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Arab League Urges Lebanon to Implement Necessary Reforms

Kubis meets Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo. (Twitter)
Kubis meets Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo. (Twitter)
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Arab League Urges Lebanon to Implement Necessary Reforms

Kubis meets Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo. (Twitter)
Kubis meets Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo. (Twitter)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit reiterated on Tuesday the league’s support to and solidarity with Lebanon during its current crisis.

During a meeting in Cairo with the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis, Aboul Gheit said it is important for the new Lebanese government to meet the demands of the people and to fullfil its promises, especially by introducing necessary economic reforms to regain the world’s trust and attract investments.

A statement by the league said Aboul Gheit and Kubis discussed the latest developments in Lebanon following the formation of the new government and the challenges that lay ahead.

For his part, Kubis briefed Aboul Gheit about the financial and economic situation in Lebanon and required measures to overcome the crisis.

In Cairo, the UN official also held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

“Shoukry stressed Egypt’s keenness to protect the stability and safety of Lebanon, by working on the achievement of national interests and on meeting the demands of the Lebanese people,” the ministry’s spokesperson Ahmed Hafez said.

The foreign minister said Lebanon should be spared from being involved in regional conflicts and escalations.

Kubis praised Egyptian efforts to help preserve stability in Lebanon and the region, expressing his keenness on continuing cooperation and consultation with Cairo in this regard.

Diab's government won parliament's confidence last week and it quickly requested the International Monetary Fund's advice on tackling its economic crisis.

Lebanon has the world's third-highest debt-to-GDP ratio and has been sliding towards default in recent months, with tight capital controls and a currency devaluation already hitting purchasing power.

Last week, Kubis said that any solution to the economic, financial and banking sector crisis must start with complete transparency of what is the solvency of Lebanon and its Central bank, communicated with the full clarity, honesty and accountability to the public.

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Preliminary Report Due from Syria Coastal Violence Probe Panel

Syrian security forces reassert control in coastal regions after unrest in Latakia and Tartus. (dpa)
Syrian security forces reassert control in coastal regions after unrest in Latakia and Tartus. (dpa)
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Preliminary Report Due from Syria Coastal Violence Probe Panel

Syrian security forces reassert control in coastal regions after unrest in Latakia and Tartus. (dpa)
Syrian security forces reassert control in coastal regions after unrest in Latakia and Tartus. (dpa)

The spokesman for Syria’s fact-finding committee investigating the recent coastal violence said on Monday the panel may request an extension of its presidential mandate, set to expire on Wednesday, due to the widening scope of its work.

Yasser al-Farhan told Asharq Al-Awsat the committee will submit a “preliminary report,” but stressed that it will not release any conclusions or recommendations until the investigation is complete.

The committee was appointed under a presidential decree and began its work on March 9 with a one-month deadline.

“That period ends on Wednesday, but the committee has not yet concluded its investigations,” Farhan said.

He noted that the panel is currently operating in the coastal city of Tartus and is moving to other locations where violations were reported.

“The committee will not publish any findings unless they are based on solid reasoning and evidence that supports the facts, characterizes the violations, and identifies suspects,” Farhan said.

“This requires analyzing and cross-checking all testimonies, assessing the legal context of the acts, and drawing clear conclusions and recommendations,” he added.

A wave of deadly violence swept through Syria’s coastal region early last month, claiming the lives of civilians from the Alawite community as well as members of the general security forces, prompting the formation of an independent investigative committee.

The attacks took place in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus and Baniyas. The government blamed pro-Assad armed groups for targeting security forces, while military and paramilitary personnel were themselves accused of killing civilians in retaliatory assaults.

In response, the Syrian presidency formed the Independent National Committee for Investigation and Fact-Finding into the Coastal Incidents, comprised of legal experts. The panel announced on March 25 that it had collected dozens of testimonies but said it was still too early to release any findings.

Asked whether the committee includes representatives of victims or their families, Farhan told Asharq Al-Awsat that the panel's members are not government employees but independent legal professionals.

“Some of them live outside Syria and have worked in Europe or other regions. Others are active in documenting human rights violations and have memorandums of understanding and cooperation with the United Nations,” he said.

“Two of the members are Syrian judges, and judges are generally regarded as an independent.”

Farhan stressed that the committee acts on behalf of the victims and their families. “Its members are neutral and do not represent any single party.”

“Their work is to be close to the people,” he said, noting that the panel has met with community leaders from across the coastal region to listen to their concerns and better understand the context surrounding the unrest.