128 Million Annually and Garbage Is Piling

TREASURY LOANS: LBP 3,200 BILLION IN FIVE YEARS

Cost of Beirut international airport February 2011 |

103 China’s growing economy, a threat to the U.S.?

The Monthly interviews Nada Al - Assaad issue number www.iimonthly.com • Published by Information International sal $128 MILLION ANNUALLY AND GARBAGE IS PILING

4 LEADER: $128 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR SUKLEEN AND SUKOMI

9 Treasury loans

16 Cost of Beirut international airport

17 The Ministry of the Displaced

19 The Ministry of Youth and Sports

21 Immunity of Judges and Members of the Constitutional Council

22 Adoption 23 Syndicate of Photojournalists in Lebanon Page 30 25 Lycée Abdel Kader

27 Scalp Hair Loss by Dr. Hanna Saadah

28 Supersizing Working Memory by Dr. Samar Zebian

29 Waiting for the letter and a response by Antoine Boutros Page 23 30 The Monthly interviews Nada Al-Assaad

32 Popular culture 38 Samir Geagea after the Civil War

33 Myth #42: Arab Salvation Army 39 December 2010 Timeline in Lebanon

34 Must-read books: Warlords and Merchants 42 Global Peace Index 2010

35 Must-read children’s book: “Let’s Have Fun and Discover Downtown Beirut” 43 China’s growing economy, a threat to the U.S.? 36 Lebanon Families: Khawli Family 47 Real estate index in Lebanon- 37 Discover Lebanon: Kabrikha December 2010 48 Food Price Index - December 2010

50 Nobel Prizes

50 Beirut Raﬁc Hariri International Airport - December 2010

51 Lebanon stats 3 | EDITORIAL DRAINS ere is the Mufti performing the rain prayer and the sky has answered. The roads are flooded, which begs the obvious question: if you don’t Hhave drains, why pray for rain? At a time when public debt and Sukleen garbage are piling-up and public money is going down the drain, along with all public facilities, another question emerges: why can’t we block these drains? * Sukleen, Lafayette and NTCC = $2 billion DRAIN NO. 1 More than $1.5 billion have been spent to collect and pile garbage on sea shores and valleys in Beirut, Saida and Trablous with total oblivion to its harm to man and the environment in addition to an estimated loss of $500 million for not recycling waste, because we did not implement a comprehensive solid waste treatment plan for Lebanon. This is how we have drained $2 billion since 1992. Water = $8 billion DRAIN NO. 2 More than $600 million are paid annually by households and offices to bottled water companies because our water is polluted and the network is non existent. This is how we have drained $8 billion since 1992. Electricity = $12 billion DRAIN NO. 3 More than $400 million are paid annually to owners of generators in addition to a $600 million annual loss by the electricity sector, because Lebanon has yet to discover electricity. This is how we have drained $12 billion since 1992.

Open sewers network=smile you are in Lebanon! DRAIN NO. 4 Open sewers flowing from the roads into rivers and seas. This should be an opportunity for our Zua’ama to look into.

Blocked drains that ought to be open and open drains that ought to be blocked, this has been our story since 1920.

And so the story goes.

* The estimated amounts do not include interest.

issue 103 - February 2011 4 | LEADER SUKLEEN COLLECTION AND DUMPING OF WASTE $128 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR SUKLEEN AND SUKOMI he issue of waste treatment in Lebanon is one of the environmental problems that governmental approaches have failed to solve despite the substantial funds spent to that end, especially to cover the cost of contracts Twith the Sukleen and Sukomi companies – which are the focus of this article.

Size of solid waste in Lebanon The size of waste in Lebanon (domestic, industrial and In the absence of a medical waste) is estimated at around 4,000-4,200 tons/ “ day or around 1.5 million tons/year. It emerges from national plan, treatment the following: A Organic material: 60% and recycling initiatives A Carton: 10% A Plastic: 10% are also non-existent. A Glass: 5% A Fabric: 5% Recycling is limited to A Minerals and other substances: 5% around 400 tons of waste This waste is distributed by muhafazat as follows: A Beirut and Mount Lebanon: 2,300 tons a day or 10% A North and A’akkar: 700 tons A Beqa’a and Ba’albeck-Hermel: 400 tons A South and Nabatieh: 600 tons random containers or to dumpsters” and sanitary landfills that were designed according to technical criteria that The problem prevent it from contaminating groundwater. However, Despite the large size of waste and its hazards, the the capacity of these landfills is limited. In light of the successive Lebanese governments have failed to draft absence of a treatment and recycling process, there is a a comprehensive national plan that covers the entirety continuous search for new landfills to contain the waste, of the Lebanese territory thus leaving the matter to the which increases when the population rises. Meanwhile, municipalities in most villages. These municipalities the adoption of a waste treatment and recycling plan collect and dump untreated and un-recycled waste in the for some 70-80% of waste would reduce the size of valleys and the outskirts of towns and villages. In Saida waste that is being transported to landfills or random and neighboring villages, NTCC (New Trading and dumpsters and thus contain the problem. Contracting Company) is responsible for this task while in Trablous and Mina al-Qalmoun, Lafayette is in charge This has led to an increase in the quantities of waste of waste collection. In Beirut and some 225 towns and dumped in landfills in Na’ameh from 200 tons/day to villages in Mount Lebanon, Sukleen took over the tasks 2,300 tons/day, accelerating a decline in the landfill’s of cleaning the streets and collecting waste while Sukomi ability to contain waste and forcing searches for an is in charge of treatment and landfilling. alternative landfill in a location near Beirut.

In the absence of a national plan, treatment and What the companies in charge of waste and recycling initiatives are also non-existent. Recycling is municipalities are doing is to collect and transport limited to around 400 tons of waste a day or 10% of waste from the streets, cities and inner neighborhoods the total size of waste. Therefore, the process turns into to the outskirts. As such, they are in no way solving or one of transporting waste from streets and homes to treating the problem.

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Treatment plan Amid a cost increase and in the absence of a solution to the waste treatment problem, especially in Beirut and its surroundings, the Council of Ministers approved, by virtue of Decree No. 18 dated January 22, 1997, an emergency plan submitted by the Ministry of Environment. The plan was based on the following: A The rehabilitation of the A’amroussieh plant and the burning of around 600 tons/day of solid domestic waste A The rehabilitation of the Karantina plant to contain 1,100 tons of waste a day on condition that the waste would be treated by a process of sorting, burning and fermentation A The construction of a new fermentation center near Nahr Beirut A The compression of substances left in the two plants that cannot be recycled or fermented. These are estimated at around 200 tons/day and are to be placed in a sanitary landﬁll

The above plan was never implemented for the following reasons:

A No new fermentation centers were built with a capacity to treat 850 tons of waste a day. Therefore, the current capacity of 300 tons/day was maintained and the substances fermented, amounting to 310,000 tons/year, were sandblasted in the sanitary landﬁll in Na’ameh A Population growth causing an increase in the size of domestic waste, from 1,700 tons/day to 2,600 tons/day, requiring treatment Main contracts On March 10, 1994, contract No. 1348 was signed between the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) and Sukleen. The contract included cleaning and waste collection in Beirut and some neighboring regions on condition that the government would provide the cost of the necessary machines and containers. The contract was later amended to expand the areas covered, as shown in Table 1. Table 1 demonstrates that the contracts were consensual and were signed at a low cost at the beginning, but later increased as waste collection and street cleaning expanded to include more areas. The cost increased from $4 million/year to $102 million/year and its funding was transferred from the CDR to the Independent Municipal Fund.

Amendments to Contract No. 1348 Table 1

Initiation and Contract No. Company Cost (USD) Subject of the Funding Manner of assignment expiration contract dates

Sukkar 1348 Engineering 3,597,283 Collection of domestic World Bank A rehabilitation process took place prior 1-1-1994 until Group waste in Greater Beirut and the CDR to bidding 31-12-1995

Sukkar Consensus between the Sectoral 1-9-1994 until 1348, annex 1 Engineering 2,800,000 Cleaning of Beirut’s CDR Planning and Programming Department Group administrative streets (of the CDR) and Oger International 31-12-1995

Sukkar Consensus between the Sectoral 6-3-1995 until 1348, annex 2 Engineering 7,500,000 Cleaning of the streets of CDR Planning and Programming Department Group Greater Beirut (of the CDR) and Oger International 31-12-1995

Sukkar Consensus between the Sectoral 6-1-1995 until 1348, annex 3 Engineering - Donation of 10 trucks CDR Planning and Programming Department Group and 1,600 containers (of the CDR) and Oger International 21-2-1995

Collection of domestic Independent Consensus between the Sectoral Sukkar waste and cleaning of 1-1-1996 until 1348, annex 4 Engineering 102,625,000 Municipal Planning and Programming Department 31-12-2000 the streets of Greater Fund (of the CDR) and Oger International Group Beirut

Source: Minutes of Cabinet Meetings 6 - 4 - 2010

issue 103 - February 2011 6 | LEADER SUKLEEN and nine location monitors) in addition to office rent, The contracts [...] were telecommunication and transportation. “ Contract to operate and maintain stations for solid signed at a low cost at the domestic waste treatment: $42.2 million An amount of $33,061,889 is required to treat 620,000 beginning. [...] The cost tons of waste a year. The cost is distributed as shown increased from $4 million/ in Table 2. year to $102 million/ Cost of treatment of solid domestic waste Table 2 Treatment Type Quantity Price/ton year and its funding was (tons) (USD) Total (USD) Sorting 620,000 26.34 16,330,800 transferred from the Compression 452,000 15.73 7,109,960 CDR to the Independent Packaging 452.000 12.69 5,735,880 Composting (process of Municipal Fund. fermenting organic waste) 109,000 25.05 2,730,450 Transporting organic material from sorting stations to 109,000 5.55 604,950 Contracts were signed with Sukomi” to operate and fermentation stations maintain treatment stations for solid domestic waste in Transporting organic material Greater Beirut and some neighboring areas (contract from sorting stations to - - 549,849 No. 2378) and design and equip a landfill (Na’ameh) fermentation stations in Greater Beirut and some neighboring areas (contract Total - - 33,061,889 No. 2315). Source: Minutes of Cabinet Meetings 6 - 4 - 2010 Cost of ongoing contracts The quantities exceeded 620,000 tons between June 1, Contract to collect and clean waste: $ 43.5 million 2009, and May 31, 2010, which increased the cost of A contract to sweep and collect waste in Greater Beirut treatment to $42,252,982. and neighboring areas according to 2009 prices: Consultative contract: $1.9 million A Annual amount of $ 17,421,347 to collect waste in The value of the consultative contract with LACECO to Greater Beirut, based on a fee of $26.65/ton based monitor the work of treatment stations reached 4.5% of on a quantity of 653,501 tons the total value or $1,901,384. A Annual amount of $15,793,695 to sweep the streets of Greater Beirut Contract for sanitary landfilling: $39.3 million A $34.55 for every ton of collected waste in Mount A Operating Na’ameh landfill. Prices vary according Lebanon. to the quantity as follows: A An amount of $17.59/ton of heavy waste in areas A Up to 400,000 tons/year: $54.14/ton or a total of serviced by Sukleen (Beirut and its suburbs, Chouf $21,656,000 and A’aley) A Between 400,000 and 500,000 tons/year: $38.67/ The value of receivables due to Sukleen for waste ton collection and cleaning reached $43,582,729. A More than 500,000 tons/year: $46,40/ton

Consultative contract: $ 601,000 A Operating Bssaleem landfill: this landfill is used for The value of the consultative contract with LACECO, heavy size remnants. The cost of landfilling a single the company in charge of monitoring the contract to ton is $3,094. collect and clean waste, reached $601,045. It included The contract for sanitary landfilling for one year the salaries of the personnel (the project manager, (January 19, 2009, until January 18, 2010) reached secretary, project coordinator, eight weight monitors $39,348,625.

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international offers during a short period of time as a Some consider pretext for accepting, in April 2010, the extension of “ the contracts for another four years (not three years) that during the ten until January 17, 2015, after reducing their cost by 4%. Some consider that during the ten month period prior to the expiration of the contract, it could have been month period prior possible to call for bids and attract new offers. to the expiration of However, the extension was not done in an honest and direct manner but rather indirectly since the Ministry the contract, it could of Environment had initially proposed a three-year extension until January 17, 2014, along with a proposal have been possible to expand the Na’ameh landﬁll. The Council of Ministers approved this proposal despite the fact that the contracts with Sukleen and Sukomi were expensive, to call for bids and as the CDR later admitted (even if it tried to justify the attract new offers higher cost). Additional costs to the collection and ” treatment of waste Increase of Sukleen and Sukomi contracts If Sukleen and Sukomi are in charge of the collection The Council of Ministers decided, by virtue of Decree and treatment of waste in Beirut and its nearby No. 3 dated October 20, 2010, to assign to the CDR the regions, including the Mount Lebanon muhafaza, then drafting of a report that analyzes the prices of existing municipalities across Lebanon are doing the same and contracts with the Averda Group (Sukleen and Sukomi) sometimes beneﬁting from grants given to the Lebanese and compare them with those of other companies government to purchase waste containers or machines performing similar work in Lebanon. The report showed for transportation and construction of plants for waste that the cost of the works carried out by Sukleen and treatment, as shown in Table 4. Sukomi was higher than that of other companies, as shown in Table 3. “The extension Comparison of the cost of contracts of Sukleen Table 3 and Sukomi and other similar companies was not done in an

Cost of waste Cost of landfilling honest and direct Region collection (USD/ton) (USD/ton) manner but rather Saida and its suburbs 24 - Trablous 22 29.30 indirectly since Zahle 18 22 the Ministry of Beirut and its suburbs (Sukleen) 26.65 38-54 Environment had Mount Lebanon areas (Sukleen) 34.55 38-54 initially proposed Source: Minutes of Cabinet Meetings 6 - 4 - 2010 a three-year A dishonest extension of contracts By virtue of Cabinet Decree No. 88 dated November 15, extension until 2007, the contracts were extended for three years until January 17, 2011. The government, supported by the January 17, 2014 CDR, used the difﬁculty of holding bids and attracting

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Containers, machines and treatment plants that have been purchased by the Office of the Minister of State for Development Table 4 and Administrative Affairs and their distribution to municipalities and municipal unions Capacity of the Municipality or Municipal union Number of Number of containers machines Cost (euro) plant (ton/day) Cost (euro) Higher Chouf municipal union 100 7 271,636 - - Chouf-Souaijani municipalities 764 4 499,187 26 593,575 Grouping of A’aley municipalities 800 3 212,002 - - Marj municipality 4,245 3 195,332 - - Kherbet Selim municipality 250 2 97,544 - - Union of Jbeil municipalities 375 10 517,805 77 199,692 Ansar municipality 30 2 103,139 10 442,009 Khiam municipality 255 3 172,890 15 633,373 Meshmesh municipality 148 3 116,394 10 533,567 Grouping of higher Metn municipalities 1,126 6 346,166 - - Union of Jezzine municipalities 5,500 8 426,310 - - Abbassieh 70 1 25,896 0,3 248,265 Qabrikha 125 2 Not purchased 15 170,000 Union of Al-Faiha’ municipalities - 3 Not purchased 150 789,267 Union of Minnieh municipalities - 2 Not purchased 61 1,286,850 Union of Chqif-Nabatieh municipalities - - - 120 750,000 Union of Sour municipalities - - - 150 1,019,672 Grouping of Ba’albeck municipalities - - - 60 970,652 Total 13,788 59 2,984,301 694 7,636,922 Source: Minutes of Cabinet Meetings 6 - 4 - 2010

The sum of $128 million is being deducted annually from the Independent Municipal Fund to ﬁnance the works of Sukleen and Sukomi. As a result, each municipality that beneﬁts from their services is deprived of 40% of its share from the Fund and does not have the right to object or demand that it no longer receive these services because the alternative would be to drown in a mountain of waste.

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. TREASURY LOANS PUBLIC SECTOR | 9 TREASURY LOANS LBP 3,200 billion in five years and High Relief Commission gets largest share in violation of the law

ebanon’s state budgets from 2006 until 2010 have yet to be ratified and the same goes for the balance sheets of 2004 through to 2008. Failure to abide by fiscal legislations, lack of precision in numbers, L transfer of contingency bonds from the Treasury to Ministries, granting of treasury loans in a manner that violates Public Accounting Law and the inability of some beneficiaries to settle their loans; are some of the characteristics of the Lebanese financial scene. This article will review the treasury loans that have been granted to various ministries and administrations over the past five years (from 2006 until mid-November 2010) and will illustrate the violations. Treasury loans in the law The Public Accounting Law implemented by Decree No. 14969 issued on December 30, 1963, and its Treasury loans amendments, regulates treasury loans. Article 203 “ defines treasury loans as assistance provided to: were distributed to 1- Supply public administrations’ with needs they may have in common several ministries 2- Purchase stockable materials for use in the current fiscal year or later on and administrations, 3- Fund public institutions, municipalities and independent funds established by the law. including the High Article 204 stipulates: Relief Commission “The granting of treasury loans to fund the institutions mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 203 depends on: (HRC), which received A The Minister of Finance’s confirmation that the recipient will be able to settle the loan in cash within the deadline for payment. the largest share of LBP A The recipient’s pledge to allocate the necessary funds in its budget to settle the loan within the deadline. 620.6 billion or 20% of A The legislative authority’s approval if the deadline for settlement exceeds 12 months.” the total loans Article 205 stipulates: “Treasury loans are granted for the purposes specified in Article 203 by virtue of a decree ” following the Minister of Finance’s recommendation and at the request of competent administrations, and Article 213 stipulates: “The draft balance sheet includes in exceptional cases, treasury loans can be granted by a statement of the treasury loans granted and those that Cabinet decree.” have been settled during the current budget year.”

“And the government must inform the National The manner in which the loans are settled has been Assembly of the ratiﬁed loans within a month.” speciﬁed by Article 209: “Treasury loans provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 203 of this law are Article 208 stipulates: “The loan is not to be used for settled by virtue of remittances to the budget. Treasury a purpose other than that for which it was originally loans provided for in paragraph 3 are directly repaid to granted.” the Treasury within the set deadlines.”

