CENTRAL INSPECTION BOARD 2009

Beirut airport Duty Free market March 2011 |

104 Who elects Lebanon’s president?

The Monthly interviews Artist Abdel Rahman Katanani issue number www.iimonthly.com • Published by Information International sal

MILITARY EXPENDITURES SALARIES: 93% VS. WEAPONRY:1%

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 3 | EDITORIAL INDEX TWITTER WILL NOT 5 LEADER: MILITARY EXPENDITURES BETWEEN 1990 AND 2010 CLEANSE THY HANDS t is not true that the people of this region lacked the will for change and the desire for liberty, 11 CENTRAL INSPECTION BOARD 2009 as we are led to believe by the current media rhetoric. Before the Frenj (“Crusaders”) and till Itoday, thousands have sacrificed their lives for higher causes and there was no Facebook or 14 BEIRUT AIRPORT DUTY FREE MARKET Twitter then. In spite of this, one must ask why we are the way we are. And the obvious answer is because we lack the vision and the leadership and institutions to achieve it. It goes without saying that neither 16 THE MINISTRY OF LABOR Sharif Faisal nor Hosni Al Za’im or Jamal Abdel Nasser or King Faisal of Saudi Arabia knew how things 19 THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION would develop because of their alliances, gloating and feuding.

21 WHO ELECTS LEBANON’S PRESIDENT? While rallying for Arab independence and cursing the Ottoman rule, Sharif Faisal, in 1916, and the “Great Arab Revolution” rebels unknowingly paved the road to the Sykes-Picot Pact and the creation of Israel. 24 MUTA’A MARRIAGE Hosni Al Za’im’s “Inqilab” (coup d’état) in 1949, a word not used before in Arab politics, started a snow ball effect in Syria and also Egypt and Iraq, finishing off the oligarchy which thought it could survive the 25 DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY Page 27 Page 34 Ottomans by subjugation to the French and the British. Sharif Faisal did not know that the focal point was French and British domination and not Arab liberation. Nasser and Qassem of Iraq did not know that 27 SYNDICATE OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE the focal point was American dominance and the winding down of French and British rule and not Pan- TRADERS Arabism. Otherwise, how can you have a cold war? You must also get rid of Shakhboot of Abu Dhabi, Sanousi of Libya, Sa’id of Oman, Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Khalifah of Qatar and bring in the high rollers 29 FRENCH LEBANESE LYCÉE – VERDUN and erectors of the biggest towers, airports and buyers of weapons ready for atrocities and lust. Gaddafi, Sadat, Ben Ali were a must for the legitimacy of Israel, stability and the rhetoric about modernization of the Arab world. 31 IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) BY DR. HANNA SAADAH Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak and Ben Ali were incapable, Page 38-39 due to the aphrodisiac effect of power and their limited IQ, of 32 FEEDING THE BRAIN AND BOOSTING IT envisaging the end. Saddam went down by brutal force and WITH EXERCISE BY DR. SAMAR ZEBIAN the other two by the soft chirping of “Twitter”. Oppression, corruption and lack of any progress are a recipe 41 DISCOVER LEBANON: MACHGHARA 33 HOW OLD IS TIME? BY ANTOINE BOUTROS for disaster. The permanent presence of BBC, CNN, Al Hurra and Facebook is clear evidence that the end is near. One must 34 THE MONTHLY INTERVIEWS ARTIST ABDEL 42 SAAD HARIRI - HEZBOLLAH RAHMAN KATANANI really wonder why these networks kept quiet while more than 43 JANUARY 2011 TIMELINE IN 5 million died in Congo but were really enthused about what Wael LEBANON Ghneim did or did not do in Egypt? 36 POPULAR CULTURE We are asked to believe that the end of Mubarak came because of Twitter and “Shabab” and a revolution 46 TOURISM IN OMAN without political parties and without leaders. We are also told that Sharif Faisal raised the Arab flag but 37 MYTH #43: LEBANON, SWITZERLAND OF we now know that Marc Sykes designed it in 1916. Should we not ask how the region would look like 20 THE MIDDLE EAST 47 REAL ESTATE INDEX IN LEBANON- JANUARY 2011 years from now? Is the West preparing another disappointment for the Arab masses? Will there be an Arab awakening or another Sykes Picot? 38 MUST-READ BOOKS: WADI ABOU JAMIL 48 FOOD PRICE INDEX - JANUARY 2011 39 MUST-READ CHILDREN’S BOOK:“FIRST One can further wonder about the romantic stories mentioned in history: HUNDRED WORDS IN FRENCH” 50 DEATH PENALTY IN 2009 Did Al Qadi Al Khashab really burst into the Sultan’s mosque with the rebels and subsequently Jihad was 40 LEBANON FAMILIES: RAAD FAMILY declared against the Frenj in 1111? 50 BEIRUT RAFIC HARIRI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - JANUARY 2011 Did the lady scream “Wa mu’tasamah” in 1258 and then the Khalifah recognized that his end at the hands of the Mogul had come and that he shouldn’t have been mocking the Egyptians because they allowed a 51 LEBANON STATS woman called “Shajarat Al Durr” to rule them?

issue 103 - February 2011 4 | EDITORIAL MILITARY EXPENDITURES LEADER | 5

-Did Lawrence and Faisal simply hit it off and the Mubarak. It is odd how conflicting parties in Lebanon, Hashemites decided to turn against the Ottomans in March 14 and March 8, were quick to claim victory 1916? in Egypt: Siniora, by declaring that the tactics of demonstrators in Tahrir Square were similar to those MILITARY EXPENDITURES -Did Asma Andraos and her friends launch the 14 March of 14 March 2005 in Martyr’s Square and March 8 movement by scribbling “Independence-05” on a mat by declaring the victory of their cause and that of Pan and “people came to the tent, Christians, Muslims and Arabism, despite the obvious absence of its slogans or (1990-2010):LBP 25,000 BILLION Druze who hated each other and marched together,” as mention of the siege on Gaza. Asma told the NYT? he size and purpose of military spending is an issue over which politicians are divided. One group On another note, especially for the Al Jazeera audience, believes the substantial military spending has led to a budget deficit and a rise in public debt without really -Is Wael Ghneim’s departure from Dubai the sparkle Qatar is planning to spend billions of dollars to host Tachieving security, which is normally sustained by political consensus. Another group considers the size of that brought down Mubarak in 2011? the World Cup in 2020. Let us also all remember that expenditures to be acceptable, even low, compared to other state expenditures, since it is mostly limited to the Gaddafi was not always an enemy of the West as in payment of salaries while spending on armament and equipment is negligible. As if Cleopatra’s nose has truly changed history… the climax of the Cold War in 1971 he handed over the leaders of the Sudanese Communist parties to Jaafar This study will look into the expenditures of the military The figures listed in the tables are those of the state The lesson from all this historical rhetoric is that Numeiri who executed them. and security organizations in Lebanon: the Ministry of budget laws of 1990 to 2005 and of the draft budget laws people, leaders and the media will not decide the future A window has been opened and the USA opened it for National Defense (including the Lebanese Army), the of 2006 to 2010. The numbers represent an estimate of of countries in the absence of a vision and a will. reasons that relate to its own interests and those of Israel; Directorate General of Internal Security Forces (ISF), the the expenditures and are not final. Historical developments are driven by socio-economic you can demonstrate, you can bring down tyrants as long Directorate General of General Security, the Directorate and political dynamics much more complex than what as you don’t threaten oil and Israel and it is ok if Omar General of State Security (the article does not address Tables 1 (p. 6,7) , 2 (p. 6,7), 3 (p. 8,9) and 4 (p. 8,9) today’s Facebook ‘scholars’ are telling us. For that Suleiman falls in Egypt by friendly fire or Hamad Al- the expenses of the military apparatus in the Directorate show, respectively, the expenditures of the Ministry of purpose, four points ought to be noticed on the events Khalifa’s rule is disturbed in Bahrain due to collateral General of Customs). From 2006 to 2010, the budget National Defense, the Directorate General of Internal of Tunisia and Egypt: damage. Your role model shall be Lebanon where there laws were not ratified therefore the figures listed in the Security Forces (excluding prisons), the Directorate is no central power, no nation, no State but only tribes tables are those of the draft laws. General of General Security and the Directorate General 1. The lifting of the element of fear and confessions. You can follow Turkey, Iran or Israel if of State Security. The element of fear was lifted by the direct intervention you wish but forget about being an Arab for the Twitter Main remarks and supervision of the USA. Obama’s address to the does not speak Arabic. The classification of some of the expenditures adopted These tables demonstrate that: Egyptian people is a testimony to this, not to mention in the budget laws of 1990 through to 1996 was A The Lebanese Army enjoys the largest share of the instructions that the generals received from the US Soon, the policy makers in Washington will discover changed and as of 1997, a new one was implemented. expenditures amounting to 67.3% of military to side with the rebels or stay on the sides. that this window is also open for perhaps an indigenous For example, compensation and financial aid were now spending, followed, in terms of size, by the ISF leadership that will not get high on the words of praise to be included in salaries and wages. (25.4%), the General Security (5.3%) and State 2. Rise of basic food prices of western leaders levied to win the hearts and minds Security (1.91%). Measures taken by the US Fed contributed to the major of the people of this region. These insulting words of Based on the new classification, some expenditures are rise in basic food prices. No remedial steps were taken praise will not erase the atrocities committed by those listed within the following provisions: A Salaries, wages, compensation, and health and to protect poor countries. tyrants, which the US has and is still supporting, nor A Services including: rent and maintenance of estates, school grants form 93% of military spending. redress Obama’s statement that the relationship with mail, advertisements and publications, insurance, 3. Homogeneous societies and tyrants Israel is “sacrosanct” nor Hillary Clinton’s photo car rental, wages, housekeeping and cleaning A Expenditure on military equipment is very low Tunisia and Egypt are among the least polarized posing proudly near the dividing wall in Palestine nor expenses. forming a mere 1% of military spending. countries in the Arab world that happen to be ruled by the peddling of weapons to Gulf states, or the recent A Consumables including: stationary, office supplies, ruthless tyrants with highly centralized power and this American Veto at the UN Security Council regarding fuel, pesticides, lab materials, plants, electricity, A During the period studied (1990-2010), army is exactly where the “revolutions” took place. In other settlements in the West Bank. Yes, this window is open water and telephone lines. expenditures increased by 1,534%, ISF by 2,292%, places, probability of strives or civil wars is high. to those who have a vision and a will, as has been the A Allowances, salaries and wages including: General Security by 2,712% and State Security by case since the Crusaders to Sykes Picot to the July 2006 transportation fees, health and school grants. 6,068% while budget expenditures increased by 4. Arab moderates war. The question, metaphorically, remains: Is it an Arab A Others including: secret expenditures, delegations 3,172%. The numbers show that the increase in Mediocre “Arab moderates” who were atrocious with awakening or another Sykes Picot? Unless we want to and conferences, studies, travel and transportation military spending was lower than the percentage of their own people were spineless when it came to dealing keep focusing on whether “to Tweet or not to Tweet,” in Lebanon and abroad, judicial rulings and financial increase of the total budget expenditures and this is with Netanyahu. They looked petty and behaved as such instead of remembering that all the twitting in the world settelements. evident in Table 5. without delivering any success stories to their people. will not cleanse thy hands. A Maintenance of technical equipment and buildings. And so the fig leaf had to fall. A Equipment including: furniture, office and technical Table 5 (p.10) shows a drop in the size of military equipment and IT equipments. spending compared to the budget’s total expenditures, Back to Lebanon where apparently Siniora, was A Construction including: buildings, roads and water from 22% in 1990 to 12.6% in 2010, forming 14.3% of conspiring, perhaps with Nasser Qandeel, to overthrow and electricity extensions. total spending for that period.

issue 104 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 6 | LEADER MILITARY EXPENDITURES MILITARY EXPENDITURES LEADER | 7 Expenditures of the Ministry of Defense (LBP thousands) from 1990 to 2010 Table 1 Construction Equipment, Weapons & Central Administration/ Army: Equipment/ Directorate General of Office of the Inspec- Grand Total (LBP Year Military Courts Military Council Judicial Rulings and Total Ammunition along with Rehabilitation & Grand Total (USD) Military Room Salaries/Compensation Administration tor General Financial Settlements Restoration Expenditures thousands) 1990 103,571 94,794,010 15,550 1,274,850 45,900 5,750 15,000 96,254,631 0 95,599,831 136,228,669 1991 243,258 135,453,200 34,000 2,024,000 97,000 10,000 20,000 137,881,458 0 137,881,458 148,542,342 1992 212,000 391,566,200 68,700 3,710,700 118,800 15,750 50,000 395,742,150 5,000,000 400,742,150 233,963,563 1993 247,000 441,053,000 85,000 4,584,500 139,800 20,000 150,000 446,279,300 30,000,000 476,279,300 273,506,816 1994 262,500 483,032,000 142,500 5,563,500 146,200 24,000 400,000 489,570,700 50,000,000 539,570,700 321,222,749 1995 348,500 642,241,890 282,500 6,908,200 165,000 33,000 400,000 650,379,090 15,000,000 665,379,090 410,489,648 1996 303,660 637,447,075 261,150 6,573,740 129,800 26,730 360,000 645,102,155 13,500,000 658,602,155 419,240,808 1997 306,700 719,817,740 356,700 7,462,900 114,800 20,500 0 728,079,340 10,000,000 738,079,340 479,512,055 1998 213,741 730,706,150 341,100 7,063,390 116,025 30,100 0 738,470,506 11,500,000 749,970,506 497,492,873 1999 317,400 841,340,797 422,500 10,267,040 125,150 30,500 0 852,503,387 11,500,000 864,003,387 573,136,575 2000 317,400 848,082,797 219,000 10,264,150 133,500 70,500 0 859,087,347 11,500,000 870,587,347 577,504,044 2001 411,000 866,354,500 163,000 10,622,900 155,500 48,300 0 877,755,200 9,000,000 886,755,200 588,228,988 2002 347,350 795,618,145 139,256 9,631,180 125,210 33,556 0 805,894,697 6,000,000 811,894,697 538,570,280 2003 296,500 768,848,000 123,000 8,864,500 96,500 28,500 0 778,257,000 3,200,000 781,457,000 518,379,436 2004 390,500 798,465,500 135,000 9,545,000 121,000 33,250 0 808,690,250 10,000,000 818,690,250 543,078,109 2005 457,500 835,466,500 201,000 10,165,000 149,000 28,250 0 846,467,250 5,800,000 852,267,250 565,351,410 2006 450,500 895,895,000 192,000 10,274,000 169,000 18,750 0 906,999,250 8,000,000 914,999,250 606,964,677 2007 483,500 1,107,427,413 223,000 10,553,000 230,700 21,750 0 1,118,939,363 0 1,118,939,363 742,248,334 2008 488,500 1,135,520,000 172,500 10,526,000 199,200 30,250 0 1,146,936,450 0 1,146,936,450 760,820,199 2009 493,500 1,357,754,000 200,500 12,138,000 203,000 35,500 0 1,370,824,500 0 1,370,824,500 909,336,318 2010 536,500 1,554,674,000 211,500 13,485,000 226,500 36,500 0 1,569,170,000 0 1,569,170,000 1,040,908,789 Total 7,231,080 16,081,557,917 3,989,456 171,501,550 3,007,585 601,436 1,395,000 16,269,284,024 200,000,000 16,468,629,224 10,924,463,830

Expenditures of the Internal Security Forces (LBP thousands) from 1990 to 2010 Table 2 Allowances, Salaries & Transfers Others Equipment Construction Maintenance Grand Total (LBP thousands) Grand Total USD Year Consumables Services Wages 1990 764,450 807,000 24,335,550 201,250 24,564 3,950,000 296,650 Merged with Equipment 30,379,464 43,290,390 1991 1,066,000 1,050,000 24,384,453 905,000 55,154 6,200,000 1,500,000 Merged with Equipment 35,160,607 37,879,197 1992 2,940,000 1,483,000 100,626,100 212,000 90,504 7,400,000 1,500,000 Merged with Equipment 114,251,604 66,703,022 1993 5,668,000 2,470,000 139,654,100 337,000 95,500 7,195,000 2,500,000 Merged with Equipment 157,919,600 90,686,467 1994 7,351,000 1,870,000 136,456,100 737,000 315,500 15,000,000 1,000,000 Merged with Equipment 162,729,600 96,877,850 1995 6,565,000 3,210,000 196,233,060 727,000 308,000 21,000,000 5,500,000 Merged with Equipment 233,543,060 144,078,781 1996 13,436,700 1,388,309 192,747,460 651,600 1,735,800 8,875,000 5,950,000 1,320,000 226,104,869 143,929,666 1997 10,650,000 1,307,000 225,289,500 161,000 760,000 6,425,000 5,600,000 2,650,000 252,842,500 164,265,574 1998 12,407,500 1,504,900 216,461,500 150,000 885,500 5,407,000 3,655,000 1,855,000 242,326,400 160,747,197 1999 11,886,000 1,366,000 241,612,000 160,000 886,000 4,385,000 3,235,000 1,785,000 265,315,000 175,996,683 2000 12,688,500 1,452,500 243,529,000 160,000 893,000 4,060,000 4,235,000 3,070,000 270,088,000 179,162,852 2001 18,753,500 1,806,000 251,579,780 160,000 1,634,000 14,150,000 10,400,000 3,140,000 301,623,280 200,081,778 2002 15,999,350 1,581,363 244,940,660 160,000 1,779,250 4,313,750 8,585,938 2,266,313 279,626,624 185,490,298 2003 14,367,000 1,564,000 252,439,340 150,000 1,550,000 3,397,000 6,540,000 2,232,000 282,239,340 187,223,443 2004 21,668,500 1,649,000 258,395,000 150,000 1,160,000 7,500,000 5,065,000 3,507,000 299,094,500 198,404,312 2005 30,538,000 1,754,000 270,926,500 150,000 1,175,000 8,650,000 4,065,000 4,157,000 321,415,500 213,210,945 2006 33,840,000 1,603,000 347,777,958 75,000 4,335,000 1,500,000 25,000 3,460,000 392,615,958 260,441,763 2007 44,623,000 1,771,000 433,719,368 75,000 4,510,000 5,750,000 9,090,000 4,190,000 503,728,368 334,148,171 2008 55,443,000 2,485,000 402,929,832 600,000 4,770,000 10,500,000 20,590,000 6,380,000 503,697,832 334,127,915 2009 68,446,300 2,241,000 518,203,432 600,000 4,780,000 19,100,000 15,090,000 7,630,000 636,090,732 421,950,734 2010 75,296,300 2,822,000 558,610,312 600,000 8,780,000 27,274,000 43,121,000 8,680,000 725,183,612 481,050,489 Total 464,398,100 37,185,072 5,280,851,005 7,121,850 40,522,772 192,031,750 157,543,588 56,322,313 6,235,976,450 4,119,747,528

