Qortbawi Rules Out Civil War in Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Caretaker Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi has ruled out the eruption of civil war in Lebanon despite the rising security incidents and the deepening polarization over the conflict in Syria.
“We couldn't say that everything's fine but I am not afraid of war either,” Qortbawi told An Nahar daily in remarks published on Friday.
“Things will remain under control at the security level,” the caretaker minister said despite citing a series of problems facing the Lebanese state, including the Syrian war, the rising number of Syrian refugees and the continued Israeli threat.
Violence linked to Syria's war is increasingly washing across Lebanon, threatening to unleash large-scale fighting in a deeply fragmented country.
Clashes between pro- and anti-Assad groups in different Lebanese cities have left scores of people dead in recent months.
Asked about the efforts exerted by Premier-designate Tammam Salam to put together a new cabinet, Qortbawi said the obstacles confronting him haven't changed.
He did not provide further details.
But the caretaker minister hoped that the government would be formed swiftly despite the failure to do so since outgoing Premier Najib Miqati resigned in March.
19 July 2013, 08:34
03
Yislam Timmak "Justice" Minister Qortbawi. It is comforting to know we are safe from the perils of civil war. Coming from someone who cares for "justice" and "freedom" it does bring an extra cosy feeling of security that "we", the Lebanese so desperately need nowadays.
19 July 2013, 10:37
03
Lebanon will always be in danger of civil war as long as sectism is more important than nationalism. As long as people keep saying I am Sunni, I am Shia, I am Christian, I am Druze, instead of saying (proudly) I am Lebanese, nothing will, or can, change.
19 July 2013, 10:38
50
The threat to Lebanon is not civil war. The threat to Lebanon is an economic crash due to outside actors sabotaging Lebanon and from within by M14 and their PR and political tactics.
Lebanon has the second highest debt to GDP ratio in the world behind Japan. One slip up and Lebanon gets thrown into the grasp of the IMF that will impose austerity that will cause an outcome such as in Greece.
19 July 2013, 11:17
15
If I am not mistaken under m14 the economy was on the rise at a significant rate. 7 % if I am correct. And you have the gall to blame them when m8 was large and in charge for putting that growth at an about face. Typical.
19 July 2013, 12:54
20
The rise during the tenure of M14 was growth based on a credit card economy largely used to bolster the real estate industry ...
The bills for Rafik and Sadd's credit card extravaganza are coming due to the tune of tens of billions of dollars ...
19 July 2013, 14:29
03
That is ludicrous. here are some figures i looked up and am not creating like imaginary credit cards:
GDP growth:
2007:9.9%
2008:9.5%
2009:7.0%
2010: 8.8%
(All year with m14 in semi-control, thanks to the blocking third)
now M8 years:
2011:1.5%
2012:2.2%
Tourism:
Dropped from an all time high of 2.35 million in 2010 under m14 to 1.36 million in 2012 under m8.
Foreign Investments:
under m14 average of 4.5 billion dollars between 2008 and 2010.
under m8 average of 3.1 billion dollars between 2011 and 2012.
19 July 2013, 14:54
01
Gas fields, gas fields, gas fields. Develop them without having to pay backhanders to politicians and you'll suddenly find that there is an immediate improvement in the Lebanese economy. Can anyone just imagine the income which would come into the Lebanese economy, how many Lebanese workers would be needed to build, maintain and operate the terminals on land from this alone.
19 July 2013, 16:41
02
exactly my thought. Our way out would be gas and oil. But no mouvement there, while israel is already exporting.
19 July 2013, 18:36
01
As I have said in previous responses, if Lebanon would have learned from Egypt and Jordan who signed peace treaties with Israel, then amongst other things the gas and oil fields of Lebanon would have been in operation by now, negating the need for the importation of ships to lessen the electricity shortages etc.
19 July 2013, 20:18
02
philippo. Lebanese wanted to have peace with israel, they even did a treaty in the 80s. But Syria stopped it. Lebanese begged to have sovereignty in the 2000, but HA stopped it.
Lebanon and the lebanese want to soar, and it can. but the axis iran, syria and HA want to keep lebanon in the swamp.
