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Obama, Saudi king stress “strong support” for Lebanon during meeting

(WASHINGTON, DC) — U.S. President Barack Obama and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud released a joint statement expressing “strong support” for Lebanon following a meeting on Sept. 4 at the White House.

President Obama invited the Saudi king to the U.S. to discuss the Iran nuclear deal and its wider effect on the Middle East.

“I’m happy to come to a friendly country to meet a friend,” Salman said. “We want to work together for world peace.”

The statement said the two leaders supported Lebanon’s “sovereignty, security and stability,” adding that military support for the Lebanese Armed Forces would help “resist extremist threats.”

The two leaders also called on Lebanon’s parliament to elect a new president — a role they believe is of “critical importance.”

The meeting comes five months after the first shipment of Saudi-funded French arms arrived in Lebanon. Many Lebanese view the deal as part of a competition for foreign influence, which they say could spark sectarian conflict.

The $3 billion plan paid for by Saudi Arabia aimed to help bolster the Lebanese army over the next four years with new transport vehicles, tanks, warships, and communication equipment.

In June, the U.S. State Department announced its approval of a possible sale of six A-29 Super Tucano aircrafts to Lebanon, at an estimated cost of $462 million.

According to Riad Kahwaji, CEO of the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, Lebanon would pay for the aircrafts using a $1-billion Saudi grant.

The DC-visit is the king’s first to the United States since ascending to the throne in January 2015, and comes after the United States agreed to a nuclear deal with Iran in July.

“The relationship has grown deeper and stronger over the past seven decades in the political, economic, military, security, cultural and other spheres of mutual interest,” said a statement by the White House press office.

Speaking after the meeting between Obama and Salman, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Obama had assured the Saudi king that the agreement prevents Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, includes inspections of military and suspected sites, and has a provision for the snapback of sanctions if Iran violates the agreement.

Under those conditions, al-Jubeir said, Saudi Arabia supported the deal.

“Now we have one less problem for the time being to deal with, with regards to Iran,” al-Jubeir said. “We can now focus more intensely on the nefarious activities that Iran is engaged in the region.”

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Aoun supporters stage huge protest calling for new electoral law

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Thousands of Free Patriotic Movement supporters staged a protest in downtown Beirut on Friday, to support Lebanese Christian leader Michel Aoun’s call for a presidential election by popular vote.

Aoun, who urged a heavy turnout at the protest, called for an end to presidential elections by parliamentary vote. He also invited FPM supporters to take to the streets “to call for fighting corruption.”

The sea of protesters waved FPM flags and held signs reading “At your service, General” and “We want new elections,” among others.

Lebanon has been without a president for more than a year because of a lack of quorum at parliamentary sessions. The 29th session will be held on September 30, but political analysts say the election of a consensus candidate is unlikely.

Aoun, a former army commander and presidential contender, is also protesting what he believes has been Christian “marginalization.” FPM supporters accuse Prime Minister Tammam Salam of usurping powers reserved for the president.

Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, who recently won the FPM’s presidency uncontested, spoke at the rally and echoed Aoun’s remarks.

“They thought that they could force us out of political life and squares, but we returned to this square and we will return it to all Lebanese,” Bassil said, referring to Beirut’s Martrys Square, where the protest took place.

“They want to deprive us of the dream and our dream is to have a state, not a farm.”

Bassil told a cheering crowd of supporters that citizens should rally for a president and parliament that represents all religions and regions.

“We want a ‘clean’ president who does not cover up for corruption,” Bassil said. “We the Lebanese should elect our president, not foreign forces. We won’t accept a ‘wooden president’ who does not understand people’s golden equation.”

Friday’s protest come amid a wave of anti-government rallies in Beirut, sparked by the current government’s inability to solve the trash crisis. The protesters are led by civil society groups who are seeking to unseat a political system dominated by the same political parties since the civil war.

Lucien Bourjeily, one of the founders of the ‘You Stink’ movement, which has led the recent protests, said it was “absurd” that Aoun was protesting against the government which he is part of.

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Graphic video shows Lebanese boy throwing kitten for $10

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A Lebanese animal rights group has responded to a circulating video which showed a Lebanese boy throwing a live kitten to its death from a towering balcony.

The graphic video begins with an unidentified man offering the boy, who was identified as Mario, a $10 bet for throwing the kitten.

Animals Pride And Freedom, a Baabda-based organization, called for an immediate investigation into the “brutal act.”

“Is this how we raise the men of tomorrow?” the group asked in a Sept. 3 statement on Facebook. “What can we expect from the future of a child who was raised on brutality and cruelty?”

The statement asked anyone with information to contact the organization.

The video prompted hundreds of reactions on social media, mostly condemning animal cruelty and calling for more animal rights in Lebanon.

“No education, no love, no compassion,” wrote one Facebook user. “I have heard and witnessed enough horrible stories of atrocities towards animals.”

WARNING: Video may be graphic to some viewers:

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Average price of first floor apartment in Beirut tops $800k

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A recent study conducted by RAMCO Real Estate Advisers has revealed that the average price of a first floor apartment under construction in Beirut is of USD 3,720 per SQM.

