m owners Kuwait’s Ambassador to 7186 Joun- Chouf 22,973 Lebanon Abdul Al Suleiman 16-12-2011 Qta’i- Kuwaiti 7404 923 (in addition to 2792 m2 Salman Hammoud As-Salman 19-01-2012 Hammana- Baabda acquired previously) Al-Sabah- Kuwaiti 7436 Mtayleb- Matn Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani- 25-01-2012 Kfardebian- Kessrouan 1942/67 Qatari 7473 440 (in addition to other areas Khalifa Bin Zayed Bin Sultan al 06-02-2012 Saqiyit Misk- Bhersaf- Matn acquired previously) Nahyan- Emirati 7516 08-02-2012 Ashrafieh- Beirut 212 Rizk Hospital Co. 7517 08-02-2012 Ras Beirut- Beirut 805 LAU 7713 Hekmat Bin Abdul Hamid al- 12-03-2012 Ain Sawfar- Aley 3,057 Zai’im 7756 Araya- Baabda 18,378 Falah Bin Jasim Bin Jabr Bin 15-03-2012 Mohammad Al Thani- Qatari 7983 Dlebta- Kessrouan 7,700 Muqren Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud- 14-04-2012 Saudi Source: Official Gazette
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Evolution of the foreign acquisition of real estate rights in Lebanon from January 1, 1969 until January 11, 2012 Table 2 No. of foreign owners No. of foreign owners and No. of foreign owners and and respective property respective property area respective property area area from 1-1-1969 from 6-4-2006 until 31- from 1-9-2010 until 18- until 5-4-2006 8-2010 2-2011 Mohafaza Qada’a Qada’a area m2 # Area (m2) # Area (m2) # Area (m2) Bint Jbeil 325,000,000 1 1,014 - - - - Marjeyoun 330,000,000 2 5,558 89 1,325,678 19 3,540 Nabatieh Nabatieh 270,000,000 70 62,482 135 184,353 -1 6,240 Hasbaya 290,000,000 - - 9 18,840 1 2,423 Hermel 381,665,497 11 65,765 41 407,561 - - Western 480,000,000 67 80,869 131 403,374 4 -5,541 Beqa’a Beqa’a Baalbeck 2,412,000,000 195 298,270 254 1,382,967 -4 30,487 Rashaya 530,000,000 14 19,305 62 80,176 -1 -670 Zahle 423,215,093 744 1,028,211 1,612 1,705,267 29 -34,083 Tyre 450,000,000 299 303,859 568 87,141 72 -2,128 South Saida 270,000,000 2,081 1,106,399 2,277 660,489 -12 -1,186 Jezzine 240,000,000 34 22,983 97 128,692 8 133,558 Batroun 273,000,000 97 243,092 1,281 647,362 -44 -67,606 Zgharta 185,000,000 33 40,635 42 2,713 -20 -1,297 Tripoli 430,000,000 1,226 375,747 1,536 564,953 9 -5,177 North Koura 172,449,251 108 207,026 272 167,183 -3 -9,190 Bsharri 160,000,000 7 11,175 64 13,513 2 14 Akkar 840,000,000 159 215,514 224 108,733 -1 2,961 Beirut Beirut 17,800,065 4,821 896,762 6,596 253,651 118 14,000 Byblos 395,000,000 160 252,556 551 1,082,574 -44 -12,045 Kessrouan 325,000,000 1,934 787,042 3,134 553,038 -6 -12,215 Aley 270,000,000 4,241 3,405,153 5,433 2,418,608 93 -11,191 Mount Lebanon Matn 270,000,000 3,448 1,403,890 4,516 3,266,048 215 937,254 Chouf 470,000,000 1,256 1,286,743 2,258 1,363,503 -77 -3,069 Baabda 190,000,000 4,785 3,735,429 4,878 1,233,520 21 45,218 Total Lebanon 10,400,129,906 25,793 15,855,475 36,061 18,058,923 378 1,010,297
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Evolution of the foreign acquisition of real estate rights in Lebanon from January 1, 1969 until January 11, 2012 Table 2 % of foreign- No. of foreign owners and Total property respective property area owned land Total No. of area acquired by from the total owners from 19-2-2011 foreigners until 11-1-2012 Qada’a area Mohafaza Qada’a Qada’a area m2 # Area (m2) Area (m2) % # Bint Jbeil 325,000,000 - - - - - Marjeyoun 330,000,000 3 2,703 1,337,479 0,405 113 Nabatieh Nabatieh 270,000,000 -22 -67,663 185,358 0,069 182 Hasbaya 290,000,000 - - 21,263 0,007 12 Hermel 381,665,497 1 876 474,202 0,124 53 Western Beqa’a 480,000,000 68 -29,350 449,362 0,094 270 Beqa’a Baalbeck 2,412,000,000 161 333,628 2,045,352 0,085 606 Rashaya 530,000,000 5 3,649 102,460 0,019 80 Zahle 423,215,093 -14 -307,798 2,391,597 0,565 2,371 Tyre 450,000,000 40 12,613 401,485 0,089 979 South Saida 270,000,000 345 -31,620 1,734,082 0,624 4,691 Jezzine 240,000,000 27 32,161 317,394 0,132 166 Batroun 273,000,000 14 -19,127 803,721 0,294 1,348 Zgharta 185,000,000 1 2,673 44,724 0,024 56 Tripoli 430,000,000 125 -4,537 930,986 0,217 2,896 North Koura 172,449,251 -28 -61,226 303,793 0,176 349 Bsharri 160,000,000 13 4,237 28,939 0,018 86 Akkar 840,000,000 44 33,278 360,486 0,043 426 Beirut Beirut 17,800,065 515 32,410 1,196,823 6,724 12,050 Byblos 395,000,000 70 38,021 1,361,106 0,346 737 Kessrouan 325,000,000 17 -17,931 1,309,934 0,403 5,079 Aley 270,000,000 197 -14,273 5,798,297 2,148 9,965 Mount Lebanon Matn 270,000,000 105 72,573 5,679,765 2,108 8,284 Chouf 470,000,000 228 -38,105 2,609,072 0,555 3,665 Baabda 190,000,000 442 -18,816 4,995,401 2,629 10,126 Total Lebanon 10,400,129,906 2,357 -41,624 34,883,071 0,335 64,590 Source: Compiled by Information International based on the figures issued by the Directorate General of Real Estate Affairs
= $ ! ! * ! * and national perspective away from any sectarian considerations in order to adopt the most adequate guidelines to maintain our national identity. They would also help towards achieving long-lasting economic growth rather than the * ! ! / the long-term economic and social status of the Lebanese, thus preventing them from acquiring land and houses.
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JUSTICE COUNCIL CEMETERY OF VERDICTS
! [ sergeant Mohammad Mereeb, at an army checkpoint in Kouwaikhat in Akkar on May 20, 2012, there were increasing demands from a number of clerics and MPs as well as Dar el-Fatwa to refer the case to the Justice Council, rather than the military judiciary, as the former, according to them, delivers more equitable and non-politicized verdicts.
What is the Justice Council, what were the cases Matters of concern referred thereto, and is it possible to entrust it with The cases are referred to the Justice Council, following a * > decree issued in Cabinet. The Council is responsible for: The crimes laid down by articles 270 to 326 of the Establishment Penal Code The Justice Council is one the judiciary bodies that The crimes stipulated by the law issued on January emerged with the formation of Greater Lebanon 11, 1958 and including instigation of civil wars, pursuant to decision No. 1905 dated May 12, 1923 ! ! issued by the then Governor of Greater Lebanon and acquisition of explosives stipulating “the formation of a special court, called All crimes resulting from the arms deals signed by the Justice Council and responsible for probing into the Ministry of National Defense ! ! ! P The capacities of the Justice Council include both The law issued on February 3, 1948 postulated the the civilians and the military. following: O# + O Prosecution ! ! The public prosecutor presents the case before the R V X O ! P judicial investigator and provides him with the = Members ! ] ! According to law No. 328 (Principles of Criminal investigator decides to stop the trial or to indict the Trials) dated August 2, 2001 and its amendments, the defendant and refer him to the Justice Council. Justice council consists of a President who is usually The trial, which is either adversarial or in absentia, is the President of the Court of Cassation (President of carried out according to the procedure in Criminal Law the Higher Judicial Council) and four senior judges The verdicts of the Justice Council shall by no appointed pursuant to a decree issued in the Cabinet means be subject to any regular or irregular review upon the proposition of the Justice Minister and the methods except for objection and re-trial approval of the Higher Judicial Council. Another judge The Justice Council is the authority entrusted with or more are determined to replace the original members considering retrial requests should any of them die or relinquish his post or retire The Council convenes at the Justice Palace in Beirut or get dismissed. or at the crime scene when necessary or in any other place that the President determines should the The Justice Council is structured to represent the major Council fail to meet at the Justice Palace. Lebanese sects with a Maronite president and members * ; ; R [ \ ! ] [ Cases referred to the Justice Palace Catholic and Druze sects respectively. A Sunni judge, During a span of 69 years, since the 1943 independence until or a delegate selected from his assistants, represents mid 2012, 160 cases were referred to the Justice Council. the Public Prosecution before the Council, and Some of them were referred shortly after their occurrence investigation is managed by a judge appointed by the ^ ! ! Justice Minister upon approval of the Higher Judicial by the Council were rendered within a reasonable duration, Council. some were delayed for a few years and others have been dragging for many decades and are yet to see the light.
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The following table shows the cases referred to the Justice Council.
Cases referred to the Justice Council No. and date of the decree approving case referral to the Justice Council Nature and date of the case 712 15-11-2008 Explosion targeting a military bus in Al-Bahsas, Tripoli on 29-9-2008 385 29-9-2008 Killing of Sheikh Saleh Aridi in Baysour on 15-9-2008 91 22-8-2008 Assault against the military in Tripoli on 13-8-2008 1433 5-5-2008 Murder of Salim Assi and Nasri Marouni in Zahle on 20-4-2008 1 24-12-2007 Assassination of Brigadier General Francois Hajj in Baabda on 20-4-2008 861 2-11-2007 Assassination of MP Antoine Ghanem in Sin el-Fil on 19-9-2007 542 18-7-2007 Assassination of MP Walid Eido in Rawche on 13-6-2007 514 4-7-2007 Nahr el-Bared events as of 20-5-2007 428 16-6-2007 Abduction and murder of Zias Kabalan and Ziad Ghandour in Jadra on 26-4-2007 336 21-5-2007 Assassination attempt of Defense Minister Elias Murr in Naqqash on 12-7-2005 335 21-5-2007 Ain Alaq crime on 13-2-2007 Decree in force on 12-12-2005 Assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel in Jdaydeh on 21-11-2006 15989 23-12-2005 Assassination of MP Jubran Tueini in Mkales on 12-12-2005 15323 7-10-2005 Assassination attempt of journalist May Chidiac in Jounieh on 25-9-2005 15077 2-9-2005 Assassination of George Hawi in Beirut on 26-6-2005 14540 3-6-2005 Assassination of journalist Samir Kassir in Ashrafieh on 2-6-2005 14188 18-2-2005 Assassination of PM Rafik Hariri in Beirut on 14-2-2005 14079 28-1-2005 Assassination of Minister Elie Hobeika in Hazmieh on 24-5-2002 14078 28-1-2005 Assassination attempt of MP Marwan Hamadeh in Beirut on 1-10-2004 Murder of two employees of the teachers’ pension fund office in UNESCO, 8319 5-8-2002 Beirut on 31-7-2002 Killing of military members in Dennieh on 31-12-1999 and other members during 2081 5-1-2000 the assault that targeted the Russian Embassy in Beirut on 3-1-2000 780 10-6-1999 Killing of four judges in Saida on 8-6-1999 11762 6-2-1998 Bourday events in Baalbeck on 30-1-1998 7693 5-12-1995 Murder of Sheikh Nizar Halabi in Beirut on 31-8-1955 6332 2-2-1995 Introducing and spreading toxic waste in a number of Lebanese regions on different dates 4825 2-3-1994 Explosion of the church of Our Lady of Salvation in Zouk Mikael 4807 25-2-1994 Killing of the Jordanian diplomat Naeb Omran el-Maayta in Beirut on 29-1-1994 4554 23-12-1993 Explosion at the Phalanges headquarters in Beirut on 20-12-1993 3801 15-7-1993 Explosion on the Deir el-Balamand road in the north on 15-7-1993 3007 29-12-1992 Murder of the two brothers and owners of a jewelry shop in Baabda on 22-12-1992 668 30-10-1990 Killing of Dani Chamoun and his family on 21-10-1990 Usurping of political power and military leadership by Michel Aoun, Edgard Maalouf, Issam 656 19-10-1990 Abou Jamra and others The Nar el-Mawt crime which resulted in the killing of 23 people on 1-10- 1990. 606 9-10-1990 The Lebanese Forces were accused of this crime.