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 8 | LEADER MILITARY EXPENDITURES MILITARY EXPENDITURES LEADER | 9 Expenditures of the General Security (LBP thousands) from 1990 to 2010 Table 3 Services/ Consumables / Various Administrative Constructions Compensation/Aid/ Contributions & Aid/ Grand Total Year Equipment Administration/ Allowances & Salaries Maintenance Grand Total USD Equipment Expenditures under way Rewards Other Expenditures (LBP thousands) 1990 -- 214,600 4,059,715 253,850 4,000 10,000 101,050 57,150 4,700,365 6,697,967 1991 -- 683,000 4,448,200 943,050 150,000 40,000 205,100 480,000 6,949,350 7,486,668 1992 -- 614,000 20,287,700 1,609,000 -- 75,000 425,000 711,500 23,722,200 13,849,630 1993 -- 1,460,000 21,462,000 2,211,000 10,000 150,000 1,065,000 1,837,000 28,195,000 16,191,182 1994 -- 2,810,000 26,175,000 2,892,000 10,000 180,000 1,250,000 3,050,000 36,367,000 21,650,374 1995 -- 3,560,000 37,451,000 3,632,000 -- 200,000 2,275,000 4,560,000 51,678,000 31,881,501 1996 1,009,000 1,904,600 36,983,000 2,849,800 -- 162,500 2,275,000 7,281,500 52,465,400 33,397,456 1997 4,851,000 1,237,000 50,197,700 1,050,000 -- 975,000 -- -- 58,310,700 37,883,032 1998 4,594,100 1,159,000 49,316,000 871,500 -- 787,500 -- -- 56,728,100 37,630,580 1999 2,892,500 1,745,000 52,614,000 899,000 -- 1,277,000 -- -- 59,427,500 39,421,227 2000 4,490,000 1,880,000 54,104,000 1,005,000 -- 1,050,000 -- -- 62,529,000 41,478,607 2001 6,190,000 2,145,000 59,550,000 1,765,000 2,000,000 1,150,000 -- -- 72,800,000 48,291,874 2002 4,215,901 1,871,713 58,149,750 1,574,250 -- 926,501 -- -- 66,738,115 44,270,723 2003 3,926,000 1,710,000 57,160,000 1,411,000 -- 930,000 -- -- 65,137,000 43,208,624 2004 5,561,000 1,900,000 61,161,000 1,245,000 -- 1,260,000 -- -- 71,127,000 47,182,090 2005 12,219,000 1,522,000 63,911,000 1,301,000 -- 1,405,000 -- -- 80,358,000 53,305,473 2006 8,752,000 1,647,000 66,263,000 1,301,000 1,500,000 1,495,000 -- -- 80,958,000 53,703,483 2007 11,413,000 1,912,000 69,886,000 1,266,000 -- 1,550,000 -- -- 86,027,000 57,066,003 2008 12,497,000 4,062,000 71,276,000 1,621,000 -- 1,590,000 -- -- 91,046,000 60,395,357 2009 14,666,000 3,380,000 92,249,000 1,326,000 -- 2,060,000 -- -- 113,681,000 75,410,282 2010 17,510,000 2,960,000 108,353,500 1,296,000 -- 2,115,000 -- -- 132,234,500 87,717,745 Total 114,786,501 40,376,913 1,065,057,565 32,322,450 3,674,000 19,388,501 7,596,150 17,977,150 1,301,179,230 863,137,134 Expenditures of the Directorate General of State Security (LBP thousands) from 1990 to 2010 Table 4 Consumer Consumer Administrative & Constructions Compensation/ Publicity & Contributions & Aid/ Grand Total (LBP Allowances & Miscellaneous Maintenance Equipment Grand Total USD Year Products/ Services/ Salaries under way Aid/Rewards External Relations Other Expenditures thousands) Equipment Administration Expenditures 1990 -- 33,750 340,500 115,550 -- 13,500 30,000 2,500 19,000 100,000 654,800 933,083 1991 -- 70,500 572,000 431,000 -- 16,000 49,000 3,000 76,000 900,000 2,117,500 2,281,223 1992 1,461,000 -- 4,500,000 992,000 100,000 65,000 548,000 7,000 255,000 -- 7,928,000 4,628,570 1993 173,000 -- 5,844,000 1,128,500 150,000 70,000 653,000 12,000 281,000 1,300,000 9,611,500 5,519,473 1994 1,504,000 -- 6,935,000 1,304,000 200,000 80,000 763,000 12,000 308,500 -- 11,106,500 6,612,035 1995 457,000 -- 13,778,437 1,529,000 200,000 120,000 1,314,500 12,000 694,000 2,000,000 20,104,937 12,403,258 1996 1,922,300 448,300 12,926,900 4,453,900 -- 158,937 1,314,500 12,000 1,000,000 1,540,000 23,776,837 15,135,420 1997 1,280,650 555,492 13,933,910 -- -- 295,000 -- -- 4,520,000 1,170,500 21,755,552 14,134,049 1998 1,727,300 561,100 17,688,940 924,000 35,000 178,500 ------21,114,840 14,006,527 1999 1,841,000 581,500 20,560,600 546,500 25,000 192,500 ------23,747,100 15,752,637 2000 2,286,500 616,000 20,865,600 556,500 25,000 297,000 ------24,646,600 16,349,320 2001 2,597,250 586,500 21,280,000 870,000 704,000 305,000 ------26,342,750 17,474,461 2002 1,495,150 486,700 21,108,000 799,250 -- 214,200 ------24,103,300 15,988,922 2003 1,488,500 524,000 20,800,000 712,000 -- 195,000 ------23,719,500 15,734,328 2004 1,994,000 524,000 21,537,000 744,000 2,000,000 200,000 ------26,999,000 17,909,784 2005 3,060,000 464,000 22,733,000 774,000 2,500,000 225,000 ------29,756,000 19,738,640 2006 3,367,000 506,000 24,549,000 784,000 1,800,000 230,000 ------31,236,000 20,720,398 2007 4,276,000 494,000 26,499,000 794,000 -- 205,000 ------32,268,000 21,404,975 2008 4,344,000 524,000 26,361,000 773,000 -- 175,000 ------32,177,000 21,344,610 2009 5,567,000 519,000 30,365,000 773,000 -- 175,000 ------37,399,000 24,808,624 2010 5,672,000 582,000 33,256,000 773,000 -- 180,000 ------40,463,000 26,841,128 Total 46,513,650 8,076,842 366,433,887 19,777,200 7,739,000 3,590,637 4,672,000 60,500 7,153,500 7,010,500 471,027,716 312,456,196 Note: in 1990 and 1991, the budget of the Directorate General of State Security was included within the budget of the Ministry of National Defense and not within the Prime Ministry’s budget. It became included in the latter as of 1992. issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 10 | LEADER MILITARY EXPENDITURES CENTRAL INSPECTION BOARD 2009 PUBLIC SECTOR | 11 Evolution of Military Expenditures compared to Total Budget Expenditures Table 5 Total Budget Expenditures (LBP thou- Year sands) Size of Military Spending (LBP thousands) % of Military Spending/ Budget Expenditures 1990 597,000,000 131,334,460 22.0% 1991 1,036,000,000 182,108,915 17.6% CENTRAL INSPECTION BOARD 2009 1992 1,654,000,000 546,643,954 33.1% 1993 3,400,000,000 672,005,400 19.8% SUSPENDS13 EMPLOYEES 1994 4,106,200,000 749,773,800 18.3% 1995 5,630,000,000 970,705,087 17.2% any readers might find it strange that The Monthly is discussing the Central Inspection Board’s (CIB) report 1996 6,458,000,000 960,949,261 14.9% Mfor 2009 in this issue (March 2011), but this is due to the fact that the report was only issued and published 1997 6,433,000,000 1,070,988,092 16.6% in January 2011. We do not know the reason for the delay. What we do know is that currently, 30% of the CIB’s 1998 7,320,000,000 1,070,139,846 14.6% posts are vacant. 1999 8,395,000,000 1,212,492,987 14.4% 2000 8,590,000,000 1,227,850,947 14.3% Disciplinary sanctions and proposed referrals The CIB’s five inspectorates proposed 308 penalties against employees, contractors and retired employees, 2001 9,900,000,000 1,287,521,230 13.0% including 36 reprimands, 198 salary deductions, 80 deferrals of raises and promotions and 3 suspensions. Table 1 2002 9,375,000,000 1,182,362,736 12.6% lists the distribution of sanctions by inspectorates. 2003 8,600,000,000 1,152,552,840 13.4% 2004 9,400,000,000 1,215,910,750 12.9% 2005 10,000,000,000 1,283,796,750 12.8% Disciplinary sanctions proposed by the CIB’s inspectorates Table 1 2006 11,195,000,000 1,419,809,208 12.7% Deferral to Salary, Deferral Deferral to Deferral to 2007 11,840,000,000 1,740,962,731 14.7% Wage or the Higher Reprimands of raise or Suspension the Court of the Public Disciplinary Allowance promotion Audit Prosecution 2008 11,475,000,000 1,773,857,282 15.5% Deduction Committee 2009 16,304,000,000 2,157,995,232 13.2% Inspectorate General of Administration 17 54 36 3 28 5 (files) 5 2010 19,537,600,000 2,467,051,112 12.6% Total 171,245,800,000 24,476,812,620 14.3% Inspectorate General of Engineering 4 17 19 - - - - Inspectorate General of Education 3 92 13 - - - -

Inspectorate General of Healthcare, -142 - -1 (file)- The numbers show [GRAPH 1] DISTRIBUTION OF MILITARY EXPENDITURES(%) Social Care and Agriculture “that the increase in Inspectorate General of Finance 12 12 10 - - - - Total 36 189 80 3 28 6 (files) 5 military spending General Security 5.3% State Security 1.91% was lower than the The CIB’s work The CIB’s five The CIB held 24 sessions during which it took 227 “ percentage of increase decisions, including disciplinary sanctions against inspectorates 215 employees, laborers, contractors and freelancers. of the total budget It referred 10 employees to the Higher Disciplinary proposed 308 penalties expenditures[...] from Committee, 81 employees to the Court of Audit and 1 against employees, ISF Lebanese employee to the Public Prosecution. It also transferred 22% in 1990 to 12.6% 25.4% Army 15 files to the Court of Audit and 19 files to the Public contractors and retired 67.3% Prosecution in addition to issuing 152 recommendations. in 2010, forming 14.3% The largest number of violations occurred in the employees, including 36 Ministry of Education and Higher Education while most reprimands, 198 salary of total spending for breaches consisted of administrative irregularities. Table 2 illustrates the distribution of breaches by Ministry. deductions, 80 deferrals that period of raises and promotions ” and 3 suspensions

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Distribution of breaches by Ministry Table 2 Distribution of deals by Ministry Table 4 Violations Violation Abuse of Violations Prohibited Disciplinary Administrative Financial Managerial requiring Miscella- Ministry Number of Deals Total value (LBP) Total value Actions of Work Administrative Total (USD) Ministry Schedule Authority Misconduct Misconduct Misconduct Misconduct criminal neous sanctions Ministry of Energy and Water 23 5.6 billion 693 million Ministry of Ministry of Public Works and Transportation 40 116.3 billion - Interior and -89122-8-30 Municipalities Ministry of Agriculture 6 6.9 billion 48,000 Ministry of Ministry of Public Health 2 4.4 billion - Finance -183615-16-49 Ministry of Telecommunications 1 - 9.6 million Ministry Ministry of Finance 1 3 billion - of Public --7196511342 Works and Ministry of Education and Higher Education 4 1.6 billion - Transportation Ministry of Interior and Municipalities 2 418 million - Ministry of Education 122251318016- 164277 Ministry of Culture 1 251 million - and Higher Education Ministry of Justice 1 220 million - Office of State Minister for Administrative Reform 1 - 217,000 Ministry of --29324-2-40 Agriculture Total 82 138.8 billion 702.8 million Ministry of Labor -2 2 2 - - - - -6 Ministry of Among the assignments of the Bidding Administration that were not listed in the aforementioned table are the Energy and -- 1 - - 1 - - -2 following: Water A Cleaning of government buildings in the Mohafaza of Nabatiyeh at a monthly cost of LBP 17.8 million Ministry of Cleaning of government buildings in the Mohfaza of Mount Lebanon at a monthly cost of LBP 22.8 million Social Affairs -- - - 2 - - - -2 A Cleaning of the CIB building at a monthly cost of LBP 8.2 million Public A Institutions -3 141 7 40-14-79 Municipalities 7 - 9 - - 5 - - - 21 It could seem strange that in a country like Lebanon - where administrative irregularities and corruption are Total 8 36 104 24 208 89 5 67 7 548 widespread - the CIB’s penalties are limited to 215 employees of low grades and that their sanctions are minor (salary deductions or deferral of promotions). Such an approach forces us to conclude that the CIB’s 2009 report is nothing but a small window that merely scratches the surface of administrative irregularities and corruption Penalties by grade while the reality is much more serious. But what is hindering the CIB from exposing the real perpetrators and Distribution of employee penalization Table 3 lists the employees who have been penalized by grade Table 3 punishing them? Are politics covering up for violations and failing to hold those responsible accountable? according to their grade. There are no penalized Grade Number employees in Grade 1 while there are only 8 in Grade 2. Grade 1 - Types of disciplinary measures Grade 2 8 The Reality in Public Education The disciplinary measures imposed by the CIB range Grade 3 45 The CIB report pointed out flaws in the public education sector, including: from reprimands to suspensions: Grade 4 134 A Reprimand: 22 Grade 5 4 A Only 55% of full-time kindergarten teachers and 36% of part-time teachers are specialized in early A 15-day salary deduction: 142 Laborers 7 childhood education while the rest either have a high school diploma or a graduate degree in other A Deferral of promotion for 6 months: 26 Contractors 17 unrelated fields. Deferral of promotion for 30 months: 12 A Total 215 A Suspension: 13 A There are 59 schools with less than five children at the kindergarten level and 92 schools with 6-10 children at that level. The number of children enrolled in kindergartens is continuously dropping. Review and repeal of CIB decisions Bidding Administration Indeed, it went from 33,330 in 2005/2006 to 2,152 in 2008/2009. The law enables employees who face disciplinary In 2009, the Bidding Administration studied 150 files sanctions by the CIB to file for review or to request and landed 82 deals at a total value of around LBP 1,194 A Regarding the surplus of teachers, the report uncovered an increase in the number of teachers and a that they be repealed by the State Consultative Council. billion. Although the value of the deals made in 2009 drop in the number of students. In 2008/2009, teachers were giving 158,637 classes of which 45,095 Among the 215 employees who faced such sanctions, was higher than that of 2008 (increase of about LBP or 28.4% were surpluses. only 43 applied for review before the CIB. The CIB 1,159 billion), it remained low compared to the size of looked into 24 applications: it dismissed 22 of them and deals being made by the various ministries. The Bidding amended 2. It is still studying 19 applications. The State Administration’s deals form merely 10% of the total Consultative Council is reviewing 11 applications but it deals made by the State and public institutions. Table 4 has not yet issued any decisions. illustrates the distribution of deals by Ministry.

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 14 | PUBLIC SECTOR DUTY FREE MARKET DUTY FREE MARKET PUBLIC SECTOR | 15

in handing over the areas for investment and initiation of (regarding the contract with PAC) bearing in mind the its work. It also called for international arbitration. potential adverse consequences that might ensue on the The Consultative Council supported the Court of Audit’s Lebanese-Irish relations”. BEIRUT AIRPORT DUTY FREE ruling in relation to the contract’s period (4 years). On Thus, an illegal contract that each of the Court of Audit, the October 4, 2000, PAC proposed an amicable settlement to Consultative Council and the Legislative and Consultative receive areas ready for use in the Duty Free Shop as of Committee deemed should not exceed 4 years remains MARKET RESULTS IN A $200 October 26, 2000. The contract would remain for a period as PAC along with the Ministry of Public Works and of 15 years as per the original agreement, starting as of the Transportation continue to treat it as a 15-year contract and abovementionned date, on condition that it would be paid call for its continuation until 2017, unless a $120 million MILLION LOSS AND POTENTIAL $120 the remaining $18 million (after it had already paid the $20 fine is paid by the State. million on March 28, 1996) and that the additional amount would be calculated based on 250,000 passengers. As a MILLION FINE AGAINST THE STATE! result of negotiations conducted by the Minister of Public The Duty Free Market occupies an area of 4,500 Works and Transport (then Najib Mikati), PAC agreed for square meters and includes the following stores: n October 2010, one of the topics of discussion was the contract to last 4 years while demanding compensation 2 A Cosmetics and perfumes: 500 m the investment by a company in the Duty Free Shop Legal status of the contract for reducing the period from 15 years. The areas mentioned 2 of Rafic Hariri International Airport-Beirut and the By virtue of Advisory Opinion No. 1 dated January 14, in the contract were then handed over to PAC, which began A Luxury court (watches, jewelry and fashion): 1,100 m I 2 renewal of the investment contract with it or the payment 1998, the Court of Audit ruled that the contract was in investment for 4 years as of September 1, 2002. A Electronics & electrical equipments store: 320 m 2 of a $120 million fine by the State in compensation to violation of laws and regulations in force, based on the As the contract approached its expiration date and in light A Food court: 275 m the company. following: of an ongoing judicial dispute over the reduction of its Liquors and tobacco: 1,050 m2 Establishment of the Duty Free Shop IDAL cannot replace the Ministry of Transport in period (from 15 years to 4 years), the government agreed A A 2 As part of the 1994 project to expand and develop the Beirut carrying out such contracts. Furthermore, being assigned to extend the contract for an extra 4 years until September A Cuban cigars store: 400 m 2 International Airport (renamed the Rafic Hariri International by the Council of Ministers to do so is illegal. 1, 2010, by virtue of Decree No. 7 dated January 5, 2006. A Two shopping stores for arriving passengers: 460 m Airport-Beirut), a duty free shop covering an area of 4,500 A The conditions of the B.O.T do not apply to this case square meters was to be set up in the airport’s building for because there are no legal provisions in place for this type Current situation passengers to purchase food and consumer goods, gifts and of investment funding and the Lebanese legislator did not The contract expired on September 1, 2010 (the Ministry perfumes free of customs fees. draft specific provisions for it. Thus, the contract is invalid of Public Works and Transport considers that it ended as it contradicts the legal texts in place. on October 19, 2010). The Directorate General of Civil Assignment of the Duty Free Shop A The provisions of Decree No. 275 dated May 25, Aviation proposed that the contract be renewed for PAC’s payments to the State as a result of investment The Council of Ministers assigned the project of leasing 1926, related to the management and sale of private and another 4 years until October 19, 2014, because it supports in the duty free shop from 2002 until 2009 reached and operating the airport facilities to the Investment immovable state properties apply to this contract, especially PAC’s position regarding the contract’s period (15 years). $57.2 million, distributed as follows: Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) by virtue of Article 60 which stipulates: “Estates that constitute state Furthermore, it is concerned that ending the contract now Decree No. 48 dated August 23, 1995. Those facilities property in cities are leased for a maximum period of would amount to premature termination for which the A $38 million: value of the original contract included the Duty Free Shop. After holding an international 4 years based on an initial bidding price following an State must pay $120 million in compensation of which $18 A $300,000: cost of legal and technical bid for the project, it was allocated to the Phoenicia- administrative disclosure.” million are for the remainder of the original contract price, consultations Aer Rianta Company (PAC), a joint establishment A The sale of merchandise to passengers arriving to $2.8 million in interior design costs and $100 million to A $760,000 or 2% of the contract’s value: IDAL’s combining Phoenicia Trading Afro-Asia SAL (a Lebanese Lebanon is a legal violation of legislative Decree No. 16 compensate for the lost profit of the remaining investment management expenses company owned by Mohammad Zaidan) and Aer Rianta dated October 2, 1956, which limits the sale to departing years (7 years). A $18.2 million in revenue as a result of an increase International-Middle East (an Irish company). A 15-year and transiting passengers. What is noteworthy is that the Ministry of Public Works in the number of annual passengers compared contract was signed with the company at a total value of The Ministry of Justice’s Legislative and Consultative and Transport did not bring up the contract’s expiration to the original specified number of 1.5 million $38 million, to be paid in full prior to the investment. An Committee also considered the contract to be “absolutely date until October, 2010 – one month before its expiration. passengers. Revenues reached $1.5 million for additional yearly sum was to be paid based on the number invalid and incapable of guaranteeing the State’s The matter was only proposed to the Council of Ministers 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, $2.3 million for of passengers, which usually exceeds 1.5 million every interest”. in its session on October 3, 2010, which tacitly implies 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 and $6.4 million for year. The Council of Ministers approved the contract by Thus, by virtue of Decree No. 35 dated May 12, 1999, the Ministry’s desire to leave the Cabinet with no choice 2008-2009. virtue of Decree No. 28 dated April 3, 1996, and referred it the Council of Ministers decided to consider the contract but to approve the extension of the contract for an extra 4 to the Court of Audit and the Legislative and Consultative with PAC invalid and to conduct a new bid. The Phoenicia years or end it, which would force the temporary closure As such, the average annual revenue of the investment Committee for their legal input. PAC then paid $20 company and the Mohammad Abdel Basit Al-Khouli of the Duty Free Shop until a new mechanism for its contract reaches $7.1 million, which means that the million on condition that it would pay the remaining Company submitted their bids and the latter won by management is secured. What further confirms this desire leasing value of one square meter is $1,767/year at amount ($18 million) upon receipt of the areas allocated proposing a sum of LBP 9.8 billion. PAC launched an is the fact that the Ministry attached to its proposal to the a time when studies assume that the leasing value for investment. appeal to the Council of Ministers, which referred the case Council of Ministers a letter from the Irish Ambassador to of the square meter ranges between $6,000-$8,000. to the State Consultative Council. The Minister of Public Egypt, also accredited to Lebanon, asking the State to treat This means the State has lost between $140 million Works and Transportation was assigned to negotiate with the Irish company, which is a partner in the contract, fairly to $200 million for the period of the contract that PAC, which asked for the period of the contract to remain and not to harm it. The Ministry used the letter as a tool has elapsed. 15 years and to be compensated for past profit due to delays to pressure the Cabinet to “take the appropriate decision