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Treasury loans between legal texts and Recipients of treasury loans practice Treasury loans were distributed to several ministries and When comparing the abovementioned legal texts with administrations, including the High Relief Commission the treasury loans that have been handed out over the (HRC), which received the largest share of LBP 620.6 years (2006-2010), as shown in Table 3, the following billion or 20% of the total loans. violations appear: Table 2 shows the distribution of the loans granted to administrations and ministries. A Treasury loans are being granted in a manner that violates paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 203 Loans granted by recipient Table 2 Value of loan Recipient A Treasury loans are being granted to Ministries (in LBP billion) although they should not beneﬁt from such loans as High Relief Commission 620.6 they have their own budgets Ministry of Telecommunications 465.8

A Loans are being granted without investigating the Ministry of Finance 350.1 solvability of the recipient. Therefore, the loan General Directorate of Cereals And Sugar 349.5 becomes a debt that is being covered by another beets debt consequently increasing the size of public debt Council for Development and Reconstruction 221.6 since the recipient can only pay back the loan by Central Fund for the Displaced 210 borrowing Ogero 205.5 Ministry of Energy and Water 195 A The government does not inform Parliament of the loans it grants Ministry of Labor 190 Ministry of Justice 78.8 A The budget’s balance sheets from 2004 to 2008 have Ministry of Interior and Municipalities 50 not been completed. Therefore the exact amount of loans granted throughout this period, what has been Council of the South 50 settled and what has not remains unknown Rafik Hariri University Hospital 49.5 Federation of Municipalities of Northern Metn 47.5 Treasury loans from 2006-2010 General Directorate of Civil Aviation 36.1 Treasury loans granted from 2006 until 2010 (mid- Government hospitals 24.6 November 2010) reached LBP 3,210.7 billion, distributed by year as shown in Table 1. Telecommunications Regulatory Authority 19.4 Ministry of Public Health 15

Treasury loans from 2006 to 2010 Table 1 Water Authority of Beqa’a 10 Water Authority of North Lebanon 7.5 Value of treasury loans (in Year LBP billion) Water Authority of South Lebanon 5

2006 578.6 Tele Liban 4.8 Tripoli Governmental Hospital 3 2007 416.8 Ba’abda Governmental Hospital 1 2008 719.6 Elias Hrawi Public Hospital (Zahle) 0.5 2009 852.5 Elyssar 0.25 2010 (until mid-November 2010) 643.2 Total 3210.7 Total 3210.7 Source: Official Gazette

Source: Official Gazette Table 3 lists the treasury loans that were granted during a period of ﬁve years (from 2006 until mid-November 2010).

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Treasury loans granted during a period of five years (from 2006 until mid-November 2010) Table 3 Decree and Date Value of of loan Recipient of loan loan (in LBP Purpose of loan Means to settle loan billion) To subsidize red diesel from The contributions allocated to the Ministry or 2986 → Ministry of Energy and 60 24-12-2009 until additional funds to be added to the initial state 4-1-2010 Water 15-3-2010 budget Expenses required to prepare and hold 3215 → Ministry of Interior and The funds allocated to the Ministry’s 2010 Municipalities 28 the municipal and ikhtiariah elections budget 8-2-2010 in 2010 3346 → 23-2-2010 State contribution to the expenses of the The funds allocated to the Ministry’s 2010 Ministry of Justice 40.8 Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) budget

To be settled in cash or by deduction from the 3325 → Council for Development 18 Cost of operating and maintaining the contributions to be allocated to it in the 2010 25-2-2010 and Reconstruction (CDR) Rafic Hariri University City in Hadath budget or both Telecommunications TRA’s revenues as stipulated by Law No. 431 3630 → Regulatory Authority 1.5 Salaries and other expenditures of the and from the funds allocated to the Ministry of 18-3-2010 (TRA) TRA Telecommunications for 2010 To cover the salaries and compensation The funds allocated to the Ministry of 3922 → Ogero 100 expenses of Ogero employees and other 29-4-2010 expenses for works assigned by the Telecommunications’ budget for 2010 Ministry of Telecommunications To cover the expenses of the works Directorate General 3995 (and its needed to complete the fiber optic The funds allocated to the Ministry of amendments) of Construction and 100 network and its equipment as decided Equipment - Ministry of Telecommunications’ budget for 2010 →12-5-2010 by Cabinet Decree No. 42 dated 4-12- Telecommunications 1996 TRA’s revenues and the funds allocated to the To cover the salaries and other expenses Ministry of Telecommunications’ budget for 4209 → TRA 3 1-6-2010 related to the TRA’s work 2010

4575 → CDR 15.7 To complete the construction of the The funds allocated to it in the 2010 state 8-7-2010 Ba’albeck stadium budget The funds allocated to it in the 2010 state budget. They are calculated from the remaining To pay finalized applications, to issue balance specifically allocated to the Fund by their checks and begin working on the 4722 → Central Fund for the 90 virtue of Law 362/2001. They amounts to $500 31-7-2010 Displaced remaining applications in the villages million: $200 million for the Council of the still awaiting the return of their residents South and $300 million for the Central Fund for the Displaced To pay off financial dues to hospitals and establishments by virtue of The funds allocated to the Ministry’s 2010 4946 → Ministry of Public Health 15 reconciliation contracts in return for 4-9-2010 treating the Ministry’s patients from budget (precautionary) 2001 until 2010 (inclusive) Loan to be settled as soon as the imported Purchasing of 100,000 tons of imported amount is sold ,after calculating the difference 4947 → General Directorate of 60 wheat for the purpose of making bread, between the sale price and the purchase price 4-9-2010 Cereals And Sugar beets in addition to all expenses and including all expenses

To cover the expenses related to research, consultations and the preparation of a code of practice to start The funds allocated to the Ministry’s 2010 4945 → Ministry of Energy and 6 4-9-2010 Water implementing a policy paper for the budget electricity sector, ratified by the Cabinet on 21-6-2010 Payment for part of the debts owed by 5014 → The funds allocated to the Ministry‘s 2010 Ministry of Labor 50 the department of optionally insured budget 7-9-2010 persons to hospitals and those insured Payment of expenses to improve its 5019 → Water Authority of South The borrower will allocate funds in its 5 services ,increase revenues and extend 2011 budget to cover the loan 7-9-2010 Lebanon new water networks

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Treasury loans granted during a period of five years (from 2006 until mid-November 2010) Table 3 Decree and Date Value of of loan Recipient of loan loan (in LBP Purpose of loan Means to settle loan billion) Payment of expenses to improve its The borrower will allocate funds in its 2011 5020 → Water Authority of Beqa‘a 10 services, increase revenues and extend 7-9-2010 new water networks budget to cover the loan Payment of expenses to improve its 5021→ Water Authority of North The borrower will allocate funds in its 2011 7.5 services, increase revenues and extend budget to cover the loan 7-9-2010 Lebanon new water networks To cover the expenses of hosting the 14th meeting of the Arab Spectrum 5077 → 500 The funds allocated to the Ministry of TRA Management Group between Telecommunications’ 2010 budget 21-9-2010 (million) 28-11-2010 and 2-12-2010 To cover salaries of TRA employees TRA‘s revenues and funds allocated to the 5144 → TRA 4.5 and other operational and investment 1-10-2010 expenses Ministry of Telecommunications’ 2010 budget To purchase 60,000 tons of local produce of wheat and to pay LBP The contributions to be allocated to the 5167 → General Directorate of 27.75 6-10-2010 Cereals and Sugar beets 100,000 for each dunum that the survey Directorate’s budget proves is being used to plant wheat Payment of first installment for the A‘ain 1167 (and its Council of the South 10 Zarqa ‘project To be settled from the total amount allocated by amendments) Law No. 362 dated 5-1-2009 → Central Fund for the To settle the various debts owed by 16-8-2001 Displaced 60 the Fund to date, including those concerning ongoing projects Compensation for houses damaged The funds allocated to it in the state budget or 1168 → HRC 200 15-1-2009 during the July 2006 war by virtue of an independent law The amounts due to the hospital from the 1233 → Rafik Hariri University 12 To enable the hospital to pay its Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 22-1-2009 Hospital financial obligations its patients at the Ministry’s expense The amounts due to the hospital from the 1266 → Elias Hrawi Public 500 To enable the hospital to pay its Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 28-1-2009 Hospital (Zahle) (million) financial obligations patients at the ministry‘s expense 1372 → Ministry of Justice 12.120 State contribution to the STL‘s expenses The funds allocated to the Ministry in the 2009 17-2-2009 state budget 1466 → Ministry of Interior and 22 Expenses to prepare and conduct the The funds allocated to the Ministry in the 2009 6-3-2009 Municipalities 2009 legislative elections state budget The amounts due to the hospitals from the 1656 → Government hospitals 7.6 To enable the hospitals to pay their Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 4-4-2009 financial obligations patients at the ministry‘s expense Payment of compensation to injured 1670 → The funds allocated to the HRC in the state HRC 15.3 parties in the recent security incidents budget 4-4-2009 in Trablous 364 Compensation for the damage caused The funds allocated to the HRC in the state 1929 → HRC 11-5-2009 (million) by floods in Qa‘a El-Reem in Zahle budget The amounts due to the hospitals from the 1958 → Rafik Hariri University 5 To enable both hospitals to pay their Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 13-5-2009 Hospital financial obligations patients at the ministry‘s expense Ba’abda Governmental 500 Hospital (million) 1971 → HRC 300 To pay indemnities to the owners of The funds allocated to the HRC in the state 16-5-2009 damaged housing units budget 2018 → General Directorate of 10 To buy 75,000 tons of local wheat The contributions allocated to the Directorate in 22-5-2009 Cereals and Sugar beets the state budget The amounts due to the hospital from the 2092 → Sibline Governmental 1.5 To ensure workflow in the hospital Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 29-5-2009 Hospital patients at the ministry’s expense To settle part of the delayed payments 2228 → The funds allocated to the Ministry in the 2009 Ministry of Labor 140 owed by the State to the Social Security state budget 11-6-2009 Fund The amounts due to these hospitals from the 2268 → Government hospitals 12.850 To enable these hospitals to pay their Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 15-6-2009 financial obligations patients at the ministry‘s expense

2333 → General Directorate of 300 To help farmers for the 2006 season The contributions allocated to the Directorate in 19-6-2009 Cereals and Sugar beets (million) the state budget

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Treasury loans granted during a period of five years (from 2006 until mid-November 2010) Table 3 Decree and Date Value of Recipient of loan loan (in LBP Purpose of loan Means to settle loan of loan billion) Assistance to Lebanese owners of To be settled either in cash or from the funds 2431 → HRC 5 damaged buildings in the new section of 2-6-2009 the Nahr El-Bared camp to be allocated to it in the 2010 budget Expenses related to the DSL project, expanding and increasing internet The funds allocated to the Ministry of 2508 → Ogero 25 (USD 9-7-2009 million) capacities and the national internet Telecommunications’ 2010 draft budget network To be settled upon the sale of the imported 749 → General Directorate of 33.251 To buy 50,000 tons of wheat wheat after calculating the difference between 3-1-2008 Cereals and Sugar beets the sale price and the purchase price

758 → Ministry of Finance 60.3 To settle the Lebanese state’s deficit in To be settled upon the sale of some rights 3-1-2008 (million) the International Monetary Fund

844 → HRC 20 To secure the settlement of HRC To be settled either in cash and/or from the 18-1-2008 expenses funds to be allocated to it in the state budget General Directorate of To be settled upon the sale of the imported 832 → 34 Purchase of 50,000 tons of wheat wheat after calculating the difference between 18-1-2008 Cereals and Sugar beets the sale price and the purchase price To cover the cost of buying imported 926 → General Directorate of The contributions to be allocated to it in the 2.262 wheat for milling and bread-making until state budget 7-2-2008 Cereals and Sugar beets the end of 2007 Cost of subsidizing red diesel (LBP To be settled either in cash or from 3,000/ tank) from contributions that will be allocated to the 930 → Ministry of Energy and 35 7-2-2008 Water 15-11-2007 until ministry or both, or from additional funds to be 29-2-2008 added to the state budget To cover the difference of buying To be settled in cash upon the sale of the 893 → General Directorate of 3 50,000 tons of wheat for milling and imported wheat after calculating the difference 7-2-2008 Cereals and Sugar beets bread-making between the sale price and the purchase price To be settled upon the sale of the imported 1136 → General Directorate of 80 To buy 100,000 tons of wheat wheat after calculating the difference between 18-3-2008 Cereals and Sugar beets the sale price and the purchase price To be paid in cash, by deduction from the Rehabilitation and equipping of Rafik 1115 → CDR 12 contributions allocated to it in the 2007 state 18-3-2005 Hariri University City budget or both 45 (USD The original funds allocated to the Ministry of 1417 → Ogero To cover the expenses of a cable project 5-5-2008 million) Telecommunications’ 2009 budget

168 → CDR 3.039 Rehabilitation works of the Lebanese Additional funds to be allocated to the Ministry 4-9-2008 Embassy building in London of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants’ 2009 budget Rafik Hariri University 8 Hospital The amounts due to both hospitals from the 214 → Loan as a settlement of debts due Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 10-9-2008 500 patients at the ministry’s expense Zahle Governmental (million) Hospital Renewal of two operation, maintenance 374 → The funds allocated to it in the 2009 draft CDR 18 and supervision contracts of the Rafik budget, after the budget law has been issued 29-9-2008 Hariri University City in Hadath

420 → HRC 10 To provide expenses to deal with the To be settled either in cash or from the funds to 29-9-2008 latest Tripoli events be allocated to it in the state budget To be paid in cash upon the sale of the imported wheat after calculating the difference 594 → General Directorate of 42 To buy 75,000 tons of wheat for milling 23-10-2008 Cereals and Sugar beets and bread-making between the sale price and the purchase price with all expenses To cover the expenses resulting from The additional funds to be allocated to the 894 the Value Added Tax and the costs 640 → CDR of preparing studies and supervising Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants’ 2009 27-10-2008 (million) rehabilitation works of the Lebanese budget Embassy building in London To be settled either in cash or by deduction from the funds to be allocated from the state 607 → Ministry of Finance 350 Payment of salaries, wages and 15-1-2008 pensions in addition to salary increases budget, after a new law on the increase of salaries and wages is issued

issue 103 - February 2011 14 | PUBLIC SECTOR TREASURY LOANS

Treasury loans granted during a period of five years (from 2006 until mid-November 2010) Table 3 Decree and Date Value of of loan Recipient of loan loan (in LBP Purpose of loan Means to settle loan billion) 76.6 To settle the Lebanese state’s deficit in 732 → Ministry of Finance To be settled upon the sale of some rights 18-11-2008 (million) the International Monetary Fund The amounts due to the hospitals from the Decree effective Government hospitals 900 To enable hospitals to pay their financial Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating as of 2-1-2007 (million) obligations patients at the ministry’s expense 84 → Ministry of Energy and To secure red diesel subsidies (LBP To be settled either in cash, by deduction from 25-2-2007 35 2,000/tank) from the contributions to be allocated to the ministry Water 15-11-2006 until 28-2-2007 in the state budget or both To secure red diesel subsidies (LBP To be settled either in cash, by deduction from 270 → Ministry of Energy and 4 2,000/tank) from the contributions to be allocated to the ministry 11-4-2007 Water 15-11-2006 until 28-2-2007 in the state budget or both Central Fund for the Compensation to injured parties and to pay for restoration and reconstruction To be settled from the total amount allocated to 292 → Displaced 60 27-4-2007 works in addition to other works to be them by Law No. 362 dated 16-8-2001 carried out by the Fund and the Council Council of the South 40 To cover the expenses related to 359 → Ministry of 60.5 (USD The funds allocated to the Ministry’s budget for contracts with the two mobile phone 2006 and 2007 23-5-2007 Telecommunications million) companies The funds to be allocated to the Ministry of 364 → TRA 4.5 To cover the TRA’s expenses 30-5-2007 Telecommunications’ 2008 budget The amounts due to the hospital from the To enable the hospital to pay its 515 → Rafik Hariri University 5 Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 4-7-2007 Hospital financial obligations patients at the ministry’s expense To cover the expenses of buying To be settled upon the sale of imported wheat 589 → General Directorate of 25 imported wheat for milling and bread- after deducting the difference between the sale 31-7-2007 Cereals and Sugar beets making price and the purchase price 616 → HRC 20 To execute works and provide urgent Either in cash and/or from funds to be allocated 8-8-2007 assistance to it in the state budget To cover the cost of subsidizing 649 → General Directorate of The contributions to be allocated to the 12 imported wheat for milling and bread- Directorate in the state budget 22-8-2007 Cereals and Sugar beets making until the end of 2007 The amounts due to the hospital from the To enable the hospital to pay its 697 → Trablous Governmental 3 Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 5-9-2007 Hospital financial obligations patients at the ministry‘s expense To secure the Lebanese state’s The funds to be allocated to the ministry’s 737 → Ministry of Justice 7.5 9-9-2007 contribution to the STL’s expenses 2008 draft budget To be settled either in cash, by deduction from 777 → CDR 10 To rehabilitate and equip the Rafik Hariri the contributions to be allocated to it in the 4-10-2007 University City in Hadath 2006 budget or both 859 → Government hospitals 1.8 To enable the hospitals to settle their Bills (that are audited by specialized 1-11-2007 financial obligations committees) The amounts due to the hospital from the 884 → Rafik Hariri University 6 To enable the hospital to settle its Ministry of Public Health as a result of treating 3-11-2007 Hospital financial obligations patients at the ministry’s expense To be settled either in cash, by deduction from 873 → Elyssar 250 Payment of the institution’s rent the contributions allocated to it in the state 3-1-2007 (million) budget or both To be settled either in cash, by deduction from 938 → CDR 16 To operate and maintain the Rafik Hariri the contributions to be allocated to it in the 19-11-2007 University City 2007 state budget or both Settlement of debts owed and To be settled in cash or by deduction from the 953 → Tele Liban 785.5 compensation to the company’s contributions to be allocated to it in the state 21-11-2007 (million) personnel budget To be settled in cash or by deduction from the 956 → Tele Liban 4.03 Settlement of debts owed by Tele Liban contributions to be allocated to it in the state 21-11-2007 budget To treat the damages incurred by the 1044 → To be settled in cash and/or from the funds to HRC 10 clashes that occurred in the Nahr El- be allocated to it in the state budget 24-11-2007 Bared camp Lebanon’s contribution to the STL’s The funds to be allocated to the ministry’s 1015 → Ministry of Justice 18.407 21-11-2007 expenses 2008 budget

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. TREASURY LOANS PUBLIC SECTOR | 15

Treasury loans granted during a period of five years (from 2006 until mid-November 2010) Table 3 Decree and Date Value of Recipient of loan loan (in LBP Purpose of loan Means to settle loan of loan billion) To purchase equipment necessary for 990 → General Directorate of Civil Aviation 36.1 the safety and security of the Rafic Hariri To be settled from external loans 24-11-2007 International Airport-Beirut

998 → TRA 5.4 TRA’s expenses The funds to be allocated to the Ministry of 24-11-2007 Telecommunications’ 2008 budget To ensure diesel subsidies (LBP 3,000/ To be settled in cash, by deduction from the tank) from contributions to be allocated to the ministry in 16165 → Ministry of Energy and 55 20-1-2006 Water 24-11-2005 until the end of February the state budget, both or from additional funds 2006 to be added to the state budget