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Cases referred to the Justice Council No. and date of the decree approving case referral to the Justice Council Nature and date of the case 12 14-12-1989 Assassination of MP Nazem el Qadri in Beirut on 21-9-1989 9 1-12-1989 Assassination of President René Maawad in Beirut on 22-11-1989 3937 2-6-1987 Assassination of PM Rashid Karami on 1-6-1986 875 29-7-1983 Al-Bahsas massacre in Tripoli on 16-6-1983 46 11-12-1982 Assassination attempt of MP Walid Jumblat in Beirut on 1-12-1982 27 3-12-1982 Assassination of the elected President Sheikh Bachir Gemayel in Ashrafieh on 14-9-1982 5202 19-5-1982 Assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Assaf in Beirut on 26-4-1982 3844 6-3-1981 Assassination of Dr. Pierre Taraby 3794 4-2-1981 Disappearance of imam Musa Sadr and his two companions in August 1978 1367 8-6-1978 Killing of Ambassador Hasib Abdallah in Beirut on 28-4-1978 66 21-3-1977 Assassination of MP Kamal Jumblat in Chouf on 16-3-1977 and all the ensuing incidents 10821 30-12-1975 Killing of the governor of the north, Kassem Imad in Tripoli on 20-12-1975 10751 4-10-1975 Assaults targeting the ISF throughout Lebanon as of 13-4-1975 Wounding of Maarouf Saad (who died later) and killing of a first sergeant in Saida 9797 28-2-1975 on 26-2-1975 7921 16-3-1974 Assassination attempt of Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon in Ramli el-Bayda on 15-3-1974 6789 19-12-1973 Killing of a gendarme and a soldier in Tripoli on Feb 18 and 19, 1973 5578 14-6-1973 Clashes in the town of Hawshab in Akkar on 21-5-1973 Assassination of Abdullah Adel Osseiran in Saida on 21-12-1971 following 2561 30-12-1971 a fierce electoral rivalry. 11252 14-11-1968 Killing of Bassam Mereebi and wounding of two other people in Tripoli on 14-11-1968 10390 2-7-1968 Assassination attempt of MP Yaacoub Sarraf in Tripoli on 17-6- 1968 10123 31-5-1968 Assassination attempt of former President Camille Chamoun in Beirut on 31-5-1968 9319 6-2-1968 Robbery and killing of jeweler Antoine Allbert Assi on 31-1-1968 Abduction of two nationals in Zgharta on 14-1-1967 and killing of Hassib Qabalan Khoury 6548 7-2-1967 in Tripoli on 17-1-1967 6322 20-12-1966 Murder of Nassim Karam in Tripoli on 17-12-1966 6017 17-11-1966 Killing of Suhail Haidar in Baalbeck on 16-11-1966 5475 12-9-1966 Zgarta-Ehden events and killing of 4 people on 3-9-1966 Killing of Al-Hayat newspaper owner, journalist Kamel Mrouwi in Beirut on 16-5-1966 4519 20-5-1966 and convicting Ibrahim Qlaylat, member of Al-Mourabitoun of the murder. 3206 8-12-1965 Baalbeck incidents on 6-12-1965 151019-4-1965 Murders in Zgharta on 16-4-1965 and 19-4-1965 1183 16-3-1965 Murder in Tripoli on 16-3-1965 1001 10-2-1965 Murder in the town of Younin in Baalbeck on 20-9-1964 279 5-11-1964 Murder in the town of Bebnin in Akkar on 25-9-1964 17560 18-9-1964 Murder in Bhamdoun on 4-8-1964 7255 2-8-1961 Murder in Kfarqouq in the Beqa’a area on 19-7-1961 6596 5-5-1961 Murder in Zgharta on 9-4-1961
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Cases referred to the Justice Council No. and date of the decree approving case referral to the Justice Council Nature and date of the case 5997 21-1-1961 Murder in Deir el-Qamar on 24-12-1960 5059 9-9-1960 Murder in Beirut on 29-8-1960 and another in Burj Hammoud on 2-9-1960 2101 16-9-1959 Murder in Beirut Airport on 8-9-1959 resulting in the death of an Iraqi citizen 2100 12-9-1959 Murder in Ehden on 6-9-1959 1887 10-8-1989 Killing of Ersal’s Moukhtar on 3-8-1959 and a number of people in Ayto on 1-8-1959 1828 31-7-1959 Assassination of MP Naeem Moghabghab in Maaser Beiteddine on 27-7-1959 789 7-3-1959 Murder in Beirut on 27-2-1959 19299 10-4-1958 Incidents in the Beqa’a and Mount Lebanon on 19-4-1958 189786-3-1958 Murder in Mukhtara on 1-3-1958 18154 24-12-1957 Diverse incidents in the North Mohafaza between 5 and 21 January 1957 17879 28-11-1957 Diverse incidents in Ehden and Zgharta in November 1957 16821 7-8-1957 Murder in Ehden resulting in the death of a lieutenant on 3-8-1957 16228 17-6-1957 Killings in the town of Mezyara on 16-6-1957 16052 31-5-1957 Incidents in Beirut on 30-5-1957 13417 21-9-1956 Murder in Mazraat el chouf on 8-7-1956 13293 7-9-1956 Assault against the Arab News Agency in Beirut on 5-9-1956 12451 6-6-1956 Killing of Wajih Damerji on 6-6-1956 12117 11-5-1956 Incidents in Jbeil and killing of Tarabay Habib Tarabay 12094 3-5-1956 Murder in Aqoura on 10-11- 1955 12032 28-4-1956 Murder in Aqoura on 26-4-1956 9957 1-8-1955 Muders in Zgharta and Ehden due to familial and vengeance conflicts 5158 21-5-1954 Murder in Zgharta on 14-5-1954 4689 31-3-1954 Murder in Chekka on 12-3-1954 4688 31-3-1954 Killing of Gerji el-Bitar on 25-2-1954 4225 23-2-1954 Assault against Youssef Charbel on 16-2-1954 4224 23-2-1954 Killing of the Mayor of Tyre, Mounir Daou on 16-2-1954 4223 23-2-1954 Killing of a housewife and her maid on 22-2-1954 4138 15-2-1954 Bombing the Arab Higher Committee and the UN Tripoli office 2657 22-9-1953 Several robberies at gunpoint during 1953 2517 25-8-1953 Rallying and staging a demonstration to protest the Lebanese state in Beirut on 17-8-1953 2506 13-8-1953 Robbery on Ras Matn road on 10-8-1953 2449 5-8-1953 Murder in Bouday on 5-8-1953 2435 4-8-1953 Murder in Ain Zhalta on 3-8-1953 2393 23-7-1953 Assault against Ali Mohammad Abboud in Beirut on 23-7-1953 8680 12-6-1952 Robbery and murder attempt in Saadiyat on12-6-1952
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Cases referred to the Justice Council No. and date of the decree approving case referral to the Justice Council Nature and date of the case 8422 23-5-1952 Killing of Mahmoud Bayk Khaled in Tripoli on 20-5-1952 8204 8-5-1952 Robberies and killings in Brital on 26-4-1952 7602 15-2-1952 Murder in Batroun on 3-2-1952 5821 25-8-1951 Incidents in Furn Chebbak and Beirut on 25-8-1951 Incidents in Akkar between the residents of Fnaydek and the Jaafar families resulting 5391 9-7-1951 in the loss of many lives on 22-6-1951 5286 19-6-1951 Killing of a municipal policeman in Sawfar on 26-9-1950 4896 10-5-1951 Murder in Sayr Dennieh on 6-5-1951 4888 10-5-1951 Murder in Douma on 15-4-1951 4671 13-4-1951 Murder in Jwayya on 13-4-1951 4648 10-4-1951 Murder in Zahle on 8-4-1951 4483 7-4-1951 Murder in Yammouni on 6-4-1951 4520 27-3-1951 Murder in Beirut on 26-3-1951 4519 27-3-1951 Murder in Chiyah on 26-3-1951 4450 19-3-1951 Murder in Riyaq on 17-3-1951 3936 9-1-1951 Murder in Jounieh on 18-12-1950 3097 9-10-1950 Incidents on the Farayya road on 8-10-1950 2981 20-9-1950 Various murders in the Baalbeck region during 1950 2794 29-8-1950 Murder in Zahle on 26-8-1950 2261 28-6-1950 Incidents in the Mir Bachit Street in Beirut on 27-6-1950 1096 6-2-1950 Attacks carried out by the communists in Beirut on 15 and 18 December 1950 1080 1-2-1950 Attacks carried out by the communists in Beirut and Tripoli on 29 and 30 December 1950 13721 25-11-1948 Incidents, demonstrations and flyers’ distribution as of 12-5-1948 12725 17-8-1948 Attacks on Lebanese territories on 12, 13, 16 and 17 August 1948 Killing of priest Habib Khashah in the Jabal Sheikh region on 16-7-1948 due 12409 20-7-1948 to sectarian fights 1199514-6-1948 Murder in Hermel on 7-6-1948 Murder on 6-5-1948 aiming to spark sectarian conflicts between the Shia’a 1178815-5-1948 and the Christians in Ras Baalbeck 11031 3-2-1948 Attacks on Tyre’s gendarmerie station on 3-2-1948 8340 5-3-1947 Killing of Mazhar Oumari and Nafez Moukaddam in Tripoli on 4-3-1947 7901 24-1-1947 Murder in Tripoli on 18-1-1947 7600 4-12-1946 Throwing bombs at Bab el-Raml Café in Tripoli on 18-1-1947 7575 3-12-1946 Murder attempt in Tripoli on 2-12-1946 7574 2-12-1946 Murder in Tripoli on 2-12-1946 6859 9-8-1946 Murder in the Hadath region on 22-8-1946 6717 9-8-1946 Murder attempt targeting Elias Khaled in Chouf on 9-8-1946 6117 23-2-1946 Incidents in Tripoli resulting in wounding Qbouli al-Zawk on 3-6-1946
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Cases referred to the Justice Council No. and date of the decree approving case referral to the Justice Council Nature and date of the case 5175 23-2-1946 Murder attempt of gendarmes in Kbayyat on 10-2-1946 3954 25-9-1945 Murder in Jaj in Byblos on 30-7-1957 3766 21-8-1945 Murder attempt for sectarian reasons in Ras Baalbeck on 5-6-1945 3761 16-8-1945 Murder attempt of an ISF corporal in Baalbeck on 14-8-1945 3756 11-8-1945 Murder 3674 2-8-1945 Attack on leader Fawzi Bayk Trabolsi on 31-7-1945 3581 18-7-1945 Robbery at gunpoint in Riyaq on 10-7-1945 3580 18-7-1945 Robberies at gunpoint in Baalbeck (93 cases) 3475 29-6-1945 Gunfire between members of the Zouaiter family and the Chams family on 28-6-1945 Murder attempt of a Kahhaleh resident carried out by members from Baalbeck 3380 15-6-1945 on 13-6-1945 3344 13-6-1945 Robbery case on 10-6-1945 Killing of the Moukhtar of Hawsh al-Rafiqa and another person on 29-5-1945 by members 3343 11-6-1945 from Brital 3342 11-6-1945 Robbery case on 25-5-1945 3341 11-6-1945 Murder on 1-1-1945 3093 16-4-1945 Murder on 12-4-1945 2659 13-2-1945 Murder of gendarme Zaidan Chehade 2581 6-1-1945 Murder on 6-1-1945 2560 28-12-1944 Murder attempt on 17-11-1944 Source: Official Gazette
Current case ` ; # ! #*! k ! ! + O * political, military and national obstacles. From a legal perspective, the Justice Council has jurisdiction over the ! ! * \ ! ; #*! k ! ! * ! ! ! ! ! * ! ; R ! * * ! ! ! ! * ! + O \ ! ! * ^ * # ! ! ! > { + O * * a political compromise, especially that referring the case and rendering the verdict are two different things. Many cases were referred to the Justice Council in the past but are still awaiting court decisions and this drove people to actually label the Council as the cemetery of verdicts. k * ! $ + O > ; * ! ! R * ! * ! * *| the long run.
issue 120 | July 2012 14 | PUBLIC SECTOR
ELECTORAL REALITY AT THE QADA’A OF KOURA DISTRICT Three Greek Orthodox parliamentary seats are allocated to the Qada’a of Koura electoral district. Koura is by far the largest Orthodox district as it is represented by 3 out of 14 Greek Orthodox deputies and includes 38 000 out of a total 246 000 Orthodox voters.
The seat of the Lebanese Forces MP Farid Habib, one Fayez Ghosn: 12,201 votes of the three Koura MPs, became vacant following his George Atallah: 12,154 votes death on May 31, 2012. Filling the vacancy entails, Salim Saadeh: 11,980 votes according to Article 41 of the Lebanese Constitution, conducting by-elections within two months from / ! the date the seat becomes vacant, since Parliament 12,111 for the second list, i.e. a difference of 2030 still has over 6 months before the expiry of its term / * ! (parliamentary term expires on June 20, 2013). loser was 1,461 votes.
} * ~ ! ! In terms of sectarian distribution of the votes, it was * evident that the Christian voting was divided equally nature of the sectarian and political structure in Koura. * } ! { ! ! * 70% -75% of the Sunni voters which reached around ! * 4,800 votes, while the second list had 95% of the Shia’a the seat vacant and not to carry out the elections at all. voters which amounted to 500 votes. Until the manifestation of the bigger picture regarding the electoral battle or the chances of cancelling the elections, the current status cannot be understood fully unless we shed light on the 2009 elections, especially Hence, by-elections should take as the facts and circumstances that prevailed 3 years “place soon and it is forecast that the ago are still standing today. [ nature of the sectarian and political The 2009 elections structure in Koura In the 2009 elections, 27,418 voters out of 58,037 cast their ballots, bringing the turnout to 47.2% compared ” to 41.4% in 2005 and 39.1% in 2000. It is noteworthy Results by towns that during the elections of 2000 and 2005, Koura fell Table 1 shows the results by towns, with Dhour el-Hawa within the same district that included Tripoli, Zgharta, registering the highest voter turnout (79.8%) followed Batroun and Mennieh. by Zgharta al-Mtawli (75.8%), Bednayel (75.5%), ! R The competition included two complete lists with three Voter apathy was most evident in Metrit (16.3%) and candidates each. Btorram (28.8%).
/ * ! * = & Results were distributed by town as follows: Lebanese Forces and the Phalanges Party won all three Towns where results were divided almost equally seats and included: between the two lists with a slight advantage in = ! & * ' Farid Habib: 13,809 votes ' < & |! ! & Nicolas Ghosn: 13,662 votes Towns where results were divided almost equally / ! * ! * ~& ! X = between the two lists with a slight advantage in Patriotic Movement and the SSNP failed to win the favor of the second list: Aba, Bahboush, Kfarsasoun, elections and included: Btorram, Batroumine and Bechmezzine.
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Towns where the majority Towns where the majority voted for the 2nd list voted for the 1st list Amioun Anfeh Dar Bechmezzine Btouratij Dhour el-Hawa Kfar Aqa Qada’a of Koura Fi’i Dar Be’eshtar Bsorma Kefrayya Barsa Qalhat Ain Ekrin Kfarhata Rashdebbine Bedba Dhour el-Ayn Afseddik Bohsas Btaaboura North Ras Maska Bnohran Zakroun Zgharta al-Mtawli Btouratij Kaftoun Ajdebrine South Ras Maska Nakhleh Bednayel Haret el-Khassa Bdabhoun
Results of the 2009 Koura elections by town Table 1 Registered Actual Voter Farid Farid Nicolas Fayez George Salim Town voters voters turnout (%) Makari Habib Ghosn Ghosn Atallah Saadeh Amioun Sharqi/ Gharbi 7011 2574 36.7 691 503 526 1715 1744 1939 Kousba 4630 1990 43 968 1030 1012 1003 896 855 Anfeh 4591 2853 62.1 1905 1624 1651 1026 1040 982 Deddeh 3726 2210 59.3 1391 1287 1304 793 727 791 Kfar Aqa 3503 1659 47.3 935 943 844 611 792 603 Kfarhazir 2365 1074 44.3 558 538 536 502 500 495 Dar Be’eshtar 2281 1002 43.9 588 583 546 421 422 349 Bechmezzine 2061 781 37.9 373 313 330 393 419 377 Btorram 1979 570 28.8 282 245 219 289 312 314 Fi’i 1466 751 51.2 336 297 301 401 420 424 Bsorma 1344 470 35 196 190 182 258 267 252 Kefrayya 1234 868 70.3 679 625 649 187 142 182 Barsa 1226 462 37.7 301 302 298 149 148 141 Batroumine 1213 437 36 199 175 166 227 243 226 Qalhat 1174 551 46.9 217 184 195 314 347 319
issue 120 | July 2012 16 | PUBLIC SECTOR
Results of the 2009 Koura elections by town Table 1 Registered Actual Voter Farid Farid Nicolas Fayez George Salim Town voters voters turnout (%) Makari Habib Ghosn Ghosn Atallah Saadeh Ain Ekrin 1104 632 57.2 504 505 489 122 115 103 Bziza 1031 520 50.4 242 257 249 250 251 242 Kfarhata 1009 568 56.3 272 226 204 327 296 319 Bedba 907 332 36.6 136 106 106 192 210 201 Metrit 875 143 16.3 83 88 83 59 57 53 Rashdebbine 851 435 51.1 357 372 331 99 66 55 Afseddik 839 398 47.4 171 149 154 231 224 233 Btouratij 822 504 61.3 410 386 395 96 82 85 Ajdebrine 784 532 67.8 400 387 387 131 127 130 Aba 781 282 36.1 135 115 120 144 156 141 South Ras Maska 762 284 37.2 182 165 158 117 96 83 Kfarsaroun 744 333 44.8 152 146 142 175 176 177 Kfar Qahel 711 291 41 166 145 147 118 118 137 Nakhleh 694 403 58 266 240 259 133 119 137 Btaaboura 684 238 34.8 77 47 60 161 155 172 Majdal-Zakzouk 628 395 62.9 230 220 209 187 152 143 Bahboush 590 279 47.3 136 134 127 143 138 136 Kaftoun 445 220 49.4 93 65 75 125 134 141 Bnohran 402 228 56.7 7 0 0 219 220 214 Bkeftin 393 169 43 86 83 84 88 86 78 Bednayel 389 294 75.5 230 224 224 65 60 68 Dar Bechmezzine 364 148 40.6 58 39 42 87 98 98 Haret el-Khassa 331 107 32.3 75 73 73 35 31 23 North Ras Maska 321 222 69.1 165 142 149 66 49 62 Barghoun 314 211 67.2 205 199 203 11 4 5 Dhour el-Hawa 267 213 79.8 16 9 12 202 198 198 Zakroun 248 177 71.4 144 146 136 36 33 31 Dhour el-Ain 189 89 47 66 62 51 27 25 16 Bdabhoun 178 99 55.6 83 76 77 19 17 17 Zgharta al-Mtawli 174 132 75.8 7 0 0 129 130 127 Bohsas 155 48 31 33 33 29 19 15 15 Electoral employees 247 240 97.1 146 131 128 99 97 91 Total 58037 27418 47.2 14952 13809 13662 12201 12154 11980 Source: “2009 Parliamentary Elections According to Ballot boxes, Candidates and Sects– North Mohafaza” by Information International
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HALF OF THE LEBANESE ARE NATURALIZED The Lebanese nationality, who deserves it and who is deprived of it, has been a topic of debate since the establishment of Greater Lebanon in 1920. The naturalization decrees issued during the past few decades, [ #$$% ! ! it by granting nationality to ineligible persons under the pretense of doing justice to those unfortunate deprived who deserve it. Sadly, this problem will persist due to the sectarianism prevailing in Lebanon.
