Daily Star - Authorities arrest Syrian-Lebanese porn gang, September 28, 2011

BEIRUT: Four members of a criminal ring involved in the sale of pornographic films have been arrested, a security source told The Daily Star Wednesday. The men, of Lebanese and Syrian nationality, had been promoting the sale of pirated copies of pornographic DVDs in different areas of the country, particularly Jbeil, north of Beirut, where they were apprehended, the source said on condition of anonymity. The four were identified as Syrian nationals Shibli Mohammad Shibli, Younis Faisal al-Hussein and Mohammad Hasan al-Shibli as well as Lebanese national Mousa Haitham Ahmad. The men have been referred to the relevant authorities and investigations are ongoing to uncover the remaining members of the ring and anyone else involved in the distribution of the pornographic films.

Naharnet - Aoun: Seeing as Miqati is so Rich, Why Doesn’t he Fund STL?, September 28, 2011

Aoun renewed on Tuesday his opposition to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, rejecting attempts to fund it.

He said after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting: “Seeing as Prime Minister Najib Miqati and his brothers have amassed billions of dollars, then he can provide the $35 million Lebanon is obligated to pay to fund the tribunal.”

Miqati had announced at the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday Lebanon’s renewed commitment to respect international resolutions, including respecting the STL.

Addressing Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea recent statements that the MP has formed an “alliance of minorities,” Aoun asked: “Who spoke of such an alliance?”

“Where did he come up with such a thing?” he wondered.

“We will not tolerate such accusations from anyone without evidence,” he stated.

Aoun continued: “We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hizbullah that is based on consensual democracy. Yes, the minorities in Syria are in danger and the U.S. recognized this threat meaning they are responsible for the constructive chaos.”

Commenting on Geagea’s criticism of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s fears over the safety of minorities in the region, he said: “I don’t understand his attack against the patriarch.”

“The patriarch is not making political stands and when he says that he fears that the minorities are in danger, he is bolstering mutual coexistence in the Middle East,” noted the FPM leader.

Al-Rahi had voiced concerns during his trip to France that extremist regimes would assume power in the Middle East, thereby threatening Christians in the region.

Geagea responded to these fears on Saturday by indirectly accusing the Syrian regime of posing a danger to Christians, asking: “What extremism is greater than that that was experience in Lebanon for three decades that led to the burdening of Christians?”

Addressing Palestine’s bid to be recognized as an independent state by the United Nations, the MP said: “The U.N. has remained silent over the ongoing crimes committed against the Palestinians.”

“They are now demanding to be granted what is left of their land following the 1948 occupation, so why has the international organization not yet recognized the Palestinian state?” he wondered.

Naharnet - Miqati Chairs U.N. Security Council: Not Funding STL Harms Lebanon, September 28, 2011

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Tuesday that Lebanon is always committed to implementing international resolutions, including respecting the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was stipulated in a number of Lebanese government policy statements.

Miqati stressed that “if Lebanon does not secure the necessary funding for the STL, then the country will be the first victim”, adding that “We are on the verge of extending the STL work in March, and we should prepare our files to present it to the Security Council”.

He said while chairing a United Nations Security Council meeting: “Lebanon is committed to justice as a means to reach peace and it will always remain the land of freedoms and moderation.”

On the developments in Syria, he stated: “Lebanon is keen on its unity and the safety and security of its people.”

Furthermore, he renewed Lebanon’s commitment to the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, demanding that the international community pressure Israel to respect the resolution as well and withdraw from the Kfarshouba hills and Shabaa Farms.

In addition, it should be pressured to cease its ongoing violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty, which should pave the way for a cessation of hostilities and comprehensive ceasefire, he added.

Miqati also reiterated Lebanon’s right to demarcate its maritime border to exploit offshore gas and oil that was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea.

On this note, he commended the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for its role in helping Lebanon demarcate its land border in the South, stressing that Lebanon is keen on maintaining cooperation between it and the Lebanese army.

Addressing the Palestine’s bid to be recognized as a state by the U.N., Miqati said: “It meets all the required international standards … but seeing as it is an occupied state, we need to support its efforts to be recognized, end the occupation, and achieve its independence.”

In an interview with the journalists, Miqati stressed that if Lebanon does not fund the STL, the sole benefactor is Israel “since we will be giving them what they could not take during war”.

He added that the STL today has become a fact, and “comments should be presented to the U.N. in order to make the necessary amendments."

Naharnet - Ban to Miqati: Keen on Seeing Lebanon Secure STL Fund, September 28, 2011

U.N. Chief Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday said that he is interested in seeing the Lebanese government secure the necessary funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

After meeting PM Najib Miqati in New York , Ki-Moon said that the “U.N. stresses on Lebanon’s stability, prosperity, and unity” adding that the U.N. is satisfied with the cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the UNIFIL.”

According to the statement by Miqati’s media office, Ban said “We are keen on having the Lebanese government secure the necessary funds for the STL, and on paying the necessary attention to the Palestinian camps and the reconstruction of Nahr al Bared.”

In turn, Lebanese PM Najib Miqati pointed out that Lebanon is “proud to be a U.N. founding member”, and renewed its commitment to the international legitimacy and the UN Resolutions, stressing that “peace is not permissible except through this organization and its resolutions.”

Miqati renewed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing resolution 1701, and called on the UN to help “put an end to Israel’s continued violations of this resolution”.