16177 → CDR 98 To settle the contract with Hochtief / To be paid by deduction from the contributions 23-1-2006 CCC, which carried out airport works to be allocated to it in the 2006 state budget Payment of compensation for damages To be settled by deduction from the funds that 16362 → HRC 10 caused by the explosives, destruction will be allocated to the budget of the Council of 15-2-2006 and vandalism in Achrafiyeh Ministers-HRC To settle the expenses of operation and 16564 → Rafik Hariri University To be paid by deduction from the contributions 1.537 maintenance works handled by the CDR to be allocated to the hospital in 2006 13-3-2006 Hospital until 31-12-2006 To settle the first installment of the The funds allocated to the Ministry of 16747 → Ministry of 48.5 15-4-2006 Telecommunications contract with FTML/ FTMI Telecommunications’ 2006 budget To cover the expenses resulting from the The funds allocated to the Ministry of 17097 → Ministry of 226.125 5-6-2006 Telecommunications contract with Libancell Telecommunications’ 2006 budget Federation of To pay off debts due to the SACE The Federation’s budget or the money owed to 17371 → Municipalities of Northern 47.44 6-7-2006 Metn institution the Federation by the state To cover the expenses resulting from the Loan to be settled in cash and/or from the 17448 → HRC 10 14-7-2006 2006 July war funds to be allocated to it in the state budget Loan to be settled by deduction from the To enable the hospital to treat amounts owed to the hospital as a result of 17446 → Rafik Hariri University 3 emergency cases resulting from the 14-7-2006 Hospital treating patients at the expense of the Ministry 2006 July war of Public Health

17522 → HRC 10 To cover the expenses resulting from the Loan to be settled in cash and/or from the 29-7-2006 2006 July war funds to be allocated to it in the state budget

17578 → HRC 10 To cover the expenses resulting from the Loan to be settled in cash and/or from the 30-8-2006 2006 July war funds to be allocated to it in the state budget Loan to be settled by deduction from the To enable the hospital settle its financial amounts owed to the hospital as a result of 17629 → Rafik Hariri University 3 13-9-2006 Hospital obligations treating patients at the expense of the Ministry of Public Health Loan to be settled once the imported wheat is 17757 → General Directorate of 5 To cover the price of purchasing12,200 sold and after deducting the difference between 27-9-2006 Cereals and Sugar beets tons of imported wheat to produce bread the sale price and the purchase price The remaining amount of the loan will be returned to the treasury after deducting the 17756 → General Directorate of 15 To cover the price of purchasing locally 27-9-2006 Cereals and Sugar beets produced wheat for the 2006 season subsidy that the treasury will allocate to the Directorate) LBP-375 LBP(225 Loan to be settled in cash, by deduction from the funds to be allocated to the Ministry of Public Health for this purpose or by deduction 18003 → Rafik Hariri University 6 To enable the hospital settle its financial 6-11-2006 Hospital obligations from the amounts owed to the hospital as a result of treating patients at the Ministry’s expense Loan to be settled in cash, by deduction from 18005 → CDR 15 To rehabilitate and equip the Rafic Hariri the contributions to be allocated to it in the 6-11-2006 University City in Hadath state budget or both Loan to be settled in cash, by deduction from 18004 → CDR 15 To operate and maintain the Rafic Hariri the contributions to be allocated to it in the 6-11-2006 University City in Hadath state budget or both Source: Official Gazette

issue 103 - February 2011 16 | PUBLIC SECTOR COST OF BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COST OF BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT EXPANSION A $335 million or 93% inrease of the original contract price!

mong the major construction projects that were launched in Lebanon after the war in 1994 was the project to develop and expand Beirut International Airport so that it would have the capacity to host 6 million Apassengers annually by 2010 and 16 million passengers annually by 2035, following gradual expansion works. However, the problem with this project lies in the exaggerated estimations of the number of passengers and the substantial increase of the original cost of the project.

Works The plan to develop and expand the airport involved the was tendered? If there has been such an increase, when will following works: the government refer a draft law to the National Assembly to A The construction of a 3.8 km eastern runway at the provide new funds to cover it? estimated cost of $59 million. This project was awarded Second question: Would it not have been possible to divide to Karagulla Engineering & Contracting. the project into phases so as to execute them on a needs basis, A The construction of a 3.4 km western runway. in order to alleviate the burden on the public treasury? A The construction of a new terminal with a total area of Third question: Now that we have entered the austerity 150,000 square meters (with 21 departure gates) that phase, would it be possible to review the project in order to would include a transit section, a duty free shop and a postopone the completion of some of its parts to a later date? control tower. Hariri replied saying: “The truth is that there has been a few A Infrastructure works, the acquisition of technical months delay in the Beirut airport project but until now, equipment, the construction of a firefighting building, there is no increase that the government has considered itself a post office and a building catering to the upkeep of bound to. As for the delay, it resulted from several factors planes. In addition, the modernization and equipping of including the issue of land expropriations. The problem the energy production building, the modernization and was that some property owners who showed deeds proving equipping of the civil aviation maintenance building, the their ownership were being expropriated. On the other hand, modernization of the emergency training building and the the process of selecting the quality of the stone to be used provision of main and secondary roads for passengers. took longer than expected and so did the execution of some The cost of the works mentioned in articles 2, 3 and 4 plans. But so far, there has been no increase in the cost of the were estimated at $300 million and were undertaken project and we are still within the $400 million limit. by an alliance between CCC (Consolidated Contractors In the same session, PM Hariri reiterated: “The amount Company) and Hochtief. The total cost of the project demanded by the contractor does not exceed $70 million; and amounted to $359 million. However, as the works went to be honest I cannot remember the amount demanded by the underway, the cost increased year after year, with the final state. This is why I did not mention it. As for the amount of amount reaching $694 million, marking a $335 million or debt that they are demanding, it is around $70 million or a 93.3% rise in comparison to the original price. The increase little over LBP 100 billion. The total cost of the airport project came as a result of alterations and additions to the original should, in its entirety, be in the realm of $500 million.” plan thus changing the foundation of the project, without issuing a new bid. However, the final cost exceeded the figure mentioned and increased to $694 million, after settling the demands of CCC MPs take a stand and the government responds and Hochtief. The substantial increase in the cost has been a point of According to international norms, any variation orders to discussion in parliament since 1997. During a government the specifications and scope of work of the original contract question session on December 16-17, 1997, then MP Salim follow specific criteria. Variation orders that exceed 15% Hoss asked then Prime Minister Rafic Hariri the following: of the original contract’s value are subject to negotiations and it is usually unlikely that the variations will reach a First question: Is it true that there has been an increase in higher percentage. the project’s cost compared to what it initially was when it

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. THE MINISTRY OF THE DISPLACED PUBLIC SECTOR | 17 2 BILLION SPENT AND THE DISPLACED HAVE YET TO RETURN!

he 15 years of war that Lebanon endured (1975-1990) caused many problems and crises, one of which is the issue of the displaced who were forced, during various stages of the war and sometimes more than Tonce, to leave their homes as a result of military operations or confessional and political terrorism. They had to move to safer regions or to more confessionally and politically homogeneous areas. As a result, displacement became a major problem and therefore work to bring the displaced back to their homes became a priority for all the governments that were formed following the end of the war. Pre-establishment Tasks During the war, the government realized the need to address The law that established the Ministry specified its tasks: the issue of the displaced. Therefore, Article 87 of the 1985 handling of all the affairs of the displaced in all the Budget Law provided for the creation of the National Lebanese regions, securing their return to their areas Council for the Affairs of the Displaced to carry out all the and villages, improving their social and economic living works aimed at aiding displaced Lebanese persons in the conditions, enabling them to resettle in their places Lebanese territory, who were not covered by the Council of of residence and granting them their full rights and the South, assisting and returning them to their homes and responsibilities as citizens. villages. While the National Council awaited the issuance of its regulatory texts, the Council for Development and Structure and personnel Reconstruction performed its tasks. The government The Ministry of the Displaced consists of an Executive formed in May 1992 headed by Prime Minster Rachid El- Body and of the National Council for the Affairs of Solh named Elie Hobeiqa as Minister of State for the Affairs the Displaced (which has not yet been established for of the Displaced. This showed the importance that the State confessional and political reasons). The Executive Body accorded to solving the issue of the displaced. Later, Walid includes the central administration, a regional department, Jumblat held the position, in the first government formed a director general, 5 services, 23 departments and 238 by Rafic Hariri at the end of 1992. posts as shown in Table 1. Establishment The Ministry of the Affairs of the Displaced was established by virtue of Law No. 190 dated January 4, 1993. Its name was later amended to the Ministry of the Successive Ministers of the Displaced Displaced by virtue of Law No. 247/2000. Among the From 1991 to date, the Ministry has had 13 Ministers, reasons for the creation of such a Ministry was that: distributed by confession as follows: A Druze: 8 “The problem of the displaced is one of the major and most A Catholic: 2 serious problems resulting from the events that Lebanon A Maronite: 2 suffered from, and the problem is reflected [in the fact] A Sunni: 1 that displacement has affected most regions and included a large number of residents ... Due to the seriousness of the Elias Hraoui’s presidency: Elie Hobeiqa, Walid problem, the National Reconciliation Charter awarded it Jumblat (three times) special attention stipulating to radically solve the problem Emile Lahoud’s presidency: Anouar al-Khalil, of displaced Lebanese persons, grant the right to every Marwan Hamadeh, Abdullah Farhat, Najib Miqati, displaced Lebanese since 1975 to return to the place Talal Arslan, Adel Hamieh and Neimeh Tohmeh from which he was displaced, put in place legislation that Michel Suleiman’s presidency: Raymond Aoudeh guarantees this right and secure all the means necessary for and Akram Chehayeb reconstruction ... The realization of these goals necessarily requires the creation of a Ministry that cares for the affairs of the displaced in all Lebanese regions...”

issue 103 - February 2011 18 | PUBLIC SECTOR THE MINISTRY OF THE DISPLACED

The Ministry’s structure and the distribution of posts by grade Table 1 Grade One Grade Two Grade Three Grade Four Grade Five Total Directorate General 1 1 1 - - 3 Bureau Service - 1 - - - 1 -Administrative and Personnel Affairs Department - - 1 16 18 35 -Accounting Department - - 1 7 - 8 -Complaints Department - - 1 4 - 5 -Cases Department - - 2 4 - 6 -Department of Public Relations and Media Affairs - - 4 4 - 8 Statistics and Planning Service - 1 - - - 1 -Department of Statistics and Inspection - - 4 5 2 11 -Department of Evacuation - - 1 5 - 6 -Department of Planning - - 7 10 - 17 -Programs Department - - 1 5 - 6 Technical Affairs Service - 1 - - - 1 -Department of Rehabilitation and Infrastructure - - 5 12 4 21 -Research Department - - 5 6 - 11 Aid and Loans Service - 1 - - - 1 -Department of Funding - - 2 4 2 8 -Department of Aid - - 2 5 - 7 -Department of Loans - - 2 3 - 5 Control and Warehouses Service - 1 - - - 1 -Department of Control and Execution - - 1 12 4 17 -Department of Control of the Use of Loans - - 1 7 - 8 -Department of Warehouses and Depots - - 1 5 3 9 IT Department - 1 4 8 1 14 -Department of Mount Lebanon - - 1 6 1 8 -Department of the North - - 1 3 1 5 -Department of the South - - 1 3 1 5 -Department of Nabatiyeh - - 1 3 1 5 -Department of Beqa’a - - 1 3 1 5 Total 1 7 51 140 39 238 Source: Decree No. 6504 dated March 15, 1995, regulating the Ministry’s work.

Budget In 1993, the first budget to be allocated to the Ministry of It is fair to say that since its establishment, the Ministry the Displaced reached LBP 4,370 million then forming has been mostly headed by Druze or Christian ministers, 0.128% of the State’s total budget. In 1994, it increased to who are supporters of Minister Walid Jumblat. LBP 6,119 million or 0.144% of the State’s total budget. Created to facilitate the return of the displaced, the In the 2009 draft state budget law, the Ministry’s budget Ministry has outlined plans, issued evacuation decrees reached around LBP 6,249 million or 0.038% of the and allocated compensation funds for reconstruction. State’s total budget. The most significant expenses are However, the body in charge of paying out is the Fund distributed on the following areas: for the Displaced, attached to the Cabinet. Substantial A Rent of offices and maintenance: LBP 665 million amounts of money have so far been spent by the Fund, A Allocations, salaries, wages and related expenses: nearly $2 billion, while the return of the displaced has LBP 4,732 million, including LBP 3,333 million in been timid and not yet been completed. In view of the contractor salaries absence of development projects in towns and villages, A Contributions to non-profit organizations (associations the displaced cannot return to their original places of and committees for the return of the displaced): LBP residence. Although the military factor that triggered their 250 million displacement has disappeared, it has been replaced by the economic factor. [Note: Expenditures to fund the return of the displaced takes place through the Central Fund attached to the Cabinet]

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS PUBLIC SECTOR | 19 THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS A MINISTRY THAT HAS YET TO REACH ITS GOAL!

he Ministry of Youth and Sports was created in order to meet the needs of the young population, especially in the fields of sports and entertainment. This follows similar initiatives in various developed states where Tministries for the youth, culture and entertainment were created. Establishment The Ministry of Youth and Sports was created by virtue of Article 9 of Law No. 247 dated August 7, 2000, (on the integration, abolition and creation of Ministries and Councils), by separating the Directorate General of Youth and Sports from the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports, the latter thus becoming the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The Directorate, its services and personnel were then attached to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, except for the professors of physical education who were affiliated to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education – Directorate General. Tasks Law No. 629 dated November 20, 2004, which regulates the Ministry of Youth and Sports, specified the Ministry’s tasks as follows: A The Ministry of Youth and Sports is in charge of the affairs of the youth and sports, their associations, clubs, unions and all activities linked to them be they educational, moral, civil, social or recreational. A The Ministry shall supervise and control licensed sports organizations. Structure and personnel Decree No. 16680 dated March 30, 2006, specified the structure of the Ministry of Youth. It consists of the Directorate General of Youth and Sports, which includes 5 services, 17 departments and 176 posts as shown in Table 1.

Structure and personnel of the Ministry of Youth and Sports by grade Table 1 Grade One Grade Two Grade Three Grade Four Grade Five Director General 1---- Bureau Service - 1 - 6 5 -Department of Administrative Affairs - - 1 4 2 -Department of Legal Affairs - - 2 2 - -Department of Financial Affairs - - 1 5 - -Department of Public Relations and Media Affairs - - 2 4 - Sports Service -1-3- -Department of Sports Associations and Unions - - 2 5 - -Department of Sports Training - - 3 7 - Youth Service - 1 - 1 2 -Department of Scouts Associations and Unions - - 3 9 - -Department of Youth Training - - 4 6 - Sports Medicine and Medical Guidance Service - 1 - 1 2 -Department of Health Control - - 2 2 - -Department of Health Guidance - - 2 2 - Planning and IT Service - 1 - 1 2 -Planning Department - - 4 3 - -IT Department - - 3 4 - -Regional Departments in the Muhafazat, except Beirut - - 7 49 7 Total 1 5 36 114 20

issue 103 - February 2011 20 | PUBLIC SECTOR THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS Budget The budget of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2001 It should be noted that the post of Director General of (the ﬁrst budget following its creation) reached LBP the Ministry is reserved to the Shia’a confession (Zaid 25.1 billion or 0.253% of the State’s total budget. The Khiami has occupied this post since 1994). Ministry’s budget dropped in the 2009 state budget to LBP 24.8 billion or 0.152% of the State’s total budget. It Emile Lahoud’s presidency: Sebouh Hovnanian (three is primarily spent on the following: times), Alain Tabourian and Ahmad Fatfat.

A Rent of offices and maintenance: LBP 205 million Michel Suleiman’s presidency: Talal Arslan and Ali A Salaries, wages and related expenses: LBP 832.5 Hussein Abdullah. million A Conference delegations (inside and outside Lebanon): LBP 425 million A Salaries and wages of workers at Beirut Sports City: LBP 810 million The Public Institution for Sports, Youth A Maintenance of Beirut Sports City: LBP 500 million and Scouts Establishments A Maintenance of the Trablous Stadium: LBP 375 million A Maintenance of Saida’s Scouts City: LBP 375 Article 12 of Law No. 629 dated November 20, 2004 million (which regulates the Ministry of Youth and Sports), A Contributions to sports associations and clubs: LBP 2 provided for the creation of the Public Institution for billion Sports, Youth and Scout Establishments to manage A Establishment of sports’ complexes for training sports, scouts and youth facilities across Lebanon. activities: LBP 1 billion It was also to be in charge of performing studies and A Contribution to the Council for Development and setting out various plans and programs, including Reconstruction to complete a project to construct the technical, financial and executive ones. The creation Ba’albeck Stadium : LBP 15.7 billion of the institution meant that the Sports City Service (created in 1958), the National Sports Academy A brief glance at the abovementioned expenses (created in 1968), the Public Institution for the Funding demonstrates that the budget is very low and is mostly of Major Sports Leagues (created in 1995) and the dedicated to the payment of salaries and support of Public Institution for Fatwa Cases (created in 1964) some clubs and associations – excluding the cost of the were no longer needed and would be abolished. Ba’albeck Stadium. In light of such limited financial resources, one cannot expect the Ministry to achieve The Institution would be managed by a board of many of its goals. It is merely able to boost and develop directors made up of seven members, in addition to a sports and care for the needs of the young population. director general. It would consist of: However, its core objective is still far from being attained, for a number of reasons. Even though large stadiums A A Bureau Service have been constructed in all the muhafazat, they remain A A Financial Affairs Service closed, unattended, ill maintained and rusty. Furthermore, A A Technical Affairs Service sports clubs and associations exist in their hundreds but A A Sports Establishment are mostly involved in the political-confessional game, thus placing sports at a secondary level. However, it has been six years since the text to establish the Institution and four years since Decree Successive ministers No. 16681 (meant to regulate the latter) were issued Since its establishment in 2000 until today, the Ministry and it has yet to become a reality, which is unlikely to has been headed by seven ministers distributed by occur in the near future. confession as follows: A Armenian Orthodox: 4 A Druze: 1 A Sunni: 1 A Shia’a: 1

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. JUDGES’ IMMUNITY LEGISLATION, JUDICIARY & CRIME| 21 IMMUNITY OF JUDGES AND MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL n Lebanon, judges enjoy immunity against prosecution before ordinary courts. Article 344 of the Code of Criminal Procedures stipulates that the Court of Cassation has jurisdiction to prosecute judges, whether the Ioffenses they commit are related to the performance of their duty or result from it, or whether they are outside the realm of their functions. Felonies and Misdemeanors If a first instance court judge, an examining magistrates, The disciplinary measures that can be taken are the an attorney general of the appellate, financial or military following: public prosecution department, an appellate court judge, A Warning an advisor of the State Consultative Council or the A Blame Accounting Department, an associate advisor of the State A Delay of the promotion for a period not exceeding Consultative Council, commits a misdemeanor outside two years the performance of his/her duty, he/she will be pursued by A Demotion the Court of Cassation’s Public Prosecution Department A Suspension from work without pay for a period not automatically or pursuant to the complaint of the victim. exceeding one year Proceedings take place before the Criminal Chamber of A Dismissal the Court of Cassation. However, if the crime committed A Removal from office without the payment of any was a felony, the First President of the Court of Cassation compensation for dismissal or of the retirement appoints a judge, ranking at least at the same level as the salary defendant judge, to conduct the investigation. In the event of a demotion, a judge has priority in terms If the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, the of promotions. In the event of a dismissal without any President of the State Consultative Council, the Attorney form of payment, he/she is nevertheless granted his/her General of the Court of Cassation, the President of the pension fund. Accounting Department or the President of the Bureau of None of the disciplinary sessions’ content should be Interrogative Investigation, commits a misdemeanor or published or declared, except the final decision and a felony outside the scope of his/her functions or within only if it holds that the defendant should be dismissed or as a result of the performance of his/her duties, he/she or removed from office without any form of payment. will be tried before a special judicial body composed of five judges appointed by a decree issued by the Cabinet, Members of the Constitutional Council upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice. The Members of the Constitutional Council enjoy immunity judicial body’s members are selected among current or similar to that of Members of Parliament. Article 9 of the retired judges, provided that they have at least attained the Constitutional Council’s bylaws stipulates the following: 17th degree (degrees in the judiciary system range from “With the exception of in flagrante delicto, no criminal case the first to the twenty second degree). shall be brought against a member of the Constitutional Council, no criminal procedure shall be taken against him Breaches of duty and he shall not be arrested during his mandate without Failure to attend court sessions, delay to settle the prior authorization of the General Committee”. proceedings, abstention from setting a specific date to The Minister of Justice submits the request to prosecute a adjudicate on a case, discrimination between litigants member of the Council to the President of the Council who and disclosure of documentation related to a case are then assigns the Council’s Office to examine the request considered breaches of duty. If any of the above is and submit a report on it to the General Committee within committed, the judge will not be tried before ordinary a one week period. The General Committee then renders courts or before the Disciplinary Council, which rules its decision within a similar time frame, after having heard on cases concerning employees, but before a special the accused, who is deprived of his right to vote. Until disciplinary council, composed of the President of the today, no request to prosecute any of the constitutional Supreme Judicial Council or his deputy and of four of council members has been made. its members, formed for a one year period.

issue 103 - February 2011 22 | LEGISLATION, JUDICIARY & CRIME ADOPTION ADOPTION Not recognized by Islam and conditional in Christianity

doption is the act of parenting someone else’s child. It is an old concept, which used to be sought by a childless person in order to ensure that someone would take care of his/her duties and religious rituals Aonce he/she passed away.