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 16 | PUBLIC SECTOR THE MINISTRY OF LABOR THE MINISTRY OF LABOR PUBLIC SECTOR | 17 Regional departments The regional departments consist of labor departments A Office supplies, stationary, fuel, electricity and THE MINISTRY OF LABOR in all of the muhafazat: Mount Lebanon-South Lebanon- telecommunications: LBP 669 million Nabatiyeh-Beqa’a-A’akkar-Ba’albeck and Hermel. A Office rent: LBP 758 million A MEAGER BUDGET AND UNEMPLOYMENT ON THE RISE Personnel A Salaries, wages and related expenses: LBP 4.09 billion The ministry has 143 posts that are distributed according to A Advertisement and publications: LBP 188 million he Ministry of Labor acquired its importance from its role as a guardian ministry over an important and essential the following categories: A Subscriptions to regional and international institutes institution, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). The ministry’s other tasks are considered secondary in view Grade One: 1 post and organizations: LBP 250 million Tof its low budget and therefore it cannot be listed among the major ministries. Grade Two: 3 posts A Transportation and mobility inside Lebanon: LBP 200 Grade Three: 35 posts million Grade Four: 86 posts A Studies: LBP 200 million Establishment Grade Five: 18 posts By virtue of a law issued on June 5, 1958 – at the end of dated June 27, 1977, provided for the establishment of the These figures show that salaries and wages consume around President Camille Chamoun’s term in office – the Ministry National Institute for Employment, which is attached to Budget 60% of what is left of the Ministry’s budget. of Social Affairs was named Ministry of Labor and Social the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and falls under The Ministry of Labor’s budget reached LBP 248.3 billion Affairs. Youssef Souda1 became the first Minister of its administrative aegis. (Legislative Decree No.157/83 in the 2009 draft budget law or 1.52% of the state’s total Successive ministers of labor Labor and Social Affairs on September 24, 1958, in the integrated this institution with the Ministry of Labor but budget. The budget increased to LBP 359.7 billion in the Since 1958 and until the formation of the current first government formed during President Fouad Chehab’s Law No. 379/94 abolished this decree and reinstated 2010 draft budget law or 1.84% of the state’s total budget. government, 50 ministers have headed the Ministry of mandate, headed by Rachid Karami. The National Institute Decree No. 80/77). However, the largest share of the Ministry’s budget (LBP Labor (and Social Affairs). Table 1 illustrates that the first for Employment, newly formed by virtue of Legislative 350 billion) is used to pay the State’s financial obligation person to become Minister of Labor (under this title) was Decree No. 80 dated June 27, 1977, Organization as an employer and to settle some of the debts owed to the former Prime Minister Salim Hoss, who occupied this post was integrated with the Ministry of The Ministry of Labor consists of a NSSF and optional social security system. Furthermore, for the longest term of 4 years, 4 months and 23 days (not Labor and Social Affairs by virtue directorate general which includes: LBP 2 billion are allocated to the National Institute for considering the security situation and political division in of Legislative Decree No. 157 dated The largest share 1- The central administration Employment, LBP 500 million as a contribution to the the country at the time). It also shows that the Ministry was October 11, 1983. The Ministry’s “ 2 - Regional departments General Labor Union and LBP 300 million to the National never headed by a Druze (General Mahmoud Al-Tay Abou name was then amended to Ministry of the Ministry’s Center for Training. Dergham was named Minister of Labor but resigned the of Labor after the Department of budget (LBP 350 The central administration includes Therefore, the Ministry’s actual budget is no more than same day) and that the majority of Ministers of Labor have Social Welfare was separated from it each of the following: LBP 6.9 billion distributed on the following: been either Shia’a or Maronite. and turned into a directorate general billion) is used to A The Bureau (Diwan) which that was attached to the Ministry of pay the State’s includes: the Department of Statistics Public Health by virtue of Legislative - the Department of Employees and The ministers of labor, their terms in office and confessions Table 1 Decree No. 91 dated September 16, Accounting - the Department of Studies, financial obligation President of the Prime Minister Minister Term in office Confession 1983. The Ministry of Public Health Cases, Administrative Guardianship Republic then became the Ministry of Public as an employer and and International Relations. Rachid Karami Youssef Al-Souda 24-9-1958 until 14-10-1958 Maronite Health and Social Affairs. to settle some of the A The Labor and Professional Raymond Eddeh, replaced 14-10-1958 until 7-10-1959 Maronite by Maurice Zouein 7-10-1959 until 14-5-1960 Maronite Relations Authority: The Professional Rachid Karami Former Prime Minister Salim Hoss was debts owed to the Relations and Syndicates Department Ahmad Al-Da’aouq Amine Baiham 14-5-1960 until 1-8-1960 Sunni the first minister to head the Ministry of (including the Syndicates Division and Labor following its inception on April NSSF the Professional Relations Division) - Fouad Chehab Saeb Salam Joseph Skaff 1-8-1960 until 2-5-1961 Catholic 30, 1984, in the government of Rachid the Department of Labor Inspection, Saeb Salam Mohammad Safieddine 2-5-1961 until 31-10-1961 Shia’a Karami during President Amine Gemayyel’s mandate. Prevention” and Safety - the Department of Investigation Edward Henein, 31-10-1961 until 3-11-1961 Maronite and Labor Cases. Rachid Karami replaced by Jean Aziz 3-11-1961 until 20-2-1964 Maronite Tasks A The Working Forces Authority: The Foreign Laborers’ Hussein Al-Ouaini Ridha Waheed 20-2-1964 until 25-9-1964 Shia’a According to Decree No. 8352 dated December 30, 1961, Inspection Department - the Employment Department - Hussein Al-Ouaini Ridha Waheed 25-9-1964 until 18-11-1964 Shia’a regulating the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the Vocational Training Department - the Protection and Hussein Al-Ouaini Edward Hnein 18-11-1964 until 25-7-1964 Maronite the Ministry handles the preparation, coordination and Inspection of Foreign Laborers’ Department - the Syrian implementation of issues related to labor, syndicates and Laborers’ Affairs Welfare Department (introduced in Rachid Karami Wajdi Mallat 25-7-1964 until 9-4-1966 Maronite social legislation. The 1963 law establishing the NSSF October 2005). Abdullah Al-Yafi Jameel Lahoud 9-4-1966 until 6-12-1966 Maronite stipulates that the fund falls under the aegis of the Ministry Charles Helou Rachid Karami Suleiman Al-Zein 6-12-1966 until 8-2-1968 Shia’a of Labor and Social Affairs. Legislative Decree No. 80 Edward Hnein replaced by 8-2-1968 until 19-6-1968 Maronite

1 - In the article on the Ministry of Social Affairs published in the Abdullah Al-Yafi Joseph Najjar who in turn 19-6-1968 until 5-7-1968 Catholic September 2010 issue (p.4), The Monthly mistakenly mentioned that was replaced by Minister Maurice Zouein was the first to be named Minister of Labor and 5-7-1968 until 12-10-1968 Sunni Social Affairs. Abdullah Al-Yafi

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 18 | PUBLIC SECTOR THE MINISTRY OF LABOR THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION PUBLIC SECTOR | 19

The ministers of labor, their terms in office and confessions Table 1 President of the Republic Prime Minister Minister Term in office Confession THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION Abdullah Al-Yafi Nasri Al-Ma’alouf 12-10-1968 until 20-10-1968 Catholic Abdullah Al-Yafi Abdullah Al-Yafi 20-10-1968 until 15-1-1969 Sunni IS IT NECESSARY? René Moawad replaced 15-1-1969 until 22-1-1969 Maronite Charles Helou Rachid Karami by Khalil Al-Khouy 22-1-1969 until 25-11-1969 Maronite ith the globalization of the telecommunication and media sectors, the role and effectiveness of the Ministry Shia’a of Information has become very limited. As a result, most States, especially developed ones, did away Rachid Karami Rafiq Chahine 25-11-1969 until 13-10-1970 Wwith their Ministries of Information and even abandoned state-owned media outlets, thus granting more Saeb Salam Mounir Hamdan 31-10-1970 until 27-5-1972 Shia’a room to freedom of expression. In Lebanon however, the Ministry of Information remains an institution, despite a Saeb Salam Kazem Al-Khalil 27-5-1972 until 25-4-1973 Shia’a notable decline in its role. Amine El-Hafez Emile Rouhana Saqr 25-4-1973 until 8-7-1973 Maronite Establishment Taqieddin Solh Emile Rouhana Saqr 8-7-1973 until 31-10-1974 Maronite Suleiman Franjieh Governments formed in the years that followed Lebanon’s A Consolidating the relationship between the state Rachid Solh Nadeem Nai’im 31-10-1974 until 23-5-1975 Maronite independence did not include a Ministry of Information. and the public opinion in Lebanon and abroad by Noureddin Rifa’i Francois Jandari 23-5-1975 until 1-7-1975 Catholic It was established in 1949 by virtue of Decree No. 10 publishing various studies and identifying a way to Rachid Karami Ghassan Tueni 1-7-1975 until 9-12-1976 Greek Orthodox dated October 6, 1949, which called for the creation of gather all forms of media data. Salim Hoss Asa’ad Rizq 9-12-1976 until 16-7-1979 Catholic the Ministry of News. The government that was formed A Finding the appropriate connection between the State, Elias Sarkis Salim Hoss Nazem Al-Qadiri 16-7-1979 until 25-10-1980 Sunni on May 14, 1960, gave the title “Minister of Guidance represented by the Ministry of Information, Tele Liban Chafiq Al-Wazzan Abdul Rahman Al-Labban 25-10-1980 until 7-10-1982 Sunni and News” to the Minister of News but the name was and other establishments working in the audiovisual Chafiq Al-Wazzan Adnan Mroueh 7-10-1982 until 30-4-1984 Shia’a changed to Ministry of Information by virtue of Decree sector and other media outlets, in order to supervise Amine Gemayyel No. 55/71 dated September 9, 1971. and monitor all types of news and news programs. Rachid Karami Salim Hoss 30-4-1984 until 22-9-1988 Sunni Among the first governments that included a Minister of In practice, developments in the world of communication Mahmoud Tay Abou Druze Dargham and replaced by 22-9-1988 until 22-9-1988 Information was the one formed by Prime Minister Riad and media have overthrown this role and these tasks. Presidential vacuum and Transitional government Michel Aoun El-Solh, during the presidency of Bechara El-Khoury, on Catholic October 1, 1949. The initial decree that formed the lineup Structure Edgar Ma’alouf 22-9-1988 until 25-11-1989 was amended by virtue of Decree No.11 dated October 6, The Ministry consists of the Directorate General of Salim Hoss Michel Sassine 25-11-1989 until 24-12-1990 Greek Orthodox 1949, when Charles Helou was named Minister of News Information, which includes: Omar Karami Michel Sassine 24-12-1990 until 16-5-1992 Greek Orthodox in addition to being Minister of Justice. Rachid Solh Abdullah Al-Amine 16-5-1992 until 31-10-1992 Shia’a Elias Hrawi - The Bureau Authority: Rafic Hariri Abdullah Al-Amine 31-10-1992 until 25-5-1995 Shia’a Tasks A Administrative Affairs Department Rafic Hariri Asa’ad Hardan 25-5-1995 until 7-11-1996 Greek Orthodox According to the Ministry of Information’s by-laws, A Financial Affairs Department Rafic Hariri Asa’ad Hardan 7-11-1996 until 4-12-1998 Greek Orthodox implemented by virtue of Decree No. 7276 issued on A Press, Public Relations and Coordination Salim Hoss Michel Moussa 4-12-1998 until 26-10-2000 Catholic August 7, 1961, and its amendments, especially the ones Department Rafic Hariri Ali Qanso 26-10-2000 until 17-4-2003 Shia’a introduced by Legislative Decree No. 25/83, the Ministry A Legal Affairs and Monitoring Department is in charge of the following: -Directorate of Broadcasting Rafic Hariri Asa’ad Hardan 17-4-2003 until 26-10-2004 Greek Orthodox Emile Lahoud A Proposing and implementing media policies that -Directorate of Lebanese Studies and Publications Omar Karami Assem Qanso 26-10-2004 until 19-4-2005 Shia’a consolidate national unity and strengthen ties in -Directorate of Cinema, Theater and Exhibitions’ Affairs Najib Mikati Trad Hamadeh 19-4-2005 until 19-7-2005 Shia’a the political, social, cultural and economic fields in -Regional offices in the center of each muhafaza Fouad Siniora Trad Hamadeh 19-7-2005 until 11-7-2008 Shia’a collaboration with the competent authorities. excluding the Beirut muhafaza Fouad Siniora Mohammad Fneish 11-7-2008 until 9-11-2009 Shia’a A Developing and strengthening the Lebanese -Consultative Council Michel Suleiman Saad Hariri Boutros Harb 9-11-2009 - Present Maronite broadcasting sector on all levels and transmitting its -Executive Council programs locally, regionally and across the Atlantic The Ministry of Labor is an essential ministry in countries where the work of institutions, planning and organization in order to promote Lebanon and strengthen the ties Personnel are regulated. In Lebanon however, the Ministry of Labor is a ministry without a budget and thus it cannot have an between the Lebanese at home and abroad. The ministry has 585 posts divided by grade: active role in studying the job market and identifying the best ways to absorb the growing number of job seekers, A Reviewing and presenting proposals in matters related A Grade One: 1 post especially in light of the National Institute for Employment’s inability to perform this task. The Lebanese Ministry to the media and media laws. A Grade Two: 9 posts of Labor’s role is therefore limited to following up on the affairs of the NSSF, whose many branches have gone A Consolidating the relationship between the state A Grade Three: 79 posts bankrupt, watching the percentage of unemployment grow year after year as Ministers of Labor spend their time and the press, ensuring the implementation of rules A Grade Four: 413 posts licensing syndicates for political, confessional and regional considerations, issuing work permits for Arab and and regulations in affairs related to publications, A Grade Five: 83 posts foreign laborers to the point that some have dubbed it the “Ministry of Migrant Workers”. broadcasting, publishing and all forms of Note: contractors, especially with the National Agency of Information, are not advertisement. included in the above-mentioned figures.

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 20 | PUBLIC SECTOR THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION WHO ELECTS LEBANON’S PRESIDENT? PUBLIC SECTOR | 21 Budget The Ministry of Information’s budget reached LBP A Salaries of permanent employees: LBP 608 million 31.8 billion in the 2010 draft budget law or 0.162% of A Contribution to Tele Liban: LBP 10 billion the state’s total budget. In the 2009 draft budget law, it A Contribution to the National Media Council: LBP 1 WHO ELECTS amounted to around LBP 25.9 billion or 0.158% of the billion state’s total budget. In the 1994 budget, the amount was A Contribution to the Press Syndicate: LBP 450 million limited to LBP 11.8 billion but then formed 0.29% of A Contribution to the Editors’ Syndicate: LBP 450 the state’s total budget, which indicates a decline in the million LEBANON’S PRESIDENT? Ministry’s share in the state’s total budget. A Salaries of contractors with the Lebanese Radio: LBP According to the 2010 draft budget law, the budget is 2,162 million nder the Ottoman rule, Mount Lebanon was the only area that was given a semi-autonomous status and mainly spent on the following: A Specialized technical equipment for the Lebanese later full autonomy due to pressure from western powers. During World War I (WWI), the French and A International broadcasting: LBP 700 million Radio: LBP 3 billion UBritish competed for regional influence and following the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1916, Greater Lebanon A Salaries of contractors: LBP 4,750 million was created and Lebanon became part of the French Mandate until finally gaining its formal independence in 1943. Nonetheless, even after gaining its independence from the French, foreign powers continued to influence presidential elections in Lebanon. Even after 2005, when Lebanon’s call for an end to Syrian presence became a reality, Lebanon continued to be susceptible to foreign interventions and pressures. This article sheds light on the Successive Ministers of Information various presidential elections that have taken place in Lebanon and the external influences and regional events Since its establishment in 1949 and until the formation of the current government on November 9, 2009, the Ministry that have continued to affect Lebanon since its ‘independence’. (initially the Ministry of News, then the Ministry of Guidance and News and finally the Ministry of Information), has been headed by 71 ministers. 1943: ‘Independence’ 1952-1976: The Cold War Years At that time, both the French and British were in Lebanon Presidency of Bechara El-Khoury Presidency of Elias Hrawi to guarantee that their interests in the region were met. Chamoun Presidency (1952-1958) Charles Helou, Gebran Nahhas, Khalil Abou Jaoudeh, Edmond Rizq, Albert Mansour, Michel Samaha (2), Farid While the French technically recognized Lebanon’s The election of Camille Chamoun in September 1952 Edward Noun, Mohammad Safieddin, Hussein Al- Makari and Bassem Saba’a. independence since 1941, they continued to exercise came after wide protests that called for the resignation of Abdallah, Nazem A’akari (2) and Saeb Salam. authority over it. During the 1943 elections, the French Bechara El-Khoury, following accusations of rigging the Presidency of Emile Lahoud supported the pro-French candidate for Presidency Emile 1947 Parliamentary elections, amending the Constitution Presidency of Camille Chamoun Anouar Al-Khalil, Ghazi Al-A’aridi (2), Michel Samaha, Eddé, while the British sided with Bechara El-Khoury. for a second term, corruption and nepotism. Khoury had Khaled Chehab, George A’aquil, Mohieddin Al-Nsouli Elie Ferzli and Charles Rizq. When Parliament met in November 1943, they elected become weak by upsetting the key leaders of Lebanon (3), Abdullah Al-Yafi (2), Mohammad Sabra (2), Sami Bechara El-Khoury as president, with 44 votes out of the at the time, including Kamal Jumblatt and Saeb Salam. El-Solh and Farid Qouzma (2). President Michel Suleiman 47 present (8 supporters of Eddé absented themselves). All the major forces turned against him and a change of Tariq Mitri (2). Riad El-Solh was appointed Prime Minister and formed a guards was necessary. Presidency of Fouad Chehab government. The newly elected Parliament then amended Chamoun had been a Lebanese MP and Minister and Charles Helou, Rachid Karami, Ali Bazzi, Fouad Ghson Note: The figure between brackets represents the number the Constitution, abolishing the articles that referred served as Lebanese Ambassador to the UK from 1944 to (2), Abdullah Machnouq, Philip Boulos and George of mandates held by the minister. to the Mandate and modifying those that specified the 1946 and Ambassador to the UN in 1946. He was elected Naccash. powers of the High Commissioner, thus ending the president under the auspices of the UK and the US. It French Mandate. In response, Jean Helleu, the newly is noteworthy that he was elected following the 1952 Presidency of Charles Helou appointed French High Commissioner, suspended the Egyptian Revolution of the “Free Movement Officers”. George Naccash, Maurice Zouein, Najib A’alameddin, A large number of employees and contractors Constitution, dissolved Parliament and appointed Emile It is in this context that a change of scene began in the Michel Khouri, Abdullah Al-Yafi (3), Michel Eddeh, are underpaid when one looks at the quality of Eddé as head of state. Furthermore, on November 12 the Middle East with the US becoming highly involved Fouad Ghosn, Jean Aziz, Bahij Tabbara and Othman al- work they are expected to perform. Furthermore, Free French Forces imprisoned members of the Lebanese and replacing British and French influence. This was Dana. communication methods are developing at a fast government including Khoury and Solh. Meanwhile, also the era of the Cold War when the United States pace thus rendering the role and tasks of the Ministry Eddé was unable to form a government and massive supported any country, militarily and economically, that Presidency of Suleiman Franjieh of Information obsolete and making the State incur public protests took place in support of the imprisoned helped counteract the global Soviet influence. Since in Ghassan Tueni (2), Henry Torbey, Khatchik Babikian, additional useless expenditures. Why can’t the members of government. 1957 the government of Camille Chamoun accepted the Amine Al-Hafez, Fahmi Chahine, Mahmoud A’ammar, solution be to abolish the Ministry and to attach the General Edward Spears, who was at that time Churchill’s Eisenhower Doctrine, it was rewarded with American Moussa Kana’an and Rachid Karami. National Agency of Information, the broadcasting envoy to the Levant, protested against the actions of financial and other support (often channeled through the network and matters related to licensing to the the French and put pressure on them to release the CIA) that was especially effective in helping Chamoun’s Presidency of Elias Sarkiss Ministry of Culture, after privatizing the television members of the Solh government. They were finally supporters sweep the 1957 parliamentary elections. In his Salim Hoss, Youssef Gebran and Michel Eddeh. network and boosting the role of the National released on November 22, which later became Lebanon’s book “Ropes of Sand: America’s failure in the Middle Council of Audiovisual Media to follow up on these Independence Day. Thus, the election and continuance East”, Wilbur Crane Eveland, an ex-CIA field officer, Presidency of Amine Gemayyel matters? of Khoury’s administration was largely due to British exposes the scandalous bribery practices that took place Roger Chikhani, Joseph Skaff and Michel Aoun. intervention and pressure. during the 1957 elections when the US allocated a large

