Qatari minister of state meets Bassil, Geagea
The minister of state at the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Mohammed bin Abdel Aziz al-Khulaifi, met Tuesday with Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, in a shuttle tour between the Lebanese leaders over the presidential file.
The Qatari minister also met with Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun.
On Monday, al-Khulaifi had met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Kataeb leader Sami Gemayyel, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Erslan, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. He also met with Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, media reports said.
Al-Khulaifi told local medias that his visit is focusing on the bilateral ties between Lebanon and Qatar and urged the Lebanese to prioritize dialogue and national interest.
"Qatar is keen to unify regional and international efforts to help Lebanon," al-Khulaifi said, adding that filling the presidential vacuum is the most important topic discussed at the Paris meeting.
The Qatari initiative is not isolated from the French-Saudi efforts regarding the Lebanese file, media reports said.
"The Qatari envoy had no initiative, suggestions or nominations, but he is rather exploring view points and listening," Gemayyel said Monday after his meeting with al-Khulaifi.
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term expired at the end of October.
Lawmakers have held 11 rounds of voting to name a successor to Aoun, but no candidate has garnered enough ballots.
With no single party or parliamentary bloc holding a majority, electing a new president in crisis-hit Lebanon can drag on for months of even years.
04 April 2023, 15:57
00
Assuming Cedar Revolution II achieves objectives (end of political mafia, reforms, neutrality and no arms outside army). Recovery plan snapshot:
1. Lebanon is inherently the most stable and Arab nation due to its democratic history
2. Diaspora returning retirees with pension will bring hard currency to balance budget
3. Safety & stability opens our tourism to growing Arab middle class (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan…)
4. Renewable energy (solar, wind, dams) partially funded by carbon trade grants
5. Major Infrastructure from tunnels to monorail & EV network funded by tolls & user fees
6. Fiber optic via tunnels & guideway to link all cities and new mini-silicon valleys (Akar, Bekaa, South)
7. Reestablish superior education focusing on digital world and robotics (cyber and system security, AI engineers, cloud engineers, etc) where most can work remotely with largest firms.
8. Mimic Ireland by attracting tech firms and becoming regional hub as before.
04 April 2023, 18:25
00
A decision must be made in 2023 to either "neutrality plus no-arms-outside-army" or peacefully divide the country. This to be followed by quick political reform deposing the political mafia and all in power since 2019 that are directly responsible for bankrupting and humiliating a nation. All achieved with Cedar Revolution II supported by Diaspora and reformists. As soon as Diaspora unite on these principles, it becomes the defacto largest and most influential political party and most credible interlocutor with the world. Not only it is providing lifeline to prevent people from hunger, but also has the expertise and funds to restore in no time Lebanon to its formal glory and its hallmark of freedom, democracy, openness, culture and large educated middle class. 2023 is the pivotal year and there is no time to waste. No salvation is possible without Liberating the Country from the Basij and its Useful Idiots!
05 April 2023, 00:07
00
Of critical immediate importance to save Lebanon:
1. Prevent the current political mafia and Basij militia from electing a president
2. Declare current government illegitimate via Cedar Revolution II million plus demonstration
3. Request international community to limit government power
4. Prevent current government from enacting any long-term project or funding commitment
5. Create a government in exile in coordination with local reformers and sovereign activists
6. Put a hold on Central Bank actions preventing it from disposing of any reserve fund or gold
7. Establish a committee of expert to develop a comprehensive reform and redevelopment plan
8. Call for new elections