Adoption in Islam Adoption was known to Arabs before Islam, which The law is silent on banned it in the following Qur’anic verses: “Allah has “ not kept two hearts in the body of any man; nor has He the matter of granting made them your mothers those wives of yours, whom you declare to be your mothers; nor has He made them Lebanese citizenship to your sons, whom you have adopted; this is the statement of your mouths; and Allah proclaims the truth and it is the adoptee if he/she is not He Who shows the path. Call them with their fathers’ names – this is more suitable in the sight of Allah; and Lebanese or does not have if you do not know their fathers, then they are your a nationality brothers in the faith...” (Surat Al Ahzab, verses 4-5) Adoption in Christianity Outcome of adoption ” Christianity allows adoption based on the following The adoptee assumes the family name of the adoptive conditions and provisions: parents and becomes a legitimate child in terms of A The adoptive parent must be infertile and therefore rights and duties. He/she remains a member of the can never have a legitimate offspring. original family, enjoys their rights and maintains his/ A The agreement and acceptance of the adoptee, if her duties toward them i.e. he/she inherits from the he/she is an adult. Otherwise, the approval of the original parents and relatives and vice versa. He/she is adoptee’s parents or guardian is required if he/she is also obligated to pay alimony to his/her original parents. a minor. When the adoptive parent dies or becomes unfit, the A An adoptee cannot be adopted by more than one authority of parenthood reverts to the adoptee’s father person unless he/she is adopted by a married or guardian. couple. A It is not permitted for parents to adopt their Adoption prohibits marriage between the adoptive illegitimate children and a custodian or guardian parent and the adoptee and his/her offspring and cannot adopt a child who is under his/her custody between the adoptees of one adoptive parent. or guardianship unless such custody or guardianship has ended. The law is silent on the matter of granting Lebanese A The adoptive parent must be more than 40 years of citizenship to the adoptee if he/she is not Lebanese or age and must be older than the adoptee by at least 18 does not have a nationality. years. A The adoptive parent must have a good reputation. While it is true that the law contains many conditions regarding adoption, it is important to indicate that If the above mentioned conditions are satisfied, the most adoption cases involve children who come from ecclesiastical court issues a ruling that is ratified by the unknown families or whose parents are deceased. Parish’s bishop following which the adoption becomes Therefore, the issues that are dealt with in legal effective. provisions rarely materialize.

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. SYNDICATE OF PHOTOJOURNALISTS IN LEBANON PRIVATE SECTOR | 23 SYNDICATE OF PHOTOJOURNALISTS IN LEBANON

The Syndicate of Photojournalists in Lebanon was A Organize artistic festivals that aim to explain the created by virtue of Decree No. 82/1 dated May 7, 1980. work of a photographer and the importance of his The Syndicate was established to: role in building and defending society

A Protect the profession, encourage and improve Membership it, defend its interests and develop it on all levels, Any person who practices photojournalism as a profession artistic and technical can become a member of the Syndicate provided he/she A Represent and sponsor the affairs of photographers, meets the following legal requirements: defend them and their rights and work to improve their living, social and ﬁnancial conditions A Is a Lebanese citizen A Organize sessions and courses to teach the art of A Enjoys all his/her civil rights photojournalism, encourage this art among the youth A Is a photojournalist at the time of application and students and sponsor art exhibitions A Is over 18 years of age A Consolidate cooperation between photographers and A Does not have a criminal record the owners of publications and organize and improve A Is able to provide proof of his/her activities as a production photojournalist A Provide professional and ﬁnancial aid to members of A Has been in the profession for more than a year the Syndicate from available resources A Is not a public sector employee

Photo by Mohamad Ali Rajab 2010

issue 103 - February 2011 24 | PRIVATE SECTOR SYNDICATE OF PHOTOJOURNALISTS IN LEBANON

The members of the Syndicate are divided into two A Treasurer categories: A Press Officer Group A: photographers who have been practicing A Qualifications Officer photojournalism for more than three years A Social Affairs Officer Group B: photographers who have been in the profession A Exhibitions and Art Officer for less than three years A Veteran and Wounded Photographers’ Affairs Officer A member automatically moves from Group B to Group A Public Relations Officer A after three years in the profession. A Officer in charge of by-laws A Group B member does not have the right to vote or contend elections but can attend general assembly Group A members of the General Assembly elect board meetings and participate in discussions. members by secret ballot for four years. Following a draw, half of the members of the Board are discharged The membership fee is set at LBP 100,000 for Group A half way through their term and replaced. Every member members and LBP 50,000 for Group B members. The who has been on the Board for four years is automatically monthly subscription fee is set at LBP 10,000. discharged. The Syndicate’s board has the right to amend the membership and subscription fees following the approval Challenges of two thirds of its members and that of the majority of A The Syndicate is not part of the Lebanese Journalists’ the General Assembly, and the Ministry of Labor. Union, which effectively allows the latter to keep its control over the former. Structure A Some media establishments do not recognize the The Syndicate consists of the General Assembly and the Syndicate and do not declare their recruitment of Syndicate Board. photojournalists, thus depriving the latter of social security. The General Assembly: it includes all the Syndicate’s A The absence of copyright, which means that the members who have paid their subscription fees, currently photographer does not benefit financially from the amounting to 350 people. It has the power to: sale of his/her pictures because the Syndicate acquires A Elect members of the board all the funds. A Amend the Syndicate’s bylaws A The Press and Editors’ Syndicates also do not A Study and adopt the Syndicate’s budget recognize the Syndicate, namely for electoral and A Ratify the Syndicate’s final budget financial purposes. Such recognition would lead A Discharge board members following the ratification to a division of the aid granted by the Ministry of of the final budget Information between three syndicates instead of A Decide on the ways to spend the Syndicate’s funds two. A Sign contracts for team work A Decide on the dismissal of board members Activities A Set and amend membership and subscription fees The Lebanese Ministry of Information’s recognition of A Approve the Syndicate’s policy and relationship with the Syndicate and the allocation of an annual budget of other syndicates, unions and professionals LBP 50,000,000 are to be spent on: A School assistance to the children of the Syndicate’s The Board: it runs the affairs of the Syndicate. It members consists of 12 Group A members, of whom 9 represent A Medical aid photographers working for publications and 3 represent A Exhibitions photojournalists who work for private televised news A Training agencies outside studios. A Expenses related to the Syndicate’s facility A The creation of a website explaining the Syndicate’s The Board is composed of the following positions: work and that of a photojournalist A President A The submission of a draft law to the Minister of A Vice president Information aiming to regulate the profession, protect A Secretary the photographers’ work and provide retirement A Assistant Secretary compensation.

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. LYCÉE ABDEL KADER PRIVATE SECTOR | 25 LYCÉE ABDEL KADER

Objective According to school ofﬁcials, the objective of Lycée Abdel Kader is to form cultivated citizens disentangled from sectarian divisions as well as to educate its students and teach them the principles of citizenship and patriotism. Establishment Lycée Abdel Kader was founded in 1910 under the name “Le Lycée” and was located in the Snoubra area in Ras Beirut. It later moved to the Batriarkiyyeh Area and more precisely to Abdel Kader Street, to later bear its name.

Last year, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary. It is a private school owned by the Hariri family but is under the administrative authority of a French principal appointed by the Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Etranger (AEFE), the Agency for French Education Abroad, and the Mission Laïque Française (MLF), the French Secular Mission.

The School’s Structure School sign The school is subject to an agreement between the AEFE, Photo by Mohamed Mashlab 2011 the MLF and the Hariri Foundation. Its administration and educational curriculum are under the supervision of a French principal residing in Beirut, who is assisted by a General Supervisor, Ms. Leila Al Turk. The school’s A The Educational Life Council: it includes two class general and educational policy is deﬁned in coordination representatives for each class, who elect a committee with the local administration represented by Professor of seven members, headed by a secondary class Mustafa Zaatari, the General Manager of the Hariri student. It is in charge of the students’ affairs and Foundation. coordinates between them and the administration. A The Teachers’ Council: it consists of a general The Hariri Foundation provides ﬁnancial support to assembly and an administrative committee. It the school whereas the AEFE and the MLF ensure the includes all the teachers working in the school and is implementation of the French educational curricula and responsible for the teachers’ affairs. the availability of laboratories and supervisors responsible for training the academic staff on the new French A Parents’ Council: it consists of 17 members educational curricula. Teachers are sent to Lebanon at representing all the students’ parents. This council the expense of the French Ministry of Education for this plays the role of watchdog and controls the purpose. The school currently has about 21 professors implementation of the school’s bylaws. It discusses from the AEFE teaching the students. the school’s day to day issues and makes suggestions to the administration. The school includes several clubs and boards, among which: A The Guidance Center: it guides students from age 11 onwards on their future educational choices, in order for them to have a clear idea of career options.

issue 103 - February 2011 26 | PRIVATE SECTOR LYCÉE ABDEL KADER

The curriculum and education Lycée Abdel Kader combines the French and Lebanese educational curricula. Moreover, the school teaches Arabic, French and English at all levels, Spanish at some levels, in addition to Latin as an optional language. It adopts the Lebanese baccalaureate curriculum or the French baccalaureate curriculum and is subject to the laws of the Lebanese Ministry of Education. The school is recognized by the French government as an institution adopting the French curriculum. The administrative and education committees and the students The administrative committee includes a specialized cadre formed of 36 employees enjoying high expertise and conducting the school’s work. The teaching staff consists of 179 teachers divided into two categories: A Intermediate and secondary schools: 78 teachers A Kindergarten and primary school: 101 teachers The number of students enrolled in the 2009-2010 academic year was 1,783 of both sexes and of different nationalities; however the majority of students are Lebanese. School equipment Lycée Abdel Kader provides laboratories for physics, chemistry, natural sciences, mathematics and computers. Furthermore, the school includes many sports grounds and green spaces, in addition to painting and mosaic ateliers and a choir and music hall. Tuition fees With the assistance of the Hariri Foundation and the prestations offered by the AEFE and the MLF, the school has managed to set tuition fees at a reasonable level enabling ordinary income families to register their children at Lycée Abdel Kader.

School entrance Photo by Mohamed Mashlab 2011

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. HEALTH | 27 SCALP HAIR LOSS Dr. Hanna Saadah

calp hair loss is a universal obsession of both sexes. Its causes are shrouded in mystery and its treatments are based more on magic than on science. If afflicts men more than women and increases with age, sparing Salmost no one if one lives long enough. Because heavy scalp hair is a sign of youthful beauty, enormous amounts of money are spent on styling it, rejuvenating it, and preserving it. This article will explore in some detail what is currently known about hair growth, hair loss, and hair treatments.

Scalp hairs cycle through four sequential phases and these diseases or disorders cause the productive hair follicles to cycle natural cycles recur 10 to 30 times during the life of each out of the Active Phase and go into a Premature Resting Phase or individual hair follicle. The hair follicle is like an onion bulb Telogen Effluvium. When this happens, and since the Resting that grows underground but sends its offshoots above ground. Phase naturally lasts 2 to 3 months, hair shedding does not The health of the offshoot mirrors that of the bulb. When the begin till after the 2-3 months had passed. Triggers of this kind bulb is healthy the offshoot is robust; when it is sick the offshoot of hair shedding are nonspecific and include stress (physical is sick; and when it dies the offshoot disappears. or emotional), infections, and the many medical disorders that a) The first cycle is the Active Growth Phase or Anagen and it affect the thyroid, liver, kidneys, blood, skin, gastrointestinal lasts between 2 to 8 years each time. During this phase the hair tract, and immune system. Other causes include deficiencies follicle is highly active and produces a healthy, robust hair. (of vitamin D, zinc, & iron), sudden weight loss (due to b) The second cycle is the Involution Phase or Catagen and it malnutrition, malabsorption, cancer, or chronic illnesses), and lasts between 4 to 6 weeks. During this phase, the hair follicle medications (such as hormones, blood pressure pills, blood begins to shrink, preparing itself for a well-deserved rest after thinners, antidepressants, contraceptive pills, anticonvulsants, so many years of sustained productivity. and all kinds of nutritional supplements). c) The third cycle is the Resting Phase or Telogen and it lasts 2 If the causes of the Premature Resting Phase can be reversed, to 3 months. During this phase, the hair follicle goes dormant the hair shedding is followed by hair growth. When no cause much like a dry onion sitting underground, waiting to sprout in can be found— which is common—or when the causes cannot spring. be reversed, permanent hair loss ensues because the Resting d) The fourth cycle is the Regeneration & Shedding Phase or Phase is not followed by the usual Regeneration Phase, which Exogen where the young sprouts of hair push out the dead, old leads instead to the death of the hair follicles. Resting Phase hairs and replace them with healthy new ones, Male Hormone Hair Loss, which occurs in both sexes, is due thus heralding another prolonged Active Growth Phase. to the action of the male hormones (generated by the testicles or ovaries) on the male and female hair follicles—an action Each individual hair follicle cycles independently of all others regulated by aging and genetic inheritance. Early treatment as if it possesses its own biological clock. Consequently, while with male hormone blockers such as Finasteride or with hair certain hair follicles might be productive, others might be follicle stimulants such as Minoxidil may help but treatment involuting, resting, or shedding. Therefore, because our hair after age 50 is usually of little benefit. follicles are not synchronized, the density of hair on our scalps Alopecia Areata (the autoimmune scalp disorder that causes depends on the balance among the growing, involuting, resting, patchy hair loss) and the many other complex hair loss and shedding follicles. Any disease or disorder that undermines disorders may require a scalp biopsy for proper diagnosis this intricate balance can result in a disproportionate amount of and treatment. Age related hair loss due to the irreversibly hair loss. prolonged Resting Phase respond poorly to treatments and Normal scalps have about 100,000 hair follicles each, out may require hair transplants as a last resort. Sudden hair loss of which 10% to 15% are usually in the Resting Phase. We after cancer treatments is usually reversible in time. Shaving normally shed about 100 to 150 hairs per day as follicles in the the head is not a cause of hair loss nor does it strengthen hair Resting Phase awaken, begin to regenerate, and start to push growth. Consulting a dermatologist on complex hair disorders out (shed) the old dead hairs. is prudent because early intervention may prevent the hair loss The commonest type of hair shedding occurs when certain from becoming permanent.

www.hannasaadah.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] issue 103 - February 2011 28 | THE AMAZING BRAIN SUPERSIZING WORKING MEMORY Smart Drugs, Exercise and Meditation Dr. Samar Zebian

e are in the midst of another cognitive enhancement era and there is probably no turning back as societies look for ways to improve learning (and ultimately to make it cost efficient), reduce costly human errors and Wenhance quality of life for individuals with brain-based conditions. Last month’s article was about the brain training industry’s take on supersizing short term memory-the power engine of the brain. Although brain training has its benefits, the documented memory gains do not seem to transfer to everyday memory tasks (remembering where you last put your keys). There is, however, emerging research which shows that brain training improves fluid intelligence (Gf)1. If these findings are replicable, this is great news for the brain training industry because Gf is considered to be one of the most important factors in learning, especially in complex contexts. Conventional methods to improve IQ do not seem to improve Gf. It defiantly resists the influences of education and socialization. This means that a street smart but still young “tata/jido” can have as much fluid intelligence as a nuclear physicist of the same age. There is some sort of poetic justice to Gf.

Others want to tell a different story about how to improve and cognitive functioning. In addition, the brain waves memory and cognitive performance. We will consider of monks oscillated at 40 cycles/second, an oscillation “smart drugs” and meditation in this article. Each offers cycle associated with feelings of happiness, more energy, quite a different view on brain functioning and health. and heightened awareness. The study also observed There is a persistent media drum beat around Smart Drugs. synchronised brain wave oscillation across different areas The old generation of cognitive enhancers, methylphenidate of the brain and finally more areas of the brain were active, (Ritalin), Donepezil and Modafinil, which were originally especially the left prefrontal cortex which is associated with developed to treat ADHD, Alzheimers and Narcolespy are positive feelings. Other studies have documented that the increasingly being used by normal adults to sleep less, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is part of a network work and play more. Emerging research, however, has implicated in the development of self regulation, shows shown that some of these Smart Drugs are not any more increased activation only after 3 hours of integrative mind- effective than your regular Turkish coffee2. These emerging body training (IMBT). Eleven hours of IMBT improves the findings have not deterred large institutions such as the efficiency of the way white matter connects to other brain U.S. Air force from continuing to institutionalise cognitive structures. These studies suggest that meditation produces enhancers arguing that there is no turning back from 50 brain states that are optimal for memory consolidation years of operational experience and laboratory research. because the brain is working faster, in synchrony and able A new generation of SMART drugs which target memory to sustain attention. Currently, there is no direct evidence process more specifically are current being designed but that meditation specifically improves the memory system. will not be available to consumers for some time. In this series the latest research on memory improvement When we turn to meditation, we embark on a new suggests that brain training has benefits but transferability collaboration between neuroscientists and Buddhists. is limited. Memory athletes urge you to learn the art of Monks with at least 10,000 hours of mediation under their instantaneous image building. Skilled meditators seem to robes were hooked up to EEGs and asked to meditate have a pretty good system from preparing the mind for about unconditional love and kindness. Richard Davidson optimal memory performance. The search continues for of the University of Wisconsin Madison found an 30 fold methods that more directly modify the memory system and increase in gamma brain waves in monks’ brains. Gamma offer safe long lasting forms of memory development. Next brain waves are associated with optimal concentration month we will consider whether exercise, food, vitamins and other health living practices improve memory.