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sum of money to make sure none of the opposition’s effectively laying the grounds for it. In addition to other candidates (i.e. anyone against Eisenhower) would make internal factors (social, economic and political), Lebanon formed a power-sharing government jointly controlled it to Parliament. At the same time, other Arab countries became polarized into two broad camps: one supported by the various Zua’ama and served as Lebanon’s new The reality of Lebanon such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria, were economically the Lebanese National Movement (LNM) headed by Constitution. However, like previous agreements, it “ influencing the election in pursuit of their own interests. Kamal Jumblat (also including the PLO) while the other was imposed on Lebanon by external powers. It was today is that it remains a deeply This was followed by another crisis in 1958, between supported the Lebanese Front, mainly headed by Pierre effectively a Syrian-American agreement hosted in Saudi polarized and fragmented the Arabists and pro Nasser groups and supporters of Gemayyel’s Phalange Party and other pro status-quo Arabia. The Ta’if agreement also stipulated that the the Baghdad Pact, which further illustrates Lebanon’s militias. 40,000 Syrian troops in Lebanon would leave by 1992, society [...] Internally, the vulnerability to regional developments and influences. 1970 witnessed the election of Suleiman Franjieh, who yet this did not occur. In 1989 and with the support of political system and structure is Like his predecessor, Chamoun was accused of seeking won over the Chehabi candidate Elias Sarkis by merely Syria, Elias Hrawi was elected President of Lebanon. He another presidential term. Opposition among Zua’ama one vote. This election was both controversial and was able to extend his term for an additional three years, not conducive to reform. grew, especially after Chamoun had already tried to interesting because Kamal Jumblatt, who had historically also with Syrian backing. He was succeeded by Emile exclude them from parliament in the 1957 elections. As supported Chehab, switched camps and had some of Lahoud, who also extended his term following Syrian Election year of each president and particular ”Table 1 a result, civil war broke out between his supporters and his supporters in Parliament do the same and vote for pressure on the Lebanese Parliament. influences and external pressures opponents, in which the Phalange Party and the Lebanese Franjieh. When the civil war began, Franjieh had his own Having been under Israeli occupation since 1978, the South Election Regional Events and Foreign Syrian Nationalist Party defended the Lebanese state militia, the Marada, headed by his son Tony. was finally freed in 2000. Following the assassination of President Year Pressure against the rebels. Over two thousand lives were claimed former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005, the Syrian British and French rivalry over the and the conflict ended following western intervention: the 1976-1990: Elections during the Civil War forces withdrew from Lebanon after increased US Bechara El-Koury 1943 Levant American marines landed in Beirut in accordance with With the outbreak of civil war in 1975 and an escalation pressure, no longer supporting and accepting Syria’s British (Spears) the Eisenhower Doctrine. of violence, the Syrian troops were asked to intervene presence in Lebanon. Once again, the timing of the Growing Soviet-American rivalry and growing US influence in the Arab by the Lebanese President Suleiman Franjieh, as PLO withdrawal is noteworthy as it occurred after the invasion Camille Chamoun 1952 world. Chehab Presidency (1958-1964) and the Prelude to involvement gave the LNM the upper hand. The civil war and occupation of Iraq. However, even after the Syrian US-Eisenhower and Britain civil war: Helou and Franjieh Presidencies (1964- became a war of proxy for Lebanon’s neighboring states. withdrawal of 2005 and until the present day, Lebanon End of Baghdad Pact, growing 1970; 1970-1976) During this period of upheaval and crisis, parliamentary remains polarized, namely into two camps, with constant influence of Nasser, discussions for repairing relationship with the The period between 1959 and 1969 (under the presidencies elections did not take place, yet presidential elections did intervention and influence from the US, Saudi Arabia, Fouad Chehab 1958 Americans. of Fouad Chehab and Charles Helou) was the most stable and were greatly affected by the unstable situation on the Syria and Iran. US-Eisenhower and Nasser in Lebanon’s history, with the exception of an attempted ground. Elias Sarkis became president in 1976, as a result Arab Summit in Cairo in 1964, coup d’état in 1961 by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party of an American-Syrian deal. He had very limited powers 2005-Present: Iran, Syria, US, Saudi Arabia… calling for the liberation of Palestine, (SSNP). At that time, the party was anti-communist, anti- considering the various military forces, war lords and Following the departure of the Syrian troops, Lebanon 1965 witnessed the first gorilla Charles Helou attack announcing the emergence of Nasser and against the United Arab Republic. As such, the militias controlling the country. The situation culminated remained divided and bitterness endured among the 1964 the Fatah Movement, subsequently Americans used it to create instability within the country in a deal between the US, Syria and Israel whereby Israel various camps. In 2007, when Lahoud’s term ended, expanding Palestinian military action and more importantly to suppress the leftist and Nasser controlled the South of Lebanon and Syria the remainder a parliamentary deadlock took place during which a Nasser and Palestinian Crisis movements that were becoming increasingly popular. of the territory. parliamentary quorum could not even be met to discuss Suleiman Franjieh 1970 USSR and USA Agreement Fouad Chehab, who at the time was Head of the Armed In 1982, Israel enforced the election of Bashir Gemayyel the issue. Lebanon remained without a President until Elias Sarkis 1976 Civil War, Syria, PLO and Israel Forces, was elected president in 1959, following an as president but he was assassinated. Consequently, Amine the divided Members of Parliament, each of whom Supported by Israel, Civil War: understanding between Eisenhower and Nasser. Charles Gemayyel (his older brother) became president, with the represented one of the camps (March 14 or March 8), met Bashir Gemayyel 1982 assassinated before taking office Helou was elected president in 1964, after the first Arab same Israeli support, but his presidency ended without in Doha in 2008 and signed the Doha Agreement. Michel Amine Gemayyel 1982 Civil war League Summit in Cairo had taken place in January of a successor. Thus, in 1988, two rival governments were Suleiman was elected President, also under the influence Salim Hoss 1988 that year. He came to power at a time when the Palestinian formed: a civilian government led by Salim Hoss and a of external forces that supported either the March 14 or (Acting) Civil War military actions were in their early stages. military one led by Michel Aoun. The latter contended the March 8 coalition. Table 1 enumerates the Lebanese René Moawad 1989 Civil war: also assassinated In 1969, Lebanon signed the Cairo Agreement, which for power until he was defeated by the Syrians and exiled presidents that have come to power since independence Two gave the PLO certain prerogatives, especially in Southern to France in 1990. In 1989, René Moawad was elected and relates each one to regional events and foreign Governments: Lebanon. This move angered the Phalange Party and president, following an American-Syrian-Saudi deal, but pressure that influenced their election. Salim Hoss the more conservative elements in Lebanese politics. he was also assassinated (Acting) and Michel Aoun Civil war The situation was further aggravated by the September In light of all this, Lebanon can be described as a peculiar (Acting, not 1989 1970 events, also known as Black September, when 1989-2005: Syrian Influence, End of Israeli State. Most of its modern history has faced upheavals, internationally King Hussein caused the plight and flight of thousands of Occupation and Syrian Withdrawal crises and foreign interventions. At times, all of Lebanon recognized) Palestinians to Lebanon. This gave impetus to other leaders The signing of the Ta’if Accord marked the end of was occupied while at others only some areas were Elias Hrawi 1989 Ta’if-end of Civil War: Saudi-Syrian- and movements to use Lebanon as their headquarters. the civil war and brought some form of tranquility to and this by different powers. Unfortunately, the reality American Agreement The Palestinian issue split the Lebanese society once Lebanon, despite the continued Syrian presence and of Lebanon today is that it remains a deeply polarized Emile Lahoud 1998 Syria and the US Fouad Siniora again. The question now was whether Lebanon should Israeli occupation. It is no coincidence that the signing of and fragmented society that is divided into at least two 2007 US, Saudi Arabia and Iran support the Palestinian armed struggle against Israel. The the Ta’if Accord took place in 1989, acting as a prelude competing camps and controlled by Arab and foreign (Acting) split over this issue acted as a prelude to the civil war, to the Madrid peace conference in 1991. The Accord powers’ interests. Internally, the political system and Michel Suleiman 2008 Doha Agreement: Iran-Syria, US- structure is not conducive to reform. Saudi Arabia

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 24|LEGISLATION, JUDICIARY & CRIME MUTA’A MARRIAGE DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY LEGISLATION, JUDICIARY & CRIME|25 MUTA’A MARRIAGE DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY BETWEEN LIES AND REALITY embers of the diplomatic corps obtain their immunity and privileges from the corps, which is a stand-alone fter the Islamic Revolution’s victory in Iran in 1979, a presence of a Qur’anic text supporting temporary marriage mission representing one state in another state. Diplomatic immunity is provided for in the Vienna Convention political, economic and social system based on the (verse 24 of Surat Al-Nisa’ or Women’s Surat). Mon Diplomatic Relations (1961). Aprinciples of the Shia’a Ithnay A’ashari confession (the Shia’a confession) was established. Followers of this Muta’a marriage contract conditions The degree of immunity varies according to the State to which he/she is accredited. confession believe that the imamate (imama) following the The muta’a marriage contract must be valid and conform to diplomatic agent’s level. Some of them enjoy absolute This immunity includes all the acts committed by the death of Prophet Mohammad was the right of his son in the provisions of Islam. According to the followers of the immunity whereas others enjoy a relatively restricted diplomatic agent, whether while exercising his duties or law Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb and his descendants (11 other Shia’a Ithnay A’ashari confession the following conditions immunity depending on the nature of their work, not The criminal immunity enjoyed by the diplomatic imams the last of which is the Awaited Mahdi) not that of the must be met: functions, nationality and residence. The Vienna agent in the State to which he/she is accredited does Righteous Caliphs Abi Bakr al-Siddiq, Omar bin al-Khattab A The contract can be either documented in writing or Convention distinguished between four categories of not exempt him/her from being prosecuted before the and Othman bin Affan. But in fact, Imam Ali only became orally. members of a diplomatic corps. courts of his/her country. caliph after the three other caliphs. Among the outcomes A A man who wants a temporary marriage can be single, Article 22 of the Lebanese Penal Code stipulates that: of the Iranian revolution was the revival of Shia’a thinking in married or a widower and can uphold more than one Diplomatic agents including the head of the “Lebanese law shall not be applicable in the Lebanese parties or associations where there was a Shia’a presence, contract at a time. A woman, however, cannot be mission, the military attachés – military, air territory to offenses committed by foreign diplomatic especially in Lebanon where Hezbollah emerged. This led married or uphold more than one muta’a marriage or naval – and their family members. officials and consuls if they enjoy immunity under public to a change in many of the social, cultural and religious contract, rather she must be either divorced or a Agents of this category are not international law”. Therefore, aspects of life of the Shia’a community and the revival of widow. According to religious theories of some Shia’a subject to the judiciary of the Lebanese law recognizes the many rituals, occasions and lifestyles that were prevalent clergymen, a single woman who has never been married State to which they are accredited. established international custom in the past (clothing, the manner in which A’ashoura is can marry temporarily on condition that she is an adult However, this does not mean on the immunity of the diplomatic commemorated, religious celebrations and growing beards and financially independent. Some senior clergymen that they do not respect its laws, The degree corps’ members. in a specific way). This article will cover one of these aspects, allow a single woman to marry temporarily even if she regulations and traditions as this “ the muta’a marriage (also known as temporary marriage), is a minor and not financially independent upon the is considered an essential part of of immunity Judicial immunity from civil and which was practiced in the early ages of Islam. approval of her guardian (wali) (such cases are rare international relations. The question varies according administrative prosecution except in poor rural communities). is, does this immunity cover all the The diplomatic agent’s immunity Muta’a marriage in Islam A The length of the marriage is specified in the contract acts committed by the diplomatic to the diplomatic remained comprehensive and Muslim scholars agree that temporary marriage, popularly (either in writing or orally). It can range from an hour to agent in the State to which he/she absolute until the adoption known as muta’a marriage, was practiced in the days of a day to several years. is accredited or are there some agent’s level. Some of exceptions in the Vienna the Prophet Mohammad alongside permanent marriage. It A The Mahr, which the woman receives at the end of the exceptions that allow him/her Convention in 1961. Article 31 of is known that a permanent marriage can only be dissolved marriage, is also specified in the contract. It can be in to stand before the local judicial of them enjoy this Convention states that: by divorce or death of one of the spouses. Furthermore, the form of a present, a small or large sum of money or authority? To answer this question, it a Muslim man can marry up to four women at once and anything else on condition that both sides consent. The is necessary to distinguish between absolute immunity “A diplomatic agent shall enjoy if he wants to marry a fifth one, he must divorce one of woman can give her Mahr back to her husband upon the the delegate’s judicial immunity in whereas others immunity from the criminal the other four. Of course, polygamy has its conditions and dissolution of the marriage. criminal matters and his/her judicial jurisdiction of the receiving State. criteria, the most important of which is justice, in its wider A The marriage is invalid if the woman is known to immunity in civil and administrative enjoy a relatively He shall also enjoy immunity and comprehensive sense, between the various wives. In practice prostitution. matters. from its civil and administrative contrast, temporary or muta’a marriage is limited to a period restricted jurisdiction, except in the case of: of time following which the marriage is dissolved. Outcome and effects of muta’a marriage Judicial immunity (a) A real action relating to private Sunni scholars consider that temporary marriage was A Unlike what occurs in a permanent marriage, if one of from criminal prosecution ” immovable property situated in common in the Prophet’s era because it was a time of war the spouses dies, the other cannot inherit. International jurisprudence recognizes the absolute the territory of the receiving State, unless he holds it and conquests that left many male victims while women A In case of pregnancy, the child is considered legitimate immunity of a diplomatic agent in criminal matters in on behalf of the sending State for the purposes of the remained unmarried. The Prophet forbade it and later and enjoys his/her full rights such as inheritance and such a way that he/she cannot be subject to the judiciary mission; advised his followers not to practice it after the Islamic care. The wife may not have an abortion because Islam of the State to which he/she is accredited, no matter (b) An action relating to succession in which the state stabilized. However, Shia’a scholars and some Sunni forbids it and considers it murder. what act he/she committed and how it is punished by diplomatic agent is involved as executor, administrator, scholars consider that the Prophet never forbade temporary A After the dissolution of a childless marriage, a woman the law in force in the receiving State. He/she shall heir or legatee as a private person and not on behalf of marriage but rather, the second caliph, Omar bin Al-Khattab, must have two menstrual cycles before marrying remain immune from prosecution and litigation before the sending State; prohibited it. another man (this rule applies to both the temporary and local courts and shall not be disturbed by any judicial (c) An action relating to any professional or commercial Thus, the Shia’a believe that what the Prophet allowed permanent marriage). authority or police even if he/she has committed a crime activity exercised by the diplomatic agent in the cannot later be forbidden by caliphs, especially in the or was involved in a plot to overthrow the regime in the receiving State outside his official functions.”