An-Nahar newspaper published 37 years ago a report, dated or on a discretionary basis as the government has the right September 2, 1975 on naturalization. The report was prepared * O ; [ ! ! | ! * { & Minister of Interior Camille Chamoun. If the numbers quoted in An Interior Minister claimed that the non-issuance of the report are correct, and if we add the naturalization processes the decrees and decisions approving naturalization in the ! ! ^ * ! \ [ ! * by virtue of the 1994 decree, we realize that the majority of the applicants who were deprived from obtaining citizenship, Lebanese are naturalized citizens and that their number exceeds while it was granted discretionarily, sometimes even to non- 2,000,000 today, which is half of the Lebanese population. entitled citizens (the report was drafted in the late 1972 and submitted to the then Prime Minister, Saeb Salam.) The 1975 report highlighted the following: The report states that the 1962 law stipulated the revocation of 1- The applications present at the Civil Status General citizenship from those who had been naturalized but committed Directorate, save those of the Arabs of Wadi Khaled, acts disturbing public order and security. This law, which came R ! ^ * * to light during the term of President Fouad Chehab, was aimed at registration records, and foreigners claiming Lebanese withdrawing the citizenship from a number of Syrians, Iraqis, and citizenship. 70% of the stateless groups are Arab + ! ! ; ; nationals, mainly Syrians and Palestinians who were born X ! ! ! V / in Lebanon after 1948. It was later realized that 15,000 to had acquired the Lebanese nationality during the 1958 revolution 20,000 of them claimed that they were born to Lebanese and were mostly registered in the region of North Matn. parents but were not registered at birth. However, there is The report also points out the method used in re-granting the ! ! Lebanese citizenship between 1960 and 1964 to 88,000 Egyptians 2- The nationality-under-consideration groups, save the on the grounds that they descended from Lebanese origins. Arabs of Wadi Khaled, include no more than 3500 The studies of the General Directorate of Civil Status persons as the 1964 decree abolished the effect of all and the General Directorate of General Security assure previous decrees and decisions approving consideration that there are 15 000 emigrants who deserve the Lebanese of their cases, according to the laws issued after 1922 . nationality, particularly since their parents have it. However, 3- Those who were rightly granted the Lebanese nationality those do not have any applications at the General Directorate since 1958 to date do not exceed 5,000 people. but information has been gathered about them for over 20 4- Those who were naturalized by virtue of a decree exceed ^ * * ! ! ^ * R 100,000 people, including 88,000 Egyptians of Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Refraining from naturalizing origin who regained their nationality between 1960 and these emigrants is due to the fact that the majority of them 1964, and 2600 Lebanese who obtained citizenship between are Christian, while the naturalization process in Lebanon, 1964 and 1970, as well as 30,000 others who obtained or regarding the non-Lebanese, was and still is carried out regained citizenship between 1970 and early 1975. ! OV ! VP There have been attempts, based on the records of the Naturalization decrees issued since 1975 to date were General Security, to naturalize a number of the Arabs of ! * * ! \ [ * Wadi Khaled equal to that of the Christian emigrants, but the did not happen. The employees who accompanied the attempts yielded no fruitful results. naturalization process in its different phases, including the Last but not least, the report mentioned that those who were general directors of the Ministry of Interior, followed by naturalized pursuant to the decrees issued since 1943 to date, the general directors for civil status matters, report that the exceed 200 000, and adding their descendants brings the ! ! OV ! VP number up to half a million. issue 120 | July 2012 18 | PUBLIC SECTOR
THE LOST TRUTH BETWEEN USD 11 BILLION AND LBP 8900 BILLION
Where did the USD 11 billion go? The March 8 Forces raised this question as a dagger & & #% ! ' [ this extravagance and going as far as accusing them of theft and squandering public funds. A few months later, March 14 Forces followed in their rivals’ footsteps, urging March 8 Forces to provide an explanation as to where and how another LBP 8900 billion were spent. The two questions indicate the political split dominating all aspects of the Lebanese [ ( ! ) [ [ ( [ records since 1992 (during Hariri’s premiership), while others pushed it to greater lengths by requesting the examination of the 1988 accounts (when Michel Aoun was appointed the PM of the transitional government), although such a proposition is by no means feasible as the papers and documents of that era were lost owing to the damage or the military events. The truth The last approved budget in Lebanon was that of the and incur upon themselves prison and penalty if we were year 2005, which was delivered pursuant to law No. in a state of law. Thus, any additional spending exceeding ! ! = * R V / LBP 10,000 billion for the years between 2006 and 2011 public budget stood at LBP 10,000 billion distributed is deemed illegitimate. This spending is not a theft in the as shown in the following table. Spending in 2011 full sense of the word but rather funds that were paid out reached LBP 18,900 billion, up by 89% or LBP 8,900 without a law approving their disbursement. billion compared to 2005. It is noteworthy that the ! ] ! ! Those who were in power at the time (particularly the Presidency of the Republic (228%) and the Ministry Fouad Seniora and his allies) argue that the spending of National Defense (102.5%). did not occur legally owing to the closure of Parliament, and being in a position of authority and responsibility, Since 2005, the legal texts entailed the collection they could not have refrained from providing the basic of revenues and the disbursement of expenditures services such as electricity, water, salaries and the public ! O P debt service, so they carried on with the spending so as that the number set in the 2005 budget (LBP 10,000 not to paralyze the state. This group outlined a draft billion) can be spent based on 12 payments distributed law to settle the extra-budgetary spending issue. over each month of the year, and this spending ceiling cannot be surpassed unless pursuant to a law approving Their opponents (March 8 Forces), who were against the opening of additional credits to the budget. ! ] ! limit set for them after coming to power in 2011, so / O P * ! ! they came up with another draft law to legalize the period of time, one month or more, during which the additional expenditure. And so, there was refusal to public budget gains approval. However, given the status authorize the 2011 extra-budgetary spending if the quo, i.e. the delay for years in the approval of the public accounts of former Prime Ministers Fouad Siniora and budget, spending cannot be managed according to the Saad Hariri’s Cabinets, from 2006 until 2010, are not O P ] ! ! ! ! ! ] and governmental paralysis especially that the Cabinet not to mention the failure to collect revenues. From a ! * * = legal perspective, this additional spending, which is for Minister to disburse the salaries and provisions, the most part imperative and necessary, is considered ! ! ! illegal and those responsible for it could be held liable and remains an illegal compromise to justify the 2012 extra-budgetary spending.
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/ ! * ! ! ! ! V ! # ! ! ! ! ] ! ! * & ! & = ! * battle, would eventually agree to the settlement because it is their own interests, before those of the people, that
Credits in the 2005 budget law and the increase in 2011 Ministry Credits in 2005 (LBP billion) Increase in 2011 (LBP billion) Presidency of the Republic 4.6 10.5 Parliament 43.9 22.5 Presidency of the council of Ministers 497.3 349.7 Constitutional Council 1.7 141.2 (LBP million) Ministry of Justice 49 20.7 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants 106.2 35.7 Ministry of Interior and Municipalities 443.9 333.9 Ministry of Finance 1,197.8 59.6 Ministry of Public Works and Transportation 167.3 58.7 Ministry of National Defense 852.3 873.3 Ministry of Education and Higher Education 877.7 227.8 Ministry of Public Health 360.3 131 Ministry of Economy and Trade 7 23.6 Ministry of Agriculture 41.1 29.5 Ministry of Telecommunications 12.1 2.4 Ministry of Labor 108.6 1.1 Ministry of Information 29.1 3.7 Ministry of Energy and Water 61.2 1.5 Ministry of Tourism 14.1 2.6 Ministry of Culture 17.5 6 Ministry of Environment 3.9 1.9 Ministry of the Displaced 5.6 1 Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs 9.3 2.1 Ministry of Social Affairs 87.3 11.3 Ministry of Industry 5.8 1.6 Due debts 3.900 487 Retirement salaries and end of service benefits 900 296.7 Reserve expenditures 195 50 Treasury advances - 5790.3 Support of public agencies - 54.6 Total 10.000 8.900
issue 120 | July 2012 20 | PUBLIC SECTOR CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF STATISTICS
The availability of data and statistics is a major cornerstone on which to structure plans and programs for most sectors. One agency or more usually provides such statistical information, the most important ( [ of such agencies, offering ample data, which, unfortunately were not used to lay down plans for a variety of reasons that this article is not exploring. However, the directorate continued to exist and transformed [ ! sometimes even absence of the numbers provided by certain sectors. Furthermore, the administration ! [ and emigrants in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and other administrations.
From the Ministry of Public Planning to the To carry out the statistics, investigations, and Presidency of the Council of Ministers studies requested by the Council of Development The Central Statistics Directorate was established in and Reconstruction, and the other economic studies 1959 pursuant to legislative decree No. 135 dated June requested by the other administrations. 12, 1959, which stipulated establishing a directorate for To carry out mandatory statistical surveying. It is central statistics within the Ministry of Public Planning considered mandatory that any statistical survey and in direct relation with the minister. It was agreed is carried out by the Central Administration of that the directorate should be formed in stages during Statistics directly, or through another institution, ~ V ! V ! ! ! ! * ! \ [ completion on December 31, 1961 at the latest. To analyze and publish the statistical results. To contribute, with the Civil Service Council, to the Following the dissolution of the Ministry of Public ! Planning in 1977 (establishment of the Council of with statistical units related to the administrations. Development and Reconstruction), law No. 1793 was issued on February 22, 1979 and stipulated the formation Structure of a public agency called the Central Administration of The Central Administration of Statistics consists of Statistics to replace the Central Statistics Directorate. one directorate, one bureau, six departments and The Administration was associated with the Presidency nineteen divisions. There are 258 job vacancies at the of the Council of Ministers. Administration in addition to 23 hourly employees. Table 1 shows the structure and personnel of the Central Functions Administration of Statistics. According to the law, the Central Administration of Statistics assumes the following functions: To set forth, itself or in cooperation with the involved administrations all statistics related to the economic and social life of the country. To unify the data bases related to institutions or individuals used in the administrations in order to extract the statistical data from them, and to technically supervise, analyze and coordinate such statistics. To set up the internal economic accountings (the national accounts), the Balance of Payments, and the other annual statements regarding the economic and social activities of the country.
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Structure and personnel of the Central Administration of Statistics Table 1 # of Grade # of Grade # of Grade # of Grade Directorate/ Department/ Division Total # of jobs Two jobs Three jobs Four jobs Five jobs 4 (including the General directorate - - 2 1 Grade One Director General) Bureau Administrative Division 1371425 Accounting Division Equipment and Supplies Division Department of Productive Sectors Statistics Division of Productive Institutions Database 617211 45 Division of Foreign Trade Statistics Prices Division Department of Social and Domestic Sectors Statistics 716181 42 Population Statistics Division Labor Force Statistics Division Department of Field Operations and Regional Statistics 214326 54 One regional office in each Mohafaza Beirut Office Auto Center Department Analysis and Programming Division 38341 46 Automatic Procession Division Department of Coordination and National 7971 24 Accounting Department of Documentation, Publishing and Accounting Documentation Division 43101 18 Publishing Division Printing Division Total 30 70 131 26 258
Budget According to the 2012 draft budget, the Central was transformed from a mere directorate to a public Administration of Statistics budget was estimated at administration. However, its modest capacities impede LBP 4,080 million distributed over the following: ! \ ! ^'X ! Salaries and provisions: LBP 1,6 billion controversial, especially when it comes to statistics Local transportation: LBP 60 million dealing with unemployment rates, population size and Ads and publications: LBP 63 million national accounts. IT equipment and maintenance: LBP 87 million Studies: LBP 1.5 billion The Ministry of Public Planning was dissolved giving way to the Council of Development and Reconstruction Successive Director Generals and although the Central Administration of Statistics Kamal Bohsali assumed the post of CAS Director remained, the responsibilities were lost and the good General in 1962. In 1993 Robert Kasbarian succeeded planning faded amid the chaos. Most of the agencies and ! & / * ministries are now centralized in one administration, the CDR which has proved to be a wrong decision. Heedful of the importance of the Central Statistics, it
issue 120 | July 2012 22 | PUBLIC SECTOR
LBP 110 MILLION FOR THE CAR OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Relative to its population and the size of its economy, Lebanon could rank among the most highly indebted countries in the world, with a heavy debt of LBP 54 billion in early 2012, that might rise to LBP 56 billion by the end of the year. The main reason behind the emergence and evolution of public debt [ against the expansion of pointless and unnecessary spending, which can, at best, be diminished or curbed. One of the most recent manifestations of rampant spending is the Cabinet’s decision taken on December 9, 2011 and granting the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants credits worth LBP ##/ [ ( Old car The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants reports | ! = ! ! that the 2003 Mercedes 320 E car used by the minister entail putting a car at the service of the Minister, as he currently has undergone sudden technical failures can use the two protocol cars to welcome his foreign ! * ! * counterparts or any other visitors. minister out of fear of further surprises. And so, the ministry requested buying a new car for the minister and New car ! ! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deemed it wise to buy of Protocol. a new Mercedes car, which the Mercedes Company priced at USD 97,000 without the VAT and the customs Violations regarding the ministry’ cars duties, which are estimated at USD 35,000. Investigations into the matter concluded that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants has 7 cars ' * ! which are: minister is a violation of the laws, but should ever the A 2003 Mercedes 320 E at the Minister’s disposal need arise for such a practice, the government must # & ! \ [ ! ! Secretary of the Ministry opt for a much cheaper car to spare the budget further A 2006 Hyundai Limousine for the Directorate of squandering. Protocol Four 2006 Hyundai Grandeur X6 cars for the Directorate of Protocol (one of them is used to transport diplomats)
The acquisition of the above cars breaches the rules and regulations which determine the authorities entitled to a certain number of cars at the expense of the government. Legislative decree No. 27 dated January 18, 1955 assigns two protocol cars for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, meaning that there !! ! Mercedes 320 E - 2003
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. HEALTH|23
POST-TRAUMATIC INTERCOSTAL NEURALGIA |Dr. Hanna Saadah| (A HIDDEN CAUSE OF CHEST PAIN)
Chest pain has numerous causes and most of them are not cardiac. Nevertheless, expensive cardiac investigations are often performed on patients with chest pain-partly because patients and physicians harbor fears of missing heart attacks and partly because it is legally safer to rule out heart disease before dismissing the patient. This tendency for disproportionate chest pain investigation has been compounded by overwhelming advances in technology, [ ! diagnosing and treating chest pain without resorting to a certain amount of cardiac testing. The cost to society of such fear-generated, cardiac evaluations is high and the harms that arise from them are substantial.