1- Jaeggi, S., Buschkuehl, M., Jonides, J., & Perrig, W. (2008). Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. PNAS, 10.1073/ pnas.0801268105. http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2008/04/25/0801268105.full.pdf+html 2 - WESENSTEN, N. J., KILLGORE, W. D. S. and BALKIN, T. J. (2005), Performance and alertness effects of caffeine, dextroamphetamine, and modafinil during sleep deprivation. Journal of Sleep Research, 14: 255–266. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2005.00468.x issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. [email protected] - www.information-international.com 2 EYEING HORIZONS | 29 WAITING FOR THE LETTER AND A RESPONSE Difficulty of communication between worlds is the biggest obstacle to human beings’ scientific ambitions Antoine Boutros

Elements of life in the Universe In the first article of this series we covered the exciting discovery were later discovered in the same solar system located 50 light by scientists of a “habitable” planet and we moved from there years away, but they were orbiting around a pulsar, a star that to reviewing the possibilities of the presence of another form emits deadly radiation. A series of discoveries of some 500 of life in the Universe. This article will cover the possibility planets followed but this is the first time that a habitable planet of the presence of organic substances in the Universe and the is found. challenges of communication between intelligent worlds, in the event they do exist. Contacting other worlds The other exciting question that we face: would it be possible The discovery of an organic substance in to communicate with other worlds one day? outer space In 1969, amino acids were discovered in a meteor rock, the Wireless contact origin of which was not specified, which fell in Australia. In Scientists are busy searching for regular light signals originating June 1994, scientists discovered “Glycine”, which is an amino from an intelligent source. These are frequencies between acid, in the constellation Sagittarius in the Milky Way. It is 1000 and 10,000 megahertz and contain no less than 250 known that amino acids are the cornerstone for building life. million different vibrations at once. They are fed to advanced At the end of 1996, the discovery of bacteria in a meteor that computers, which survey an average of 100 billion processes in fell on Earth and that originated from Mars was announced. one second in order to analyze them and uncover a pattern. When planet Gliese 581c was discovered, scientists directed What does the discovery of fossilized bacteria a powerful digital message to space on October 9, 2008, and on planet Mars signify? it included a time capsule containing 501 letters using a radar It is known that bacteria are single-celled microscopic beings telescope, RT-70, owned by the National Space Agency of and are considered among the first forms of primitive life. There Ukraine. The message is expected to reach its target at the are two kinds of microscopic creatures: the kind that produce beginning of 2029. nutrients and the more developed kind, such as bacteria, that consume them. The oldest bacteria fossils on Earth are 3 to Physical contact (in a manner of speech) 4 billion years old, which is the same age as the fossilized In reality, communication with other worlds, if they do exist, bacteria that was discovered on the Martian meteor which presents a real problem. The closest star to us is Alpha Centauri, fell on Earth carrying with it proof of (former?) life on the red which is the third brightest star and is located at approximately planet. Bacteria are also considered among the most successful 4.5 light years away from Earth or 40 trillion kilometers. The beings because they have continued to exist for billions of light of some stars takes millions of regular years to reach us. In years without undergoing any significant alteration. They have order to understand that, we point to the Apollo spaceship that an essential role in the cycle of life since they are part of the crossed the distance between the Earth and the moon (400,000 nitrogen cycle, which is vital for survival. Beings, either plants kilometers) in three days traveling at 200,000 km/hr. However, or animals, consume nitrogen as a main nutrient: plants take even a spaceship traveling at the speed of 100 million km/hr, it from the soil using their roots and animals do so by eating equivalent to 1/10 of the speed of light, would need 45 years plants. Nitrogen then turns into amino acids and therefore into to cross the distance between Earth and Alpha Centauri. So protein. Bacteria are responsible for the decomposition of the how can stars that are tens, hundreds, thousands and millions remnants and the recycling of nitrogen back to the atmosphere of light years away be reached? And even if their light reaches to start a new nutrition cycle. us today, we do not know whether they still exist and we have to wait millions of years for our message to reach them and Discovery of solar systems then wait a similar amount of time for their answer to reach us. At the beginning of the 1990’s, a solar system was discovered They might not still be there when our message reaches them in Beta Pictoris confirming the hypothesis that other solar and if they are then we might not be here when their answer systems in this vast Universe must exist. Two more planets reaches us. www.irthsumer.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] issue 103 - February 2011 30 |INTERVIEW

The Monthly interviews NADA AL-ASSAAD

n the world of Art, many Auction houses such as Sotheby’s (founded in 1744) and Christie’s (1766), have underlined the dynamics of Art trade through auctions, an event that subjects artwork to bidding. The Iauctioneer, naturally, plays an important role in selecting the art in question and in maintaining the fervor of the event. However, in Lebanon, the role of an auctioneer is not known to many. The Monthly interviews Nada Al-Assaad about her practice as an auctioneer and the different levels to which she has taken her profession.

Can you describe your journey towards auctioning? I first began my studies at AUB, where I obtained a degree in political science, and then pursued my Masters degree. In addition, I took a “Works of Art” course at Sotheby’s, which provided me with an introduction to Auctioning. Afterwards, I left to France where I worked until 1991. There, I had the opportunity of working with Guy Loudmer on several projects. He was the one who first influenced me in this domain. The abundance of work taught me how to handle an auctioning event, in terms of hosting people and selecting items. I was in an at mosphe re t hat def i ne d t he role of a n auct ione e r. To be a n auctioneer abroad, you need to have a good background in law and obtain a license in Auctioning. In 1992, the war in Lebanon had subsided and I wanted to come back. So I returned and started my own auctioning career, starting with paintings and antiques. I would establish contacts between sellers and clients and then organize the events. The evaluation of the objects in question was not always possible; for some other items I had to Nada Al-Assaad conducting an auction refer to the assistance of experts. My career continued to grow until the year 2000. I briefly joined the Art Auction before moving on to work with FFA, a private What are the required steps to hold an auction? bank, where we used exhibitions as a promotion tool to An auctioneer’s first and foremost objective is to secure voice Lebanese Artists’ creations. We are also aiming items to be sold so he has to find a seller. He may be to start an exhibition in London in collaboration with contacted by various people that wish to sell their APEAL (Association for the Promotion & Exhibition of items for different reasons. He then goes to see them the Arts in Lebanon). and evaluates the items (sometimes with the help of an expert). Afterwards, he groups the items to be sold How would you describe Lebanese Art today? in categories, for example: modern and contemporary Currently, Lebanese Art is quite an active field. Although Lebanese paintings, 19th century furniture, rugs and we are not a large population, Lebanese artists are carpets, jewelry… Normally, you would have between attracting a lot of attention, be it on the local platform 70 to 500 lots in an auction for one day. He makes an or internationally. Lebanese interest in Art was directed agreement with the seller, which is recorded in writing, towards the West for a while, but now we notice that and arranges the lots into an illustrated catalogue with this interest is diverting back into local Art. Although a description of each lot. Once printed, the catalogue the Lebanese artists’ population isn’t large, it has proven has to be distributed to a list of clients. 2 or 3 days later, itself unlike any other profession. the auction is held.

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. INTERVIEW|31

How would you describe an auction? Auctions are a fun way of selling because the buyers are in control of the price. They may raise the price of an item they want or suddenly stop bidding. To a certain extent, they determine the value of the items. Just as some items never get sold, some get very fervent competitions amongst buyers and reach a very high price.

Can you cite a memorable auction? Or any exceptional incident you have witnessed throughout your career? One of the most memorable pieces I sold was a Chinese cloisonné. I had seen it at a humble family’s residence. The father was an employee in a bank. The piece was very well preserved and it had a long history. Apparently, one of the family’s grandfathers had purchased it from China many years ago and it was passed down from Artwork preview generation to generation up until today. The piece directly caught my attention. I took pictures of it and forwarded them to an expert acquaintance of mine. Its What additional aspects does the event of value was assessed and the family put it up for auction. auctioning have? The piece was sold for a very high price. This came to We sometimes hold auctions for charity. We had a the family at a very good time and helped fund their painting auction for Oum el Nour foundation, a drug children’s education. rehabilitation center, and all the profits went to the foundation. Auctions can also be held for a particular cause. An example to illustrate it would be the work I Auctions are a fun way did with IBSAR (Initiative for Biodiversity Studies in “ Arid Regions), AUB, a society whose aim is to maintain of selling because the buyers biodiversity and environmental health. They had launched a program for planting trees so we held two are in control of the price. [...] auctions for them in Gruen, Hamra. The auction was on some items never get sold, some virtual trees. The catalogue contained pine trees, cedar trees and other sorts of trees. The buyers would bid over get very fervent competitions trees and the final purchaser would have a tree planted amongst buyers and reach a and named after them. It was somewhat virtual but for an environmental purpose. I have also worked with the very high price Brave Heart Fund, a charitable fundraising initiative for children suffering from congenital heart disease but whose families lack the necessary funds for treatment. Do you have a consistent ”audience? Are the buyers of We initially got in contact with many famous people, a specific social class? asked them to put together a set of objects they treasure No, not at all, namely because purchasing items at and place them in a box. The boxes were then auctioned. auctions requires a certain interest in such events. The bidding would start and evolve according to the Some people prefer auctions and others never think sentimental value of the items to the owner. of participating in them. However, I do notice the consistency of three profiles. Firstly, merchants who What is the favorite part of your career? purchase old items and then refurbish them before The excitement of course! From the preparations prior selling them again. Secondly, wandering inquirers who to the event and leading up to the event itself, to finding are just looking to see if there is anything worth bidding items to sell, and then bidding on them. It’s all a dynamic for and purchasing. And thirdly, collectors who seek combination. I also like how my career can be flexible specific items to complete their collections. to satisfy certain causes, such as auctioning for charity.

issue 103 - February 2011 32 |ART & CULTURE POPULAR CULTURE POPULAR CULTURE Anis Al-Dabbagh

… I was known by the name Anis Al-Dabbagh. I liked it … because a girl, a beautiful neighbor, older than me, used to pass by and say: “Hello Anis Al-Dabbagh!” My heart would pound… my cheeks would turn red… I was proud of the naming without knowing why…

During World War I… people never felt the misery of the war because there were no battles in Lebanon. The war was nothing but hunger Rida… our main concern was hunger, hunger is sinful Oh Rida…

The world changed when famine broke out. The sky was no longer blue and the night was no longer clear. Our eyes lost the sense of beauty because of our hunger. Nothing smelt good anymore because our noses had lost the sense of smell…

Starvation intensiﬁed and the people immigrated from the village. Nothing was left in the village but what was rooted to the ground. Some ate the remains of animals, slaughtered donkeys and hunted cats.

Remember your grandfather Abu Najem, he was sent to Al-Douwalyebi in Zahle to learn the leather tanning industry. He learnt it in two days because it was a primitive and dirty industry that did not need learning… Two months later, we sold the leather we had bought for a penny for hundreds of pennies. Our money came from your grandfather’s muscles and those of Anis Al-Dabbagh. In a short time, Anis Al-Dabbagh proved to the shoe makers of the higher Matn that his leather was better than the one made in Zahle and Mashghara. This became even more evident when the shoe makers of the higher Matn used to wait for Anis Al-Dabbagh’s journey every week to buy leather goods from him.

It was a tiresome journey… the shoe makers felt sorry for me and their women prayed to God to protect me and keep me alive for my mother’s sake …

The war was over. Schools opened their doors and my father told me: “Now get ready to go to Choueifat and study at Father Tanios’s. This is a dirty job and I want you to be a school teacher.”

I cried and said: “Send me to Italy or to France to learn more about tanning. It is a good job and it makes a lot of money!” I went to Choueifat after breaking my tanning tools and went back to the books.

When I put my hand in my pocket and ﬁnd it empty, Oh Rida… And when I come across the tanners in Machghara, Zahle and Nahr Beirut who are all millionaires, I remember that I was once a tanner too, I was better than them and I regret going to Choueifat!

What do you think Rida? A tanner or a school teacher? Rida said: “I wish you were still a tanner!”

Sources translated from: Anis Freiha, Isma’a ya Rida - First Edition 2006, Dar Nawfal, Beirut

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. DEBUNKING MYTHS ART & CULTURE|33 Myth #42 ARAB SALVATION ARMY AND REGULAR ARAB ARMIES IN 1948 The United Nations’ General Assembly approved Resolution 181, on the partition of Palestine into a Jewish state and a Palestinian state, on November 29, 1947. On May 15, 1948, Britain declared the end of its mandate over Palestine following which Ben- Gurion, one of the most prominent Zionists leaders of the Jewish Agency, declared the creation of the State of Israel. As a result, the League of Arab States formed an Arab army called the “Liberation Army” and then the “Arab Salvation Army”. In addition, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon decided to intervene by sending regular troops to stop Israeli violence and to put an end to the displacement of Palestinians from their land. Lebanese school history books mention that the “Arab Salvation Army” and the regular troops achieved great victories in the first round, which prompted Israel to request the intervention of the Security Council in order to impose a ceasefire and allow the international mediator, Count Bernadotte, to find a fair solution to the problem. Meanwhile, Israel organized its troops and acquired more weapons. The fighting was renewed and the Arabs lost the war, referred to as the “1948 Catastrophe” or the Nakba, namely due to the international, and especially American, support to Israel and the poor quality of weapons used by the Arabs. the Arab armies were ready, numerous and organized Myth: just like regular armies the armed Jewish organizations were more numerous, Fact: more organized and more prepared

Fawzi Kawukji took over the leadership of the “Arab Salvation Army”. This led to tensions with the then Palestinian leader, Amin Al-Husseini, who requested assigning the army leadership to Abdel Kader Al-Husseini, who later formed separate units called the Army of the Holy War. Dr Mustafa Kabha, a researcher and lecturer in history and media, says in his Books on the Nakba that it is inaccurate to call a few thousand volunteers an army (3,830 volunteers divided into 8 battalions, as recorded in the Arab League’s documents). Moreover, these volunteers were not carefully selected nor prepared for the challenging missions they were about to face. Once the volunteers were confronted with the harsh reality, stemming from the shortage of ammunition, supplies and training to counter the Jewish forces, their enthusiasm decreased and many fled. It is worth noting that they never managed to enter the territory allocated to the Jewish State. As for the Arab armies, they were acting according to their own interests without respecting or referring to the common Arab leadership in the field. According to the writer Muhammad Hassanein Heikal, the Arab armies “were formed by foreign officers representing the occupation forces. They did not constitute national armies and had no sense of loyalty to their homeland. The Jordanian army participated in the Palestinian war of 1948 under the leadership of a British general, Sir Bagot Glubb Pasha, the general commander of the Jordanian corps. If one considers that Jordan was leading the Arab armies during the Palestinian war, then one can say that all the Arab armies were, in one way or another, under the authority of the Jordanian army leader, who was in fact a British general.” In his memoirs, Glubb Pasha notes that the Arab armies were neither ready nor prepared for the battle whereas the Jews were. In a report of the Anglo-American Commission of Inquiry of 1946, the number of Israeli military fighters was estimated at 62,000. Furthermore, the Israeli force had begun to prepare detailed military plans since the beginning of 1945. On May 26, 1948, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) was created. It possessed a large number of light, medium and heavy weapons, equipment, ammunition and air weapons, whereas the Arab armies were only modestly equipped. In his memoirs, Heikal states: “Perhaps these countries underestimated the extent of the Zionist ambitions, or at least they didn’t estimate that these ambitions would have a strong echo in the international arena. Furthermore, they were convinced that England wouldn’t let the Jews become the decision-makers in Palestine because they considered that England wanted to make Palestine its stronghold in the Middle East”.

issue 103 - February 2011 34 |ART & CULTURE MUST-READ BOOKS WARLORDS AND MERCHANTS The Lebanese Business and Political Establishment

arlords and Merchants: The Lebanese Business and Political Establishment, published in English in 2004, conducts an objective research on modern Lebanese history, from the beginning of the twentieth century until Wthe first decade of the current century. The author is a Canadian economist of Lebanese origin, Kamal Dib, who believes that Lebanon’s misfortunes date back to the creation of “Greater Lebanon” and originate from the latent relationship between warlords and merchants, who united in the face of whoever threatened their existence and interests, at the same time striving to preserve the sectarian composition and rentier economy of Lebanon.

The author accuses “the coalition of feudal lords (warlords) power gathered against him and merchants of preventing the transformation of Lebanon during the mandate of Charles into a real sovereign State, disregarding religious and Helou, which led to the “Intra sectarian affiliations”. This coalition was strengthened during crisis”, followed by a major the Second Republic and was characterized by the concept banking crisis toppling the of power sharing among wealthy leaders, which the author power and reputation of the compares to the Italian mafia leaders in the movie “The Lebanese banking sector. In Godfather”. According to Dib, it is the power of these warlords these circumstances, Roger and merchants that lead to the civil war that lasted sixteen Tamraz, an executive at the years and ended with the Ta’ef Agreement, which instead of investment bank Kidder, providing a financial solution for the reconstruction of the Peabody & Co, came to country merely changed the leaders and their roles without Lebanon to help deal fundamentally changing the system. with the collapse of Intra Bank. During his stay, He also looks at the economic system in Lebanon, which he he became friends with President sees as counter-productive in all the sectors as it is dominated Amine Gemayyel. He flourished in business and was elected by a political background that prevents the exploitation of chairman of Intra following its restructuring. In 1987, the the country’s natural resources and development. It deprives Central Bank finally made a move and its governor, Edmond a majority of the people of the country’s wealth, which is Na’im, ordered an investigation into Intra’s records seeing as confined to a minority of businessmen and people of power. a great number of companies related to it were facing financial The warlords’ and merchants’ coalition started before the difficulties culminating in bankruptcy. Tamraz’s scandals creation of Greater Lebanon, when Lebanon was limited continued internally and abroad and he lost his political to Mount Lebanon and was under Ottoman rule. At that support with the end of Gemayyel’s mandate in September time, the feudal warlords were Druze, Maronite and Shia’a 1988. In February 1989, Tamraz was kidnapped and it is whereas Beirut was governed by the Sunni Muslim leaders. claimed that he was released upon paying a ransom. He then This coalition led Lebanon, in the twentieth century, to a left to the USA. He is wanted by the Lebanese and French state of “superficial economic prosperity in a delicate social judiciary for embezzlement and theft of hundreds of millions setting lacking economic and cultural equality and formed of of dollars. He also faces an Interpol arrest warrant. a population with various religious and political affiliations” and this led to the breakout of the war in 1975. The Lebanese saga is being repeated “to the extent that one can say that the era of warlords, Zua’ama and merchants is Dib mentions a number of scandals that involved agreements more reflective of the Lebanese society of 2006, than that of between men of power and money that harmed the Lebanese 1926, 1946 and 1976”. economy. Among these is the case of Youssef Beidas, of Palestinian origin, the founder of Intra Bank who established Warlords and Merchants is written by Kamal Dib and other branches of his bank abroad, with deposits representing published in Arabic by Dar An-Nahar 2007. 40% of the Lebanese economy’s deposits in 1966. Men of The book is also available in English by Ithaca Press, published in 2004.

