31/12/07

France snubs Syria over Lebanon
PARIS (UPI) — France is breaking off diplomatic contacts with Syria amid tensions over Lebanon’s presidential election.
www.arcamax.com/newsheadlines/s-281326-709337?source=1930

French and Syrians talk as Lebanon crisis drags
Reuters – USA
The two sides gave different versions of the conversation, which came as France exerts diplomatic pressure to solve a political crisis in Lebanon pitting …
www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL3152017320071231

Syria unwilling to pressure Lebanon allies: minister
Africasia – London,UK
Syria is unwilling to put pressure on its Lebanon allies in the crisis that has left it without a president for over a month, Information Minister Mohsen …
www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.
php?area=mideast&item=071231162729.aav9urza.php

Yemeni ambassador to Lebanon, Faysal Abou Rass
Monday Morning – Beirut,Lebanon
When he was appointed ambassador to Lebanon, he had to resign his post as an MP. Ambassador Abou Rass knows Lebanon well, having done his complementary and …
www.mmorning.com/ArticleC.asp?Article=5411&CategoryID=3

Lebanon ex-premier: Iran not a threat to Arab states
Islamic Republic News Agency – Tehran,Iran
Lebanese former Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss said Monday that Iran never poses a threat to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Al-Hoss made the remark in …
www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0712318006182841.htm

France to boycott Syria over Lebanon crisis
France will have no more contact with Syria until Damascus shows willingness to let Lebanon end its long-running political crisis and find a new president, President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Sunday. France “will have no more contact with …
www.terrorism.com/modules.php?op=modlo
ad&name=News&file=article&sid=85193

Specter and Kennedy go on a road trip to Syria
By Bryan
One of the questions Americans are trying to answer for ourselves is which of the presidential candidates we’d prefer to represent us at the table when we have to deal with the world’s worst regimes and figures. […] Read the rest
www.hotair.com/archives/2007/12/31/s
pecter-and-kennedy-go-on-a-road-trip-to-syria/

Syria committed to peace
Ynetnews – Israel
Specter and Kennedy said Syria’s role in the peace process was vital and called on President George W. Bush to be forthcoming in his dealings with Syria, …
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3488709,00.html

Would Arabs Isolate Syria?
Naharnet – Beirut,Lebanon
An-Nahar’s Rosana Boumounsef also wrote that the United States could pressure Syria into facilitating the Lebanese Presidential election by threatening to …
www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/F2E2
3AA0E74C4429C22573C200455178?OpenDocument

Sarkozy Breaks Off Syria Talks
France has lost patience with Syria and has cut off mediation talks until Damascus stops obstructing the election of a new president in Lebanon, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced yesterday. Lebanon has been without a president …
www.newser.com/story/15275.html?rss=y

France says suspending contacts with Syria
Reuters South Africa – Johannesburg,South Africa
By Jonathan Wright CAIRO (Reuters) – French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Sunday he had told his government to suspend diplomatic contacts with Syria …
africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnL3034006.html

US lawmakers visit Syria
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
By Ziad Haydar and Borzou Daragahi, Special to The Times DAMASCUS, SYRIA— A pair of US lawmakers visited the Syrian capital on Sunday in an attempt to …
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria
31dec31,1,4572904.story?coll=la-headlines-world

Mubarak, Sarkozy urge Syria to help solve Lebanon’s crisis
Indian Muslims – San Diego,CA,USA
By Xinhua Cairo : Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday called on Syria to help Lebanon achieve a …
www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/dec/30/mubara
k_sarkozy_urge_syria_help_solve_lebanons_crisis.html

Syria: Our ties with France are strong
Jerusalem Post – Israel
Bilal also gave an interview on a Syrian TV station, Sunday, and said that“Syria and Lebanon are working together so that our brothers in Lebanon will …
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=119851
7254773&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Syria blames Foreign Forces for Iraq status
Alsumaria – Iraq
Syria has proven more than once its support to national reconciliation efforts among Iraqi people’s political and social components, he uttered.…
www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-12098-
Syria-blames-Foreign-Forces-for-Iraq-status.html

France to “suspend contact” with Syria over Lebanon
Euronews.net – Lyon,France
Links will be restored only when Paris has proof that Damascus is not blocking efforts to appoint a consensus President in Lebanon. Speaking in Egypt after …
www.euronews.net/index.php?page=info&article=462175&lng=1

IHT: France ends contact with Syria over Lebanese presidential …
By A-News(A-News)
France is cutting off talks with Syria until Damascus shows its willingness to let Lebanon elect a new president, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. Lebanon’s Western-backed government and pro-Syrian opposition have been unable to …
www.eu-digest.com/2007/12/iht-fra
nce-ends-contact-with-syria-over.html

France to boycott Syria
AFP CAIRO – France will have no more contact with Syria until Damascus shows its willingness to let Lebanon end its current crisis and appoint a new president, President Nicolas Sarkozy said. France “will have no more contact with …
www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=671206

France ends contact with Syria over Lebanese presidential election
International Herald Tribune – France
AP CAIRO, Egypt: France is cutting off talks with Syria until Damascus shows its willingness to let Lebanon elect a new president, French President Nicolas …
www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/31/
africa/ME-GEN-Egypt-France-Syria.php