Among the many non-cardiac causes of chest pain is The diagnosis should be suspected when chest movements the Post-traumatic Intercostal Neuralgia Syndrome. This (such as bending, rotating, coughing, or breathing) increase syndrome, which is thought to be rare, is actually common. the pain and when different positions reduce or worsen However, it is rarely diagnosed because the diagnosis cannot it. The character of the pain varies; it may be constant or be established with laboratory tests, x-rays, endoscopies, episodic, acute or chronic, and it commonly traces the MRIs, etc. It remains a stubbornly clinical diagnosis, ! * / ] ! ] ! diagnosis solely with the history and physical examination, pains whereas the lower nerves may cause abdominal or unaided by tests. groin pains. The pain may be bilateral if the nerves on both There are 12 thoracic nerves; they arise from the spinal sides are involved (such as after prolonged, violent coughing cord and travel around the ribcage in the grooves located or a bad fall) but more commonly, it tends to be unilateral underneath each rib. Whereas the upper intercostal nerves ! ! ~! ! \ wrap around the rib cage, the lower nerves drop towards the ! ~ *! \ * ! ! ~ ! ! * the 7th terminates at the bottom of the sternum, the 10th X ] ! ! at the umbilicus, and the 12th at the lower abdominal wall tender nerve by palpating the tender zone beneath each and groin. The upper 11 nerves are intercostal because they ! * O ! X ~ travel between ribs, while the 12th nerve is not because there { * ! is no rib beneath it. However, the term Intercostal Neuralgia at their most tender points and seeing if the referred pains is used to indicate pain along any of the 12 thoracic ! = $ * nerves. $ * * / There are many causes of Post-traumatic Intercostal ! * ! ! R Neuralgia such as a) falls, b) athletic activities, c) prolonged, experience, who utilize a combination of local anesthetics violent coughing, d) surgical operations which pin the with or without a steroid. Non-traumatic Intercostal patient in certain positions for prolonged periods, and e) Neuralgias such as shingles, neuropathies, tumors, spinal ! * / * ! ! ! ! * always obvious but a detailed history will usually elicit the / ! ~ \ ! ~ required evidence. Non-traumatic causes, which include a) silencing medicines, physical therapy, anesthetic patches osteoporosis with vertebral collapse, b) degenerative thoracic ! * ! ! *~| * ! * ! * ! deformities such as scoliosis, f) infections such as shingles, dramatic relief. Many a long lasting, undiagnosed, chest or g) certain intra-thoracic tumors, and h) etc. are not part of *! * ! * this discussion. Nevertheless, all conditions that cause the / X ~ { Intercostal Neuralgia Syndrome do so by compressing, ; ! irritating, or damaging the thoracic nerves. There is a paucity mysterious chest or abdominal pains. Most patients will of published research on the Post-traumatic Intercostal ! ! * Neuralgia Syndrome because it is primarily subjective (i.e. Detailed pain and trauma histories plus careful palpation of cannot be measured with tests), is often self-limited, and is the spaces beneath the ribs usually provide the necessary not usually life threatening. clues for diagnosis and effective therapy.
www.hannasaadah.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] issue 120 | July 2012 24| EYEING HORIZONS
|Antoine Boutros| THE FULL CONTROL OF THE SECRET OF LIFE
If nature resorted to segment its recipe for life to small sentences and divide the same gene into many parts, then wouldn’t that reveal the presence of a kind of wisdom behind the process?
This led scientists to jump into the other terms, the scientists should come up with a map for the following spectacular conclusion: Is positions of the 20000 – 250000 genes and the manner they it possible to move these small instructions and sentences are distributed over 23 pairs of chromosomes before writing ! * ! the codes of 3.5 billion bases forming the DNA. ! O ] P ! Starting with the genome of Drosophila melanogaster and > { $ O P ! the corn plant there are genetic maps now for almost every could actually be relocated, then the messages and instructions species. The Drosophila melanogaster map was set up by in their entirety might be written over again and new forms of scientist Thomas Morgan and his team and was published life might appear. It might also be conceivable to change the * ! O/ & & ! nature of the cell and to provide creatures with better abilities. } ! P / \ ! For this reason, scientists ventured into genetic engineering thus chromosomes (4 pairs) and was only one day old, which can * * provide several generations in a short period of time. And so, for the 25000 genes located in the 46 human chromosomes. scientists conducted millions of experiments on it and amassed Undoubtedly, the success of science in deciphering a ! ! * code that is as old as human beings is a dazzling discovery. fecundation and the accompanying division of cells. Morgan ^ * * ! ! ! O P code is translated into protein -the element of life- is one of the initially proposed by the Danish botanist Wilhelm Johansen in 1909. He was also reputed for moving theoretical and Today science stands fully aware that the secret of life rests ! * $ ] ! ! * ! However, human genome was not as easy as that of a fruit divisions and that of the DNA to duplicate itself one time after \ ! ! ! ! ! of genes. The human genome means in fact going through those instructions to the amino acids which are considered thousands of large volumes. Scientists reported a decade ago * ! * ! that, according to the then current technology, mapping the ! ! ! R After science unraveled the secret that has been disturbing ! / * ! ! ! project began formally in 1990, and was originally planned transfer of the secret of life which is embedded in the cell and to last 15 years, but rapid technological advances accelerated more particularly in the chromosome within the nucleus of the completion date to 2003. The goals of the Project are the cell, the world is standing today at the threshold of a huge summarized in the following steps: historical event fraught with all the emotions that would arise identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes ! ! in human DNA, paved the way for the most complicated gestation of nature determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical and understand the entailing repercussions which herald a * # * ! ! store this information in databases, To unravel this secret, scientists’ two steps are necessary: improve tools for data analysis, First determine precisely the location of the genes on a transfer related technologies to the private sector, complete genetic map, and secondly read the sequence of and every triplet of the pair bases forming the DNA which is address the ethical, legal, and social issues that divided into zillions of segments with a length of no more than may arise from the project. ! ! | ! ! # ! ! ] bobbin. The DNA converges at an extremely accurate point needs permanent follow up if scientists wish to * * ! safeguard life on earth from the fearful consequences microscope and it constitutes a code for the entirety of a of tampering with nature. R ! O P {
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. www.irthsumer.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] EYEING HORIZONS |25
EATING DISORDERS: WHEN NUTRITION |Dr. Michel Nawfal| AND PSYCHOLOGY COME TOGETHER MD Mental Health Professional
Many psychiatric/psychological disorders affect the patients’ metabolism even before treatment. For instance, Depression and Schizophrenia are a risk factor for Diabetes Mellitus. When pharmacotherapy is needed, the patients’ metabolism is made even worse. Diabetes, hyperlipidemias as well as other metabolic problems start to bombard the psychiatric patient.
In the case of Eating Disorders, such as Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia The management of Aneroxia should be done Nervosa, the patient struggles with an abnormal eating behavior and by a group of professionals and not just one pattern which are pathological, very dangerous and often deadly. alone. This team should include medical doctors (Endocrinologists, In any of the two cases, proper nutrition is compromised and [ X ; ! \ ! medical comorbidities arise. For the two disorders, both, hereditary nutritionists, psychiatrist, clinical psychologists and should involve biological factors as well as psychological factors have been clearly the family of the patient for support. researched and documented. { ! ! ! ! psychiatric disorders on the basis of psychiatric symptoms alone. Anorexia Nervosa Detailed physical examination and laboratory screening are indicated This is a psychological disorder, not a nutritional one. as a routine procedure in the initial evaluation of psychiatric patients. However, the consequences are nutritional. In such a condition, Most patients are unaware of the medical illness that is causative of which usually starts in adolescent females, the patient denies their psychiatric symptoms. There are a variety of tests that may aid the idea that she or he is greatly underweight (BMI below in the diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa and the assessment of possible 16; sometimes body weight 50% of normal). An Anorexic secondary effects caused by Anorexia Nervosa upon the patient. perceives herself or himself as fatter than she or he actually is. The problem is in the perception of body image and self. Bulimia Nervosa The Anorexic also feels an urge to continue losing weight by / ! ! avoiding eating, fasting for very long times, despite normal Anorexia, it has severe nutritional and medical consequences. # ] ! k ! ! ' ! ! Excessive unhealthy exercise is associated to this severe dieting Anorexia. The medical consequences of the behavior can be to help the weight loss further. The excessive unhealthy exercise dangerous and even fatal. The patient who suffers from Bulimia can cause dehydration, joint problems, muscle cramps etc… The # ] ] ' ] patient gets impulses that drive her or him to over-eat. This is not be as low as 600 calories per day, but there are extreme cases the case in Anorexia. Bulimics might eat up to 5000 calories in one of complete self-starvation. It is a serious mental illness with a meal as a result of an urge, an impulse. Evidently this is followed ! \* * ] ! about gaining weight that he or she relies on any possible way to get rid of the eaten food. The different ways to get rid of the excess Some of the symptoms and signs of Anorexia Nervosa are: ! ! O P ! ! ! ! \* ! ! vomiting, use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics and over-exercising. ` R ! ! The symptoms of a bulimic include: ! ! Dieting despite being thin or dangerously underweight ! * $ ~ * ~ { \ Fear of gaining weight or becoming overweight ~ \ Rituals: cuts food into tiny pieces; refuses to eat around *| others; hides or discards food or throat- Rupture of the stomach by the effort of throwing up- Purging: uses laxatives, diet pills, ipecac syrup, or water pills; O ~ { ~X ~ O \ may engage in self-induced vomiting; may run to the bathroom ! ! $ ! The frequent contact between teeth and gastric acid, in Frequent, strenuous exercise particular, may cause: severe dental erosion, erosion of tooth Intolerance to cold enamel and swollen salivary glands. Depression and solitude The management of Bulimia is similar to that of Anorexia and should ; ! ! include a team of specialists. This team should include medical caused by excessive vomiting doctors, clinical nutritionists, psychiatrist, clinical psychologists and should involved the family of the patient for support.
issue 120 | July 2012 26| INTERVIEW
THE MONTHLY INTERVIEWS LAWYER EMILE HAYEK
“Most municipalities violate the law in their spending of public funds”
} ! ! matters in Lebanon. He is a senior legal authority who has made an outstanding contribution to the public and ! ! ! } ! * ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! reforms, but to no avail. Age has failed to slow down his quest for reform and he is still examining and following Emile Hayek * ! ! * * ! * R } ! } ^ * R * ! * ! * ! P and thus relapsing into chronic illness and misery. / & ! } What are the rules and regulations governing related to municipalities and illegal public spending. the municipal work? “There are several laws and rules guiding the municipal Can you brief us on the current state of { & ^ Lebanon’s municipalities? the Municipal Fees and Surtaxes Law, the Administrative “Municipalities suffer from multiple illnesses and Law and the legal references associated directly with the ! # ! municipalities such as the laws of construction, property public administrative entity with integrated regulations and acquisition, health and environment and all other laws responsible for running local public facilities along with ! P the ministries and other public agencies. Municipalities . have authority over the facilities that do not fall under Based on your knowledge and experience in the responsibility of the state and the public agencies [ ! ' and are vested with similar local capacities. Hence, the municipal work lie? municipality is a mini-state within the state and its major “Funds are the sinew of both the state and the individual. P / ! ! Where does this ignorance stem from? to meticulous and precise principles that are not at the “It stems from two reasons: disposal of everybody. These are, as said in French, des ~ { * * / ~ #* ! ! P fact of the matter is that the legislator has laid down strict ! ! But the municipal members are usually elected one penny can leave the funds of the public administration from the local dignitaries and should therefore unless in compliance with these rules. According to the [ ! * ! * * V ! P or do you have another opinion in this respect? O/ Public tender: this is the main rule for public spending ! # $ ! ! ! * * { | ! ! & fundamental principles including tender announcement, rules and regulations that usually are unfamiliar to a local competition and equity. Tenders provide equal chances for dignitary, or to the owner of the town’s largest store who * ! ! ! issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. INTERVIEW |27 the contract to the bidder with the most suitable offer. Thus, Treasury loans * ! R ! They are usually granted for a certain period of time provided this respect, as being the authority responsible for studying that they are repaid later. In other terms, treasury loans are the offers in both form and content, so that the municipal * * ! council can approve the spending process accordingly. ! * * ! * ! because those (ministries or public agencies) who borrowed Limited tender: this method is no different to the public tender ! * P except for the fact that the documents of terms and conditions pre-select the parties eligible to participate in the bid. Based on your knowledge and expertise, according to which rule do most municipalities spend their funds? Request for proposal: “In my opinion, municipalities are divided into two normal tender’s requirements with the exception that categories: the small municipalities constituting 90% of it is usually an invitation for specialized companies to Lebanon’s total municipalities and large municipalities ! ! ! ! / `=X amounting to only 10%. Small municipalities usually rules and procedures adopted in the public tenders, but ! ! ! ! ! ! ! through the statement and invoice method, far from any Mutual consent: spending according to mutual consent was ! / ! determined pursuant to article 147 of the Public Accounting in 2000, which authorized them to spend their budget by Law and article 68 of the Municipal Fiscal Law issued by virtue of a statement or an invoice up to LBP 20 million. ! # * * ! ! Large municipalities fall generally under the Public by mutual consent when the activity is within the sphere of a # ^ P ! ! public safety, or after launching two consecutive tenders to If such is the case, why can’t the state and its no avail, to name but a few. In this context, municipalities and inspection apparatuses put an end to this violation? public agencies usually go too far in their interpretation of the O/ article pertaining to mutual consent contracts and the Public !~ * ! Accounting Law allows the Cabinet to approve the execution of municipalities in a direct manner. However, following the * dissolution of the ministry, supervision was referred to a directorate * ! ! & { ! & / ! ! * ! ! ! \ & R a rule out of the exception and vice versa. building, consists of a general director, and 3 or 4 staff members in charge of over 1000 municipalities, meaning 1000 public Statement and invoice: The state and the municipalities agencies or mini-states. How do you expect the municipalities are entitled to conclude transactions by virtue of an > ; invoice or a statement if their value does not exceed LBP P 3 million, but every rule has an exception. Article 151 of the Public Accounting Law followed by Article 72 of the What do you think about introducing new municipalities? Municipal Accounting Principles authorized spending “ In light of the status quo and the absence of the state, I am by over LBP 3 million, and Law No. 212 issued in 2000 not supportive of this idea. The establishment of municipalities raised the spending ceiling to LBP 20 million without any in every town becomes a necessity only when we will have an supervision, which drove many small municipalities to integrated ministry handling the smallest and biggest affairs of spend their budgets this way. This is a tumor that needs ' P * ! ! ! ! * Do I understand that you encourage the revival of Treasury and budget loans the Ministry of Municipalities? Budget loans are those granted to municipalities “It is utterly necessary, fair and just to have a Ministry of Municipalities according to articles mentioned in their budgets. comprising inspection, orientation and security apparatuses in / * ! addition to other support mechanisms that the municipal activities - Temporary loans granted to cover certain costs might need. If there was a sound municipality within the state, we - Permanent loans granted to cover the costs of a certain could dispense with the mother state, and the orators and advocates ! / ! ! P under miscellaneous and urgent costs. issue 120 | July 2012 28 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART
VIDEO GAMES
Ever wondered whether Lebanese parents are aware There are, however, several negative effects that video ! > X games may have on children. A lot of parents who * ^ * complain about their children’s progress at school through hard times, the last thing on Lebanese parents’ both academically and behaviorally blame exposure minds would be to become experts in understanding to video games as a cause of this problem. Some of the video games. However, there are several important psychological effects of exposure include personality things that any parent around the world must seriously problems, academic regression at school, and social ! problems whether at home or school. Also, playing violent video games increases aggressive cognitions; Before being judgmental and adopting the usual “studies of children’s social information processing negative point of view parents generally adopt on have shown that playing violent games increases video games, they must be aware that video games ! R * * P [ ! have become a type of entertainment that exercises the Anderson 140). Not only do they increase aggressive brain in several ways. Video games have been shown cognitions, but they also increase aggressive emotion ! ! = and behavior as well. example, some games “require a child to develop and use hand-eye coordination, spatial sense, and math As for the case in Lebanon, highly populated cities P ` * O/ X ! [ ' ! O ! P { !! ! ! that have been spreading at a fast rate. In general, children learn and many “games have been shown to ! ^ * ! ] * ~ * ! * ! ! ! # # alertness, and become more tech savvy by gaining 209, in the Lebanese Penal Code, prohibits any form P X k ! ! of illegal publication or copying, but it is obvious technologically at a rapid pace, many elementary that this law is not strictly applied because more and schools have started adopting the new method of using more inexpensive video game shops open day after video games as a means of teaching children especially ! since the “standard method of teaching and testing illegal copies and price them extremely cheaply. ! ! ! This practice allows children to buy video games, P X ! O sometimes even with their own allowances, without and engagement are stronger when using computer consent from their parents. ! ! ! P (Nielsen, Smith, and Tosca 219). Author and game ; ! ^ * ! > { { designer, Jane McGonigal, stresses in her article wanted to combine advice from both an elementary “Video Game: An Hour A Day Is Key To Success In school counselor and a child psychiatrist whom ^ P O ! * | * ! I’ve interviewed, then it would be the following: M ! ! X ! curiosity, optimism, pride, and a desire to join forces not have to completely eliminate video games from ] ! P ; their children’s lives, but must rather teach them how also stresses that “in today’s society, computer and to differentiate between real life and game life and ! ! how to play in moderation; this approach will also the real world is currently unable to satisfy. Games serve to teaching children how to deal with and how are providing rewards that reality is not. They are to be aware of certain situations in the future. teaching and inspiring and engaging us in ways that reality is not. They are bringing us together in ways By Marwa Chatila (ACS) P
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 29
NOBEL PRIZES IN MEDICINE (2)
In what follows, we publish the second part of the list of laureates who received the Nobel Prize for their discoveries and breakthroughs in Physiology or & #$/# #$<#( = [ be highlighted in our upcoming issue.