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MUST-READ CHILDREN’S BOOKS ART & CULTURE|35 “LET’S HAVE FUN AND DISCOVER DOWNTOWN BEIRUT”*

“Let’s Have Fun and Discover Downtown Beirut” is an interactive book that helps children discover Downtown Beirut by learning the names of its streets and locations and the history behind its monuments.

The information is relayed in a fun and instructive manner using games, maps and riddles presented in colorful and attractive illustrations. The interactive style of the book ensures that the information will not be forgotten since the readers are actively involved in the learning process.

The book targets all age groups, starting at the elementary level, and anyone interested in discovering Downtown Beirut.

*“Let’s Have Fun and Discover Downtown Beirut” was written by Maria Saad Pascalides, illustrated by Grace Rihan Hanna and translated from Arabic to English by Karen Moukheiber. It was ﬁrst published in 2005 by “Les Messageries du Moyen-Orient” publishing house.

issue 103 - February 2011 36 |ART & CULTURE LEBANON FAMILIES KHAWLI FAMILIES From Jbeil to Balamand with no connection to the Arabian Peninsula

The book “Lisan Al-Arab”, or Tongues of the Arabs, written by Ibn Manzour states that the word “Khawl” means slaves.

On the other hand, Khawli also refers to agents in charge Tripoli of money, livestock and land. It is believed that this family Zgharta Balamand Roads A‘arjes originated from the Arabian Peninsula and dates back to Ehden Becharre Aouss Khawli, one of the followers of Prophet Mohammad The Cedars Batroun Hadet Hasroun (PBUH). Later, it scattered in the Levant, Egypt, Sudan Ras Baalbeck Deir el Ahmar and the Arabian Peninsula. In our search for the origins of Maqne Qasr el-Banat this family in Lebanon, no connection was found with the Jbeil Hadath Iaat previously mentioned members. Research suggests that Baalbeck they come from Blat in Jbeil. It is said that the grandfather Jounieh Ghazir Niha woke up one day to ﬁnd a corpse in front of his home and BEIRUT Zahle was scared that the family would come after him and blame Baabda Shtaura Aley Dahr el-Baidar it on him. He ﬂed with his family to the region of Balamand Bhamdoun Anjar in Koura where one of his sons worked to manage lands Deir el-Qamar Meshref Beiteddine of Deir Balamand and was referred to as “Khawli”. The Moukhtara family then moved to other Lebanese regions. Qaraoun Lake Yanta

Saida Jezzine The Khawli family has around 1,165 members, distributed Libbaya Aiha according to confession and regions as follows: Hasbaya Nabatiye Marjayoun Orthodox: 491 members distributed as Beaufort Castle follows A Koura: Bsarma (217 members), Batram (45 members), Kosba (10 members), East Amioun (6 members). A Beirut: Ras Beirut (48 members), Msaitbeh (20 members), Saray (7 members). members), Rmeil (17 members), Achraieh (6 A Rahbeh (Akkar): 13 members. members). A Akkar: Halba (27 members), Mshalha Al-Hakour (24 Catholics: 275 members distributed as members). follows A Zahle: Riaq (13 members), Hosh Al-Oumara (13 Shadra (Akkar): 265 members. members), Ferzel Al-Tahta (6 members), West Maidan Zahrieh (Trablous): 10 members. (6 members), Moaalaqa (1 member). A Mina (Trablous): 29 members. Maronites: 49 members distributed as A Ain Roumanah (Baabda): 3 members. follows A Hay Al-Maaser (Zghorta): 31 members. Sunni: 332 members distributed as follows A Jal el Dib (North Matn): 8 members. A Trablous: Mina (69 members), Hadadeen (60 members), A Mazraa (Beirut): 6 members. Swaiqa (29 members), Nouri (8 members). A Achkout (Keserouane): 4 members. A Beirut: Msaitbeh (36 members), Mazraa (25 members), Bachoura (13 members), Zqaq El-Blat (3 members). Protestants: 18 members in Ras Beirut. A Saida: Dakerman (35 members), Msalkhieh (34

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. DISCOVER LEBANON ART & CULTURE|37 KABRIKHA Holy Shrine Trablous Zgharta Balamand Roads A‘arjes Etymology Ehden Becharre The Cedars According to Anis Freiha’s book “Names of Lebanese Batroun Hadet Hasroun Ras Baalbeck Deir el Ahmar Maqne Towns and Villages”, the origin of the name is Syriac, Qasr el-Banat

Hadath “Qabra Brîkha”, which means a divine grave or a holy Jbail Iaat Baalbeck shrine. The name may have been given to it due to the Jounieh Ghazir Niha existence of shrines from the olden age in the town. BEIRUT Zahle Baabda Shtaura Another opinion holds that the name is originally Hebraic Aley Dahr el-Baidar Bhamdoun Anjar and the town was named after a Jewish king, “Ikha”, who Deir el-Qamar Meshref Beiteddine was buried there. Thus, the name of the village became Moukhtara Qaraoun Lake Yanta “Kabr Ikha” or “Ikha’s grave”. Khalifeh: 12 voters A Saida Jezzine Libbaya Aiha A Hammoud: 17 voters Location And the families Hasbaya Nabatiye Marjayoun Kabrikha The town of Kabrikha is located in the Qada’a of of Saad, Darwich, ÉîjÈb Marjeyoun, a Mohafaza of Nabatiyeh, at an altitude of 500 Hussein, Haidar, meters above sea level. It lies 113 kilometers away from Khalil and Ali Beirut, 25 kilometers from the center of the Qada’a and 30 kilometers from the center of the Mohafaza. It occupies an Local area of 600 hectares. It can be reached via Sour – Jwaya – authorities Kherbet Selm or Marjeyoun – Qlayaa – Taibeh. The village council was created following the issuance of It is bordered to the east by the villages of Bani Hayan and Decree No. 1234 dated December 27, 1963, and composed Tallouseh, to the west by Toulin, to the north by Majdel of 8 members at the time. It has a current municipal council Selm and to the south by Qantara. It is located at a strategic of 15 members headed by Hassan Hijazi. The independent point for it oversees Wadi Hajar and Wadi Salouqi. municipal fund of the village comprised LBP 130,642 million in 2005 and increased to LBP 150,878 million in Population 2006. By 2007, the amount reached LBP 153,253 million There are an estimated 3,800 registered residents in and by 2008, it rose to LBP 219,852 million. Kabrikha, living in 400 houses and occupying around 11 There are also 2 mukhtars, Ali Zahweh and Ali Melhem, commercial shops. and a three-member ikhtiyariah body. Voters Educational Institutions In 2000, the number of registered voters was 1,992 of whom The village has one public school “Khabrikha Intermediate 1,013 cast their ballots. In 2005, the number reached 2,215, School”, which counts 138 registered students. The with 1,228 casting their ballots. As for the year 2009, the majority of the families register their children in schools in number reached 2,532 of whom 1,371 cast their ballots. neighboring villages. They belong to the following families: A Hijazi: 475 voters Economic Activities A Zein: 299 voters Kabrikha depends on the agriculture of tobacco, cereals A Fahs: 279 voters and olives. The population also depends on money sent A Melhem: 193 voters to it from immigrants, which has signiﬁcantly helped A Zahweh: 6 voters the economy of the village. Indeed, many of the town’s A Salman: 91 voters population traveled during the war to Brazil, Canada, A Mansour: 78 voters Argentina, the United States and Kuwait. In addition, some A Chamseddine: 63 voters work in the public sector. A Atwi: 63 voters A Ghayyad: 40 voters Challenges A Moussa: 28 voters The village suffers from the same challenges as other A Mustapha: 41 voters villages mainly lack of electricity and water and problems A Shehab: 32 voters in the sewage system.

issue 103 - February 2011 38 |MEDIA WHEN POLITICIANS TALK SAMIR GEAGEA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, IMPRISONMENT AND AMNESTY, IN THE EYES OF THE VICTIM AND THE ADMIRER e was arrested on April 21, 1994, following an explosion targeting the Sayyidat al-Najat Church. He was charged with the assassinations of Dany Chamoun and his family, and Prime Minister Rachid Karami. HHe was sentenced to death but his sentence was mitigated to life imprisonment with hard labor. In 2005, following the assassination of Rafic Hariri and in a bid to completely turn the page on the war, he was officially pardoned during the presidency of Emile Lahoud. He is Samir Geagea, the only one among the warlords and war criminals to have been sentenced and served 11 years in prison. Below are some of the opinions regarding his incarceration, trials and amnesty.

Trial and imprisonment A Walid Jumblat: “With regards A Tracy Chamoun (Dany to the church case, it seems that A Emile Lahoud: “There are Chamoun’s daughter): “My rights judicially there is no problem. “The diverging opinions over this subject have been restored” (An Nahar on June faithful, out of immense faith, blow (a presidential amnesty of Samir 25, 1995, after Geagea was sentenced themselves up”. In the sensitive cases Geagea), which needs national to death in the murder case of Dany of Dany Chamoun and Rachid Karami consensus resulting from a national Chamoun and his family). I cannot interfere... Let us adopt the solution that does not only involve A Strida Geagea: “The ruling patriarch’s slogan “either they are all certain individuals” (Comments made is a second assassination of Dany imprisoned or they are all released” on January 23, 2001, in response to Chamoun and is a translation of what (September 1, 2000). a question over Lahoud’s ability as Samir Geagea said in his defense president of the republic to issue an deposition: his imprisonment is a Amnesty amnesty decision regarding Geagea). political decision and he will only A Dory Chamoun: “I will pardon A Rafic Hariri: “The leader of leave [prison] by a political decision” Samir Geagea if I am elected president the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, (An Nahar on June 25, 1995). of the republic. I speak as a Christian is under arrest not because of his A Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros and no one can change their own skin” political views but in execution of a Sfeir: “Samir Geagea and many (An Nahar on May 15, 1995). judicial ruling” (An Nahar on January others were heads of militias and all A Nawwaf Al-Moussawi: “Samir 24, 2001). the heads of militias committed what Geagea’s file has been with the A Solange Gemayel: “The family they committed. If one of them is to be Lebanese judiciary for a long time, of Bachir, with all its members, call tried then all of them should be tried and many sentences have been issued for an amnesty decision to be issued and if one is to be pardoned then all of against him and he still faces a number today rather than tomorrow, in order them should be pardoned” (An Nahar of trials. In our opinion, we do not see to erase the political injustice that on December 18, 1995). any justification for an amnesty. And (Geagea) has suffered with poise for A Michel Aoun:“(...) Samir I believe that discussing such a topic 11 years” (April 23, 2005). Geagea committed acts that resemble will only open many more judicial A Salim Hoss: “The law that was those committed by the people that are files in Lebanon” (An Nahar on May issued by Parliament to pardon Dr. trying him today; they are using the 8, 1997). Samir Geagea and lift the sanctions judiciary against him to destroy him” A Suleiman Franjieh: “It is over the crimes he committed (three (November 15, 1997). necessary to consider the opinion of rulings for the crime of premeditated “Samir was jailed as part of a the victim and not only that of the murder) is not dignifying to the political settlement and he should murderer... I am not against an amnesty National Assembly. We would not not have been imprisoned in the first on condition that specific conditions have objected had the law provided place ... Samir Geagea was merely are met, including that Geagea admits for a retrial after establishing that there a scapegoat because he changed his his mistake, unlike what is happening had been irregularities in the courts political course and did not go through today when it turns out that Geagea that issued the original rulings” (An with the ‘Ta’ef agreement’” (Asharq rejoiced with his victory and does Nahar on October 27, 2006). Al Awsat on February 9, 2004). not regret his actions” (An Nahar on January 11, 2001).

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December 2010 Timeline in Lebanon BLAZING FIRES ACROSS LEBANON EXTINGUISHED BY RAINFALL Israel blows up a spying device on Hezbollah; Jumblat: “I do not refute what Wikileaks revealed about me”; Syrian ambassador: “The doors of Damascus are open to Hariri”; Nasrallah: “The tribunal will go with the wind”; Khamenei: “The tribunal’s ruling is unacceptable and void”; Sfeir fears a Hezbollah coup d’etat; Boutros Harb’s law on banning sale of land between Christians and Muslims December 2 of support by Al-Mustaqbal MPs to A Following their monthly meeting, State Hillary Clinton says: “Attempts General Rifi. a statement by the Maronite Bishops’ to sabotage justice by commissioning A Jumblat in response to Wikileaks Council states: “The paralysis of the the international tribunal are the threat cables: “I will not refute what has constitutional establishments and the to Lebanon and Hezbollah is free to been attributed to me personally awaiting of solutions from the outside protest but not to hold the weapons in Wikileaks documents because show the weakness of the national against the government.” during that phase I was [in a strange administration.” place] that made me use phrases or A A statement attributed to Abdullah December 6 comments that contradict national and A’azzam Brigades calls on the Sunni A Hariri travels from Saudi Arabia [Arab national] heritage and now I confession to confront the Lebanese to Oman on an official visit and meets have returned to my true, natural and Army and to refuse Hezbollah’s Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed. historical position.” dominance. A Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference, MP Michel Murr December 9 December 3 rejects the hijacking of the State over A The head of the Loyalty to the A In an interview with As Safir, the indictment ruling. Resistance bloc, Mohammad Ra’ad, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali A Major fires erupt in several and lawyer Salem Jraissati hold a joint Awadh Al Asseiri says the relationship Lebanese regions (120 fires) and the press conference in Parliament during between Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah civil defense forces fail to extinguish which they condemn the politicization is excellent. them. of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon A PM Saad Hariri continues his visit (STL) and its non-conformity to the to France and meets with his French December 7 criteria of justice. counterpart Francois Fillon. A The opening of the judicial year in A Hariri meets Syrian Ambassador A Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri the presence of the three presidents and to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Al Ali in states: “We did not discuss bringing a meeting is held after the ceremony the Grand Serail and the latter states the false witnesses file to the dialogue between Suleiman and Hariri at the that “the doors of Damascus are open table instead of the government”. Ba’abda Palace. to Hariri”. A Bellemare refuses to hand over any A Aoun verbally attacks Rifi over December 4 documents regarding the investigation the arrest of a senior member of the A Minister of Interior and into Hariri’s assassination to Major Free Patriotic Movement, General Municipalities Ziad Baroud takes General Jamil Al Sayyed arguing that Fayez Karam, and demands that disciplinary measures against the such a move would endanger national investigations with him be called off. Director General of the Internal and international security. A Minister of Labor Boutros Harb Security Forces Ashraf Rifi for A Following a long period of drought, tells An Nahar newspaper: “One side publishing a classified correspondence rainfall helps extinguish forest fires. is behind all the crimes starting with (related to General Fayez Karam). A In his weekly interview with Al- [Marwan] Hamadeh.” A Israel blows up an espionage device Anba’ newspaper, MP Walid Jumblat by remote control in Wadi Al-Qaissiyeh considers that former PM Fouad December 10 near the town of Majdal Silim. Siniora was behind a bomb thrown at A The STL’s registrar says that A Speaking at the Doha Dialogue his office’s wall in Saida. Bellemare will submit his ruling very Forum in Bahrain, US Secretary of A Marches in Trablous and visits soon and predicts that the trial will

issue 103 - February 2011 40 |MEDIA DECEMBER 2010 TIMELINE begin next September or October. resigned for professional reasons and A The World Bank forecasts that A After talks in France with his the tribunal’s registrar announces transfers to Lebanon from Lebanese French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, that she did not conform to the expatriates will reach $8.2 billion Syrian President Bashar Assad standards asked of her. in 2010 compared to $7.7 billion in states: “There is no initiative and 2009. our role is merely to facilitate the December 14 Lebanese ideas.” A Deliberations continue on holding December 15 A Minister of Defense Elias Murr a Cabinet session the next day and A Opposition ministers meet in announces he will not participate in Speaker Nabih Berri dispatches Parliament to take a stand regarding the Cabinet’s session if its agenda MP Ali Hassan Khalil to each of the Cabinet’s session scheduled for does not include an additional clause Suleiman, Hariri and Jumblat to Wednesday. They agree to attend to that regarding the false witnesses’ propose referring the false witnesses it and relay to Hariri proposals on file, stating the need to punish the file to the Justice Council since it the false witnesses case, namely to instigators of murder. is connected to the murder of Rafic refer the file to the Justice Council A Military investigation magistrate Hariri, which is already being looked without discussion. Riad Abu Ghaida issues his ruling into by the Council. A At a press conference, MP against retired General Fayez Karam A In his weekly statement to Al- Kabbara states: “Hezbollah is regarding the charges the latter Anba’ newspaper, Jumblat says: robbing the State in the name faced of collaborating with Israel. “Julian Assange, the founder of the of resistance (…) It is running a He sentences him to temporary hard famous Wikileaks site, would be the smuggling network that is depriving labor from 3 to 15 years. the State of 60% of its customs revenues.” December 11 A Ra’ad calls on those who support Hezbollah December 16 the enemies of the resistance to seize “Secretary A A Cabinet session in Ba’abda the opportunity and reconsider their ends without any agreement on the choices adding that this window of General Sayyed false witnesses file. opportunities is only open for a few Hassan Nasrallah A Speaking on the occasion of days. A’ashoura, Hezbollah Secretary A The Saudi ambassador to announces that the General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Lebanon hosts a dinner in honor of Vice President of announces that the Vice President the ambassadors of Iran, Syria and of the International Investigation Egypt and their wives. the International Commission, Gerhard Lehman, is Investigation corrupt and has been bribed. He December 13 Commission, says Lehman sold investigation A A blizzard hits Lebanon causing documents for $50,000-$70,000 and heavy snowfall and material Gerhard Lehman, requested $1 million to hand over the damages. is corrupt and has rest of the documents, and accused A In a speech at the ceremony the government of protecting the commemorating Jebran Tueni’s been bribed false witnesses. death, Tueni’s daughter Michelle A The Lebanese Army announces tells her father: “Do not ask me ” it has uncovered two espionage about justice and what has become networks, in cooperation with the of the Cedar revolution”. resistance, in the mountains of A Ra’ad clarifies his earlier remarks best future candidate for a Nobel Barouk and Sannine. Israel responds denying he had set a time limit for Prize because he gave the American saying “these are old systems that the Syrian-Saudi settlement. administration and President Hezbollah discovered years ago”. A A celebration in Trablous to mark [Barack] Obama a severe blow.” the Muslim New Year is attended by A Position of Hezbollah MPs: December 18 Salafist forces and Al-Mustaqbal “The ball is rolling in a manner that A Hezbollah marks A’ahoura in Movement. threatens stability and all possibilities a mass march in Beirut’s southern A Announcement that the STL’s are open if the indictment is issued suburbs and Nasrallah says: spokeswoman Fatima Issawi has ahead of the settlement.” “We reject any unjust accusation