At an average size of 238 SQM, the average value of such an apartment stands at USD 885,360

This price does not take into consideration the negotiation margins that currently take place on the market.

“Given the slight drop in developers’ asking prices and the decreasing size of new apartments, the value of apartments is slightly lower as compared to 2014,” says Karim Makarem, Director of RAMCO sarl.

Completed in Spring 2015, the study, which covers 345 residential buildings under construction across Municipal Beirut, reveals that the average price of an apartment (on the first floor) has dropped by 4% between 2014 and 2015.

Beirut Central District (BCD) remains a differentiated neighborhood. It collects market highs by posting an average asking price of USD 6,679 per SQM on the first floor and an average size of apartments under construction of 331 SQM.

The average apartment is thus offered at USD 2,210,749.

Outside BCD, Beirut posts wide price disparities. High-end neighborhoods, such as Ain el Tineh or Sursock, post prices that very between USD 4,900 and USD 5,250 per SQM on the first floor.

On the other hand, the mid-market neighborhoods of Ashrafieh (such as Beddawi or Hay el Sirian) start at around USD 2,600 per SQM.

Average Price (on the 1st floor) of an Apartment under Construction in Beirut* 

Neighborhood BCD  Ashrafieh Ras Beirut Municipal Beirut 
Average Unit Price (USD/SQM)6,679 3,6073,5743,720 
Average Size (SQM)331 229229238 
Average Total Value (USD)2,210,749 826,003818,446885,360 

* in Municipal Beirut Source: RAMCO sarl – August 2015

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Lebanese stage historic protest in Downtown Beirut; vow to return

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Thousands of Lebanese protesters gathered in downtown Beirut Saturday for one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in the country’s history.

Protesters threatened to return to the streets if the government fails to respond to their demands in 72-hours.

The demands include the resignation of Minister of the Environment Mohamad Machnouk and a permanent solution to the garbage crisis.

But Machnouk already announced he would not resign during this “critical stage” in Lebanon’s history.

“There is joint responsibility,” he said in comments to An-Nahar newspaper. “The resignation of the Cabinet is out of the question for all political powers because it means a leap into a vacuum and chaos.”

The activist group ‘You Stink’ started the movement earlier this month in response to the widely reported trash crisis, which began when residents south of Beirut barricaded a landfill to complain of toxic fumes.

“We are still in the beginning,” said Rasha Halabi, ‘You Stink’ representative. Halabi added that protesters would widen their demands to include new parliamentary elections, if the government doesn’t act swiftly.

The protests on Saturday drew thousands of Lebanese citizens of all sects, chanting against government corruption and marching from the Interior Ministry to Martyrs’ Square downtown.

A row of ambulances and security forces remained in full force to prevent protesters from breaching barricades near parliament. But police didn’t intervene until the late evening, when a lingering crowd of protesters attempted to break through barbed wire.

Similar protests escalated into violence last weekend, prompting officials to arrest dozens and fire water cannons and tear gas at demonstrators.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam threatened to resign last week, warning rival parties that the state could face collapse.

“I warn that we are going are going towards collapse if matters continue,” Salam said in a televised address last week. “Frankly, I have not and will not be a partner in this collapse. Let all officials and political forces bear their responsibilities.”

Lebanese diaspora communities around the world have also joined in solidarity with Beirut protesters. Protests were reported in Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Paris, Boston, and Detroit.

WATCH: Group protests in front of Lebanese Consulate in Detroit:

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Machnouk shares photography hobby on Facebook amid trash crisis

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanon’s Environment Minister Mohamad Machnouk has been silent on his personal Facebook profile since August 12 after he faced backlash for sharing landscape photos amid the widely reported trash crisis.

Machnouk, 74, who previously worked in press and photography, formerly served in various media roles and as president of the Federation of Arab News Agencies.

But his favorite hobby isn’t making some people smile. Amid the widely reported trash crisis which has left Lebanon’s streets piling with uncollected garbage, Machnouk may have found peace in his own photos — but some Lebanese citizens haven’t.

“I think it should be better for you that you find solution for the waste crisis instead of putting these silly photos,” wrote one Facebook user.

“(sic) Do u think you’ll be able to take such nice pics in the near future with all the dirt piling up in so many outdoor areas of our beautiful country?” wrote another.

Machnouk, who actively used Facebook for photo-sharing, deleted his most recent post and has remained silent since.

Protesters are calling for his resignation for his failure to solve the trash crisis, which has been going on for more than a month.

But on Saturday, Machnouk reiterated that he would not resign during the country’s “critical stage.”

“There is joint responsibility,” he said in comments to An-Nahar newspaper. “The resignation of the Cabinet is out of the question for all political powers because it means a leap into a vacuum and chaos.”

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LBC reporter attacked during coverage of Beirut protests

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A LBC television reporter was attacked on Saturday while covering the ongoing Beirut protests triggered by a month-long trash crisis and a non-functioning cabinet or parliament.