Physiology or Medicine (1901-1951) Year Name Nationalitiy Born Division of Prize Purpose for his discoveries concerning yellow 1951 Max Theiler South Africa 1899 fever and how to combat it Edward Calvin USA 1886 Kendall was awarded jointly to for their discoveries relating to the 1950 Edward Calvin Kendall, Tadeus Reichstein Poland 1897 Tadeus Reichstein and Philip hormones of the adrenal cortex, their Philip Showalter Showalter Hench structure and biological effects Hench USA 1896 for his discovery of the functional Walter Rudolf Hess Switzerland 1881 organization of the interbrain as a co- was divided equally between ordinator of the activities of the internal Walter Rudolf Hess and organs 1949 Antonio Caetano de Abreu Antonio Caetano de Freire Egas Moniz for his discovery of the therapeutic Abreu Freire Egas Portugal 1874 value of leucotomy in certain psycho- Moniz ses for his discovery of the high efficiency 1948 Paul Hermann Müller Switzerland 1899 of DDT as a contact poison against several arthropods Carl Ferdinand Cori Czech 1896 Republic one half jointly to Carl for their discovery of the course of the Ferdinand Cori and Gerty catalytic conversion of glycogen Gerty Theresa Cori Czech 1896 Theresa Cori (born Radnitz) 1947 (born Radnitz) Republic for his discovery of the part played by Bernardo Alberto Argentina 1887 the other half to Bernardo the hormone of the anterior pituitary Houssay Alberto Houssay lobe in the metabolism of sugar for the discovery of the production of 1946 Hermann Joseph USA 1890 mutations by means of X-ray irradia- Muller tion Sir Alexander Scotland 1881 Fleming was awarded jointly to Sir for the discovery of penicillin and its Alexander Fleming, Ernst Boris 1945 Ernst Boris Chain Germany 1906 curative effect in various infectious Chain and Sir Howard Walter diseases Sir Howard Walter Florey Florey Australia 1898 Joseph Erlanger USA 1874 was awarded jointly to Joseph for their discoveries relating to the 1944 Herbert Spencer Erlanger and Herbert Spencer highly differentiated functions of single Gasser USA 1888 Gasser nerve fibres Henrik Carl Peter Dam Denmark 1895 was divided equally between for his discovery of vitamin K 1943 Henrik Carl Peter Dam and Edward Adelbert Edward Adelbert Doisy for his discovery of the chemical Doisy USA 1893 nature of vitamin K 1942 No Nobel Prize was awarded this year 1941 No Nobel Prize was awarded this year 1940 No Nobel Prize was awarded this year for the discovery of the antibacterial 1939 Gerhard Domagk Germany 1895 effects of prontosil
issue 120 | July 2012 30 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART
Physiology or Medicine (1901-1951) Year Name Nationalitiy Born Division of Prize Purpose for the discovery of the role played by 1938 Corneille Jean Belgium 1892 the sinus and aortic mechanisms in the François Heymans regulation of respiration for his discoveries in connection with 1937 Albert von Szent- Hungary 1893 the biological combustion processes, Györgyi Nagyrápolt with special reference to vitamin C and the catalysis of fumaric acid Sir Henry Hallett UK 1875 was awarded jointly to Sir Dale Henry Hallett Dale and Otto for their discoveries relating to chemi- 1936 cal transmission of nerve impulses Otto Loewi Germany 1873 Loewi for his discovery of the organizer effect 1935 Hans Spemann Germany 1869 in embryonic development George Hoyt USA 1878 Whipple was awarded jointly to 1934 George Richards George Hoyt Whipple, George for their discoveries concerning liver Minot USA 1885 Richards Minot and William therapy in cases of anaemia William Parry Parry Murphy Murphy USA 1892 Thomas Hunt for his discoveries concerning the role 1933 Morgan USA 1866 played by the chromosome in heredity Sir Charles Scott UK 1857 Sherrington was awarded jointly to Sir for their discoveries regarding the 1932 Charles Scott Sherrington and Edgar Douglas Edgar Douglas Adrian functions of neurons Adrian UK 1889 for his discovery of the nature and 1931 Otto Heinrich Germany 1883 mode of action of the respiratory Warburg enzyme for his discovery of human blood 1930 Karl Landsteiner Austria 1868 groups Christiaan Eijkman The 1858 for his discovery of the antineuritic Netherlands was divided equally between vitamin 1929 Christiaan Eijkman and Sir Sir Frederick Frederick Gowland Hopkins for his discovery of the growth-stimu- Gowland Hopkins UK 1861 lating vitamins Charles Jules Henri 1928 Nicolle France 1866 for his work on typhus for his discovery of the therapeutic 1927 Julius Wagner- Austria 1857 value of malaria inoculation in the Jauregg treatment of dementia paralytica 1926 Johannes Andreas for his discovery of the Spiroptera Grib Fibiger Denmark 1867 carcinoma 1925 No Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded this year The for his discovery of the mechanism of 1924 Willem Einthoven Netherlands 1860 the electrocardiogram Frederick Grant Banting Canada 1891 was awarded jointly to 1923 Frederick Grant Banting and for the discovery of insulin John James Rickard John James Rickard Macleod Macleod Scotland 1876 Archibald Vivian Hill UK 1886 for his discovery relating to the pro- duction of heat in the muscle was divided equally between 1922 Archibald Vivian Hill and Otto for his discovery of the fixed relation- Otto Fritz Meyerhof Germany 1884 Fritz Meyerhof ship between the consumption of oxygen and the metabolism of lactic acid in the muscle 1921 No Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded this year
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 31
Physiology or Medicine (1901-1951) Year Name Nationalitiy Born Division of Prize Purpose Schack August for his discovery of the capillary motor 1920 Steenberg Krogh Denmark 1874 regulating mechanism 1919 Jules Bordet Belgium 1870 for his discoveries relating to immunity 1918 No Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded this year 1917 No Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded this year 1916 No Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded this year 1915 No Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded this year for his work on the physiology and 1914 Robert Bárány Austria 1876 pathology of the vestibular apparatus Charles Robert in recognition of his work on anaphy- 1913 Richet France 1850 laxis in recognition of his work on vascular 1912 Alexis Carrel France 1873 suture and the transplantation of blood vessels and organs 1911 Allvar Gullstrand Sweden 1862 for his work on the dioptrics of the eye in recognition of the contributions to our knowledge of cell chemistry made 1910 Albrecht Kossel Germany 1853 through his work on proteins, including the nucleic substances for his work on the physiology, pathol- 1909 Emil Theodor Kocher Switzerland 1841 ogy and surgery of the thyroid gland Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov Ukraine 1845 was awarded jointly to Ilya 1908 Ilyich Mechnikov and Paul in recognition of their work on im- Paul Ehrlich Poland 1854 Ehrlich munity Charles Louis in recognition of his work on the role 1907 Alphonse Laveran France 1845 played by protozoa in causing diseases Camillo Golgi Italy 1843 was awarded jointly to Camillo in recognition of their work on the 1906 Santiago Ramón y Golgi and Santiago Ramón y structure of the nervous system Cajal Spain 1852 Cajal for his investigations and discoveries 1905 Robert Koch Germany 1843 in relation to tuberculosis in recognition of his work on the physiology of digestion, through 1904 Ivan Petrovich Russia 1849 which knowledge on vital aspects of Pavlov the subject has been transformed and enlarged in recognition of his contribution to the treatment of diseases, especially lupus 1903 Niels Ryberg Finsen Denmark 1860 vulgaris, with concentrated light radia- tion, whereby he has opened a new avenue for medical science for his work on malaria, by which he has shown how it enters the organism 1902 Ronald Ross UK 1857 and thereby has laid the foundation for successful research on this disease and methods of combating it for his work on serum therapy, espe- cially its application against diphtheria, Emil Adolf von by which he has opened a new road 1901 Behring Poland 1917 in the domain of medical science and thereby placed in the hands of the physician a victorious weapon against illness and deaths
issue 120 | July 2012 32 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART
MAKHZOUMI FOUNDATION
Heedful of the importance of human rights, environmental and development work, the Makhzoumi Foundation emerged as one of Lebanon’s numerous NGOs, which endeavor to achieve higher levels of social justice by providing equal access to health care, micro credit, and training opportunities and catering to the various segments of the Lebanese population. Establishment / & = ! [ ! ! * = ! * # ! ! most specialty courses are eligible for legalization by February 7, 1997. It was conceived at the initiative of the General Directorate of Vocational and Technical & = ! & * ! Training at the Ministry of Education and at the contribute to the Lebanese community by improving Ministry of Labor. the economic and social fabric and empowering its citizens to become independent and self-reliant, after Micro Credit 15 years of bloody civil war that tore the country apart # * ! ^ * R and snuffed out the human capacities. ~! & = ! directed its attention towards the micro credit sector in Programs order to help low income earners start up or expand their / ! & = ! businesses. The loan size stretches from a few hundred $ ! ; &= education, enhance the potential of the Lebanese human * ! * resources, enforce self-responsibility, emphasize the ! \ importance of environmental preservation and deliver repayment capacity, appraise the loan and carry out healthcare services for the needy and disadvantaged. the lending process. To guarantee the repayment of the Each program has its own staff and is allocated the & = ! $ * ! ! for the loan over USD 1000, and borrowers may settle \&/ / * Training Centers disbursed in 2011 stood at 494 compared to 345 in 2010. MF training centers provide trainees with educational, The program, which is promoted through door-to-door ! / ! ! ! * \ ! * O ^ and repeat borrowers, noting that the majority of those Languages, Accounting, Hair Dressing and Beauty as were men. The loan portfolio has reached 6250 loans to well as secretarial and administrative courses. Major ! k ! * attention was also given to some vocational courses when the loan sizes were smaller. such as photography, video editing, and cellular phones &= O O ! / #! ; ! * /; ! /\=^ ] / also a member of Microsoft IT Academy and it continues * ! !
{ $ ! ! was witnessed in the beauty specialty at 63%, then in languages at 17% and computer studies at 15%. Gender ! the Mazraa Center has the highest total number of graduates (42%) among the MF centers.
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 33
Health Care Awareness This program aims at delivering comprehensive The Awareness Program raises issues of public healthcare services to everybody at an affordable cost. concern and focuses on mobilizing potential and / & = ! ! ! building capacities. The Program concentrated in 2011 assistance through its health clinics located in Beirut on projects rather than ongoing activities. Women’s & ! # ! ' * / ! ~ offer radiology, ultrasound, mammography, laboratory and lectures have been held occasionally in the Centers tests, and medications at covering a wide range of subjects with the cooperation of different organizations. There were 546 participants reduced rates and the program covers dental services as ! O ! R well as panoramic X-ray machine and ophthalmology were narrowed down out of concern for their safety services. The MF medical team organizes preventive amid the turbulence in the region, which Lebanon is ! ~ ! * / * #k# * this program since its launch have exceeded 61,499 ! V V patients with over 137,061 services. Outreach and challenges The number of health services provided by the Being part of a high tech driven world where social & = ! R ! | & = ! 36,068 in 2011. *~* ! = * / ! } ! Agriculture/Environment ] ! With the aim of addressing the environmental threats foundation’s outreach, in addition to the billboards and facing Lebanon, especially after it had lost 90% of its posters, which are also a one way of promotion with ! ! ! ! ! ! & = ! ! and TV channels. ! ! preserve the environment. The Foundation engaged in # ! & & & ! R ~ ! * ~ main concern is to have the stability needed to be able for women and organized awareness campaigns to the to plan and operate. The unrest sweeping over the farmers to introduce new agricultural technologies and region and the rising economic crises have added to mobilize the rural population with regard to sustainable * [\ ! & \ = ! ! ! * ! # ' ' goals, until tranquility prevails again and spurs larger, and in north and south of Lebanon in 2011. A total of long-term activities and programs. 165,890 plants have been distribute from 2002 to date.
issue 120 | July 2012 34 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART POPULAR CULTURE
A YEAR OF LIFE IN CHOUEIFAT SCHOOL
{ k ! k { ! * student turnout, namely in the AUB preparatory school. A multitude of students from that era missed four years of their educational path ! * ! # ! \ ! ; ! X #' * ! ! any room. Thus, Mr. Haul, head of the preparatory department, ! ! ; ~[ * ' ! O / R * ! ; ! X while many others students had opted to join the revolution of King Faisal I as they were very fervent about the Arab revolution. They ! \ # ~# # ~' # ~ Harb, and Al-Shawa from Gaza, and were older and better groomed than us, and we, the Lebanese poor, envied them for their luxury and extravagance. My allowance was two pounds while they had many golden liras.
The opulent Syrian and Palestinian students were housed in large ancient premises with multiple rooms located at the very end of the soccer ground. They shared the rooms and distanced themselves from the tight supervision of the priest. My best friend was named Ezzedine Shawa who used to admire my pronunciation of the Druze Kaph letter. Ezzedine used to invite me to their celebrations at night and to the usual morning gatherings every Sunday. There was a tall and huge guy from the Al-Dalati family from Damascus in charge of * { * # { ! O * P '
{ * { ! * ! * / ! ! ! # ~+ ! ! * ! # ; !! ! * ! * } man and his sharp eyes and constant frown gave him an imposing aura. He hardly smiled but he was a decent and virtuous man. We used to fear him but also love him at the same time. He thrust the door open without prior notice and said: “Boys, is this a school or a >P } ! ! ! ! * ! ~ G ! O * !P
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. DEBUNKING MYTH #59 CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 35
HYPNOSIS
Myth: Hypnosis is only in Movies
Some people consider hypnosis as an unreal phenomenon that can only be practiced and succeeded in TV shows, movies, or the media in general.
Reality: Hypnosis is Real
Hypnosis is a procedure in which “one person (the subject) is guided by another (the hypnotist) to respond to suggestions *| ] * P #X# 1). Through the hypnotic induction the hypnotist creates the context for hypnosis (Passer & Smith, 2010). Hypnosis cannot be conducted against someone’s will. The subject needs to accept being hypnotized. Moreover, people differ in the degree to which they can be hypnotized, and the subject’s level of susceptibility or responsiveness also affects the success of the hypnosis (Passer et al., 2010).
Through hypnosis, the subjects are relaxed, concentrated and are open to suggestions. The hypnotist can suggest new ideas, concepts, or lifestyle adaptations. In fact, in modern times, hypnosis is widely used in psychotherapy, as an aid in conducting therapy with people suffering from chronic pain, anxiety and mood disorders, and gastro-intestinal disorders. & ! * $ ! highlighted the effectiveness of clinical hypnosis (APA, 2011).
Experiments concluded that hypnosis often increased participants’ pain tolerance and this effect is not due to the placebo effect (Milling, 2008). Patterson (2004) examined chronic pain patients’ responses to hypnosis. The patients reported decreases in their pain that lasted for months and even years. Moreover, a meta analysis showed that 75% of participants with different types of pain who underwent hypnosis as part of their treatment plan, obtained substantial pain relief from hypnotic techniques (Montgomery, DuHamel, & Redd, 2000).
From a biological perspective, Positron Emission Topography and other brain imaging techniques revealed that hypnotized ! ! ] * ! O ~ !P ! ! & / ! ! ! ! ! * actually experiencing an altered brain activity.
