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President Gemayel with the UN Secretary General Ban President Gemayel with Secretary of State Condi Rice President Gemayel & Senator Lantos President and Mrs. Gemayel w/Mr. Wolfowitz President Gemayel with Donald Ramsfeld Gemayel in Washington and New York Gemayel Stresses Need for Tribunal to Expose ‘Truth about Terrorists’ Former President Amin Gemayel has stressed the need for a Special International Tribunal for Lebanon to “empower” the country, reiterating his support for the Saniora government against the opposition. Gemayel told a press conference Friday after meeting with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon in New York that exposing “the truth about terrorist actions perpetrated in Lebanon is essential for the empowerment of its democracy.” “The democratically elected parliament … which is a legitimate institution, has approved the international tribunal with a big majority,” he added. The United Nations signed an accord with the government of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora to set up an international court to prosecute the suspected killers of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes. But the Hizbullah-led opposition is demanding Saniora’s resignation because its sees the cabinet as unconstitutional since the withdrawal of six pro-Syrian ministers from the government over the issue of the court. “The government and the parliamentary majority remain committed to establishing the tribunal … This tribunal is a prerequisite to reestablishing law and order not only in Lebanon but all around,” Gemayel noted. “The need to move toward the setting in place of the tribunal is as strong as it has ever been. No other country in the region has suffered as many political assassinations, all of which remain unresolved,” he said. Gemayel’s son, Industry Ministry Pierre Gemayel, was assassinated by gunmen in November and his death has been added to those being investigated by the International Independent Investigation Commission, a U.N. probe led by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz. The Saniora government has endorsed the court plan but Speaker Nabih Berri, who is a Hizbullah ally, is refusing to call for a parliament session for ratification. “We do what we have to — to overcome the obstacles and to face whatever obstacles that could prevent the establishment of this court,” Gemayel said. Asked whether a binding Security Council resolution under Chapter Seven of the U.N. charter might be required to secure the establishment of the tribunal in view of the political stalemate in Lebanon, the ex-president replied: “We attach importance to Chapter 7.” But for now, he said, he supports keeping the current U.N. resolution on the tribunal under Chapter 6 which does not include military measures.(Naharnet-AFP-AP) Beirut, 10 Feb 07 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gemayel Urges ‘Compromise’ to Settle Lebanon Crisis Former President Amin Gemayel warned in remarks published Friday that unless the feuding political sides proposed compromises to their “unachievable” demands, Lebanon was on the “doorstep of a critical crisis.” “We are on the doorstep of a critical crisis and should not take matters lightly,” Gemayel said after meeting with U.S. President George Bush in Washington on Thursday. “Our main priority is to restore stability (to Lebanon), and this cannot be achieved unless we restart dialogue and cooperate with one another,” Gemayel added. While he described the Lebanon situation as “explosive,” Gemayel said there are “good signs” to get Lebanon out of its political impasse if “each side (of the political divide) gave up its unachievable demands.” Bush reiterated the U.S. administration’s support for Lebanon. “We’ll be demonstrating U.S. commitment to a sovereign and democratic Lebanon, and express sympathy, again, on behalf of the president and the American people for the assassination of Mr. Gemayel’s son, Pierre Gemayel,” White House press secretary Tony Snow said Thursday. Gemayel said in an interview broadcast Sunday he did not know who was responsible for the killing of his son, Lebanon’s industry minister, who was assassinated in November. But he accused Syria of plotting a coup d’etat against the government of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora.(Naharnet-AP) Beirut, 09 Feb 07 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gemayel Slams Opposition’s Syrian-Backed ‘Coup d’Etat’ Former President Amin Gemayel has said the Hizbullah-led opposition’s determination to bring down the government of Fouad Saniora is a “coup d’etat” against the constitution. Gemayel, who is in Washington to meet with U.S. President George Bush and other top officials, also said that Lebanon cannot afford a new civil war that many fear could break out amid a political crisis gripping the country. “In my opinion, what’s going on in Lebanon is really a coup d’etat… It’s a coup d’etat against the Lebanese constitution,” he said on CNN television. Accusing Syria of being behind the opposition demands, Gemayel said that Damascus is trying to undermine Saniora’ s government and to block the constitutional process designed to establish an international tribunal to try the suspects of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s murder and related crimes. “This coup d’etat is to block the constitution process … to endorse the international tribunal. Because Syria is really afraid, because it’s the first suspect in the … crimes,” Gemayel said, referring to the murders of both Hariri and his son Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel. The former president also slammed Hizbullah, which he branded a “state within a state.” “They have their own army, their own financial system, with the huge and generous financial support from outside. … Hizbullah enjoyed the full support of Syria and Iran. It’s not a secret.” Gemayel said the country cannot afford to have a new civil war. “We’re trying now to find a political solution to this crisis. I am, myself, also in touch with the Hizbullah and many other parties, trying to avoid the civil war and to find a political solution to the prevailing crisis.”(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 05 Feb 07 |
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President George W. Bush's budget for fiscal year 2008 for
international affairs for the Department of State is $36.2
billion. The President's budget includes $4.8 billion to meet
urgent new foreign assistance needs in Afghanistan, Iraq,
and Lebanon
international affairs for the Department of State is $36.2
billion. The President's budget includes $4.8 billion to meet
urgent new foreign assistance needs in Afghanistan, Iraq,
and Lebanon
President George W. Bush and Amine Gemayel, former
President of Lebanon, talk with reporters in the Oval Office
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, during Gemayel's visit to the White
House. White House photo by Paul Morse
President of Lebanon, talk with reporters in the Oval Office
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, during Gemayel's visit to the White
House. White House photo by Paul Morse