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against us or others and the tribunal expresses his fear of a coup d’etat A Hariri leaves to New York on a will go with the wind like all the that Hezbollah might execute. private visit. conspiracies”, confirming there is no A Ministers disagree over decrees A Ghandi Al-Sohmorani, a senior Sunni-Shia’a sedition. that were issued during two Cabinet member of Jund Al-Sham, is killed A National calculations for 2009 sessions, on November 13 and in A’ain El Helweh camp. show that the current GDP reached December 15, 2010. Opposition LBP 52,650 registering an 8.5% ministers claim the decrees were December 28 annual growth. not discussed while pro-government A In an article published by A The Free Patriotic Movement ministers say they have been ratified, Al Hayat newspaper, former US wins the student elections in especially with regards to payment Ambassador to the UN, John Antonine University. to the Egyptian Gas Company that Bolton, writes that the indictment imports gas to Lebanon. ruling, which will soon be issued, December 20 A Druze sheikhs from Lebanon, will accuse officials from Hezbollah A In an interview with British Sky Syria, Jordan and Palestine attend a and Syria of being behind the crime. News network, British Minister of meeting in Bayssour during which The article sparks angry reactions Foreign Affairs William Hague says: they confirm their support to the from Siniora and some members of “It is very clear at this point that resistance and the abolition of the March 14. Lebanon and Sudan will, in January, STL if it will cause disasters. A Suleiman tours the South and be two candidate regions for political inspects bases of the Lebanese Army crisis or outbreak of violent acts.” December 22 Forces and UNIFIL. He calls for a A Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon A Hariri says: “I respect Khamenei strategy of defense to deter Israeli Ghadanfar Roknabadi visits Jumblat and I respect his opinion (on the attacks on water and oil confirming in Mokhtara and delivers an official STL), but international resolutions that he supports the abolition of invitation to visit Iran. are international resolutions, political confessionalism without A The Phalange Party celebrates everyone is working for stability in abolishing the 50-50 formula. its 75th anniversary and former the region and his position will not President Amine Gemayyel states: impact the S-S’s extremely positive December 30 “We are lions and the arenas have effort.” A Hariri leaves New York and missed us.” A Aoun: “Suleiman and Hariri are arrives in Saudi Arabia on a private responsible for the obstruction of the trip following the return of King December 21 Cabinet sessions.” Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz. Reports A During talks with visiting Qatari A In a statement, Hezbollah say Hariri did not receive any Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa considers that Khamenei’s position formula regarding the settlement on Al-Thani, Iranian supreme leader does not contradict the Syrian-Saudi the STL from the King. Sayyed Ali Khamenei says that efforts and expresses sorrow towards “any ruling issued by the STL is those individuals who do not know December 31 unacceptable and is considered null how to read or understand what they A Lebanon submits a letter to and void”. He calls on influential are reading. the United Nations requesting it sides in Lebanon to work on the basis to obligate Israel to freeze gas of wisdom in order for this case not December 23 exploration works in the area to turn into a crisis. A Bellemare sates on the STL’s intersecting with the Lebanese A In his weekly statement to Al- website: “My evidence will be maritime border. Anba’ newspaper, Jumblat attacks reliable and I did not use the term A Sfeir tells a Maronite League the intellectual and architectural false witnesses and if the witnesses delegation: “More than one million Talibanism, which considers are not reliable then I will not adopt Christians have emigrated from the Trablous to be a city for a single their testimonies.” region in search of security and confession without taking diversity stability.” into consideration. December 27 A Minister of Labor Boutros Harb A Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko A In an interview with As Safir, submits a draft law to the Cabinet Borissov arrives in Lebanon on a Suleiman says he is for “the referral to bar the sale and purchase of land two-day official visit. of the false witnesses file to the and estates between Christians and A In an interview with MTV, Judicial Council and avoiding a vote Muslims for 15 years. Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in order to protect the inside.”

issue 103 - February 2011 42 | ARABWORLD WORLD FOCUS GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2010 Where do the Arab countries stand?

he simplest way to define the concept of peace is a situation where nations are not involved in conflicts with neighboring states or do not suffer from internal wars – this is what Johan Galtung1 calls “negative peace” or Tabsence of violence, which is what The Global Peace Index (GPI) seeks to measure. Measuring states of peace The GPI quantifies the peacefulness of nations around the world using 23 quantitative and qualitative indicators. They can be divided into three broad categories: measures of ongoing domestic and international conflicts, measures of societal safety and security and measures of militarization. One of its main aims is to determine the potential drivers influencing the creation and sustainability of peaceful societies on an internal and external level. Table 1 provides the GPI rankings for 2008 (140 countries), 2009 (144 countries) and 2010 (149 countries) of some Arab and other selected countries. A lower score indicates a more peaceful country.

20082, 20093 and 20104 GPI rankings of Arab and other selected countries Table 1 In general, Arab countries are ranked in the bottom half. Iraq 2010 2009 2008 has been in the last rank for the past 3 consecutive years, Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score namely because of the high level of organized conflict within New Zealand 1 1.188 1 1.202 4 1.350 the country and its military sophistication. Israel’s low rank Denmark 7 1.341 2 1.217 2 1.333 reflects its very high levels of militarization, its attack on Qatar 15 1.394 16 1.392 33 1.694 Gaza in late December 2008 in addition to its very tense Oman 23 1.561 21 1.520 25 1.612 relations with neighboring countries. Yemen went from United Arab Emirates 44 1.739 40 1.667 42 1.745 106th to 129th between 2008 and 2010 due to a continuous Kuwait 39 1.693 42 1.680 45 1.786 worsening of its security situation while Syria went from Tunisia 37 1.678 44 1.698 47 1.797 75th to 115th. In contrast, Qatar and Oman are ranked in Libya 56 1.839 46 1.710 61 1.927 the top 25, throughout all 3 years, due to their low levels of Egypt 49 1.784 54 1.773 69 1.987 militarization. Lebanon was one of the top five risers in 2010, Morocco 58 1.861 63 1.811 63 1.954 even though its rank declined (mainly due to the difference Jordan 68 1.948 64 1.832 65 1.969 in the number of countries included in the Index). This is due Bahrain 70 1.956 69 1.881 74 2.025 China 80 2.034 74 1.921 67 1.981 to lower scores for measures of conflict, which had peeked in 2008 following internal clashes. The improvement is also United States of 85 2.056 83 2.015 97 2.227 America due to the formation of a government of national unity in Syria 115 2.274 92 2.05 75 2.027 late 2009. Iran 104 2.202 99 2.10 105 2.341 Saudi Arabia 107 2.216 104 2.17 108 2.357 Algeria 116 2.277 110 2.21 112 2.378 Drivers of Peace and Violence Yemen 129 2.573 119 2.36 106 2.352 Among the drivers of peace, the most important is the Turkey 126 2.420 121 2.389 115 2.403 effective functioning of government followed by freedom India 128 2.516 122 2.422 107 2.355 of the press. Gender equality, measured by the percentage Lebanon 134 2.639 132 2.718 132 2.840 of women in parliament, is a modest driver as well. The Russia 143 3.013 136 2.750 131 2.777 three remaining drivers of peace have strong economic or Israel 144 3.019 141 3.035 136 3.052 demographic foundations: regional trade blocs or other Somalia 148 3.391 142 3.257 139 3.293 regional organizations, average life expectancy of the Afghanistan 147 3.252 143 3.285 137 3.126 Iraq 149 3.406 144 3.341 140 3.514 population and primary school enrolment ratio. Source: www.visionofhumanity.org Of the the most potent drivers of violence are the holding 1 - Galtung, Johan, Peace by Peaceful Means: peace and conflict, of competitive elections followed by the degree to which development and civilization. Oslo: International Peace Research religion plays a role in the country. It is interesting to note Institute, 1996. that if the drivers of peace are absent, a high GDP income 2 - http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/IEP _ GlobalPea ceIndex _ 2008Methodology _ Results _ Findings.pdf, p. 8-9. provides the State with the tools of conflict (weapons, large 3 - http://www.economicsandpeace.org/UserFiles/Resources/2009- security apparatuses and military forces). GPIResultsReport.pdf, p.10-11. 4- http://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/ PDF/2010/2010%20GPI%20Results%20Report.pdf, p. 10-11.

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CHINA’S GROWING ECONOMY WORLD | 43 CHINA’S GROWING ECONOMY, A THREAT TO THE U.S.? hina has become a far more competitive global player and has started to threaten the imperial supremacy of the United States. The most prevailing question remains “Will China overtake the U.S. as the world’s Cstrongest economy? Will a richer China make America poorer?” A lot has been said and many Americans are afraid. Still, a select few argue that China still lags behind the U.S. with its large population, low per capita income, dependency on Western expertise, and lack of soft power (preliminary education and weak cultural influence worldwide).1 In this article of The Monthly, the focus will be on the main aspects of the relationship between the U.S. and China. Trade Trade between the United States and China has been trade deficit with China is de facto less than it was 10 rapidly increasing over the last two decades. In 2008, years ago, due to many factors not considered in the China was the US’s second largest trading partner (after calculations, namely: Canada), the third largest export market for the US (after A The relocation of export manufacturing companies Canada and Mexico), and the biggest importer of US from other Asian economies to China. Thus, the products. goods that the United States used to get from Japan, Taiwan and other Asian economies are now coming The United States’ current deficits and China’s current from China because Asian companies have shifted surpluses have increased since the beginning of the their export manufacturing bases there. century. Over the past few years, China has been one A The fact that many of the Chinese exports of the fastest growing U.S. export markets, with U.S. manufactured in China are assembled there from exports to China growing by nearly 120% from 2000 materials and components shipped into China to 2008. However, the total U.S. exports to China in from elsewhere, including the United States. (For 2008 represented only about 5.5% of total U.S. exports example, The Apple iPod imported from China (compared to 3.9% in 2003). Because U.S. imports contains components that are made in the U.S.). from China surged and always exceeded U.S. exports to A The fact that U.S. exports to China are growing China, this has resulted in a constantly rising U.S. trade compared to previous decadea and this is sufficient deficit with China. The U.S. trade deficit with China to push the deficit to decrease in the future. amounted to $83.8 billion in 2000 and increased to $268 billion in 2008 (an increase of around 220%). In 2008 and until July 2009, the three main U.S. exports to China were: Undoubtedly, the global financial crisis largely affected A waste and scrap the U.S.-China trade flows in 2009. During the first seven A semiconductors and other electronic components months of 2009, US exports to and imports from China A oilseeds and grains dropped by 48% and 52.8% respectively, compared to the same period in 2008. As such, the US trade deficit On the other hand, from 2007 up until July 2009, the top with China declined by 54%, from $268 billion in 2008 three U.S. imports from China were: to $123 billion by July 2009. A computer equipments A miscellaneous manufactured commodities The changing U.S. trade deficit with China was sufficient A communications equipment to cause a series of bilateral disputes over trade and macroeconomic policy between the two countries. In fact, the first five U.S. imports (apparel ranks fourth The U.S. – China Business Council assures that the US

1- Soft power is defined as the ability to satisfy needs by attraction, rather than coercion and payments. This ability to attract usually stems from the country’s culture, politics, ideals, and policies.

issue 103 - February 2011 44 | WORLD CHINA’S GROWING ECONOMY and audio and video equipment rank ﬁfth) from China Holdings of Securities between China and did not change throughout these three years. the United States The Treasury Department of the United States deﬁnes Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, almost all of the foreign holdings of U.S. securities as “U.S. securities U.S. imports from China were low-value and labor- owned by foreign residents (including banks and intensive products such as toys, electronic products and other institutions) except where the owner has a direct apparel. However, over the past few years, an increasing investment relationship with the U.S. issuer of the proportion of U.S. imports from China are comprised securities.” of more technologically advanced products, such as computers. China’s holdings of U.S. securities China’s total holdings of U.S. securities reached $1,464 Investment Relationships billion in June 2009, compared to $699 billion in June Investment plays a main role in the U.S.-Chinese business 2006. Thus, from June 2006 to June 2009, China increased relationship. These investments can be divided into two its total holdings of U.S. securities by 109.44%. In fact, groups: holdings of securities, whether corporate or China mainly buys long-term debt from the U.S. Table 1 treasury, and foreign direct investment (FDI). shows China’s holding of US securities from June 2006- June2009

China’s holding of U.S. securities from June 30, 2006, until June 30, 2009 ($ billion) Table 1 June 30, 2009 June 30, 2008 June 30, 2007 June 30, 2006 Total 1,464 1,205 922 699 Equities 78 100 29 4 Long-term debt 1.226 1,075 870 678 Short-term debt 160 30 23 17 Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury2

Note: Long term debt includes treasury securities from the U.S. government, agency securities and corporate securities China’s total holdings China’s holding of U.S. debt “ Further complicating the bilateral economic relationship of U.S. securities reached is China’s large holding of U.S. debt, such as Treasury securities. The largest type of U.S. securities held by $1,464 billion in June 2009, China is U.S. Treasury securities. In May 2009, China’s holdings amounted to $801.5 billion or 24.3% of U.S. compared to $699 billion Treasury securities out of the total foreign holdings of U.S. securities. Chinese purchases of U.S. treasuries are in June 2006. Thus, from increasing over time, despite the current global financial June 2006 to June 2009, crisis, as shown in Table 2. These securities are used to finance the United States’ budget deficit. China increased its total holdings of U.S. securities by 109.44%” 2 - http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Pages/fpis.aspx

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CHINA’S GROWING ECONOMY WORLD | 45

China’s Holdings of U.S Treasury Securities between 2005 and May 2009 ($ billion and % of total foreign holdings) Table 2

2005 2006 2007 2008 May 2009

China’s holdings of US Treasury Securities ($ billions) 310 396.9 477.6 727.4 801.5

China’s holding of US Treasury Securities out of the total foreign holdings of US securities (%) 15.2% 18.90% 20.3% 23.6% 24.3%

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury

Note: Data based on periodical surveys by the Treasury Department, which often revises estimates for the previous year but not for all years and thus should be U.S. ﬁrms invested interpreted with caution. around“ $49.4 billion in The United States’ holding of Chinese securities The United States also invests in China. The U.S.’s total China in 2009 (around holdings of Chinese securities reached $102,303 million in December 2009 (99% were equities) compared to 62 times more than $54,903 million in December 2008 (97% were equities), which represents an 86.3% increase (Table 3). U.S. China’s FDIs in the holdings of Chinese securities out of the total foreign holdings were 1.3% in 2007 and 1.8% in 2008. United States)

U.S. holding of China’s securities from December 31, 2006, until December 31, 2009 ($ millions)” Table 3 December 31, 2009 December 31, 2008 December 31, 2007 December 31, 2006 Total 102,303 54,903 97,241 75,314 Equities 101,616 53,269 95,658 73,912 Long-term debt 670 1,606 1,457 1,305 Short-term debt 17 27 125 97 Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury 3

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between China and the United States The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) deﬁnes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the United States as “the ownership or control, directly or indirectly, by one foreign resident of 10 % or more of the voting securities of an incorporated U.S. business enterprise or the equivalent interest in an unincorporated U.S. business enterprise.”

United States’ FDI in China In 2009, the U.S.’s direct investments abroad grew by 9% whereas in 2007, the U.S.’s outward FDIs had grown by 21% (refer to Table 4). The slowness in the outward investment growth is a sign of a drop in new investment activity abroad by U.S. companies. The United States’ outward FDIs are mainly directed towards the Netherlands (14%) and the United Kingdom (14%). U.S. companies invest in China to sell their products to the Chinese market and the U.S.’s FDIs towards China account for only 1.41% of the total U.S. outward FDIs.

According to U.S. data, U.S. ﬁrms invested around $49.4 billion in China in 2009 (around 62 times more than China’s FDIs in the United States). In 2008, the U.S.’s direct investment in China grew by 77% while it decreased by around 6% in 2009. Thus, US companies still chose to open new investments in China or to increase their mergers and acquisitions’ activity in that country between 2007 and 2008 but that changed in 2009, namely due to the general decline in activity stemming from the ﬁnancial crisis.

3 - http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Pages/fpis.aspx

issue 103 - February 2011 46 | WORLD CHINA’S GROWING ECONOMY

U.S FDI in China: 2004-2009 ($ million) Table 4

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

China 17,616 19,016 26,459 29,710 52,521 49,403

All countries 2,160,844 2,241,656 2,477,268 2,993,980 3,219,725 3,508,142

% change (China) - 7.95% 39.14% 12.29% 76.79% -5.94%

% change (all countries) -4%10.5%21%7.5%9%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis4

Note: US Direct Investment Abroad on a historical-cost basis

China’s FDI in the United States In 2009, the foreign direct investments in the United States grew by 7% whereas they had risen by 11.67% in 2007 (refer to Table 5). The leading countries investing in the US are the United Kingdom (20%), the Netherlands (12%) and Japan (11%). Chinese FDI in the U.S. accounted for only 0.35% of the total FDIs in the U.S., which is quite negligible when compared to its holdings of U.S. securities. China invested $791 million in the United States in 2009 versus $1.2 billion in 2008 (See Table 5).

This does not mean, however, that the Chinese outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) is not on the rise. Most of the increase in China’s FDI occurred after 2000, when China ofﬁcially set off a “go global” policy, which is mainly controlled by state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Among its fellow developing countries, China is nowadays the main foreign direct investor in Africa.

China FDI in the U.S.: 2004-2009 ( $ million) Table 5

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

China 435 574 785 762 1,205 791

All countries 1,520,316 1,634,121 1,840,463 2,055,176 2,165,748 2,319,585

% change (China) - 31.95% 36.76% -2.93% 58.14% -34.36%

% change (all countries) - 7.49% 12.62% 11.67% 5.38% 7.10%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis5

Notes: Data on a historical-cost basis Concluding Remarks Whether China is economically invading the United States or not and whether the United States regards China as an opponent or a partner, there is no doubt that the Chinese economy is extremely fast growing and it has the ability to compete with the US economy. Thus, instead of having one superpower controlling the world’s economy, we might return to a bipolar system, similar to the one that opposed the USSR and the US during the Cold War. Surely these superpowers will be supported by their allies (Iran, Thailand, Singapore… for China and Japan for the U.S.). It is important to note that both poor and developing countries are taking advantage of this global situation, by enhancing their primary resources and boosting their growth.