/ ! * ! ! over their behavior and they do not act against their will. Furthermore, people remain aware of themselves and remember ! ! * ! ! #X#
References Passer, W.M., & Smith, E.R. (2010). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior (5th edition). New York McGraw-Hill International Edition. Montgomery, G. H., DuHamel, K. N., & Redd, W. H. (2000). “A meta-analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia: how effective is hypnosis?” International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Vol. 48, pp. 138-153. Downloaded from the Amercian Psychological Association website on March 21, 2011. http://www.apa.org/topics/hypnosis/media.aspx# Milling, L.S. (2008). “Recent developments in the study of hypnotic pain reduction: A new golden era of research?” Contemporary Hypnosis, 25, 165-177. Kosslyn, S.M., Thompson, W.L., Constantini_Ferrando, M.F., Alpert, N.M., & Spiegel, D. (2000). “Hypnotic visual illusion alters color processing in the brain”, American Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 1279-1284. Pattrson, D.R. (2004). “Treating pain with hypnosis”, Current directions in Psychological Science, 13, 252-255. http://www.hypnosis.me.uk/pages/whatis.html
issue 120 | July 2012 36 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART MUST-READ BOOKS
ME, MODERNITY AND A SHE’IR MAGAZINE
Me, Modernity and a She’ir Magazine is written by soul at the very core of his the author and poet Nazeer el-Azama and published by experiences and sufferings. Nelson Publishing House in 2011. El-Azama is a Syrian The poet’s thoughts are poet who played a major role in developing the modern translated to passionate # * / * ! ! ! emotions and sentiments ! ! ! that produce an electric the She’ir magazine and the third including interviews ! that El-Azama had conducted and chose to add to the similar to that experienced * ! ! ! ! ! by the author. discussion over modernity and his experience in cultural and intellectual life. Second, the poet is a progenitor who unravels, ! / * ! ! phases of life altogether in a single context. * O ! P stressing that “modernity is not a state of passivity but In his She’ir magazine, which was published in 1957 ! ! ! and continued till 1963, Nazeer el-Azama couples his P # ! ! view of modernity with his personal experience and that forms heritage, for he does not separate between with that of the generation he lived in and he states that modernity in poetry and modernity in public life. “it would be fair to say that Beirut’s She’ir magazine Furthermore, the author does not limit modernity to only has been a cornerstone in the modernization of Arabic Syria but deems it connected and correlated to a general P ! O concept of modernity in the Arab world, which is in turn the modernization movement as it represented a new ! ! current of thoughts and poetry and criticism in Beirut theorization and innovation. Renovation, revival and ! ! # * ! P modernization are all elements that call for a revolt against traditions and a rift with the heritage, which to The author endeavors to deny the connection him, “is not a statue to be worshiped or an Imam that between the magazine and the Syrian Social Nationalist ! P } Party and to depict that the relation with the SSNP was however, sees it as “a repertoire and a legacy that we limited to the fact that the founders of the magazine shouldn’t, above all, pride ourselves on futilely or brag (Nazeer el-Azama in cooperation with Youssef el-Khal, about to no avail, but rather employ in the service of our Khalil Hawi and Adoniss) were members of the party, ! P stressing that the SSNP leaders and authorities were ! ! } ! | The author believes that writers, poets and ! ! ! ! ! ! * popularity in the Arab world, arguing that there were ! * ! ! ! ! it a starting point towards other scopes of modernity and ;;= innovation in order to attain creativity, which, to him, foreign funding and close ties with the western spheres with the legacy, are two faces of the same reality: reality of thought and culture. of the human and the society. } ! / * ~# ! for the emergence of the modernity movement, as it to two important points. First, it is not possible, in our published translated poems for modernity pioneers in present era, to isolate poetry from the intellectual life the west and called for the development of the rhythm of and the trends of civilization and it would be wise to Arabic poetry. He also struggles to distance the magazine reveal that the poet is different from other intellectuals, ! ! ! \ \ ! at it.
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MUST-READ CHILDREN’S BOOK CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 37
NEGLECTED ADVICES By Zakaria Tamer. Illustrations by Raouf Karray. Published by Dar al-Hadaeq in Beirut in 2010. First edition.
Neglected Advices is a series of 20 short stories that ! exciting worlds of fun and colors. The O * P “the birds that are P O * ! ! ! ! tree’s warning P O P O ! ** ! out of the tiger’ P O ! * ! ! P ! O that passed * ! P / ! ! \ O * ! who was singing for the P O * a ! P O * P ! O that \ P / the children the chance to O P O * $ P O P O P O P O ! P O ! P O P ! O ~ P
Children also enjoy vivid illustrations that accompany each story to best explain the themes, which revolve around teaching children advice such as remaining humble.
The series is recommended for children of 8 years old and above as it includes entertaining stories within the frame of cultural education.
FORGETFUL DONKEY There was once upon a time a ! ! he saw his mother, ! Ok > P } ! $ * his father: “Who is this old stranger that entered our * >P Ok > { * >P would ! And ! ! ! * ! ! ! ! his lapses of memory. They were confused to see him happy all the time but failed to understand the reason * ! ! ! claimed that he ! ! O\ for he has the ability to forget. Had he remembered the weariness of bearing weighty loads and hauling carts and the misery and battering he endures everyday, he wouldn’t P ; ! !! ! ! agreement, then forgot all that the ! ! ! !
Among Tamer’s other series for children there are: “Why Did the River Go SilentP R R “The Rose Told the SwallowP 37 other stories published in illustrated catalogues in 2000
issue 120 | July 2012 38 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART LEBANON FAMILIES
NAQASH FAMILIES A SMALL FAMILY WITH A SECTARIAN DIVERSITY AND A SUNNI MAJORITY O# ~ $ P ! ! * ! & O $ P everybody who chose the craft of engraving as his profession used to be called O ~ $ P / * ! originated from al-Aqoura (Byblos) from where it later moved to al-Qmatiyeh near Aley, then to Beirut, Saida and Tripoli. The Qmati families of Beirut hail originally from the Naqash families. Currently, most of the Naqashs are
settled in Beirut with a few members distributed in Baabda (Tohwitet al-Nahr, Tripoli Ain Remmaneh), Chouf (Deir el-Qamar), Northern Matn (Burj Hammoud, Zgharta Balamand Roads A‘arjes Antelias, Beit Chabab al-Tahtani), Saida (Mar Nqoula), Tyre (Hay al-Catholic), Ehden Becharre The Cedars and Tripoli (al-Zahrieh). The Sunnis constitute the majority of the family (251 Batroun Hadet Hasroun Ras Baalbeck Deir el Ahmar * ! & * [ \ ! ] R Maqne [ O RR ; O ; \ ! ] ! ^ Qasr el-Banat Hadath Jbail Iaat Baalbeck Jounieh Ghazir Around 520 members belong to the Naqash families today. Niha
BEIRUT Zahle Baabda Shtaura Distribution Aley Dahr el-Baidar Bhamdoun The Naqash families are distributed in diverse Lebanese Anjar Deir el-Qamar Meshref Beiteddine regions according to their sects as follows: Moukhtara Qaraoun Lake Yanta
Saida Jezzine Greek Catholic Libbaya Aiha Hay al-Catholic (Tyre): 6 members Mar Nqoula (Saida): 4 Nabatiye Hasbaya Marjayoun Burj Hammoud (Northern Matn): 6 Beaufort Castle Mina’a al-Hosn (Beirut 3): 3 Sour Deir el-Qamar (Chouf): 4 # '
Sunnis Mazra’a (Beirut 1): 53 Greek Orthodox Bachoura (Beirut 2): 21 Antelias (Northen Matn): 8 Msaytbeh (Beirut 3): 130 Al-Zahrieh (Tripoli): 8 Zqaq el-Blat (Beirut 3): 22 Tohwitet al-Nahr (Baabda): 17 Mina’a al-Hosn (Beirut 3): 25 Mdawwar (Beirut 2): 7 ; ' V Maronite # ' Msaytbeh (Beirut 3): 17 Zqaq el-Blat (Beirut 3): 4 Syrian Catholic Mina’a al-Hosn (Beirut 3): 8 Tohwitet al-Nahr (Baabda): 14 Beit Chabab al-Tahtani (Northern Matn): 20 ; ' R Rmeil (Beirut 1): 20 Deir el-Qamar (Chouf): 6 Syrian Catholic Mdawwar (Beirut 2): 17 # ' ; ' R Ain Remmaneh (Baabda): 4 Latin # ' Rmeil (Beirut 1): 7
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. DISCOVER LEBANON CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 39
AL-HOUSSAIN SHIA’A IN MARONITE KESSROUAN Tripoli Zgharta Balamand Roads A‘arjes / < ! R * Ehden Becharre The Cedars Maronite Qada’a with a few numbers of Shia’a present Batroun Hadet Hasroun Ras Baalbeck mainly in al-Houssain town, which attests to a historical Deir el Ahmar Maqne presence of the Shia’a in Kessrouan prior the majority of Jbail Qasr el-Banat Hadath them immigrating from the Qada’a. Al-Houssain Iaat Baalbeck Jounieh Ghazir Etymology Niha BEIRUT Zahle There are two opinions surrounding the etymology of the Baabda Shtaura Aley Dahr el-Baidar / ! Bhamdoun Anjar O ~} P { } ' # ! { Deir el-Qamar Meshref Beiteddine for the Shia’a. Having a majority of Shia’a inhabitants, the Moukhtara Yanta ! O ~} P * ! * O ~ Qaraoun Lake Saida Jezzine } P ! Libbaya Aiha after the oppression that its residents had suffered. Nabatiye Hasbaya Marjayoun
Another opinion argues that the name of the town was forged Beaufort Castle given its geographical location which gives it the form of a Sour ! O} P # * language means a small fortress.
Location In addition to the above, the town includes members of the Al-Houssain is located in the Qada’a of Kessrouan in the Ahmad, Hellani, Youssef, Rashid, Moussa, Hammoud and Mohafaza of Mount Lebanon at an altitude of 750 m above Hashem families. / ' ! from the Jounieh. It spreads across 167 hectares and may be Local authorities reached through Beirut- Ghazeer- Kfour- Ghennai Al-Houssain’s municipal council was established in 1964 It is bordered by Jouret al-Termoss from the east, Ghennai pursuant to decision No. 1240 dated December 30, 1963. and Ghedras from the south, Kfarjreef and Ghedras from the It is currently composed of 9 members and headed by the west and Ghbali from the north. president Mouhammad Nassif since 1998. Its share in the Independent Municipal Fund was LBP 19 million in 2008. Population It rose to LBP 25.6 million in 2009 and further to LBP 29.8 = \ $ V ; R million in 2010. } ! ! \ ! ' * / & & & ! to Ftouh Kessrouan and settled in al-Houssain. The number by acclamation in the 2010 elections. of registered inhabitants in the town’s Personal Status Register is estimated at 550 people belonging to the Shia’a NGOs religious sect. There are about 60 houses in al-Houssain. The town is home to Al-Houssain Charity Association which emerged in 1964 and carried out several charitable projects Voters but ceased its activity recently. In 2000, the number of voters was 296 of whom 215 cast their ballots. This number increased to 324 in 2004 and Problem reached 370 in 2010. The town suffers mainly from a low number of inhabitants, Voters are distributed amongst the following families: and thus no schools are found in al-Houssaini, not to Nassif (80 voters) Suleiman: 30 / Meri’i: 55 voters Qabalan: 27 strives to address the town’s problems by constructing a Diab: 45 Mahmoud: 22 municipal building, a civil defense center, a dispensary, a Asaad: 40 Nasser: 20 public library, a conference hall and a vocational school.
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CIVIL STRIFE INTRO (5) = [ > > out of the war and the government also could not secure the minimum expected stability and ended up resigning and giving way to “a rescue government” in early July 1975. Formation of the rescue government PM Rashid Karami and Saeb Salam spent Monday ! ! ! night at the Baabda Palace along with the two Syrian restoration of normal life and offer tranquility to the delegates, Minister Abdul Halim Khaddam and General citizens. } ; * ^ ! ! General of General Security Colonel Antoine Dahdah. Government slogan Colonel Jules Bustany, Chief of the Army’s Second After issuing the decrees and posing for the memorial Division arrived at 8:30 pm while no one else appeared photo, the Prime Minister called for an urgent meeting # [ ! ! ! ! !! ; * ! O ' ! ~ X / ! ; * R ! held in the presence of Abdul Halim Khaddam and ! ! ! ! * ! Summoning of the ministers had started at 9:45 pm. from the streets and neighborhoods. It also touched on & / !! ; ! ! ! discussing the conditions of the regions and areas that \ ! / $ ! ! ! ! the Palace Salon. Karami had held a press conference prior to the meeting The government included the following ministers: O P ! * * - Rashid Karami: Prime Minister- Minister of Finance, of the government. He stressed that once those vital National Defense and Media security demands had been met, it would be possible Camille Chamoun: Minister of Interior, Postal Services to establish a national unity government that would and Telephones, and Water and Electricity * ! ^ * - Adel Osseiran: & + X * k ! to cooperate with each other, surpass small sensitivities Transportation, and Economy and Trade and forget the past. - Mir Majid Erslan: Minister of Public Health, Agriculture, and Housing and Cooperatives Meantime, President Camille Chamoun was heading - Philippe Taqla: Minister of Foreign Affairs, National a meeting at the Baabda Palace for the ISF leaders, Education, Fine Arts and Public Planning ! ! $ - Ghassan Touweini: Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, with pertinent security parties and authorities, before / ! { ! ! \ ; X [ ! the meeting. / O P ! ! ! day after its formation to lay down decrees and outline X ! O ] ! ! | / ! security forces’ leaders not to show lenience against half, which lasted till the end of the night, focused on any illegal practices performed by anybody for any ! $ ! ! reason whatsoever. He later held a press conference and ^ * ! announced that the security forces would retaliate with ! * ' ! * ! * ! security measures. Relatively calm night Being in charge of the defense and interior portfolios, / ! ! PM Rahid Karami and President Camille Chamoun ! ' ! realized that the most critical role of the government ! ! * # ! ! * was to have everybody succumb to the force of law say that the capital spent a relatively tranquil night except
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 41
! ! # feel deep sorrow over what has happened to our country. As for the most volatile Ain Remmaneh- Chiyyah front, it The dozens of innocent people who are victimized ! * ! ! ! continued intermittently until the night. * emphasize our belief that the current status can by no It is noteworthy that this crisis, however wide and large, * ^ * could have been handled and contained rapidly within residents in Lebanon’s territories, but rather, as is widely ! agreed, furthers the interests of the common enemy. upon consent of all the parties involved in the clashes. Amidst these painful events, the benevolent people of As-Sadr ends his protest this country hurried to propose solutions that would { ! ! please all parties in order to surmount the crisis at any ! ! $ cost. Therefore, this government is an expression of & #! \ ! [ / ! ! our sincere wishes and it strives to secure safety and upon approval of the Prime Minister, to the mosque of tranquility to all the Lebanese. the Amliyi School to meet Imam Moussa As-Sadr and brief him on the latest developments in the country. We cannot but reiterate that this government came to They appealed to him at the end of their meeting to end light to impose order and security, a duty that comes at his protest and support the government in its endeavor the top of its priorities, as we can sense and understand and As-Sadr complied with their demand. the people’s need for peace and quiet. I shall say openly ! ! First Cabinet of regular governmental duties and is not focused on At 10:45, reporters and photographers were called * ! to the Cabinet, where the new government posed for such worries can only be approached after the country a memorial photo. It is rumored that the session was has returned to normal life. Until then, we shall do our ! * $ ! best and contact all the parties in question to come up to assume his responsibilities in restoring order in the with an honest and open dialogue and reach a common country. agreement that helps Lebanon regain its serenity and $ ! | ! At 11:40, Colonel Boustany returned alone, only to be the mission that this loving country carries with faith in ! * ; ' favor of the sacred cause. We shall support the resistance ! O{ !G { !P till the very last drop as long as justice is the ultimate ! $ ! At 12:00 the reporters and photographers gathered to brotherly spirit and good will, God would stretch his ! ! ! X ! [ ! ! / Said Nasrallah showed up shortly after the photo was that end, we are going to forget the past and its bitterness, ! ! constitute one united family that is never separated over Karami’s statement any cause or for any reason. Upon formation of the new government, PM Rashid Karami held a press conference at the Presidential / O P Palace and announced that the government is a “rescue strives to restore the trust that was lost between the P ! Lebanese and their Palestinian fellows, and once we trust among the Lebanese, and between them and their Palestinian counterparts, and also to establish a national national unity government comprising all the forces unity government embracing all the forces willing to willing to contribute to the development and progress cooperate to promote development and construction ^ * & [ ! ! * and achieve a better Lebanon. “What do you have to for everyone and may he protect this country and its say on the occasion of birth of the new government after P >P X& ! } ! Ok
issue 120 | July 2012 42| MEDIA QUARRIES OF THE FATTOUSH FAMILY
The Fattoush family is one of Zahle’s noble families, which rose to popularity following the election of Nicolas Fattoush in 1992 as a representative of one of the two Greek Catholic seats in Zahle, and his appointment as Minister of Tourism. The name of Nicolas Fattoush and his brothers was later associated with the quarries sector, as they, like dozens of the other Lebanese, own a sand-and-rock quarry in Dahr el-Baidar. In 2005, MP Fattoush succeeded in generating a Shura Council verdict entailing the reopening of the quarry business after the government had ordered its closure in late 2002 and granting his family USD 245 million in compensation for the loss they suffered due to the closure.