Reporter Nada Andraos Aziz can be heard screaming as police and protesters surround her amid intense water cannons and tear gas.

According to her Facebook page, Aziz was shaken but not injured following the altercation. Hundreds have posted on her page thanking her for “honest reporting.”

The ongoing demonstrations are the largest in several years, according to several media reports.

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Lebanon PM threatens to resign as protesters rally in Beirut

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanon’s prime minister threatened to resign on Sunday, warning rival parties in his unity cabinet that the state faced collapse because of paralysis that has come to a head with its failure to resolve a crisis over rubbish disposal.

Protesters called for a second day of demonstrations against Prime Minister Tammam Salam’s cabinet on Sunday after at least 35 people were injured on Saturday night when security forces used water cannons and tear gas to disperse several thousand demonstrators in central Beirut.

Salam’s government has suffered almost complete paralysis since it took office last year as wider crises in the Middle East, including the war in neighboring Syria, have exacerbated Lebanon’s own political and sectarian divisions.

“I warn that we are going are going towards collapse if matters continue,” Salam said in a televised address. “Frankly, I have not and will not be a partner in this collapse. Let all officials and political forces bear their responsibilities.”

He described as excessive the force used against protesters on Saturday and said those responsible would be held to account.

On Sunday, several hundred protesters gathered near the government headquarters on Sunday chanting anti-government slogans. Activists called for a bigger protest later in the day.

Their campaign “You Stink” is a response to trash being left uncollected in and around Beirut last month when a refuse tip closed, with no agreement on an alternative. While collection has resumed, no solution has been found.

“POLITICAL GARBAGE”

The Salam government brings together rival Lebanese parties, including the Sunni-led Future Movement of Saad al-Hariri, Shi’ite Hezbollah, and competing Christian groups.

Should it collapse, Salam’s government would stay on in the caretaker capacity. However, his resignation would trigger a constitutional crisis. In Lebanon, it is the president who appoints the prime minister, but the presidency has been vacant since last year.

Salam said that if a cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday was not productive on issues including a tender to decide on a new refuse collection company, “there would be no necessity for the government after it”.

“The trash is the straw that broke the camel’s back, but the story is much bigger than this straw. It is the story of the political garbage in the country and the political trash in the country,” Salam said.

He also warned the heavily indebted government would be unable to pay salaries next month. Unable to issue new debt, it risked being classified “among the failing states”.

Lebanon’s public debt currently stands at about 143 percent of gross domestic product, a government source said.

Reuters

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Jordan, Lebanon sign 5-year tourism agreement

(AMMAN, JORDAN) — Lebanese and Jordanian officials signed a tourism executive agreement recently, which includes a partnership tourism program between the two countries until 2020.

The agreement was signed during the 7th session of the Joint Jordanian-Lebanese Higher Committee, which was recently held in Amman and presided over by Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and his Lebanese counterpart, Tammam Salam.

The two countries have hosted a tourism convention since 1964, according to Jordan’s ministry.

The restored program includes efforts to promote tourism in the two countries, in order to achieve common goals for developing international and regional tourism in both countries.

According to Jordan’s National News Agency, the agreement says both countries should take necessary measures to facilitate the flow of tourist traffic and call on travel agents to develop joint programs for groups at promotional prices.

The ministry stressed the importance of encouraging the establishing joint tourism projects through providing all legal facilities and privileges for tourist investments in the two countries, in addition to organize an annual meeting for investors from the private sector in both countries to get to know the investment advantages available.

Jordan’s National News Agency says a joint technical committee will be formed to follow up on its implementation.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al Fayez and his Lebanese counterpart Michel Pharaon signed the program.

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LBC wins lawsuit against Saudi prince Al Waleed Bin Talal

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Officials at the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) announced the company recently won a legal dispute against Saudi prince Al Waleed Bin Talal.

According to a LBC statement, a French court ruled the company has “won back rights” to its brands in Europe, the United States, Australia, and Africa. The statement adds that Bin Talal will face “a bill for expenses.”

“The court’s decision stipulated that Bin Talal shall waiver his alleged right to the said channels and give them back to LBCI, but also be responsible for all fees and expenses of the lawsuit he lost,” officials at LBC said in a statement.

The dispute started in the early 2000’s when Bin Talal’s Rotana group, the Arab World’s largest entertainment company, took a stake in the Beirut-based broadcasting company.

LBC did not announce the details of the lawsuit, only revealing the dispute involved “production fees and company ownership.”

According to Al-Arabiya, LBC chief Pierre Daher and Bin Talal were once “allies,” with the Saudi prince investing in LBC in 2008. They fell out over “several issues” and Daher was sidelined as head of the corporation’s production arm, PAC.

PAC stands for LBC’s Production and Acquisition Company, which filed for liquidation in 2012 and resulted in the discharge of 400 employees.

The legal ruling stipulated that all LBCI trademarks and related branding will revert to the company founders.

LBCI went global in 1996 when it launched its satellite channel covering the Arab World, European Union, United States, Canada, Americas and Australia.

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