4 http://www.bea.gov/scb/account _ articles/international/iidguide.htm#page3 5 http://www.bea.gov/scb/account _ articles/international/iidguide.htm#FDIUS

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. INDEX|47 REAL ESTATE PRICE INDEX IN LEBANON DECEMBER 2010 AND THE YEAR 2010

uring the month of December 2010, the real estate market witnessed limited activity in Prices of some apartments sold in December 2010 Table 2 comparison with the previous month. Estates D Region Area m2 Price (USD) USD/m2 were sold in some areas of Beirut and Mount Lebanon but they were not enough to lead to significant Beirut economic growth. In general, prices remained Caracass 230 1,058,000 4,600 stable. On the one hand, some real estate specialists’ consider the current prices to be high and thus Kornish Al-Mazraa 185 370,000 2,000 explaining the current stagnation in the market and Ras Al-Nabee 150 442,500 2,950 the recession. On the other hand, there are those who believe the prices to be reasonable, and sometimes Achrafieh 145 381,350 2,630 low, and relate the economic situation to the unstable Saifi 170 578,000 3,400 political one that Lebanon is going through. Baabda When reviewing the situation in 2010, one can say that it was one of stagnation with stable prices, likely to Baabda 150 195,000 1,300 rise. According to specialists, it appears that in 2010 Baabda 310 697,500 2,250 the real estate market generated but 40% of what had been recorded in 2009. Kafaat 165 165,000 1,000 Yarzeh 450 1,228,500 2,730 Prices of some estates sold in December 2010 Table 1 Hazmieh (Mar Taqla) 200 440,000 2,200 Region Area m2 Price (USD) USD/m2 Hazmieh (Mar Taqla) 250 587,500 2,350 Beirut Hazmieh (Mar Taqla) 280 504,000 1,800 Sodeco 650 4,680,000 7,200 Hadath 160 240,000 1,500 Verdun 930 10,695,000 11,500 Hadath 190 190,000 1,000 Ras Al-Nabee 540 4,104,000 7,600 Sfeir 175 196,000 1,120 Baabda Matn Hazmieh 630 1,020,600 1,620 Awkar 140 226,800 1,620 Yarze 980 2,087,400 2,130 Awkar 250 325,000 1,300 Baabda 1,030 2,008,500 1,950 Antellias 165 206,250 1,250 Hadath 830 373,500 450 Broumana 180 288,000 1,600 Matn Mansourieh 150 207,000 1,380 Broumana 1,630 782,400 480 Sabtieh 160 224,000 1,400 Zaarour 1,250 125,000 100 Rabieh 180 329,400 1,830 Monte Verde 1,500 1,080,000 720 A’aley Antellias 640 416,000 650 Doha Aramoun 160 160,000 1,000 Horsh Tabet 1,450 3,480,000 2,400 Doha Hoss 200 250,000 1,250 A’aley Chouifat 140 140,000 1,000 Doha Aramaoun 1,050 325,500 310 Khaldeh 170 170,000 1,000 A’aley 900 243,000 270 Khaldeh 1,000 1,470,000 1,470 Bchamoun 165 181,500 1,100 Keserouane Keserouane Aajaltoun 2,300 575,000 250 Adonis 180 180,000 1,000 Faitroun 1,220 256,200 210 Sahel Alma 240 336,000 1,400 Jeeita 1,100 396,000 360 Kfar Hebab 160 320,000 2,000 Kfar Zebian 1,400 210,000 150 Ballouneh 190 319,200 1,680 Adma 1,200 660,000 550 Ghadir 200 300,000 1,500 Source: Information International December 2010 Source: Information International December 2010

issue 103 - February 2011 48 |INDEX TOWARD A LEBANESE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOOD PRICE INDEX OF 100 PRODUCTS: THE YEAR 2010 he prices of 66 of the 100 products we list every Price of products during the year 2010 (in LBP) Table 1 month increased whereas the prices of 12 were stable and 22 witnessed a decrease. Prices Prices T beginning beginning % of price The percentage of increase ranged between 0.75% Item and brand and 81.8% on the following products: tomatoes of January of January change (81.8%), cucumbers (66.6%), potatoes (47%), white 2010 2011 lentils (40.7%), cow meat (30.7%) and wheat (30.5%). Dairy Products On the other hand, the percentage of decrease ranged between 0.56% and 45.3% on the following Candia full cream milk (1 liter) 2,450 2,500 2,04 + products: ketchup (45.3%), tahina (28.6%) and salt Candia full cream yoghurt (2 kg) 4,800 3,000 37.5 - (44%). Bonjus labneh (1 kg) 3,750 3,990 6.4 + Table 1 lists the price of products during the year Taanayel labneh (500 g) 5,000 5,650 13+ 2010 (in LBP) Candia labneh (500 g) 5,000 3,500 30 - Taanayel yoghurt (1 kg) 2,575 3,000 16.5 + Price of products during the year 2010 (in LBP) Table 1 Smeds cheese (400 g) 4,100 4,350 6.09 + Prices Prices beginning beginning % of price Picon cheese (360 g) 3,525 3,350 4.96 - Item and brand of January of January change Picon cheese (160 g) 1,725 1,700 1.45 - 2010 2011 Double-crème cheese (1 kg) 6,400 7,000 9.37 + Oil Fresh country cheese (1 kg) 7,500 8,900 18.67 + Afia corn oil (3.5 liters) 11,370 13,750 20.93 + Khashkawan cheese (1 kg) 11,000 13,000 18.18 + Mazola corn oil (3.5 liters) 13,250 13,350 0.75 + Lurpak butter (200 g) 2,450 2,500 2.04 + Mazola corn oil (1.8 liters) 6,750 6,950 2.96 + Tatra butter (200 g) 2,250 2,250 0 Slim corn oil (2 liters) 7,250 7,500 3.44 + Al-Maalaqtain margarine (2 kg) 10,100 7,950 21.28- Wesson corn oil (2 liters) 8,250 7,750 6.06 - Al-Baqara al-Haloub margarine Ghandour soya oil (3.8 liters) 10,500 11,250 7.14 + (2kg) 25,610 31,075 21.33+ Alfa corn oil (4 liters) 12,980 13,100 0.92 + Vegetaline margarine (2 kg) 14,500 14,950 3.1 + Al-Wadi Olive Oil (1/2 liters) 9,200 6,450 29.9 - Nido full cream milk (bag) 19,050 19,500 2.36 + Ketchup and Sauces (2,250 g) Libby’s Ketchup (567 g) 2,870 1,570 45.3 - Nido full cream milk (2,500 g) 23,100 23,100 0 Extra Ketchup (340 g) 1,500 980 34.6 - Tatra full cream milk (1,800 g) 17,600 17,500 0.56 - Extra Ketchup (2.2 kg) 5,500 5,500 0 Pasta Dolly’s Mayonnaise (500 ml) 3,650 4,500 23.28 + Barilla spaghetti (500 g) 2,050 2,100 2.43 + Al-Wadi Mayonnaise (500 ml) 4,250 4,400 3.53 + Antonio Amato spaghetti (500 g) 2,850 2,200 22.8 - Al-Bsat Tahina (900 g) 8,950 6,390 28.6 - Monte spaghetti (500 g) 2,150 2,150 0 Al-Bsat Tahina (450 g) 4,690 3,600 23.24 - Sugar and Salt Taous tomato sauce (70 g) 495 715 44.5 + Sugar (2 kg) 3,000 3,350 11.66 + Taous tomato sauce (425 g) 2,625 3,250 23.8 + Al-Ousra Sugar (5 kg) 7,250 9,500 31.03 + Tala tomato sauce (675 g) 2,500 2,990 19.6 + Salt (700 g) 5,00 280 44 - Box of salt (738 g) 950 1,100 15.79 +

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. INDEX|49

Price of products during the year 2010 (in LBP) Table 1 Price of products during the year 2010 (in LBP) Table 1 Prices Prices Prices Prices Item and brand beginning beginning % of price Item and brand beginning beginning % of price of January of January change of January of January change 2010 2011 2010 2011 Cereals Meat, Fish and Eggs Khater white lentils (1 kg) 2,700 3,800 40.75 + Zwan chicken (200 g) 2,250 2,500 11.11 + Khater chick-peas fahli (1 kg) 3,000 3,750 25 + Zwan beef (200 g) 2,200 2,250 2.27+ Khater beans (1 kg) 1,750 2,000 14.28 + Luncheon meat beef (198 g) 1,750 1,800 2.85+ Peeled wheat (1 kg) 1,800 2,350 30.55 + Al-Mona chicken (200 g) 1,900 2,100 10.52+ Pineal Lima Bean (1 kg) 3,000 3,250 8.33 + Al-Taghzia beef (200 g) 1,750 1,925 10+ Brown Fine Burgul (1 kg) 1,800 2,000 11.11+ Al-Taghzia chicken (200 g) 1,750 1,750 0 Egyptian rice (1 kg) 2,050 1,750 14.63 - Geisha sardine (125 g) 1,000 1,000 0 American rice (1 kg) 2,100 1,850 11.9 - Deli sardine (125 g) 990 1,100 11.11 + Italian rice (1 kg) 2,300 2,980 29.56 + Milo sardine (125 g) 990 1,090 10.1+ Al-Wadi Hommos Tahina (380 g) 1,200 1,340 11.66 + Geisha tuna (200 g) 2,250 3,990 77.33 + Chtaura Hommos Tahina (380 g) 1,100 1,140 3.6 + White Bell tuna (200 g) 2,100 2,150 2.38 + California Gardens beans (450 g) 1,000 1,100 10 + White Diamond tuna (200 g) 2,050 2,250 9.75 + Al-Wadi beans (450 g) 1,000 1,000 0 Skipper tuna (185 g) 1,750 1,750 0 Chtaura beans (480 g) 1,000 1,500 50 + Eggs (30 eggs) 8,050 8.05 0 Libby’s corn (340 g) 1,450 1,750 20.68 + Beef (1 kg) 13,000 17,000 30.7 + Fruits and Vegetables Sheep (1 kg) 20,000 22,000 10 + Orange (1 kg) 750 1,250 66.6 + Coffee and Tea Tomatoes (1kg) 1,100 2,000 81.8 + Najjar coffee (1kg) 12,250 14,000 14.28 + Cucumbers (1kg) 1,200 2,000 66.6 + Brazil coffee (1 kg) 10,500 11,850 12.85 + Bananas (1kg) 1,000 850 15 - Al-Hisan tea (180 g) 2,450 2,750 12.24 + Lemons (1 kg) 500 600 20 + Nestle (250g) 2,200 2,350 6.81 + Apples (1 kg) 2,000 2,000 0 Halvah and Jam Potatoes (1 kg) 850 1,250 47 + Al-Wadi halvah (454 g) 4,250 4,150 2.35 - Al-Bsat halvah (450 g) 4,200 3,150 25 - Chtaura apricot jam (1 kg) 6,400 5,500 14.06 - Al-Wadi apricot jam (1 kg) 5,500 4,500 18.18 - Tissues and Detergents Mimosa tissues (500 g) 2,500 2,600 4 + Fine tissues (200 tissues) 1,250 1,350 8 + Primo tissues (200 tissues) 1,200 1,300 8.33 + Gipsy tissues (300 tissues) 2,350 2,500 6.38 + Mimosa toilet papers (4 rolls) 2,400 3,100 29.16 + Yes detergent (900 g) 2,250 2,250 0 Clorox (1 liter) 1,450 1,500 3.4 + Persil (4 kg) 18,200 18,200 0 Ariel (4 kg) 18,450 18,000 2.43 - Source: Information International 2010-2011

issue 103 - February 2011 50| Did you know that? Statistics from around the World Nobel Prizes

A 817 Laureates and 23 organizations have been awarded A 2 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Algeria. One award the Nobel Prize between 1901 and 2010. Of them, 67 was given to Claude Cohen-Tannoudji in Physics in 1997 are Laureates in Economic Sciences. and the other to Albert Camus in Literature in 1957. A $1.4 million was the sum of money awarded to a Nobel A 2 Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded to Bangladesh in Prize laureate in 2009. In 2009, Barack Obama was 2006. awarded the Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts A 1 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Palestine in 1994. to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation Yasser Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize together between peoples”. with Rabin and Peres for their negotiations in Oslo. A $560 million is the approximate value of the assets A 5 times was Mahatma Ghandi nominated for the Nobel controlled by the Nobel Foundation, the private Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and 1948, but he organization founded on June 29, 1990, to manage the never won it. finances and administration of Nobel Prizes. A 77% of Nobel prizes in Physics have been awarded for A 320 is the number of Nobel Prize laureates from the discoveries, compared with only 23% for inventions. United States (40% of the total laureates). A 2 Nobel Prizes were awarded to Marie Curie, one in A 116 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to the United Physics in 1903 and the other in Chemistry in 1911. She Kingdom, 103 to Germany and 57 to France. is the only woman who has been awarded two Nobel A 9 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Israel, 3 of which Prizes. were Peace Prizes granted to Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon A 5 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to the Curie Family: Peres in 1994 and Menachem Begin in 1978. Marie Curie (1903 and 1911), her husband Pierre Curie A 4 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Egypt, 2 of which (1903), her daughter Irène (1935) and the latter’s husband were Peace Prizes that were granted to Mohamed El- Frederic Joliot Curie. In addition, the husband of Marie Baradei in 2005 and Anwar El Sadat in 1978. Ahmed Zewil Curie’s second daughter, Henry Labouisse, was the director was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999 and of UNICEF when it won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965. Naguib Mahfouz the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988. Source: Nobel Prize website: http://www.nobelprize.org Beirut International Airport Rafic Hariri International Airport in the year 2010: 5.5 million passengers and an annual increase of 11.2%

Airport traffic in December 2009 and 2010 and a comparison of the traffic in 2009 and Table 1 Airport traffic at the Rafic Hariri International Airport 2010 witnessed a decline in the month of December %of % of change change 2010 in comparison with November 2010 with the Traffic Dec-09 Dec-10 Year 2009 Year 2010 Dec 2009- 2009- number of passengers decreasing by 43,284 or Dec 2010 2010 9.2%. This sort of decline hasn’t occurred in years Arriving airplanes 2,703 2,778 28,778 33,062 2.77+ 14.88+ as traffic usually increases in December. The decline Departing airplanes 2,692 2,778 28,766 33,067 3.2+ 14.95+ in the number of departures can be explained by the Total No. of airplanes 5,395 5,550 57,544 66,129 2.87+ 14.91+ dire economic situation suffered by the Lebanese Arriving passengers 232,169 233,648 2,495,136 2,757,861 0.63+ 10.52+ whereas the low number of arrivals is probably due Departing passengers 196,913 186,735 2,463,699 2,752,699 5.16- 11.7+ to the bad weather conditions that hit most European Transit passengers 2,917 3,464 32,643 40,573 18.7+ 25+ countries, which caused a lot of Lebanese to spend their holidays abroad. Total No. of passengers 431,999 423,847 4,991,478 5,551,133 1.88- 11.21+ The number of passengers in 2010 reached Imported goods (per ton) 3,749 3,780 40,795 43,490 0.82+ 6.6+ 5,551,133 compared to 4,991,478 in 2009, thus Exported goods (per ton) 2,739 2,932 30,775 34,011 7.0+ 10.51+ representing an increase of 559,655 passengers or Total amount of goods 6,488 6,712 71,570 77,501 3.45+ 8.28+ 11.2%. (per ton) Source: Information International and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation

issue 103 - The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. Stats & Numbers | 51

StatsNumbers&

A USD 140.3 million was the cost of the contract of waste management with Sukleen & Sukomi in 2009. Its work covers Greater Beirut and some areas in Mount Lebanon. The amount is divided as follows: $48.3 million to sweep and collect waste and $92 million to treat and bury it. The government is proposing to extend this contract, which expired in October 2010, after reducing it by 4%.

A LBP 600 million were allocated to the Ministry of Economy and Trade to allow Photo by Waddah Joma’a 2009 the Consumer Protection Directorate to purchase 25 Hyundai cars (2011 model) under a mutual consent agreement. The purpose of the cars is to facilitate the Publications mobility of the Directorate’s controllers Publications by Publications by INMA (in Arabic): from one area to the other in order to Information International (in Arabic): 1-“I am Responsible, All of Us are Responsible” monitor the prices and quality of products 1-Salaries and Remunerations in the Public Sector 2-“Our Environment is Our Home” for purchase. 2-Public Seaside Properties 3-“My Society is My Responsibility” 3-Lebanon’s Parliamentary History 1920-2000 4-“My Society is My Responsibility” Workbook A LBP 6 billion were paid to prepare 4-Taxes and Fees 5-“I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards comprehensive studies, consultations and 5-Lebanon in Figures 1992-2002 State Building” 6-Lebanon in Figures 2003-2004 terms and conditions to put into effect 6-“I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards 7-Lebanon in Figures 2005-2006 State Building” Workbook a policy paper regarding the electricity 8-Lebanon’s MPs and Lebanese Parliamentary 7-“Lebanon Wars, why?” sector. Elections 1960 - 2009 8-Discrimination in Lebanon 9- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, A LBP 93.8 million is the amount owed candidate and confession-North District to Electricite du Liban from the Center for 10- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, Educational Research and Development candidate and confession-Beirut District (CERD)-the building of Educational 11- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, candidate and confession-Mount Lebanon Television in Jounieh, in delayed electricity District bills from March 1, 1991, until August 1, 12- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, 1998. During that period, the Lebanese candidate and confession-Beqa’a District Broadcasting Corporation was working 13- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, from the said building. candidate and confession-South and Nabatiyeh District 14- Municipal Elections 2010 To subscribe: Al-Borj Building, 4th Floor, Martyrs Square Beirut Central District Telephone: 961-1-983008/9 961-3-262376 Fax: 961-1-980630 [email protected] www.iimonthly.com www.information-international.com © Information International SAL All rights reserved License No. 180/2003 Responsible Director: Hala Saghbini nüvifone G60 nüvifone G60 is the only phone to fully integrate the nüvi 1200 nüvi 3790 world’s best-selling GPS 1st 3D Map for navigator with voice, data The slimmest GPS Lebanon and mobile web. Because navigator with nüRoute™ GPS is integrated and not technology speech An ultra-thin, pocket just an application, nüvifone recognition, nüRoute™ design, affordable and allows you to do more, such technology, 3D terrain simple-to-use sat-nav with as talk on the phone while view, multi-touch glass preloaded with LEBANON continuing to navigate. display, lane assist with MAPS. The nüvi 1200 has Always know where you PhotoReal™ junction view, ecoRoute™ to calculate are and where you’re going Bluetooth® wireless, FM a fuel-efficient route, is with nüvifone. It provides lifetime traffic, widescreen, compatible with the optional the easiest, most advanced preloaded street maps for cityXplorer™ download to and intuitive navigation LEBANON, & EUROPE, get you around on foot or experience of any phone speaks street names, public transport, and you currently available. Where am I?, photo can even add City Guides navigation, pedestrian to make the most of your navigation options. time in town.

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