The delay in implementing the verdict increased the However, with Fattoush shifting position and alliance, amount requested by Fattoush to USD 400 million the above stances changed drastically. March 8 Forces owing to the accumulation of interest. This issue adopted the position of their rivals or remained quiet drew the attention of the public and stirred up several and vice versa. opinions that differed according to the stance of MP Fattoush. The once supporters of Zahle’s MP became In any case, the judicial verdicts and the public funds his opponents and vice versa, especially after he / changed his political stance from March 14 Forces on judiciary is manipulated by those in power and public March 8 Forces for the gain of the Ministry of State money is always at the service of politics instead of & / ! community development. the Fattoush quarry issue rested mostly on political considerations rather than his right to obtain such exorbitant compensation, as money and judiciary are * \ Stance of March 14 Forces March 14 Forces, including the variety of the political components it encompasses (save those few who challenge Fattoush for local gains in Zahle), believed that the Shura Council verdict is binding and that the government must put it in action and pay Fattoush his dues in order to preserve its status and ensure the implementation of the law and the respect of the | ! ! & = argued that evading payment of rightful compensations is a violation of the principles of the state. Stance of March 8 Forces March 8 Forces challenged the implementation of the verdict arguing that the government is not bound to compensate the Fattoush family and that paying them would be a huge * ! / added that the Lebanese are more deserving of such funds, urging examination of the Ministry of Finance’s records ! * = ! ! $ ! ] ! to deserve such imaginary amounts.
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MAY 2012 HIGHLIGHTS MEDIA |43
- FILTMAN AND RAHIMI IN LEBANON - MOULAWI’S ARREST AND KILLING OF SHIEKH ABDUL WAHED IGNITE THE NORTH - NASRALLAH: “FOR EVERY BUILDING DESTROYED IN THE SOUTHERN SUBURB, SEVERAL BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED IN TEL AVIV IN RETURN” - DIALOGUE TO START ON JUNE 11 - 11 SHIA’A ABDUCTED IN ALEPPO AND THEIR FATE REMAINS UNKNOWN
May 3 announces that he refuses to sign the LBP priest Walid Garios in the Ansar region US Assistant Secretary of State for 8900 billion decree and supports giving in Beqa’a, for baptizing the daughter of Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman the data to security agencies, stressing a Shia’a cleric from the Qataya family; visits Lebanon and meets Mach 14 Forces that there is no need for a neutral Hezbollah releases the priest later. = R ! salvation government and adding that the that of the Member of the Senate Armed ! ! May 9 Services Committee, Senator Joseph Gulf country regarding the arms vessel. The Future Movement parliamentary ^ * ^ * Suing 21 people in connection bloc urges the government to approve and does a tour near the northern border with the Syria-bound arms vessel. the extra-budgetary spending draft with Syria, voicing concern over the Former Education Minister Hassan law and states that Hezbollah’s crime ] ; R \ ^ * Mneimneh criticizes the Iranian attempt on May 7 stripped its weapons from Iran’s First Vice President Reda to dominate the educational system. national legitimacy. Rahimi arrives in Lebanon to sign # * + * a number of cooperation protocols May 8 saying: “Remain silent and do not between the two countries. Former PM Saad Hariri heads for ! P Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to < ! ; } ! ' Muslim annoyance over some Lebanon Ali Awad Asiri visits the Khalifa al-Thani. & Lebanese Army Commander Jean Interior Minister Marwan during the shooting of the Lebanese Kahwaji and reports that the army is Charbel expresses fears over the ! O` * P Lebanon’s safety valve. return to assassinations during an X;X ! } * # ~; * interview on MTV. over dinner. photo of MP Boutros Harb bowing O{ ! ! to Jeffrey Feltman and Harb scoffs * # * May 10 at the photo by saying that it is ! ! P + * Former PM Saad Hariri meets incomplete and aims to defame him. The Future Movement commemorates crown prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz the martyrs of the press at Martyrs’ R ;# May 4 Square and reiterates support for the The Cabinet postpones discussions [ ! !* Syrian people. In his televised speech, regarding overspending and assigns the region of Bab al-Tabbaneh in Hariri stresses that May 7 is not a glorious the CDR to prepare a study on the Jal Tripoli; the army contains the riots. day and that he will not allow foreign al-Dib bridge to avoid repeated road / & X * k ! custodianship through local instruments. * * ! Transportation joins members of the Public The newly appointed French k ! / X ambassador to Lebanon, Patrice May 11 Committee on a tour in Beirut aboard a Paoli, arrives in Beirut. Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi public bus to express support for public General Michel Aoun says in Jebali holds meetings with a number transportation in the country. Kessrouan that the President of the ^ * ; & ! # + Republic is partly responsible for President Michel Suleiman phones ; # ! ~# ~+ crippling the country. Syrian President Bashar Assad and The Islamic Jama’a holds a ! ] ; May 5 celebration in its headquarters in Beirut The Special Tribunal for Lebanon In his speech on the occasion of in support of the Syrian revolution. (STL) says that the defense lawyers for commemoration of the martyrs of Armed men, believed to be on good Mustafa Badreddine are challenging the press, President Michel Suleiman } * ! the legality of the tribunal.
issue 120 | July 2012 44| MEDIA MAY 2012 HIGHLIGHTS
May 12 which left 7 dead and 75 wounded, ! ! Hezbollah’s Secretary General and protests continue in demand of the Estonians to the Lebanese government. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah says in his release of Chadi Mawlawi. MP Nouhad Mashnouq asserts speech: “We did not, and will not resort The Director General of General during a luncheon held at Hariri’s to the weapons and we will not get Security General Abbas Ibrahim reveals residence in honor of the families of the down to an argument, not out of fear, but that the arrest of Chadi Mawsawi martyrs of May 7 that no dialogue shall * P !! was in cooperation with a western * ' that “For every building destroyed in the apparatus, stressing that the authority / R & & O southern suburb, several buildings will of the General Security is the Lebanese accuses Hezbollah since May 7 of * ! ! / # P judiciary, not the Zu’ama of the streets. constantly attempting to bend the ! $ X& | * & will of Tripoli and depict it as a the Lebanese coast. he will run in the upcoming elections. stronghold for al-Qaeda. } ' * Carpet Factory in Safra. May 17 May 19 X * ! The Cabinet convenes at the Syria’s Representative to the United border town of Aboudiyeh in the Presidential Palace in Baabda and Nations, Ambassador Bashar Jaafari ! approves the opening of credits for submits a letter to the UN Security of a Lebanese citizen by the Syrian the army, urging them to put an end Council accusing Lebanon of harboring forces. The army re-opens the road. to clashes in Tripoli. terrorists from al-Qaeda and smuggling MP Walid Jumblat considers arms to Syria. The letter ignites annoyed May 14 events in Tripoli a Syrian message X& | * & ! General Security Forces arrest Chadi to the international community, the Future Movement. Mawlawi at the Safadi social services stating that the General Security is ! ! ; May 21 ~< ! ! The Secretary General of the Popular X ! * ! Front for the Liberation of Palestine, ! # ! * ! / ! Ahmad Jibril arrives in Lebanon and { ~' ; regions. The Higher Defense Council ! Ahmad Abdul Wahed and his companion convenes to discuss the situation and the supportive of the Syrian regime [ ; & ! ; * ' ! Protesters call for the withdrawal of is in contact with a terrorist organization. X & \ the army from the north and initial European ambassadors attend an Interior Minister Marwan Charbel investigations result in the arrests of 3 honorary luncheon at the residence chairs a meeting for the Secondary ! * X& ` } ! Security Council in the north and asserts Clashes in Tareeq al-Jadida between Hariri asserts via Twitter that “ballot that there is no al-Qaeda in Lebanon. ; ' | R ! ! boxes are the best and only response Head of the Arab Democratic Party, men, allegedly belonging to the Future R P Refaat Eid, reports: “Should things Movement, claim the lives of two people. A delegation from the March 14 deteriorate in the north, the Lebanese Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE urge Forces General Secretariat visits government will have to beg the their citizens to leave Lebanon; PM Ersal to support residents and assess ; ^ * P | * & ! & = the needs of the Syrian refugees. Affairs call the concerned countries to May 18 ! May 15 Minister Mohammad Safadi Clashes erupt in Tripoli and result in ! May 22 ! | the General Security for arresting ' ; #*! k ! ! others, and the military judiciary issues Chadi Mawlawi at his institution. his companion in el-Bireh and demands a warrant to arrest Chadi Mawlawi. ; * ' ! to refer the case to the Justice Council. MP Mohammad Kabbara with the Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Beirut MPs gather at Hariri’s residence accuses the Higher Defense Council Lebanon Ali Awad Asiri the possibility and call for the resignation of PM Najib of conspiring against Tripoli. of resuming dialogue in Lebanon. & ! & R The Lebanese Army deploys further Syria hands over three members - a that the resignation will not solve the crisis. troops in Tripoli to contain the clashes Lebanese, a Syrian and a Palestinian-
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MAY 2012 HIGHLIGHTS MEDIA |45
May 23 May 25 May 30 Saudi ambassador to Lebanon President Michel Suleiman suggests President Suleiman meets the Lebanese conveys the letter of Saudi King shortening his presidential term and # !$ Abdullah Bin Abdul to President starting the dialogue mid-June. and reiterates the important role of the army in Michel Suleiman, requesting him to The Maronite Patriarch returns protecting coexistence, stressing that Lebanon solve the current crisis in Lebanon to Lebanon from Rome after a tour ! * \ ! through dialogue and to disassociate the in the USA. sabotage for Syria and other Arab countries. ] \ Clashes between the Lebanese / R * ! ^ * The military investigating judge Army and gunmen in Karacas in meets MP Mohammad Raad to discuss approves the release of Chadi Mawlawi Beirut leave 2 dead and many injured ! ! on bail, thus diffusing the tension, and including Hani al-Shanti, a Jordanian EDL hourly-wage employees stage protests Mawlawi returns to Tripoli in Minister accused in the Hariri murder. ! * ^ * ! ! O * ; ! R ! X& & = X& ` } ! / ! ^ * ; * ' ! employees at the state-run company. Shia’s pilgrims in Syria while heading ^ * ! ! Elias Aoun wins the elections of * { in Syria were released and that they the Journalists Union. ! ! * ; ! * ! / Suburb, and Nasrallah addresses the Beirut aboard his private jet. May 31 protesters calling for self-restraint and MP Walid Jumblat reveals that X& | * & ! { * urging them not to assault Syrians. he is willing to participate in the participate in an international conference “The weapons are forbidden as national dialogue that President ! / { P ; ! } Suleiman had called for. ! ! ! on Twitter. Hezbollah’s Secretary General Lebanese pilgrims in Syria. Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivers The Cabinet meets at the presidential ; < ] ! a televised speech on the Liberation palace in Baabda and stresses the need to condolences to Mufti Qabbani on the and Resistance Day announcing impose order and implement the law. ! ; #*! Hezbollah’s readiness to return to The Maronite Bishops’ monthly Wahed and his companion. the dialogue table unconditionally. statement calls for accepting dialogue Head of the executive committee of the unconditionally and pulling the army May 24 Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, refuses out of the political play. ; * ' ! to engage in an ostensible dialogue and Rumors circulate that Palestinian } * ; ! R assets that the dialogue should start with groups were planning to assassinate call for dialogue positively. the resignation of the government and the ; * ' The Cabinet convenes in Baabda formation of a neutral rescue one. The Syrian Army abducts two nationals and reiterates the importance of Former President Amine Gemayel from Aboudiya, thus angering the residents the Lebanese Army in preserving supports the call for dialogue. * * ! security, stability and civil peace. \ ! ! Rallies in a number of Lebanese including former PM Fouad Seniora, June 1 regions in support of the Lebanese Army. visit el-Bireh to extend condolences A Syrian organization avows the “Some do not want the army to ! ; #*! abduction of the Lebanese and shows ] P & # Wahed and his companion. passports belonging to 9 of them on Al- “Hezbollah would not surrender Killing of a citizen in Batroun + / ! ! its weapons even if Israel withdrew after he refused to stop at an army ! ! ! from Cheba’a Farms and the village of from Nasrallah for his last speech. Kafarchouba, because its presence threatens President Michel Suleiman meets ] P ; < May 29 Saudi King Abdullah in KSA. in a celebration of the Liberation and President Michel Suleiman ; # Resistance Day at the Mahdi high school. invites all parties for national arrives in Lebanon and meets with ` !~* O ! dialogue at the Baabda Palace on ^ * ` $ June 11 to resume discussions about weapons from Lebanon to Syria. three Shia’a women during their the national defense strategy and Koura bids farewell to its MP visit to religious shrines in Iraq. Hezbollah’s weapons. Fareed Habib.
issue 120 | July 2012 46|ARAB WORLD FOCUS
SYRIAN PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RENEWAL OF THE OLD A parliamentary election for the Syrian People’s Assembly was held on May 7, 2012 according to the new constitution, which undermined the leading role of the Socialist Baath Party in the state and the community. It was claimed that the elections would take place amid political and factional pluralism, after allowing the establishment of political parties in Syria. And so, the elections took place and new faces emerged in place of the old ones but the political structure did not change much as the Baath Party remained in control of the political scene, especially as it has the support of the independent deputies. Therefore, the elections were a mere renewal of the old, with a somewhat cosmetic change as the electoral process was subjected to judicial supervision this time.