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These exceptions are exhaustive and must be narrowly Private servants of members of the mission enjoy interpreted, as confirmed by the Criminal Court of judicial immunity only with regard to the acts they Cassation in 2002. In fact, following one of the Gulf perform while exercising their functions. However, SYNDICATE OF FRUIT AND Sheikhats’ claim that article 31 of the Vienna Convention they do not enjoy any immunity unless and to the extent includes lease contracts, the Court considered that allowed by the State to which they are accredited. actions concerning lease contracts examined by the VEGETABLE TRADERS IN LEBANON civil judiciary are covered by the judicial immunity of diplomatic agents so long as they do not fall within Affiliation to the Syndicate the exceptions stipulated in article 31 of the Vienna The Syndicate of fruit and vegetable traders in Lebanon Affiliation to the Syndicate is optional; therefore, Convention Article 22 of the was established by virtue of decision No. 1/274 dated whoever wishes to join the Syndicate should meet the Lebanese“ Penal Code June 3, 1967 issued by the Minister of Labor. following specifications: In addition, the diplomatic agent benefits from A Be Lebanese, over 18 years of age and enjoy his/her personal immunity, which means that the diplomatic stipulates that: “Lebanese The Syndicate’s organization civil rights representative enjoys sanctity – it is not permissible in The Syndicate of fruit and vegetable traders in Lebanon A He/she should not have been convicted of a any form to arrest or detain him/her – and the State law shall not be applicable consists of the two following committees: disgraceful felony, misdemeanor or crime to which he/she is accredited shall deal with him in the Lebanese territory A The general committee: including about one hundred A He/she should be practicing the import/export respectfully and shall by all reasonable means prevent members profession of fruits and vegetables and have a any attack on his person, freedom or esteem. to offenses committed A The administrative committee: including twelve commercial register by foreign diplomatic members elected by the general committee every The annual subscription fee is LBP 400,000. Immunity of the three other categories four years; six of these members are changed every This immunity includes members of the administrative officials and consuls if they two years when a new administrative committee is and technical staff of the mission and their family enjoy immunity under elected. members, members of the service staff of the mission and private servants of members of the mission. public international law”. The Syndicate’s tasks and duties Therefore, Lebanese law Improving and developing the fruit and vegetable Article 37 of the Vienna Convention adopted personal traders’ situation in Lebanon and working to establish a immunity for the other members of the corps with non- recognizes the established legal framework are among the Syndicate’s priorities. diplomatic status. This personal immunity includes the international custom on the administrative and technical employees along with their The export process family members. However, their personal immunity is immunity of the diplomatic The export process consists of a joint operation restricted by two conditions: corps’ members between farmers and exporters. The exporter purchases A They should not be nationals of the State to which the products from the farmer, which then undergo they are accredited and their residence should not the packaging process in specially designed boxes. be permanent on its territory ” Before being packaged, the products’ specifications A As for the family members, they should live with Among the famous accidents concerning diplomatic are verified by IDAL and two international companies, the agent under the same roof immunity in Lebanon, we mention that of the 4 Iraqi who send their delegates to the factories where the There is an exception to this immunity, which is that diplomats. On April 12, 1994, a prominent Iraqi packaging process is performed. The goods should be the luggage of this category’s members are subject to opponent, Taleb Al Suheil, was assassinated in his in conformity with the required specifications otherwise inspection procedures. apartment in Beirut. The Lebanese security services they cannot be exported. managed to arrest those involved in the operation. They Members of the service staff of the mission enjoy were 4 Iraqi diplomats forming the accredited Iraqi Import and export personal immunity only with respect to the acts they embassy staff in Lebanon and included the cultural Import and export operations are subject to agreements perform during the execution of their duties and and commercial attachés and the Consul. Despite between the importing and exporting countries, functions and on condition that they are not citizens of the immunity they enjoyed, they did not mention it which are referred to as the “agricultural calendar”. the State to which they are accredited. while being arrested, which facilitated their arrest and This prevents the importation of a product during its detention. Although the Iraqi Chargé d’Affaires, Awad production season in the importing State. This condition With regard to immunity from criminal prosecution, Fakhri tried to deny his relationship to the crime, the protects farmers from the dumping process unless the administrative and technical staff and their families confessions made by the 4 diplomats confirmed that he local market is in need of larger quantities; in such enjoy it whether while exercising their functions or executed that operation. At that time, Lebanon insisted situations, it is allowed to import specific quantities. not, whereas immunity from civil and administrative on lifting the diplomatic immunity of the perpetrators prosecution only covers the acts they perform while but this was rejected by the Iraqi government and lead to exercising their functions. a cut off of the Lebanese diplomatic ties with Bagdad. Badr El Hage collection of Postcards

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As for social security and medical insurance, they are subject to the law of commercial institutions in FRENCH LEBANESE LYCÉE – VERDUN force, bearing in mind that the practitioners of this profession are registered in the commercial register. Objective The Syndicate’s problems According to the school’s administration, school life in A The high cost of transport, whether by land or the French Lycée is defined as the group of activities air, prevents Lebanese exporters from competing that contribute, outside the classroom, to form students abroad. Nearby States support farmers and as members of a social group. All the living conditions exporters by supporting fuel prices, agricultural in the Lycée teach students a sense of responsibility products and others, which leads to the reduction and tolerance towards the other. This opportunity of the production price and therefore, the selling allows them to become citizens who enjoy autonomy price. It is important to note that 90% of exports and independent thought and to experience democratic go to neighboring Arab countries. values for better coexistence.

A Constraints faced by trucks transporting goods Stages of establishment abroad. Indeed, sometimes they remain parked at The French Lebanese Lycée – Verdun was established the borders for three or four days. At times, drivers in 1951, that is to say 60 years ago in the western are requested to empty refrigerators or the entire neighborhoods of Beirut. It was formerly attached to the trucks for inspection. This may lead to damages Girls Lycée (currently Lycée Abdel Kader) and became to the goods or may cause them to be delivered independent in October 1958. At the beginning of the to the receiving party in a condition different to 1991 academic year, the school received 1,903 students, their original one. This is still happening despite distributed as follows: 676 in the kindergarten classes an Arab facilitation agreement preventing the and 1,227 in the primary classes. occurrence of such incidents. In 1990, a Teacher Training School was established. The Syndicate’s activities It focuses on training kindergarten teachers and it The Lycee’s logo The Syndicate of fruit and vegetable traders in follows Lycée Verdun administratively, educationally Photo by: Mohamed Mashlab 2011 Lebanon worked hard to develop and improve the and financially. It was later renamed “College of condition of the import and export of goods related Kindergarten and Primary Education Teachers”. The curriculum and education to its sector. Among its most important activities, we In 1992, the secondary school was established: The French Lebanese Lycée-Verdun belongs to the mention: A Grade 6 was inaugurated at the beginning of the 1992 French Secular Mission (Mission Laïque Française) the A The elaboration of the Export Plus Program, academic year slogan of which is “two cultures and three languages”. It implemented by IDAL. This program alleviated, A 130 students were enrolled in Grade 6 at the beginning is also associated with the Agency for French Education to a certain extent, the burdens faced by exporters, of the 1992 academic year Abroad (Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à especially in the absence of governmental support A 246 students were enrolled in Grade 6 and Grade 7 at l’Etranger ). to agricultural production or fuel (in the transportat the beginning of the 1993 academic year Thus, the school has to apply specific rules: operation). A 371 students were enrolled in Grade 6, Grade 7 and A French programs of study that prepare students for Grade 8 at the beginning of the 1994 academic year both the Lebanese and French diplomas A The organization of workshops in cooperation A 493 students completed elementary school (from A It is secular, which means it emphasizes openness with farmers to improve the quality of production, Grade 6 to Grade 9) at the beginning of the 1995 towards others and respect of political and religious in order for them to meet international standards. academic year neutrality A Comprehensive education with the inclusion of sports A The cooperation with IDAL and international In 2002, a new building was constructed for Lycée activities in order to develop the students’ physical companies that monitor the specifications and Verdun (3) and it was completed at the beginning of the abilities quality of agricultural products, which used to 2002 academic year to accommodate 480 students in A Aesthetic, moral and academic education to develop constitute a major obstacle to the export process in third secondary classes. Its cost, excluding its equipment, the students’ critical thinking skills and provide them the past. amounted to USD 1,500,000. That same year, a socio- with strong knowledge in a scientific manner economics branch was inaugurated, a technical school A The practice of mixed activities with students of was added and the Teacher Training School moved its other schools and some outside the school in a bid location to this building of Lycée Verdun. to meet others, discover different environments and Fruits and Vegetables develop the students’ autonomy Photos by Mansour Dib 2009

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 30|PRIVATE SECTOR FRENCH LEBANESE LYCEE HEALTH | 31

The administrative, educational and students’ committee IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) The number of students in the French Lebanese Lycée- Dr. Hanna Saadah Verdun is around 2,325 students distributed as follows: A 954 students in the intermediate and secondary schools (Verdun 1) he Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or ‘nervous colon’ is the commonest cause of chronic, A 848 students from the kindergarten to Grade 1 intermittent abdominal complaints for millions of people all over the world. The cardinal (Verdun 2) Tsymptoms are seven: 1. abdominal pain, 2. bloating, 3. Intestinal cramps, 4. diarrhea, 5. A 496 students from Grade 2 to Grade 5 (Verdun 3) constipation, 6. defecation urgency, and 7. relief with defecation. Although all seven symptoms A 27 students in the College of Kindergarten and are not always present in all patients at all times, most patients will experience most of these symptoms over the years. Primary Education Teachers Nonetheless, the two most distinctive features of the IBS, which are ever present, are chronicity (duration of many months to many years) and intermittency (symptoms come and go depending on many factors). As for teachers, they are distributed as follows: A 79 teachers in the intermediate and secondary schools The disease can present at any age and can be a) diarrhea products are eliminated and if they reappear when the dairy (Verdun 1) predominant, b) constipation predominant, and c) mixed with products are reintroduced, then the diagnosis is confirmed and A 70 teachers for the kindergarten and Grade 1 alternating diarrhea and constipation. Patients may transition no further workup is required. (Verdun 2) from one form to the other over the years or may have all The Syndrome of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth A 34 teachers for Grade 2 to Grade 5 (Verdun 3) forms at various times. The disorder can begin spontaneously (SIBO) has come to the forefront lately with new research A 7 teachers in the College of Kindergarten and Primary or after an intestinal infection such as traveller’s diarrhea indicating that altered intestinal bacteria may contribute to the Education Teachers (post-infectious IBS). The causes are not well understood but IBS as well as to Acid Reflux Disease (GERD), which can include genetic inheritance, environmental factors, anxiety, coexist with it. Studies show that treating SIBO with non- Tuition fees emotional trauma, altered bacterial flora, and myriad dietary absorbable antibiotics may cause both the IBS and the GERD The tuitions fees differ from one level to another. The sensitivities and intolerances. to go into remission. But the story is far from complete because 2009-2010 academic year tuition fees were distributed The diagnosis is made by ruling out other disorders because other treatments (daily fiber, antispasmodics, antidepressants, as follows: there is no diagnostic test for IBS and because the colon anti-anxiety agents, special laxatives, and certain intraluminal always appears normal when scoped. Clinical diagnosis anti-inflammatory agents such as mesalamine or sulfasalazine, The Lycee without supporting studies is safe when the symptoms have and the myriad acid reducing medications) all seem to work in Level Tuition Fees for 2009-2010 Photo by: Mohamed Mashlab 2011 academic year (LBP) been present and unchanged for a long time. In such cases many cases. Nursery and KG 4,722,000 a treatment trial is reasonable and if successful would avoid Other less common bacterial infections may also play a part in Elementary 4,580,000 The IDD is a mandatory class within the curriculum expensive and unnecessary workups. However, if the IBS the IBS. Clostridium difficile, the agent of Antibiotic Colitis, Intermediate 4,930,000 of Grade 7 and Grade 8 for two hours a week. It aims is recent or if the symptoms have changed drastically, an can also mimic the IBS, especially when it becomes chronic. First and Second Secondary 5,473,000 to teach students how to prepare and manage projects investigation by a gastroenterologist is in order unless initial, Luckily, some of the non-absorbable antibiotics used to treat Third Secondary 5,907,000 in a balanced and comprehensive manner. Students simple treatments succeed. SIBO such as Rifaxamin are also active against C. difficile and prepare two IDDs in two different fields chosen from There are two uncommon diseases that mimic IBS and need may eradicate it and, at the same time, eradicate the undesirable the following list: to be ruled out with proper studies: a) Celiac Disease, which gas-producing bacteria of SIBO. In such cases, when the IBS is Extracurricular Activities A Nature and body is an autoimmune disorder caused by sensitivity to Gluten—a dually caused by SIBO and C. difficile, certain non-absorbable The French Lebanese Lycée-Verdun ensures a number A Arts and humanities protein present in wheat, barley, and rye—can be ruled out antibiotics might effect a long-term remission. of extracurricular activities at all levels. For example, A Languages and civilizations with blood tests and a small intestinal biopsy obtained through The simplest treatment of the IBS, which should always be the intermediate and secondary class students can IA nnovation and techniques an endoscope. b) Colitis, which may only be visible through tried first, is non-absorbable fiber. Non-absorbable fiber participate in basketball, football, dance and guitar a microscope, can be ruled out by colonoscopy with multiple comes under many names such as Metamucil but is essentially classes. The IDDs are part of a project leading the students to work biopsies. Psyllium hydorphylic mucilloid (ispaghula husk). Taking As for the primary and kindergarten class students, they in small groups to reach a product that they present orally Other mimicking disorders such as certain hormone-producing enough fiber is often all that is needed to quiet down the IBS. benefit from taekwondo, expressive dance, aerobics and and in writing. It allows them to discover the methods of tumors can be ruled out with specific blood tests. Food The Psyllium fiber absorbs and retains water in the gut lumen computer classes. undertaking a documentary research and participating in allergies, although commonly blamed, are seldom implicated thus increasing the stool bulk and stool moisture. Consequently, the progressive acquisition of skills related to personal in scientific studies but remain a prevalent myth. Food it has two opposing actions, a dichotomy that has led to wide Educational activities autonomy: taking the initiative, time management, ability sensitivities to onions, lettuce, spices, garlic, hot peppers, spread misunderstanding. By absorbing the excess water in According to the school’s administration, among the to choose, speaking before an audience and using the etc. commonly aggravate the IBS but do not actually cause the stool, it prevents diarrhea and by increasing the moisture most important educational activities practiced in the acquired skills in other school activities. The evaluation it. Lactose intolerance—a condition caused by the weak or and bulk of the stool it prevents constipation. school, we mention the discovery activities (at the of the work is based on the final product and especially deficient intestinal enzyme (lactase) that fails to digest the milk The IBS is a common, mysterious, complex disorder whose basic/elementary level), IDD (Itinéraire de Découverte). on the perseverance of the student, the use of his own sugar (lactose) —can easily be ruled out by eliminating dairy etiologies are still poorly understood and whose treatments are capacities and his involvement in team work. products from the diet. If symptoms disappear when dairy still in evolution.

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. www.hannasaadah.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] issue 104 | March 2011 32 | THE AMAZING BRAIN EYEING HORIZONS | 33 FEEDING THE BRAIN AND BOOSTING IT WITH HOW OLD IS TIME? EXERCISE: PILLARS OF BRAIN HEALTH Antoine Boutros Dr. Samar Zebian How old is time? How old is space? How old is n this series on memory boosting techniques, we have found that brain training and smart drugs are the main techniques that neuro and cognitive scientists tout as memory boosters. However, creation? How old is life? How old is the world? Ithe benefits of most brain training programs have not been shown to transfer to tasks beyond ithout time, existence is meaningless. With it we measure existence and assign the brain training tasks. With respect to smart drugs, the current generation of drugs are effective in dimension of things. According to Muheet al-Muheet, the celebrated Arabic-Arabic creating over all levels of brain stimulation but do not directly target the memory system and their long term side effects Wdictionary, time is depth if considered as a descent and thickness if considered an ascent. are not well understood. Meditation was also discussed in our previous article. There is clear scientific evidence that “The three dimensions are length, width and depth... a body does not exist except on these dimensions.” In mathematics, meditation has general benefits for the brain (and body) but the current evidence does not suggest direct effects on the dimension is “a geometrical form with one-dimensional length, if it has an area but not a mass then it is two-dimensional, memory system. In this article we explore exercise and food. and if it has mass then it is three-dimensional.” time intervals that separate between one prophet and another Aerobic exercise, aka breathing hard for an extended period stimulates emotional centers, i.e., dance, yoga, aerobically The same is applied to the concept of place albeit to a lesser and between one event and another (such as the period of time several times a week, contributes to the generation intense team sports. extent. It is the earth that gives a physical meaning to the between Adam’s descent and Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) of new neurons in the hippocampus—an important brain Exercise is great for the brain but the brain needs to be fed existence of matter, although this does not suffice because migration to Medina for example). Seven centuries later, Irish center for learning and memory. Exercise generates a protein real food. Interesting developments have been made in the it does not include abstract matters, which need vast and Bishop Ussher specified that creation occurred in 4004 BC (BDNF) important to neurogenisus (brain growth) while neuro and physiological sciences that have resulted in practical borderless space. This problem was solved when Einstein relying on similar divisions in the traditions inherited from the also protecting existing neurons from dying off. Exercise recommendations for the public-especially for the elderly merged time with space. Church’s history. He did not stop there. He even specified the also helps regenerate injured neurons and promotes efficient since most of the research has been conducted on elderly As for creation, it has a lesser status in our measure because it day and month: Sunday October 23, but we do not know what communication between neurons by increasing the number participants (and on animals but we will stick to human studies could signify everything that God created, and then the criteria form of calculations he used to reach this conclusion. A hand of dendrite connections. Molecularly speaking, exercise is in this article). vary. Man was created after the creation of earth, either by a written note by an evangelical adherent (among the author’s extremely good for the brain BUT do molecular changes find 50-70 year olds who have a balanced diet and have been one day difference or millions of years. As such, life appeared possessions) includes an explanation for each period according expression at the behavioral level? taking folic acid for a long time, do better on tests of memory, long time ago and needed a place to appear in. This is why we to Ussher: “The world was divided into three periods: The first The research on this is emerging but it already suggests that information processing speed and verbal fluency. Omega 3 like to wonder “when did life appear and how old is it?”. period from creation to the flood, and includes 1656 years. exercise results in changes to intellectual behavior especially fatty acids (fish, flax seed oil, kiwi, walnuts), vitamins E and D Then there is the world, better known as Dunia, which could The second period from the flood until Ibrahim’s invitation for the elderly. 60-75 year olds show better planning, and carotene (found in orange vegetables) improve cognitive even mean the universe. Its definition in the Muheet al-Muheet and includes 624 years ...” and so on and so forth. scheduling and working memory directly after exercising decline in the elderly while saturated facts promote cognitive is: “The opposite of the afterlife... and the world for the people But modern science says that 3.8 billion years ago the crust of compared to before exercising. 18-24 year olds do not show Decline. Vitamins B6 and B16 has been found to improve of behavior is what distracts you from God almighty.” In the the earth cooled, 3.5 billion years ago life appeared in the form the same benefits but their brains work faster after exercise. memory function in women of all ages while iron normalizes Holy Qur’an, the word Dunia is mentioned 111 times as the of microscopic cells and around 200,000 years ago Homo Exercise seems to have the most dramatic and most long term cognitive function in young women. Antioxidants (abundant opposite of afterlife. Its time is that of creation’s time. Historian Sapiens appeared. effects on brains where there is a lot of room for improved in berries and curcumin, an Indian spice) are also good for Mutahhar bin Taher al-Maqdissi, in his book The Beginning Ibn Khaldoun was one of the supporters of the periodic functioning such as the elderly, individuals living with high the brain because they promote the production of DHA which and History (Al-Bidi’ wal Tarikh), wrote of a people who say school of thought to measure time and implemented that in stress, teenagers, or those rehabilitating from brain injury. For protects the susceptible brain from oxidative damage. “the world is the whole universe and all its parts in the sky, the an interesting equation in his Muqadimah (the Introduction those where there is little room for improvement, the benefits It is not only what we eat that matters but how much and when. earth and in between” and he quoted another as saying “the compared the life of states to the life of the individual. He of exercise are short term. Too many calories in the diet makes the brain more vulnerable world is time”. said: “The natural age of individuals, as claimed by doctors Now, if you are thinking about exercising yourself into to cell damage and not eating for long periods of time plays But which time are we talking about? Is it earthly time, the time and astrologers, [lasts] 120 years ... the state mostly does intellectual brilliance-well I wish it were that easy. I am around with the brain’s glucose levels. Stabilizing glucose of the universe, the constant time, horizontal time or circular not exceed the ages of three generations.” During the first just imaging a world filled with overnight geniuses--what levels is a must for brain health. constant time (such as the orbiting of planets) , which is called generation, the state continues to preserve “the Bedouin a thought! Although, over-exercising elevates BDNF and Researchers caution that dietary supplements only work periodical or eternal time that produces night, day, month and traits and their roughness and savageness in harsh living promotes neurogenisus, the effects of exercise plateau and a in coordination with a balanced diet. None of the vitamins year. The list goes on and on and becomes more mysterious... conditions.” The second generation is used to the “degradation preoccupation with exercise disrupt cognitive function as is discussed above are effective on their own. or is time absolute? of submissiveness” all the while preserving some old virtues. the problem with many obsessive behaviors. With what concept of time are we measuring the world? Is it As for the third generation, it loses “the sweetness of glory With respect to its role in improving brain function, you can Further reading: the future that is yet to come, the past that is already gone, the and tribalism ... and luxury reaches its purpose with what they think of exercise as the healthiest, the safest and the most - Foley, T., & Fleshner, T. (2008). Neuroplasticity of dopamine circuits after present that has no extension or is it what is happening now have left of glory.” fast acting brain booster-it works for you at the molecular exercise: Implications for central fatigue. Neuromolecular Medicine, 10, 67- and with the tools we have? As such, our estimation of time and behavioral level. For some, it may have long term gains 80. measurement matches common knowledge in this age. And Radwan Saleem, professor of higher education at the and for others the gains are effective but fleeting. And a tip - Gomex-Pinilla, F. (2008). Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain this is the source of the variation in times’ ages. Mohammad V University, in Morocco, says Arabs confined to boot—if you really want to “feed your brain exercise”, function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9, 568-578. Al-Massoudi (10th century AD), in his book “Meadows of their awareness in the realm of prescience instead of history, choose a workout that both stimulates your body and has Gold” (Muruj Al Dahab), set the age of life at 7,000 years in which case it is wiser to answer what is time rather than how mental demands-involves coordination, rhythm, strategy and relying in his research on the history of the world on specifying old is time! .