Crossfire War – France Suspends Diplomatic Relations with Syria …
NewsBlaze – Folsom,CA,USA
And this is a dispute over a country the French created in 1920, which is why Syria never accepted it. Schemes in Paris used to dictate events in Lebanon …
newsblaze.com/story/20071230162035pa
yn.nb/newsblaze/OPINIONS/Opinions.html

France suspends contacts with Syria
PRESS TV – Tehran,Iran
France’s President says he will suspend diplomatic contacts with Syria unless Damascus ‘facilitates’ Lebanon’s presidential elections. …
www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=36941&sectionid=351020206

FEATURE-Iraqi refugees turn to sex trade in Syria
Reuters – USA
The idea repels many of the 1.5 million Iraqis in Syria, but the struggle to make ends meet has forced some to share tiny apartments with other families in …
www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSL29661659

International Islamic venture in Syria gets government approval
Gulf Times – Doha,Qatar
DOHA: International Islamic yesterday said its near $20mn capital-based insurance joint venture in Syria had received governmental approval from Damascus. …
www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item
_no=192990&version=1&template_id=48&parent_id=28

30/12/07

2007 saw Lebanon crisis go from bad to worse
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa also visited Syria for talks, while a call for calm from Nasrallah was welcomed amid efforts to renew …
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edi
tion_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=87743

Citing interference in Lebanon, France cuts off contact with Syria
International Herald Tribune – France
The Western-backed government in Lebanon and the pro-Syrian opposition have been unable to overcome their disagreements to follow through with the election, …
www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/30/africa/france.php

Berri: No need for a fact-finding visit to Lebanon
Tehran Times – Iran
In a cable to Moussa, Berri said: “”There is no need for a fact-finding visit to Lebanon. Achieving Arab reconciliation would be sufficient for Lebanon’s …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=160264

US senator upbeat on peace between Syria, Israel
Xinhua – China
30 (Xinhua) — An influential US senator sounded upbeat on Sunday on the prospect of peace process between Syria and Israel after talks with Syrian…
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/31/content_7342482.htm

France to Cut Contact With Syria Over Lebanese Political Crisis
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he is suspending diplomatic contacts with Syria because of the political crisis in Lebanon.…
voanews.com/english/2007-12-30-voa13.cfm

France freezes Syria contacts
InTheNews.co.uk – London,UK
French leadership on Lebanon’s future took another step forward today as Nicolas Sarkozy suspended diplomatic contacts with Syria. Lebanon has been without …
www.inthenews.co.uk/news/autocodes/countrie
s/france/france-freezes-syria-contacts-$1183448.htm

Sarkis – Aoun is used as a tool by Iran & Syria
Ya Libnan – Beirut,Lebanon
We agree with Bishop Bechara Al Rahi, Aoun cannot make a decision …all the decisions are made by Hezbollah and Aoun is being used as a tool by Iran , Syria …
yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/12/sarkis_aoun_is.php

US senator upbeat on peace between Syria, Israel
Xinhua – China
30 (Xinhua) — An influential US senator sounded upbeat on Sunday on the prospect of peace process between Syria and Israel after talks with Syrian…
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/31/content_7342482.htm

France to Cut Contact With Syria Over Lebanese Political Crisis
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he is suspending diplomatic contacts with Syria because of the political crisis in Lebanon.…
voanews.com/english/2007-12-30-voa13.cfm

France freezes Syria contacts
InTheNews.co.uk – London,UK
French leadership on Lebanon’s future took another step forward today as Nicolas Sarkozy suspended diplomatic contacts with Syria. Lebanon has been without …
www.inthenews.co.uk/news/autocodes/countries/
france/france-freezes-syria-contacts-$1183448.htm

Sarkis – Aoun is used as a tool by Iran & Syria
Ya Libnan – Beirut,Lebanon
We agree with Bishop Bechara Al Rahi, Aoun cannot make a decision …all the decisions are made by Hezbollah and Aoun is being used as a tool by Iran , Syria …
yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/12/sarkis_aoun_is.php

US Senators Demand Peaceful and Sovereign Lebanon in Damascus
Naharnet – Beirut,Lebanon
Influential US Senator Patrick Kennedy expressed his hope to see a new head of state in a peaceful and stable Lebanon. Kennedy said following a meeting with …
www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/4
86F416D032E51AFC22573C100647493?OpenDocument

US Congressmen secure Syria pledge to free dissidents
Africasia – London,UK
Specter also sounded an upbeat note about the prospects for movement on the peace process between Syria and Israel which has been frozen since 2000,…
www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.p
hp?area=mideast&item=071230162344.0lza1tun.php

France to halt links with Syria
BBC News – UK
Links will be restored only when France has proof that Syria is not blocking progress towards installing a consensus president in Lebanon, Mr Sarkozy said. …
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7165122.stm

Defense Committee: ‘Don’t underestimate al-Qaeda’
Ynetnews – Israel
Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Northern Command, who briefed them on the current situation with Lebanon and Syria after the Second Lebanon War. …
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3488345,00.html

Finkelstein in Lebanon
“Flyer for Lebanon dates; in Arabic”
www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=1409

HE Frances Guy – Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Lebanon
By Dave
Audio Lecture given at AUB titled “More fraternity than friction: The role of values and policies in relations between the United Kingdom and the Arab and Islamic world.” I think we can all agree theres lots of friction and no …
justice4lebanon.wordpress.com/2007/12/30/h-e-frances-
guy-ambassador-of-the-united-kingdom-to-lebanon/