Electoral law respectively in the previous elections. However, the change Syria’s elections were carried out according to the legislative was in form rather than in political content as the Socialist Baath decree No. 101 dated August 3, 2011. Syrian nationals (males Party and its allies continued to dominate a majority of 184 seats or females) over 18 years old are entitled to cast their votes against 66 for the independent candidates, who, in fact, are also save those convicted of crimes and the members of the army supporters of the political doctrine of the Baath Party. and the police forces who are still in service. / ! ! The law stipulated forming a judicial committee, the political scene but the trends prevailing remained the same. } O | ! ! The legitimacy of the assembly is tied to the voter turnout ! rates, which were relatively high in Syria at large, although / ! ! ! some argue that the rates were as low as 10% or 20% in some measures necessary to secure the integrity of the elections. Mohafazat, thus stripping the assembly off its representative The establishment of the committee was among the most capacity in those Mohafazat which included Homs, Hama important articles that were newly introduced. and Deir ez-Zur in particular. The High Electoral Committee Similarly to the previous law, each Mohafaza * ! ! constitutes one electoral district save the Aleppo represent the whole nation, even if he was elected in a Mohafaza which was divided into two districts, thus certain district, and a low turnout does not necessarily put bringing the total number of districts to 15. the representativeness of the assembly under suspicion. The People’s Assembly has 250 members distributed All in all, the latest elections remain a small operation over two classes: in a political and security tunnel that Syria entered one Class A: ! and a half years ago and fails to exit up to date. 50% of the council Class B: other segments of the population Number of seats by district and classes Table 1 Electoral district/ # of # of seats # of seats Candidates should belong to one of the above categories for workers for other Mohafaza seats and farmers classes and be at least 25 years old. They are also required to Damascus 29 10 19 be voters in the district they are running for or to have Rif Dimashq 19 10 9 their electoral status moved to that district. Homs 23 11 12 Voting Hama 22 13 9 There were 14,788,644 voters of whom 10,118,519 Aleppo city 20 7 13 were eligible to practice their right to vote after omitting Aleppo town and villages 32 17 15 the emigrants and the members of the army and the Idlib 18 12 6 police. 5,186,957 of those cast their ballots bringing Latakia 17 9 8 the turnout to 51.26% compared to 56.12% in 2007. Tartus 13 6 7 Al-Raqqah 8 4 4 Results Seir ez-Zor 14 8 6 7,195 candidates ran for the People’s Assembly elections and a Al-Hasaka 14 8 6 number of those withdrew their candidacy before the elections’ Daraa 10 5 5 date. The winners included 30 women compared to 32 in the Sweida 6 4 2 previous assembly. 209 new deputies made it to the assembly Qunaitra 5 3 2 while 41 maintained their seats, compared to 178 and 72 Total 250 127 123 issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PRICES |47
REAL ESTATE PRICES Towards MAY 2012
The downward trend observed in the prices of Prices of some apartments sold in May 2012 Table 2 apartments, particularly luxury ones, was reinforced Region Area (m2) Price (USD) USD/m2 in May, with a registered decline of 5%. Those in the Beirut real estate industry fear that the market will continue Ashrafieh- its decline, especially as the current indicators show Sassine 180 486,000 2,700 little hope for the summer in light of the Syrian Mathaf 170 527,000 3,100 events and their spillover into Lebanon, in addition to a number of Arab countries that have urged Mar Elias 280 616,000 2,200 their nationals in Lebanon to leave the country. Hamra 160 720,000 4,500 Furthermore, the campaign launched against foreign Tallet Khayyat 300 1,560,000 5,200 acquisition of property in the past few months will Bechara el- 150 315,000 2,100 probably drive foreigners away from the Lebanese Koury- Istiqlal market, thus constituting another reason to further Clemenceau 260 1,014,000 3,900 price decline and market passivity that might also Baabda affect land whose prices have been increasing owing Baabda- 300 720,000 2,400 to the high demand and the scarcity of offers. Brazilia Tables 1 and 2 show the prices of some apartments Yarzi 330 940,000 2,800 and estates sold in May 2012. Hazmieh- Mar Taqla 190 418,000 2,200 Matn Prices of some estates sold in May 2012 Table 1 Antelias 160 224,000 1,400 Region Area (m2) Price (USD) USD/m2 Baabdat 200 270,000 1,350 Beirut Sin el-Fil- Hurj Ashrafieh 370 2,220,000 6,000 Tabet 180 504,000 2,800 Baabda Broumana 240 420,000 1,750 Hazmieh- Mar Mansourieh 210 357,000 1,700 Taqla 980 2,695,000 2,750 Aley Baabda 1,000 2,000,000 2,000 Khaldeh 200 260,000 1,300 Baabda 1,100 2,035,000 1,850 Doha Hadath 1,700 2,550,000 1,500 Aramoun 180 171,000 950 Matn Doha Hoss 270 351,000 1,300 Broumana- 900 540,000 600 Bshamoun- Ouyoun Madaress 170 153,000 900 Broumana 750 825,000 1,100 Aley 200 260,000 1,300 Beit Mery 1,200 996,000 830 Kessrouan Aley Sahel Alma 150 180,000 1,200 Bshamoun- Adma 160 224,000 1,400 Madaress 2,700 1,242,000 460 Adoniss 190 228,000 1,200 Aley -Zhour 850 765,000 900 Aramoun 1,800 180,000 100 Source: Information International- May 2012 Kessrouan Kfardebian 1,150 172,500 150 Kfardebian 750 337,500 450 Dlebta 500 125,000 250 Ballouneh 820 516,600 630
issue 120 | July 2012 48| PRICES
PRICES OF 100 FOOD Towards PRODUCTS IN MAY 2012
Stable prices dominated the market of the majority Prices of food products in May 2012 Table 1 of the 100 food items we track every month, with Prices Prices 54 products maintaining the same price levels Item and Brand beginning beginning % of price registered last month. The prices of some 27 of May of June change commodities witnessed a modest decrease while 2012 2012 Taous tomato sauce another 19 increased slightly. Dairy products, (425 g) 3,400 3,200 5.9- vegetables, jams, tissues, meat and tuna witnessed Tala tomato sauce ! ! (675g) 3,250 3,150 3- Persil registered decreased prices. There was a rise Dairy Products in the price levels of lemons and oils. Candia full cream milk Table 1 shows the prices of food products in May (1 liter) 2,500 2,500 0 2012. Candia full cream yoghurt (2 kg) 3,000 3,000 0 Bonjus labneh (1 kg) 5,200 4,890 6- Prices of food products in May 2012 Table 1 Taanayel labneh (500 g) 5,700 5,500 3.5- Prices Prices Candia labneh (500 g) 5,250 5,250 0 beginning beginning % of price Item and Brand of May of June change Taanayel yoghurt (1 kg) 3,900 3,900 1+ 2012 2012 Smeds cheese (400 g) 4,800 4,850 0 Oil Picon cheese (360 g) 3,900 3,900 0 Afia corn oil (3.5 liters) 16,000 16,850 5.3+ Picon cheese (160 g) 1,975 1,975 0 Mazola corn oil (3.5 liters) 17,500 18,000 2.8+ Double-crème cheese (1 kg) 10,000 10,000 0 Mazola corn oil (1.8 liters) 9,500 9,000 5.2- Fresh country cheese (1 kg) 10,000 10,000 0 Slim corn oil (2 liters) 8,750 8,750 0 Khashkawan cheese Wesson corn oil (1 kg) 12,250 12,250 11.1+ (2 liters) 8,750 9,000 2.8+ Lurpak butter (200 g) 2,250 2,500 7.1+ Ghandour soya oil (2 liters) 12,500 12,500 0 Tatra butter (200 g) 2,100 2,250 0 Alfa corn oil (4 liters) 16,000 18,000 12.5+ Al-Maalaqtain margarine (2 kg) 7,850 7,850 0 Al-Wadi olive oil (1/2 liters) 7,000 6,500 7.1- Al-Baqara al-Haloub margarine (2kg) 35,000 35,000 0 Ketchup and Sauces Vegetaline margarine Libby’s Ketchup (597 g) 1,700 1,500 11.7- (2 kg) 18,950 18,950 0 Extra Ketchup (340 g) 1,150 1,100 4.3- Nido full cream milk (bag) (2,250 g) 21,850 21,850 0 Extra Ketchup (2.2 kg) 5,500 5,500 0 Nido full cream milk (2,500 g) 26,250 26,250 0 Dolly’s Mayonnaise 4,100 4,250 3.6+ (500 ml) Tatra full cream milk (1,800 g) 20,250 20,250 0 Al-Wadi Mayonnaise 3,850 4,000 3.9+ (500 ml) Cereals Al-Bsat Tahina (900 g) 7,000 6,950 0.7- Khater white lentils 4,050 4,050 0 Al-Bsat Tahina (450 g) 3,900 3,850 1.3- (1 kg) Taous tomato sauce Khater chick-peas fahli 5,000 5,000 0 (70g) 750 725 3.4- (1 kg)
issue 120 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PRICES |49
Prices of food products in May 2012 Table 1 Prices of food products in May 2012 Table 1 Prices Prices Prices Prices beginning beginning % of price beginning beginning % of price Item and Brand of May of June change Item and Brand of May of June change 2012 2012 2012 2012 Khater beans (1 kg) 2,000 2,000 0 White Diamond tuna (200 g) 2,750 2,750 0 Peeled wheat (1 kg) 2,500 2,250 10- Skipper tuna (185 g) 2,250 2,250 0 Pineal Lima Bean (1 kg) 3,850 3,850 0 Eggs (30 eggs) 7,000 6,500 7.1- Brown Fine Burgul (1 kg) 1,950 2,000 2.5+ Beef (1 kg) 15,000 15,000 0 Egyptian rice (1 kg) 2,100 1,750 16.7- Sheep (1 kg) 22,000 22,000 0 American rice (1 kg) 1,750 1,750 0 Coffee and Tea Italian rice (1 kg) 2,250 2,350 4.5+ Najjar coffee (1kg) 16,500 16,500 0 Al-Wadi Hommos Tahina (380 g) 1,500 1,500 0 Brazil coffee (1 kg) 15,500 15,500 0 Chtaura Hommos Tahina Al-Hisan tea (180 g) 2,750 2,750 0 (380 g) 1,450 1,450 0 Nestle (250g) 2,500 2,000 20- California Gardens beans (450 g) 1,400 1,400 0 Halvah and Jam Al-Wadi beans (450 g) 1,350 1,250 7.4- Al-Wadi halvah (454 g) 4,200 4,200 0 Chtaura beans (480 g) 1,500 1,350 10– Al-Bsat halvah (450 g) 3,500 3,500 0 Libby’s corn (340 g) 2,000 1,750 12.5- Chtaura apricot jam (1 kg) 6,500 6,500 0 Pasta Al-Wadi apricot jam Barilla spaghetti (500 g) 2,250 2,250 0 (1 kg) 6,000 6,000 0 Antonio Amato spaghetti Tissues and Detergents (500 g) 2,250 2,200 2.3- Mimosa tissues (500 g) 2,750 2,900 5.4+ Monte spaghetti (500 g) 2,300 2,300 0 Fine tissues Sugar (2 kg) 3,200 3,000 6.2- 200 tissues) 1,400 1,400 0 Al-Ousra Sugar (5 kg) 9,450 8,500 10 Primo tissues (200 tissues) 1,400 1,400 0 Salt (700 g) 350 350 0 Gipsy tissues Box of salt (738 g) 1,650 1,500 9- (300 tissues) 2,850 2,850 0 Meat, Fish and Eggs Mimosa toilet papers (4 rolls) 4,850 5,250 8.2+ Zwan chicken (200 g) 2,700 2,550 5.6- Yes detergent (750 g) 2,600 2,600 0 Zwan beef (200 g) 2,500 2,500 0 Clorox (1 liter) 1,550 1,500 0 Luncheon meat beef (198 g) 2,000 2,000 0 Persil (4 kg) 20,000 16,500 17.5- Al-Mona chicken (200 g) 2,150 2,150 0 Ariel (4 kg) 19,250 20,250 5.2+ Al-Taghzia beef (200 g) 1,950 1,750 10.2- Fruit and Vegetables Al-Taghzia chicken Oranges (1 kg) 1,500 1,500 0 (200 g) 1,950 1,750 10.2- Tomatoes (1kg) 500 500 0 Geisha sardine (125 g) 1,150 1,500 30+ Cucumbers (1kg) 750 500 33.3- Deli sardine (125 g) 1,200 1,500 25+ Bananas (1kg) 1,000 1,000 0 Milo sardine (125 g) 1,100 1,200 9+ Lemons (1 kg) 500 1,250 150+ Geisha tuna (200 g) 2,700 4,000 48+ Apples (1 kg) 2,000 2,000 0 White Diamond tuna (200 g) 2,800 2,800 0 Potatoes (1 kg) 800 800 0 Source: Information International
issue 120 | July 2012 50| Did you know that?
Largest Number of Energy Consumption around the world
1,310,000,000 short tons of coal are consumed 20,680,000 barrels of oil per day are consumed in China per day. in the United States of America. In Comoros, 712.3 barrels of oil are consumed per day. 3,947,000 ton of charcoal is consumed by households in Thailand. 10,410,000 ton of Kerosene is consumed by households in Japan. 3,892,000,000,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) is the total annual electricity consumed in the United 6,735,000 ton of motor gasoline is consumed by States of America. In Gaza strip, only 230,000 households in Russia. kWh are consumed annually. 3,076,206 Terajoules of steam and hot water are 821.1 terawatt-hours is the nuclear energy consumed by households and other consumers in consumption per day in the United States of Russia. America. 1.7 terawatt-hours are consumed in Pakistan.
Beirut International Airport
Beirut International Airport Rafic Hariri International airport Traffic- May 2012
Airport traffic in May 2011/2012 Table 1 Rafic Hariri International Airport Traffic May 2011 May 2012 % of change witnessed in May 2012 decreased Arriving airplanes 2,456 2,552 + 3.9 traffic movements Departing airplanes 2,456 2,551 + 3.8 compared to May 2011. Passenger Total No. of airplanes 4,912 5,103 + 3.9 traffic decreased by 5.8% (27,359 Arriving passengers 236,939 225,394 - 4.8 passengers), while Departing passengers 224,851 209,290 - 6.9 air traffic increased by 3.9%. Transit passengers 4,849 4,596 - 5.2
Table 1 illustrates Total No. of passengers 466,639 439,280 - 5.8 airport traffic in May Imported goods (per ton) 3,616 4,012 + 10.9 2012 compared to May 2011. Exported goods (per ton) 2,440 2,298 - 5.8 Total amount of goods (per ton) 6,056 6,310 + 4.2 Stats & Numbers |51 Stats& Numbers
LBP 1.5 million is the monthly compensation granted to the members of the independent committee tasked with verifying the legality of procedures of the administrative objection to phone calls. The committee consists of three members including the president of the Court of Cassation, the head of the Shura Council and the head of the Audit Bureau.
LBP 3.6 billion is the value of one share at the Modern Media Photo by Alaa Sakr Company, owner of Voice of Lebanon (the Khazens’ VOL radio), based on the latest prices which stood at LBP 450 Publications thousand for each share.
Publications by Publications by INMA (in Arabic): LBP 217 million is the monthly Information International (in Arabic): 1- “I am Responsible, All of Us are Responsible” pay increase granted to religious 1- Salaries and Remunerations in the Public Sector 2- “Our Environment is Our Home” 2- Public Seaside Properties 3- “My Society is My Responsibility” judges (Sunni- Shia’a- Druze) 3- Lebanon’s Parliamentary History 1920-2000 4- “My Society is My Responsibility” Workbook according to law No. 173/2011, 4- Taxes and Fees 5- “I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards which raised the salaries of all 5- Lebanon in Figures 1992-2002 State Building” 6- Lebanon in Figures 2003-2004 6- “I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards 68 religious judges. 7- Lebanon in Figures 2005-2006 State Building” Workbook 8- Lebanon in Figures 2007-2008 7- “Lebanon Wars, why?” 9- Lebanon’s MPs and Lebanese Parliamentary 8- Discrimination in Lebanon 2 is the number of the Elections 1960 - 2009 10- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, international phone lines candidate and confession-North District installed at the residence of the 11- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, Minister of Foreign Affairs and candidate and confession-Beirut District 12- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, Emigrants at the expense of the candidate and confession-Mount Lebanon District government (cost of installation 13- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, and monthly phone bills). The candidate and confession-Beqa’a District 14- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, installation of the lines was candidate and confession-South and Nabatiyeh justified claiming that “the nature District and circumstances of work 15- Municipal Elections 2010 entail that the Minister makes Publications by Kutub (in Arabic): To Subscribe: phone calls to the Lebanese 1- Trablous Al-Sham Al-Borj Building, 4th Floor, Martyrs Square 2- Jeniyat Al-Nabi delegations and high-ranking Beirut Central District 3- Mokhber Al-Konsoliya Telephone: 961-1-983008/9 961-3-262376 officials in foreign countries from 4- Antoun Saadah 1932-1949 Volume 1. The Youth Years Fax: 961-1-980630 his home outside office hours.” 5- Antoun Saadah, A Biography, [email protected] www.iimonthly.com www.information-international.com © Information International SAL All rights reserved License No. 180/2003 SHANGHAI INSTITUTE VISITS INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL
While touring the region, a delegation from the Shanghai Institute for International Studies made a stop in Lebanon from April 27 until May 1, 2012. During its stay, the delegation visited the headquarters of Information International, where a discussion was held on the latest regional O# * ; P ! ^ * $ / ! ] ! ! { { ! grounds for future cooperation between the Institute and the company, in hope of promoting the Arab-Chinese ties.
The delegation included the Director of Center of Ethnic, Religion and Culture Studies Yu Xintian, the Director of the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies Dr. Li Weijian, the Deputy Director of Department for Research Management and International Exchanges Fang Xiao, and Researcher Dr. Jin Liangxiang. The Chinese ambassador to Lebanon Wu Zexian, the First Secretary at the Embassy Mrs. Shen Huizhen and Mr. Leng Yanjie accompanied the delegation, and the ambassador expressed interest in promoting and developing the relations between the Lebanese and the Chinese research centers.
It is noteworthy that the SIIS was established in 1960 as one of the pioneering study centers in O { ! ! ! ! \ ;{{;
From the right: Shen Huizhen, Li Weijian, Yu Xintian, Mohammad Chamseddine, Wu Zexian, Jin Liangxiang and Fang Xiao