[email protected] - www.information-international.com www.irthsumer.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 34|INTERVIEW INTERVIEW|35 The Monthly interviews How did college life influence your work’s maturity? During my second year, I participated in a caricature ABDEL RAHMAN KATANANI exhibition in Paris and I returned in 2003 for a graffiti project. Many doors opened for me there in terms of exposure and education. I worked with older, more experienced artists. he notion of “Palestinian Refugee Camps” remains until present, bipolar. Differences of perception range On a local level, I contributed to a wall graffiti project with between fear from terrorist acts to pity towards the misery nested beneath the crowded walls. However, the Palestinian youth in our camp in 2004. Tthe community within may show signs of interaction that reaches beyond poor infrastructure and wrecked In my fourth year, I had to present artwork that represented homes. The Monthly interviews a resident of the Sabra and Shatila camp, artist Abdel Rahman Katanani. my identity as a final project. I couldn’t stop looking for material that translated “me” as a part of “us” in artwork. Can you tell us about your life in the Palestinian camps? draw caricatures. I did several sketches and participated in This is when I considered a new technique for my work. My family is originally from Yafa but my parents were small student exhibitions. This exposure helped me see the I looked at the camp’s details closely, from the people deported in 1948. Initially, they settled in the Tal Al-Za’atar first glimpses of how the audience could interact with my and their cacophony to the structure of the buildings and camp. They then moved to Damour and finally settled in work. the material that made our everyday life; I started using Sabra and Shatila. However, they had to flee in 1982 due to them on my canvas. I pasted pipes, textile, corrugated iron the Israeli attacks on the camp. At that time, a large hospital What about college life? plates, and other material. I got rid of the canvas at some compound was under construction and each building was to I worked as a porter in construction sites and participated in point because it was binding me to its form and found more provide you with? be named after a city in Palestine. My parents managed to renovating our building for a year. I was then accepted in liberty in my work. My work directed my attention to the details of camp life sneak into the hospital for a few days in 1983 and that’s where the Fine Arts program at the Lebanese University. Although I participated in the Sursock Museum Exhibition and won we tend to forget and these details brought back all the hope I was born. I spent the early days of my childhood in refugee I found the course enjoyable, I had to skip classes because several prizes. I met Mr. Saleh Barakat, owner of Agial and love I feel for the Palestinian people and their cause. shelters, one of them was the warehouse of JVC in Kornish I couldn’t afford most of the material required. Eventually, Gallery, who helped me gain wider exposure. I also worked If the other peoples of the world looked at us and saw the Al-Mazraa. Once the war was over, we returned to the camp. I managed by fabricating my own canvas at home with the with Ayyam Gallery. So you can say things took a good reality of our living conditions, they would assume we are Most of it had been burnt down, including the unfinished help of my parents. My classmates liked the homemade turn. desperate because we are forbidden from our land, our hospital where I was born, which was turned into residences canvas, which was lighter and more solid than the one they rights and a chance to grow. But we cannot afford to be where we now live with other Palestinian families. purchased. I was then commissioned to make them their Can we have a closer input on your selection of weak and desperate. This is why I focus on active vibes in own. The income I got from selling canvases helped me get material? my work. The women I portray are working and the children How was a hospital turned into apartments? through college where I was often top of my class. The textile I use always comes from homes. I started by are playing and dreaming. I always like to show my work to The compound is made up of 4 buildings that you can using my mother’s sewing leftovers. After a few camp children first because they perceive it with fresh minds and consider an indoor neighborhood. We do not live in separate residents saw that I was using textile in my work, they they provide me with their visions just like I try to convey apartments. What used to be hospital wings were turned volunteered some of the clothes they no longer wore. I used my ideas to them. into streets and families live in each wing, where not all them for the ‘human’ value they represented. rooms have doors. With financial help, we fixed the broken My most consistent partner was “Zinco”. My father and I Do you see that your message also reaches adults? walls and windows and tried to rework the building’s used to tend to roofs in the camp and we used Pepsi caps to The first couple of times adults saw my work being division so that each family could have at least a bathroom hold the pins that joined the “Zinco” plates together. These transported down the stairs to go to an exhibition, they asked and a kitchen. About 400 families live in the compound at plates lasted under the heavy rain and the warm sun just as me what I was doing sticking garbage on Zinco. But seeing the moment. we Palestinians survived under them. So I told myself “We that I had participated in several exhibitions and received are Zinco”. some recognition, they started shifting their perspective What about your school education? I also use the Palestinian Koufiyyah in some of my works and showed more interest in the nature of the ideas I was My father worked as a carpenter and my mother sowed along with barbed wires for their symbolic value. portraying. This interaction brings me hope because the clothes. My parents had great faith in me so they put me Palestinian people still show interest in development and in “Al Maqased”, a renowned private school nearby which How would you describe the inspiration the camps novelty despite the fact that they are held into a state of held exhibitions for their students’ work. I liked crafting cultural stagnancy. clothespins together and making collages with all sorts of media. When my parents could no longer afford my education, I had to move to an UNRWA school, which had a completely different atmosphere. At that time, beating was a common disciplinary tool. Classes had more than 40 students and some teenagers still didn’t know how to read and write. They were rendered brutal by the poor and aggressive system. I didn’t find it in myself to pursue my hobby but I got to experience the harshness of the situation. My good friend, artist Abdel Halim Hammoud, encouraged me to “Al Quds” by Abdel Rahman Katanani Zinco, Koufiyyeh, Textile issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | MarchMarch20 201111 36 | ART & CULTURE POPULAR CULTURE DEBUNKING MYTHS #43 ART & CULTURE | 37 POPULAR CULTURE LEBANON, SWITZERLAND OF THE MIDDLE EAST During the 1950s and 1960s, Lebanon was known as “Switzerland of the Middle East” for its openness and touristic attraction. It was a place where culture, arts and freedoms prospered. But to what extent does Lebanon deserve this name? Our games are better! Lebanon is Switzerland of the Middle East When I say that our games are better, I don’t mean the toys that we buy for MYTH: you before Christmas…

In our games, we used our hands, feet, throats and hearts… Our games lasted from one generation to another whereas you get rid of yours once Lebanon is far from being similar to Switzerland Christmas has passed… FACT:

Our games strengthened our knees, shaped our muscles and increased our Switzerland Lebanon appetite. The pleasure of life is in strong knees, shaped muscles and an The Swiss community is diverse, harbors various political and appetite that is never satisfied. It is difficult for me to count the games that religious affiliations, nationalities and languages and is divided into Diversity and sectarian pluralism in Lebanon have become a source of we played in the center of the village, its alleys and fields… three areas according to the languages spoken: German, French and weakness, permanently threatening the stability of the country. There Italian. It is unified around the country’s best interests and settles its are no real democratic standards but rather there exists consensual difficulties through democratic means and respect of all the parties’ democracy that satisfies the complex sectarian system. At that time, Oh Rida, we enjoyed jumping over the facets of the village privacy. that were fenced with basins of basil and jasmine. When we found a facet It has a democratic liberal secular system ensuring political, that overlooked a soft or grassy soil, we made it our jumping station. We social and religious freedom as well as tolerance and openness. With its 18 confessions, Lebanon faces division, political and sectarian played a lot of jumping games and our competitions were aggressive. Our Its main religion is Christianity, split between Catholics (41,8%) partitioning, difficulty in finding a definition of the country’s identity, feet were strong and knees were firm… not only did we play games that and Protestants (35,5%), along with 15% of atheists and 320,000 a lack of confidence between confessions and a permanent feeling of Muslims. All of them live together under the umbrella of the nation threat from the other party. strengthened our knees, we also played several games to train our chests… and its best interests. We played games that gave us the chance to use our throats… As for our Politicians and heads of religious confessions are still avoiding the subject favorite game, it was a ballgame similar to football… Switzerland recognized civil marriage during the nineteenth century. of optional civil marriage because they are afraid of religious reactions that used to and still have an influence on Lebanese political life. We liked games that involved hiding… The area of Switzerland is four times the area of Lebanon (41,000 sq km) whereas its population does not exceed the double of Lebanon’s Lebanon, with its small area and small population, suffers from Yes, Oh Rida, we didn’t have the toys you have and we didn’t enjoy population. It does not have any natural resources other than its increasing public debt, which reached USD 51.5 billion in April 2010. mountains and lakes. It is nevertheless the 19th largest economy in The Lebanese economy is still a limited rentier economy with an annual the games you enjoy. You play soft games. As for us, we played GDP amounting to USD 51.474 billion. the world and has an annual GDP of USD 492 billion (in 2009).1 aggressive games that were hand-made… We really played with our knees, muscles, chests, and throats. Our knees, muscles, Switzerland, which is located between Germany, France and Italy, succeeded in competing with its neighbors. It was able to build The economic sectors in Lebanon suffer from major problems. The chests and throats are better than yours. We played without a strong and solid base for an economy based on industry and agricultural and industrial sectors are weak and the tourism sector, anyone watching over us. export. It is an international leader in financial and banking services, although important, remains unorganized. Furthermore, Lebanon tourism, and various other industries (watches, pharmaceuticals and imports more than 80% of its consumer goods. chocolate).

Lebanon is still suffering from the national security crisis, its accrued Switzerland places significant importance on health, social care and debts, which make health care costs very high and make the Lebanese the elderly. As a result, life expectancy is 83 years for women and 80 citizen pay his taxes to the State for nothing. We should also mention years for men. the sale of counterfeit drugs and the absence of health control in some hospitals, where healthcare has turned into a business.

Foreign employment in Switzerland is organized and foreign workers Lebanon is still lagging behind in terms of employment and foreign enjoy a handful of rights. Switzerland rehabilitates and educates the laborers do not enjoy their fundamental rights. children of illiterate employees.

Deposits in Swiss banks by foreign nationals are kept off balance sheets. In Lebanon, it is exactly the opposite

Sources translated from: Anis Freiha, Isma’a ya Rida - First Edition 2006, Dar Nawfal, Beirut 1 - http://data.worldbank.org/country/switzerland.

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 38 | ART & CULTURE ART & CULTURE | 39 WADI ABOU JAMIL: STORIES “FIRST HUNDRED ABOUT THE JEWS OF BEIRUT FRIENDS ON THE OTHER ADVERSARY PART AND AN IMPOSSIBLE LINK WITH THE PAST WORDS IN FRENCH”

After having been an active part in the life of a Social and religious life nation, its economy and political diversity, the Jews According to the book, Lebanon witnessed an increase in the of Lebanon suddenly departed, whether voluntarily number of Jews with the Nakba (the Palestinian catastrophe) in “First Hundred Words in French” is a picture-vocabulary book that or as a result of the fear they experienced. 1947 and the emigration of Jews from neighboring countries. teaches French to English educated children. French words are grouped Whatever the reasons to leave were, the Jewish Lebanon became the only Arab country to host a growing by theme and each word is linked to its corresponding image and confession remains one of the eighteen Lebanese and prosperous Jewish community, especially with the English word. Children can thus derive the meaning of a difficult word confessions (according to the Constitution). involvement of its members in the world of finance, business from its image as well as memorize French words faster. Hoping to revive this memory in an interesting and the press. Industries, shops and printing presses were narrative style, Nada Abdel Samad, in her book owned by the Jews of Wadi Abou Jamil. Some newspapers The book contains the following themes: toys, at granny and grandpa’s entitled “Wadi Abou Jamil: Stories about the were even established, such as the “Israeli World” that was house, living room, kitchen, clothes, park, party, breakfast, changing Jews of Lebanon”1, narrates real stories about issued at the beginning of the 1920s and headed by “Eliahu room, shop, bathroom, bedroom and numbers. It also provides Lebanese Jews who lived in the Jewish neighborhood of Wadi Man” and renamed “Peace” after a year. There were even a guide for the pronunciation of French vocabulary and a simple Abou Jamil in Down Town Beirut. They were industrialists, rabbis living in Lebanon, among them “Shahud Sharam”, a exercise to test the child’s memory and learning capabilities. doctors, traders and workers who had their own customs and chief rabbi who left Lebanon in 1978. traditions.2 According to the author, the first synagogue was built in Lebanon The book can be used at the pre-school level since adults can read a in Aley in 18906 and another one was built in Bhamdoun in word and motivate children to search for its corresponding image. Political life 1915.7 It is believed a synagogue had earlier been built in The method checks whether the children know the meaning of Before the end of the nineteenth century, the Jews of Lebanon Beirut and destroyed by the year 502 earthquake. However, the word and teaches them the pronunciation of the words. At used to live in the Jewish neighborhood in the old part of Beirut they began to build the first synagogue in Beirut in Wadi Abou the elementary level, the book can be used for reading purpose. located between “An Nouriya Souk” and the “Great Omari Jamil in 1920 with funding from the “Sasson” Jewish family. Students can be asked to read and learn the vocabulary related Mosque”.3 Later, they moved to live in Wadi Abou Jamil and After a period of suspension, the construction was resumed and to a particular theme in order to develop their writing skills in they immediately built a synagogue there. With the declaration the “Magen Ibraham” synagogue was built and considered the later stages. They can also be asked to memorize words from of the State of Greater Lebanon in 1920, the Jewish confession most beautiful synagogue in the Middle East. a specific theme and write an auto dictation to help improve received rights and privileges4 like the other confessions but spelling skills. it was not allocated any parliamentary seats. However, they The departure from Lebanon elected delegates who participated in the election of parliament Abdel Samad mentions that the number of Jews in Lebanon in “First Hundred Words in French” was written by Heather members, according to the election laws in place between 1922 1958 reached between 12,000 to 15,000 and this was after the Amery and illustrated by Stephen Cartwright. It was first and 1934. During the mandate of President Emile Edde in the Nakba (the Palestinian catastrophe) and their immigration from published by Usborne in England in 2001. 1930s, the President of the Jewish council, which was created Syria, Iraq, Iran and other countries. After 1967, the number in 1913, requested the allocation of a parliamentary seat to the of Lebanese Jews was around 3,200, of whom 2,000 had the Jewish confession. However, the then high commissioner De Lebanese nationality. With the beginning of the civil war in Martel did not show any enthusiasm for this issue. Thus, the 1975, only dozens of them stayed in Lebanon, as most of them Jews were represented as minority groups in the representative moved to Israel and other countries.8 They all left in total secrecy councils, except in 1934 and 1937, when the number of MPs and no one knew what happened to them after they left. decreased to 25.5 Although it is an important book that contains interesting stories, it lacks some historical accuracy. These stories reveal 1- The book was published by Dar Annahar Publishers in 2009 and contains 274 pages. the richness and diversity of Greater Syria (Bilad Al Sham) 2- For more information, please see the article published in The and the Holy Land and offer an explanation of the demise of Monthly entitled “The Lebanese Jews: A Missed Sect”, December 2007, Issue Number 50. the Jews in Arab countries following the establishment of the 3- According to the article published by The Monthly, the Jews of state of Israel. Lebanon used to live in Deir Al Qamar and Al Barouk in the eighteenth century and then in Aley and Bhamdoun until their existence in Lebanon 6- According to The Monthly article, the first synagogue was built in was limited to Beirut during the nineteenth century. 1750 in in Deir Al Qamar and was later sold to Alexander Qabaa. Due to 4- The Monthly article mentioned that the Jews were not officially the 1860 events, the Deir Al Qamar Jews escaped to Aley where they recognized until March 13, 1936, with the issuance of their law of built the synagogue known under the name of “Oheit Jacob”. personal status and pleadings. 7- According to The Monthly article, Beirut Jews built a synagogue in 5- According to information issued by Parliament, from December 30, Bhamdoun in 1951. 1932, to June 5, 1937, the number of seats in Parliament decreased to 8- According to The Monthly article, there are currently 5,490 registered 25 whereas there were 45 seats between July 15, 1929, and May 10, Jewish voters in Lebanon of whom only one cast his ballot in the 2005 1932. parliamentary elections, and 13 of whom made complaints to NGOs because of their non registration on the election boards. issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 40 | ART & CULTURE LEBANON FAMILIES DISCOVER LEBANON ART & CULTURE | 41 MACHGHARA Trablous Tripoli Town of tanneries Zgharta RAAD FAMILY Roads 
 Zgharta Balamand 1 2 A‘arjes Balamand Roads Sheikhs and Bakawats A‘arjes Ehden Ehden Becharre The Cedars Becharre Etymology They belong to the following families: Batroun The Cedars Hadet Hasroun Batroun Hadet Hasroun Ras Baalbeck Ras Baalbeck In Anis Freiha’s book “Names of A Orthodox: Zein: 26, Barkeh: 18, Deir el Ahmar Deir el Ahmar Maqne Maqne Qasr el-Banat The Raad, Abi Raad, Abou Raad and Al Raaidi families Qasr el-Banat Lebanese Towns and Villages”, the word Abou Araj: 11, Shalabi: 11, Sbak: 9 Hadath Hadath Jbail Iaat are in no way related to each other, they have different Jbail Iaat Machghara and Shaghour are believed Evangelical: 49 members Baalbeck A Baalbeck Jounieh confessions and live in various Lebanese regions. The Jounieh Ghazir to be of Phoenician origin. They mean Sunni: 75 members Ghazir Niha A Niha

Raad Bakawats, who currently live in Dinnieh, originate BEIRUT Zahle the place from which water flows, as A Shia’a: Merhi: 284, Mansour: 184, BEIRUT Zahle from the “Bani Sakhr” family and came from Houran in Baabda Shtaura is the case of Shaghour, Hammana Sharaf: 223, Aidi: 152, Kassem: 157, Baabda Shtaura Aley Dahr el-Baidar Aley Dahr el-Baidar Bhamdoun Bhamdoun Anjar Anjar the late 17th century. They ruled over Dinnieh following Deir el-Qamar and Machghara. Thus, the meaning of Reda: 130, Ankouni: 152, Sader: 128, Deir el-Qamar Meshref Beiteddine Moukhtara Meshref Beiteddine the instructions of the Sifa family and the ruler of Tripoli, the name becomes “spring water” and Sheikh: 128, and others Moukhtara Machghara Qaraoun Lake Yanta Iô¨°ûe Qaraoun Lake Yanta Ali Basha Al Laqees. Their rule lasted until the 18th Machghara is indeed famous for its A Catholic: Abou Araj: 192, Haj: 146, Saida Jezzine Libbaya Aiha Saida Jezzine century and spread to other Lebanese regions for limited springs, especially when the snow melts. Ibrahim: 127, Debs: 137, Khalil: 134, Libbaya Aiha

time periods. Hasbaya Boulos: 147, and other families. Nabatiye Marjayoun Hasbaya

Beaufort Castle Location A Maronite: Abou Abdo: 49, Karam: Nabatiye Marjayoun The Abi Raad family in Kafour, Jdeideh, Bouar and Nahr The town of Machghara is located in the 30, Absi: 21, Mbayed: 21, Touma: 18, Ibrahim originate from Tannourine. Some also live in Mohafaza of the Beqa’a, at an altitude Kamar: 18, Ghantous: 18, Charbel: 11 Salfaya, Damour, Beirut (they moved from Keserouan) of 1,000 meters above sea level. It and other families. and Bekfayya. The family branched into other families in lies 82 kilometers away from Beirut, A Al-Najah Elementary School Salfaya namely the Saad, Skandar, Khoury and Wehbeh was Raad Al Saifi from Jabal Al-A’arab. There is a 18 kilometers from the center of the Local Authorities (private-free) related to Al-Imdad families village called “the farm of the Raad family” in the Mohafaza of Jeb Jenine and 45 kilometers The municipal council was established Islamic Charity Association. Qada’a of Bsharre with 5,873 members (according to from the center of the Mohafaza of Zahle. in 1923 and consists of 18 members. It A Sacré Coeur (private school) A In Ghazir, they originate from Tannourine the 2004 registers). They belong to various confessions It occupies an area of 2,325 hectares. It is currently headed by Georges Boutros A Yehya Bjayji School (private) A In Ain Zhalta they descend from Hanash Bin Malek Abi and are spread across various Lebanese regions as can be reached via Qob Elias, Kerbet Al-Debs and is made up of 8 Christians related to Al-Imdad Islamic Charity Al Ghaith Al Yamani Al A’akouri. In some Lebanese follows: Raad: 4,994; Abou Raad: 139; Abi Raad: 538 Kanafar and Saghbine and the road of and 10 Muslims. The municipality’s Association regions, they descend from Shahine Al Mashroufi who and Bou Raad: 202. Saida, Jezzine and Machghara. share in the independent municipal fund A Machghara Technical School came from Haroun. reached LBP 570,708 million in 2006. Raad families Population The amount dropped to LBP 549,320 Economy Raad (Shia’a) Maronites come from certain areas or villages in the There are an estimated 14,000 residents million in 2007, was slightly increased The people of Machghara mainly rely In Ba’albeck, they are said to be descendants of the following regions: Baabda, Matn, Batroun, Chouf, in Machghara, which makes it one of to LBP 577,475 million in 2008 and on agriculture especially of apples, pears Harmoush family and they are not related to the Raad of A’akkar, Jezzine, Zgharta, Keserouane, Ba’albeck, the biggest villages in the Qada’a in rose to LBP 768,693 million in 2009. and other fruits. Some of them work in the South. Some members of the Raad family in Lebanon Bcharri, Tripoli, Zahle, Beirut, A’aley. terms of population. They belong to 4 The village also has 6 Mukhtars, Gebran free trade and other simple industries. originate from Palestine and Syria but were naturalized Sunni come from certain areas or villages in the following confessions: Boulos, Laure Abou Araj Khalil, Haidar (they came from Houran and Halab in Syria and Yafa, regions: Minnieh-Dinnieh, Beirut, Tripoli, A’akkar, Shia’a around 54% of the registered Serhal, Adel Ammar, Mohamad Merhi, Archeological sites Khobob and Thabeen in Palestine). Ba’albeck, Sour population; Catholics around 33% of the Mohamad Beez, and a three-member The village has archaeological ruins that Shia’a come from the certain areas or villages in the registered population; Maronites around ikhtiariah body. date back to the Crusader era. It also has A In Majdal Ma’oush: Al Raaidi from Tannourine. following regions: Baabda, Sour, Nabatieh, Saida, Beirut, 6.5% of the registered population; caves and a shrine of Prophet Noun. A In Dinnieh and the North: they originate form the Bani Ba’albeck, Hermel, Zahle Orthodox around 6% of the registered Education Sakhr family from Houran. A’alawi come from Tabbaneh in Tripoli population There were eight schools in Machghara Challenges A In Bazoun: they originate from the Hanna family who Syriac Orthodox come from North Mouallaqa in Zahle There are also around 1,850 houses and in the academic year 2009 – 2010 with Like most villages, Machghara descend from the Abi Dagher family in Tannourine, Orthodox come from certain areas or villages in the around 150 commercial shops. 1,974 students and 184 faculty and staff. suffers from problems in the road and in Breissat, they originate from Bazoun. following regions: Tripoli, Koura, Minnieh-Dinnieh, The schools are: and agricultural networks. It also A In Beit Mery amd Mashyakha (Matn): they originate A’akkar, Batroun, Beirut Voters A Machghara Intermediate Public suffers from lack of electricity and from the Abi Dagher family from Beit Sakr, and in Catholics come from certain areas or villages in the In 2000, the number of registered voters School (1) water. Before the war, the village Beit Mery, some branched out to the Mas’oud family. following regions: Jbeil, Zahle, Beirut, Baabda, Matn, was 8,900 of whom 2,350 cast their A Machghara Intermediate Public was famous for leather tanning with A In Al Shabaniyeh: they originate from Hardeen, and in Sour, Chouf ballots. In 2005, the number reached School (2) around 80 shops. Some of them moved Amioun they originate from Halab. Druze come from Ba’alechmieh in Baabda, Mimes in 9,317 with 3,272 casting their ballots. A Machghara Public School to the outskirts of Beirut where they A In Baziza: the Raad family of Druze confession Hasbaya and Hasbaya in Hay Al-Fouqani As for the year 2009, the number rose to A Um Al-Mashoura Al-Saliha for flourished until the war broke out and originates from Houran and Thabeen, their grandfather Protestants come from Ain Zhalta in Chouf 9,944 of whom merely 4,739 cast their Sacré Coeur (private-free). industrial development occurred and Latin come from Bazoun in Bcharri ballots. brought an end to this industry. 1 - Religious figures. 2 - Those who originate from an aristocratic background.

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 42|MEDIA WHEN POLITICIANS TALK JANUARY 2011 TIMELINE MEDIA|43 SAAD HARIRI-HEZBOLLAH HEZBOLLAH IS AN INTERNAL MATTER ... HOWEVER??? HARIRI MEETS WITH OBAMA AND THE RESIGNATION OF HEZBOLLAH IS A MILITIA-HEZBOLLAH IS NOT AN ARMED MILITIA 11 MINISTERS DISSOLVES THE GOVERNMENT; ebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said from the White House on his first visit to US President George W. Saud Al-Faisal: “the Kingdom has lifted its hands off Lebanon”; Jumblatt Bush following PM Rafic Hariri’s assassination that “Hezbollah’s weapons are an internal matter which is not stands by the resistance and Syria; Strife and road blocks in protest of Hariri’s Lon any foreign works agenda”. As such Saad Hariri and Hezbollah, at least verbally, agree on the principle of departure; Bellemare hands in his decision; Nasrallah: “the opposition is united resistance and the need to keep the issue of weapons an internal one to be resolved through dialogue. However, against naming Hariri as PM”; Mikati is nominated PM by 68 votes against 60 each side has its opinion and point of view. Following Rafic Hariri’s assassination and accusations against Syria, Al- for Hariri Mustaqbal Movement and its supporters turned their attention to Hezbollah as a strong Syrian ally. Disagreement between them grew following the 2006 July war, the ratification of the draft international tribunal and the subsequent January 3 January 6 The PM’s office reports that Hariri withdrawal of the Shia’a ministers from the government. This discord culminated during the May 7, 2008, events -A hand grenade is thrown at -PM Hariri visits Prince Al-Walid urged the SG to pressure Israel to when it was strongly reflected on the Sunni and Shia’a streets, almost turning into sedition. the garage of the building where Bin Talal in Riyadh. withdraw from Ghajar and not to Faisal, Omar Karami’s son, lives in -French Foreign Minister violate Lebanon’s economic arena, Enmity Trablous. His car is damaged and Michèle Alliot-Marie states: “If while confirming his commitment to A “The one who put Hezbollah’s prosecute the party, while it knows for but Al-Mustaqbal Movement” (Al- two of his bodyguards are slightly the international tribunal accuses resolution 1701. weapons on the table is Hezbollah. certain that this tribunal does not have Mustaqbal on June 1, 2007). injured. individuals then the latter will be Before the decision to ask for the any role, project or system except A “Lebanon is a democratic state -Central Bank Governor, Riad accused as individuals and not as January 11 international tribunal’s formation in that of achieving justice (...)”(Al- and Hezbollah is one of the parties that Salameh, announces the decline of representatives of a political party or -US President Barack Obama and the Council of Ministers, there was Mustaqbal on January 8, 2007). was elected following the legislative general indicators at the end of 2010 confession.” French President Nicolas Sarkozy no one talking about the resistance’s A “We were aware of the presence elections. It is present with us in but average growth remains at 7.5% -The Secretariat of the 14 March meet in Washington to discuss the weapons, but following the decision, of this network (Hezbollah’s the Cabinet and it is a partner in the while inflation reaches 4-5%. movement states: “settlement is situation in Lebanon. Sarkozy then Hezbollah presented the issue as if it telecommunication network). We government of national unity” (Al- based on the tribunal and there heads to New York to meet with the targeted its own weapons.…” did not have a problem and we knew Akhbar on January 28, 2010). January 4 will be no government without the Saudi King and Hariri. A “The opposition is actually headed that there were a few thousands and A “Al-Mustaqbal Movement - During a press conference held Phalange Party and the Lebanese -The UN Special Coordinator for by Hezbollah. It is the main party not 999,999 lines and did not falsely did not have reservations on the at the Phalange Party’s headquarters Forces.” Lebanon, Michael Williams, visits directing the goals it wants. And the accuse anyone” (Al-Akhbar on May matter of Hezbollah’s weapons. I in Saifi, Amine Gemayyel states: Speaker Nabih Berri, Minister goals that Hezbollah sets are regional 9, 2008). am the president of a national unity “Aggressions between the Sunni January 8 Mohammad Fneish and Ali Al- goals and have nothing to do with the government and we have to be realistic and the Shia’a are part of the power -The pre-trial judge of the Special Shami and announces that the UN inside…” Reconciliation so we placed this controversial issue struggle. As for the aggressions Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Daniel is ready to draw up the maritime A “Saad Hariri is not being paid by A “Hezbollah is not an armed militia, on the dialogue table” aimed at Christians, they are a war Fransen, sets January 14 as a date borders with Israel if it is asked to the Americans. Rather they are getting it is a Lebanese matter with which we A “Lieberman may be the worst of extermination and displacement for a public hearing between Judge do so by Lebanon. paid money from Iran. All their money, are dealing in a Lebanese manner” minister of foreign affairs whom and the Middle East will fall if its Bellemare and Major General Jamil their weapons, their training, their food (Al-Mustaqbal on April 24, 2005). even the Europeans refuse to meet Christians vanish.” Al Sayyed to answer the latter’s January 12 and everything that Hezbollah owns A “Hezbollah is a Lebanese ally with…. He does not enjoy credibility demand relating to documents that -After a meeting of the Change comes from Iran. Their decisions are party. Its major concern is Lebanon’s and his words do not concern us. As January 5 led to his arrest. and Reform bloc, General Aoun definitely not in their hands. They unity. It has always looked after a Lebanese state we responded to -President Michel Suleiman visits -In an interview with Al Hayat announces that the Syrian-Saudi accused us of owning a militia, they are Lebanon, it is keen on preventing the threats, we reject them full stop” the Coptic Church in Beirut paying newspaper, PM Hariri announces mediation has failed and that a the militia. Look at what happened in Israeli attacks on Lebanon and it has (Appeared on Now Lebanon website his condolences to the Copt victims that the Syrian-Saudi settlement delegation from the opposition has Beirut, they came to Beirut, protested liberated and offered martyrs” (Al- on February 12, 2010, in response that died in Egypt following an was reached months ago, before the specific proposals to deliver to the in it and destroyed homes and cars in Mustaqbal on October 24, 2005). to Avigdor Lieberman who accused attack on a church in Alexandria. Saudi King’s illness, and that the President of the Republic. it” (Asharq al-Awsat on December 15, A “Hezbollah represents a large part Hezbollah of killing Prime Minister -The UN announces that the solution depends on the other team. -A delegation from the opposition 2006). of the Lebanese population... It is an Rafic Hariri and considered PM Saad international forces are not He leaves to New York to meet with meets with President Suleiman A “The sentiment of pity regarding existing entity and we cannot ignore Hariri to be a “hostage in the hand of authorized to draw up the maritime the Saudi King and the US Foreign and asks him to convene an urgent Hezbollah’s position also grows when it this large group of people who have Hezbollah”). borders between Lebanon and Israel Secretary of State. Cabinet session to discuss the withdraws its attack on the government played an essential role in liberating “No one doubts Sayyed [Hassan] according to resolution 1701. international tribunal. and the premier and transfers it to the the Lebanese territories occupied by Nasrallah’s intentions but we doubt -The President and PM agree to January 10 -Samir Geagea declares that the international tribunal... At the same Israel..” (Al-Mustaqbal on December Israel’s intentions. Sayyed Nasrallah’s extend the contracts of government -PM Hariri meets with UN tribunal is a “red line” and PM Hariri time, we are surprised that Hezbollah’s 6, 2005). speech, somewhere, seeks balance employees as of January 1, 2011, Secretary General (SG) Ban Ki- will not resign. leadership insists on considering the A “No one protects Hezbollah but the but Israel only wants a pretext” (Al- in light of the absence of a Cabinet Moon. They discuss the international international tribunal as if it were an Lebanese. No one protects Hezbollah Akhbar on March 2, 2010). session. tribunal and the issue of the maritime international project put in place to borders between Lebanon and Israel.

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 44|MEDIA JANUARY 2011 TIMELINE JANUARY 2011 TIMELINE MEDIA|45

January 13 calls for a meeting with the US January 22 January 29 -Ten opposition Ministers resign did not attend) and Major General ambassador to Lebanon following -At a press conference, MP Walid -Geagea responds to Nasrallah’s -Mikati ends his parliamentary from the government. The resignation Jamil Al Sayyed and his lawyer her visit to MP Fattouch in Zahle. Jumblatt declares that he stands by last speech, in which the latter negotiations declaring that he is a of Minister Adnan Al Sayyed Akram A’azouzi. Judge Fransen Syria and the resistance, and uncovers accused him of being behind the centrist and his commitment is to Hassan leads to the dissolution of announces that he will declare his January 19 a document signed by Hariri in which assassination of Rashid Karami, “God and the Lebanese people.” the government, at the same time decision regarding the documents -Talks about the spreading of he commits to the cancellation of the saying: “The same is directed He adds: “Problematic matters are that Hariri is meeting with Obama. requested at a later stage. Hezbollah members the previous international tribunal. In the evening, towards him word by word because solved by discussions between -Hariri meets with US President morning in various neighborhoods Jumblatt meets with Sayyed Hassan refusing to nominate Hariri as PM is everyone and the priority is the Obama who confirms his support January 17 in Beirut, which caused a state of Nasrallah. a war against a man that represents people’s living conditions.” to Lebanon. Hariri then leaves for -In a speech, Sayyed Nasrallah panic and led to the closure of many -Fransen declares February 7 as the 70-80% of the Sunni confession.” France. says: “The opposition is united schools. The Future movement date for a public hearing to discuss January 31 -Samir Geagea declares that the against naming Saad Hariri as PM.” considered this a form of blackmail the legal procedures regarding the January 26 -Mikati meets with the Saudi and negotiations will bring back Hariri -Al Jadeed TV broadcasts the on Hezbollah’s part. indictment and warns of divulging -Parliamentary negotiations end Syrian ambassadors, among others. as PM. second part of the meeting between -The Foreign Ministers of Turkey the content of the investigations. with the nomination of Mikati as PM -Jumblatt: “Justice no longer -The Prince of Monaco, Albert II, PM Hariri and the international and Qatar arrive to Lebanon and with 68 votes against 60 for Hariri. guarantees stability.” arrives to Lebanon on an official investigation commission in which begin a round of meetings with January 24 The most prominent in support of the -Hariri: “Our departure from power visit. he says that Maher Al Assad and Lebanese leaders to try to find a -In a speech, Sayyed Nasrallah former were Minister Mohammad was due to foreign intervention. It Assef Shawkat pressured the solution to the governmental crisis. thanks MP Jumblatt for his stances, Safadi and MP Nicolas Fattouch. has been planned for months and January 14 Syrian President to assassinate his -Army Commander Jean Kahwaji he also thanks Omar Karami saying: -Protests take place in Trablous was instigated by local players. -Hariri meets with French President father. He describes Assef Shawkat visits Syria and meets with President “He excused himself for not being where pictures of Mikati and Safadi Everything related to the S-S is in Sarkozy at the Elysée Palace. as a butcher, comparing him to Bashar Al-Assad. able to fulfill the role of PM given are burnt. Roads are blocked in the the past now.” -Minister Boutros Harb considers Mohammad Bin Nayef of Saudi his age and illness but ensured that Beqa’a, Iqleem Al-Kharroub and -Mikati meets with the British, replacing Hariri by another as an Arabia. He adds that his father used January 20 if no one could fill the post he would Tareeq Jdeedeh in support of Hariri. Italian and Spanish ambassadors. impossible suggestion. to pay Rostom Ghazali $30,000 -In a statement to Al Arabia, Saudi accept the responsibility.” -The Council of Muftis visits Mikati -The Presidency of the Republic when he lived in Beirut and $90,000 Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal -A statement of the Muftis warns of and calls on him to avoid chaos. 1 February declares Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 when he moved to A’anjar. Hariri says: “the situation in Lebanon is overlooking the Sunni majority and -Hariri denounces the violence -Mikati meets with the Iranian, as parliamentary negotiation days. later confirms the authenticity of the dangerous and the Kingdom has imposing a government by force. that accompanied the protests and German and Egyptian ambassadors -Hezbollah Secretary General recording and apologizes to those he now lifted its hands off Lebanon. -In an interview with Voice of calls his supporters to show restraint to Lebanon. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah meets with mentioned. If the matter reaches the point of Lebanon radio station, Egyptian saying: “Our goal is the protection -Following the meetings MP Walid Jumblatt in the presence -After meeting with Pariarch Sfeir separation and division, Lebanon as Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu Al- of the State against such attempts.” between Mikati and Geagea and of Minister Ghazi Al-Aridi and in Bkirki, Minister Harb announces a state will be over.” Ghayt says that: “The situation in Gemayyel, Geagea makes the Wafiq Safa. the former’s intention to resign. Lebanon is dangerous… the Sunni January 27 following statement: “If the Future -The Future bloc nominates Hariri January 21 have rights in Lebanon that should - Mikati visits former PMs, movement does not participate in January 15 as PM. -The Foreign Ministers of Qatar be preserved.” including a quick visit to Hariri that the government then the Lebanese -Hariri leaves France for Turkey -The US ambassador to Lebanon, and Turkey leave Beirut announcing lasted 3 minutes. Forces and the Phalange Party won’t where he meets with Turkish PM, Maura Conelly, visits MP Nicolas the end of their mediation. January 25 -Omar Karami responds to either.” Recep Tayyip Erdogan, before flying Fattouch in Zahle to discuss his -In a statement to the Lebanese -Parliamentary negotiations to Nasrallah saying: “I was surprised -Following a meeting of the Future back to Beirut. Upon his arrival, position regarding the parliamentary people, PM Hariri announces his name a PM begin with Mikati at the by the speech, here I am standing movement headed by Siniora, the he meets with President Suleiman negotiations. nomination as PM confirming that top of the rally with 59 votes against before you today, do I look ill? In former announces that it awaits a announcing that he will participate he will abide by the Constitution, he 49 for Hariri, among the former, 7 any case, we are here to serve our clear position of Mikati regarding in the parliamentary negotiations and January 18 will not resort to the street and that the votes are from Jumblatt supporters. country until our very last breath.” the memorandum it delivered to that he will not abandon his duties -The parliamentary negotiations goal is his political assassination. -Protests across the country in him. as PM. He accuses the opposition of are postponed to Tuesday 25 and -A Syrian-Qatari summit in support of the Future movement January 28 -Gatherings in front of the Egyptian overlooking the Doha agreement and Wednesday 26. Damascus confirms the importance denounce the nomination of Mikati, -Mikati begins talks to form a embassy in Beirut continue in adds that he is not a seeker of power -A Qatari-Turkish-Syrian summit of stability in Lebanon. under the slogan of refusing to Cabinet. The Future movement support of the popular uprising and that “between power and the is held in Damascus to discuss the -Al Jadeed TV broadcasts the appoint a Hezbollah nominee. Calls delivers a memorandum requesting in Egypt aimed at overthrowing dignity of my family and my people, situation in Lebanon. The Qatari recording of a meeting between from the North for the following day him to gather the country’s weapons, President Hosni Mubarak. I choose Lebanon and the Lebanese and Turkish Foreign Ministers are Defense Minister Elias Al-Murr to be declared “a day of anger.” besides those of the resistance that people’s dignity.” assigned to visit Lebanon to find a and the international investigation -Hariri states: “The situation before are solely aimed at Israel, and not -A hearing takes place at the solution. commission in which he declares the parliamentary negotiations is to interfere with the international International Court of Justice in The -Bellemare hands over the that President Suleiman is the different to the one that will come tribunal. Hague between representatives of investigation report to Fransen. weakest Army Commander to have after.” -US ambassador to Lebanon meets public prosecutor Bellemare (who -Foreign Minister Ali Al-Shami become President. with Mikati.

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 46|ARAB WORLD FOCUS INDEX|47 TOURISM IN OMAN REAL ESTATE INDEX – s a tourist destination, Oman is drawing praise worldwide. The majority of tourists comes from Gulf countries and visits the south west coast. Salalah is the key destination since it enjoys a much more temperate climate JANUARY 2011 A than most other cities within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). While most of the Gulf region suffers from extreme dry heat during that time, the Dhofar province has a cool and misty summer. uring the month of January 2011, the real estate sector was in a state of stagnation Prices of some apartments sold in January 2011 Table 2 due to several factors, the first of which is D Region Area m2 Price (USD) USD/m2 the habitual low level of activity during this time of Unlike other GCC states, Oman has relatively minor oil for industry professionals believe that tourists come to Oman year. The second factor is the political instability that Beirut and gas reserves and so has needed to find other sources of for its culture and history, not because of a bargain deal or Lebanon witnessed, which reached its peak with the Achrafieh (Rizk) 200 400,000 2,000 revenue. Although tourism is still a small industry in Oman, guaranteed sunshine. resignation of the government and the parliamentary Achrafieh (Rizk) 140 385,000 2,750 it is being heavily promoted with long-term development negotiations that eventually resulted in the nomination of Najib Mikati as PM, replacing Saad Hariri. This Salim Slam 185 481,000 2,600 plans. By 2020, tourism is aimed to contribute to 3% of the Political Risk stagnation, which is expected to affect the sector next GDP when currently 2.1% of the GDP is derived from it. July 2010 marked the 40th anniversary of Sultan Qaboos’ month, did not result in a drop in prices, rather they Mazraa (Afif Al-Taibi) 140 350,000 2,500 Moreover, the sector is part of a wider goal of achieving accession to power, an occasion known as Renaissance Day. remained stable. Tallet El-Khayat 220 682,000 3,100 economic diversification, away from the oil sector, as well In general, Qaboos appears to be fairly popular although Tables 1 and 2 list the prices of a number estates and Mar Elias (Helou apartments sold in January 2011. 150 315,000 2,100 as an important source of employment. opposition or disapproval do exist and remain a threat. Baracks) Qaboos is almost 70 years old so this situation will persist Verdun 180 666,000 3,700 Prices of some estates sold in January 2011 Table 1 Luxury Market over the coming years, although his sudden incapacitation Ras Beirut 150 525,000 3,500 Region Area m2 Price (USD) USD/m2 The Sultanate’s strategy is to target the luxury tourism would pose a risk. He has not named a successor publicly, Baabda Beirut segment. As a result, golf courses, high-end marinas and an but his preference has reportedly been stated in a sealed Hazmieh (Mar Taqla) 200 376,000 1,880 Msaitbeh 960 6,816,000 7,100 international-standard stadium for concerts and sports games letter, which is to be opened in the event of his death. Hadath 180 270,000 1,500 Ras Al-Nabe’i 620 4,619,000 7,450 are either under construction or have already been built. Yarze 250 575,000 2,300 Integrated tourism complexes – blends of holiday villas, Achrafieh 470 2,303,000 4,900 Economic Risk Hazmieh (Brazilia) 200 360,000 1,800 hotels, resorts and shopping centers – are some of the biggest Supported by an expansionary spending policy, Oman is Baabda Beer Al-Aabed 170 178,500 1,050 projects under way as the cohesive elements for the future. looking to lessen the effect of the sharp drop in crude oil Yarze 1,000 2,000,000 2,000 Matn According to a study by Standard Chartered conducted in revenues by increasing state investment to solidify the Baabda 1,600 3,840,000 2,400 August 2009, despite the global economic crisis and the weakened private-sector economic activity. According to Sin el Fil (Horch Tabet) 160 288,000 1,800 Matn flu epidemic, the number of tourist arrivals over the first 5 the International Monetary Fund (IMF), real GDP in 2008 Broumana 200 400,000 2,000 Baabdat 1,200 444,000 370 months of 2009 rose by 17.5% and revenues rose by 3.9%. recorded a 6.2% growth while it merely increased by 3% in Sabtieh 150 202,500 1,350 Broumana 1,000 450,000 450 Oman plans to attract 12 million visitors annually by 2020, 2009 and 3.8% in 2010. Antellias 150 195,000 1,300 Broumana 1,200 756,000 630 an almost six fold increase on the Mansourieh 120 120,000 1,000 Antellias 980 656,600 670 current level. Rabieh 190 418,000 2,200 However, the crisis pushed Oman A’aley A’aley to slightly re-think its vision of the Khaldeh 1,400 2,100,000 1,500 Bchamoun 130 143,000 1,100 tourism sector and the coming year Souq Al-Ghareb 920 2,11,600 230 will provide a clearer picture on the Doha Hoss 180 243,000 1,350 Bchamoun 1,120 280,000 250 future of its projects. Unlike other Khaldeh 150 135,000 900 Keserouane major tourism players within the GCC Doha A’aramoun 150 150,000 1,000 Kfar Zebian 2,800 448,000 160 region, such as Dubai, Oman has Keserouane Safra 2,200 1,100,000 500 aimed for a more discrete technique Adonis 140 126,000 900 Adma 1,000 750,000 750 for its developments to avoid over- Klaiaat 200 170,000 850 building. At the same time, it is Source: Information International January 2011 Adma 230 418,600 1,820 seeking to increase capacity to meet its stated goals, with hotel additions and Zouq Mkayel 160 184,000 1,150 airline expansions to meet expected Source: Information International January 2011 demand. The focus remains on the means to achieve this while maintaining the ‘authentic’ character of the country

Source: http://www.ganeandmarshall.com

issue 104 | March 2011 issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. 48|INDEX INDEX|49 TOWARD A LEBANESE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX Price of products during January 2011 (in LBP) Table 1 Price of products during January 2011 (in LBP) Table 1 Prices Prices Prices Prices beginning beginning % of beginning beginning % of Item and brand of January of price Item and brand of January of price 2011 February change 2011 February change FOOD PRICE INDEX OF 100 PRODUCTS 2011 2011 Cereals Meat, Fish and Eggs JANUARY 2011 Khater white lentils (1 kg) 3,800 3,750 1.3%- Zwan chicken (200 g) 2,500 2,200 12%- Khater chick-peas fahli (1 kg) 3,750 3,750 0% Zwan beef (200 g) 2,250 2,250 0% he prices of most (56 products) of the 100 products we list every month remained the same during the Khater beans (1 kg) 2,000 1,950 2.5%- Luncheon meat beef (198 g) 1,800 1,800 0% month of January 2011. The price of 27 commodities slightly decreased while the price of 17 slightly Tincreased. This demonstrates a state of stagnation in the market illustrated by a decline in demand. This Peeled wheat (1 kg) 2,350 2,350 0% Al-Mona chicken (200 g) 2,100 2,100 0% is in part due to the usual increase in demand that occurs at the end of each year during the holiday season Pineal Lima Bean (1 kg) 3,250 3,250 0% Al-Taghzia beef (200 g) 1,925 1,925 0% but it is also a consequence of the political and security situation that Lebanon witnessed during the month of Brown Fine Burgul (1 kg) 2,000 1,950 2.5%- Al-Taghzia chicken (200 g) 1,750 1,750 0% January, which resulted in limited spending and thus a state of stagnancy. Table 1 lists the price of products in January 2011 (in LBP). Egyptian rice (1 kg) 1,750 1,850 5.7%+ Geisha sardine (125 g) 1,000 1,100 10%+ American rice (1 kg) 1,850 1,950 5.4%+ Deli sardine (125 g) 1,100 1,100 0% Italian rice (1 kg) 2,980 2,900 2.7%- Milo sardine (125 g) 1,090 1,090 0% Price of products during January 2011 (in LBP) Table 1 Price of products during January 2011 (in LBP) Table 1 Al-Wadi Hommos Tahina (380 g) 1,340 1,340 0% Geisha tuna (200 g) 3,990 3,990 0% Prices Prices Prices Chtaura Hommos Tahina (380 g) 1,140 1,140 0% White Bell tuna (200 g) 2,150 2,150 0% beginning % of Prices beginning % of beginning beginning Item and brand of price Item and brand of price California Gardens beans (450 g) 1,100 1,100 0% White Diamond tuna (200 g) 2,250 2,250 0% of January February change of January 2011 February change 2011 2011 2011 Al-Wadi beans (450 g) 1,000 1,000 0% Skipper tuna (185 g) 1,750 1,750 0% Oil Dairy Products Chtaura beans (480 g) 1,500 1,500 0% Eggs (30 eggs) 8.050 7,500 6.8%- Afia corn oil (3.5 liters) 13,750 12,750 7.2%- Candia full cream milk (1 liter) 2,500 2,500 0% Libby’s corn (340 g) 1,750 1,750 0% Beef (1 kg) 17,000 16,000 5.9%- Mazola corn oil (3.5 liters) 13,350 13,500 1.1%+ Fruits and Vegetables Sheep (1 kg) 22,000 21,000 4.5%- Candia full cream yoghurt 3,000 2,350 21.7%- Mazola corn oil (1.8 liters) 6,950 7,250 4.3%+ (2 kg) Orange (1 kg) 1,250 1,000 20%- Coffee and Tea Bonjus labneh (1 kg) 3,990 3,990 0% Slim corn oil (2 liters) 7,500 7,250 3.3%- Tomatoes (1kg) 2,000 1,250 37.5%- Najjar coffee (1kg) 14,000 14,000 0% Taanayel labneh (500 g) 5,650 5,600 0.88%- Wesson corn oil (2 liters) 7,750 7,500 3.2%- Cucumbers (1kg) 2,000 2,000 0% Brazil coffee (1 kg) 11,850 11,850 0% Candia labneh (500 g) 3,500 4,000 14.3%+ Ghandour soya oil (3.8 liters) 11,250 11,250 0% Bananas (1kg) 850 1,000 17.6%+ Al-Hisan tea (180 g) 2,750 2,750 0% Taanayel yoghurt (1 kg) 3,000 3,000 0% Alfa corn oil (4 liters) 13,100 13,750 4.9%+ Lemons (1 kg) 600 500 16.7%- Nestle (250g) 2,350 2,350 0% Smeds cheese (400 g) 4,350 4,350 0% Al-Wadi Olive Oil (1/2 liters) 6,450 6,450 0% Apples (1 kg) 2,000 2,000 0% Halvah and Jam Picon cheese (360 g) 3,350 3,650 8.9%+ Ketchup and Sauces Potatoes (1 kg) 1,250 1,100 12%- Al-Wadi halvah (454 g) 4,150 4,250 2.4%+ Picon cheese (160 g) 1,700 1,950 14.7%+ Libby’s Ketchup (567 g) 1,570 1,500 4.4%- Al-Bsat halvah (450 g) 3,150 3,150 0% Double-crème cheese (1 kg) 7,000 6,500 7.1%- Extra Ketchup (340 g) 980 980 0% Chtaura apricot jam (1 kg) 5,500 5,500 0% Fresh country cheese (1 kg) 8,900 8,900 0% Extra Ketchup (2.2 kg) 5,500 5,500 0% Al-Wadi apricot jam (1 kg) 4,500 4,500 0% Khashkawan cheese (1 kg) 13,000 13,000 0% Dolly’s Mayonnaise (500 ml) 4,500 4,000 11.1%- Tissues and Detergents Lurpak butter (200 g) 2,500 2,250 10%- Al-Wadi Mayonnaise (500 ml) 4,400 4,300 2.2%- Mimosa tissues (500 g) 2,600 2,550 1.9%- Tatra butter (200 g) 2,250 2,400 6.7%++ Al-Bsat Tahina (900 g) 6,390 6,890 7.8%+ Fine tissues (200 tissues) 1,350 1,250 7.4%- Al-Maalaqtain margarine (2 kg) 7,950 7,950 0% Al-Bsat Tahina (450 g) 3,600 3,750 4.1%+ Primo tissues (200 tissues) 1,300 1,300 0% Al-Baqara al-Haloub Gipsy tissues (300 tissues) 2,500 2,500 0% Taous tomato sauce (70 g) 715 715 0% margarine (2kg) 31,075 31,075 0% Taous tomato sauce (425 g) 3,250 3,250 0% Vegetaline margarine (2 kg) 14,950 14,750 1.3%-- Mimosa toilet papers (4 rolls) 3,100 3,100 0% Tala tomato sauce (675 g) 2,990 3,000 0% Yes detergent (900 g) 2,250 2,200 2.2%- Nido full cream milk (bag) 19,500 19,500 0% Pasta (2,250 g) Clorox (1 liter) 1,500 1,500 0% Barilla spaghetti (500 g) 2,100 2,100 0% Nido full cream milk (2,500 g) 23,100 24,250 4.9%++ Persil (4 kg) 18,200 18,250 0.2%+ Antonio Amato spaghetti (500 g) 2,200 2,200 0% Tatra full cream milk (1,800 g) 17,500 16,000 8.5%-- Ariel (4 kg) 18,000 18,000 0% Monte spaghetti (500 g) 2,150 2,150 0% Sugar and Salt Source: Information International 2011 Sugar (2 kg) 3,350 3,350 0% Al-Ousra Sugar (5 kg) 9,500 9,500 0% Salt (700 g) 280 280 0% Box of salt (738 g) 1,100 1,300 18.2%++

issue 104 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. issue 104 | March 2011 50| Did you know that? Stats & Numbers | 51 Statistics from around the World Death Penalty in 2009 Stats& A 18 countries carried out executions through hanging, Numbers A The majority of the world’s executions as in previous shooting, beheading, stoning, electrocution and lethal years, occurred in two regions: Asia and the Middle injection. East and North Africa. A LBP 136.4 million were spent on cleaning works at the headquarters of A 388 executions at least were carried out in Iran. A Most of the world’s executions occurred in China, the Ministry of Social Affairs in Badaro. which executed more people than the rest of the A 120 executions at least were carried out in Iraq. The initial value signed by M.O.B.Y.Q world. commercial company reached LBP 88.4 A 69 executions at least were carried out in Saudi A 95 countries in the world have removed capital Arabia. million. The Minister staying in the building punishment entirely from their laws for all crimes. after working hours generated an increase A 52 executions at least were carried out in the USA. of LBP 48 million (or 54.3% of the initial A 58 countries in the world retain the death penalty. contract). The additional cost includes: A 17,118 people (at least) around the world were facing A 9 countries in the world have abolished the death the death penalty as of December 31, 2009. LBP 6 million for a worker to stay over time, penalty for ordinary crimes only. LBP 33.6 million for seven janitors to work A 366 people were facing the death sentence in Iraq. between floors since there are no janitors in A 2 countries, Burundi and Togo, abolished the death the Ministry and LBP 4 million to repair and penalty in 2009. 276 people were facing the death sentence in A maintain the front glass cleaning machine. Pakistan. Sabra and Chatila Former Gaza Hospital A 2 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana and Photo by: Lynn Abdouni 2010 Sudan, executed prisoners. A 269 people were facing the death sentence in Egypt. A $ 800,000 were spent by the Ministry of Finance to purchase 4 power generators at A 1 country alone, the USA, carried out executions in A 133 people were facing the death sentence in the Americas. Afghanistan. 500 K.V.A each for use in the Ministry’s building in A’adliyeh during power cuts, Publications Source: Death Sentences and Executions 2009, Amnesty International. bearing in mind that the common price for the best quality generators with this kind Publications by Publications by INMA (in Arabic): of power are $50,000/unit. The generators Information International (in Arabic): 1-“I am Responsible, All of Us are Responsible” 1-Salaries and Remunerations in the Public Sector were bought following an offer by an 2-“Our Environment is Our Home” 2-Public Seaside Properties 3-“My Society is My Responsibility” Beirut International Airport establishment in Ba’abda. Thus, around 3-Lebanon’s Parliamentary History 1920-2000 4-“My Society is My Responsibility” Workbook $600,000 were squandered in this deal. 4-Taxes and Fees 5-“I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards Rafic Hariri International Airport – Traffic January 2011 5-Lebanon in Figures 1992-2002 State Building” 12.7% decline A $ 16 million is the cost of works 6-Lebanon in Figures 2003-2004 6-“I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards and technical equipment to reinforce 7-Lebanon in Figures 2005-2006 State Building” Workbook procedures and security measures at the 8-Lebanon’s MPs and Lebanese Parliamentary 7-“Lebanon Wars, why?” Elections 1960 - 2009 Airport traffic decreased Rafic Hariri International Airport. 8-Discrimination in Lebanon 9- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, by a considerable candidate and confession-North District 12.76% during the Airport traffic in January 2011 compared to December 2010 and January 2010 Table 1 A LBP 300 million were spent to construct 10- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, month of January % of change % of change a fortified cement wall to separate the December January January candidate and confession-Beirut District 2011 in comparison Traffic 2010 2011 2010 December 2010 / January 2010 / estates given to the Lebanese army in Jbeil 11- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, January 2011 January 2011 with the month of (83,795 square meters) and the estates candidate and confession-Mount Lebanon Arriving airplanes 2,778 2,258 2,557 18.71- 11.69- December 2010. When that are still attached to the Ministry of District Departing airplanes 2,778 2,259 2,577 18.68- 12.33- comparing the traffic to Youth and Sports. 12- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, candidate and confession-Beqa’a District that of January 2010, Total No. of airplanes 5,550 4,517 5,134 18.61- 12.01- Arriving passengers 233,648 155,533 157,174 33.43- 1.04- 13- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, no significant change A LBP 1.4 billion were spent by the candidate and confession-South and Nabatiyeh Departing passengers 186,735 210,035 208,514 12.47+ 0.73+ is worth mentioning, Lebanese government to host the Arab District with merely 41 more Transit passengers 3,464 4,167 4,006 20.30+ 4.01+ School Championship for Sports (soccer, 14- Municipal Elections 2010 To subscribe: Total No. of passengers 423,847 369,735 369,694 12.76- 0.01+ Al-Borj Building, 4th Floor, Martyrs Square passengers this year. chess, swimming among others) in July Beirut Central District This is most likely due Imported goods (per ton) 3,780 2,738 2,971 27.56- 7.84- 2010. The Council of Ministers agreed Telephone: 961-1-983008/9 961-3-262376 to the unstable security Exported goods (per ton) 2,932 2,106 2,320 28.17- 9.22- to host the tournament in its session on Fax: 961-1-980630 [email protected] and political situation in Source: Information International and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation February 24, 2010. www.iimonthly.com Lebanon. www.information-international.com © Information International SAL All rights reserved License No. 180/2003 issue 104 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. Responsible Director: Hala Saghbini INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL reseach consultants

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