september 2015 Highlights
September 2
Postponement of the 28th session scheduled to elect a president of the Lebanese Republic until September 30 due to lack of quorum.
Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq admits that the security forces did use excessive force on August 22 adding that there will not arise an Arab spring in Lebanon with the election of a president and a new electoral law. Mashnouq accuses an Arab country of standing behind the events in Lebanon.
September 3
“We support the right of the civil society to express its opinion,” says US ambassador to Lebanon David Hale after his visit to PM Tammam Salam.
A group of activists protest along Ain Mreisseh’s corniche over the installation of parking meters and Beirut Governor Ziad Chbeib halts the installation of new ones.
A number of youths stage a protest and go on a hunger strike near the Ministry of Environment, calling for the resignation of the Minister of Environment.
September 4
EU ambassadors emphasize after their meeting with PM Tammam Salam their support for the right to demonstrate, urging the election of a president and the approval of a new electoral law.
The Free Patriotic Movement stage a demonstration at the Martyrs Square in Beirut’s downtown and Minister Gebran Bassul reiterates in his speech the need to elect a powerful president, noting that the next protest will be at the Baabda Palace.
September 5
Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea announces during the Lebanese Forces martyrs’ memorial that the Lebanese Forces will not participate in the dialogue called for by Speaker Nabih Berri because it is going to be a waste of time. Geagea leaves afterwards for Qatar along with his wife and an LF delegation.
The committee formed by PM Tammam Salam under the chairmanship of Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayyeb completes its report on garbage.
September 6
PM Tammam Salam commends the initiative of Speaker Nabih Berri in front of a delegation from Akkar, stating that the living conditions are difficult and there are people taking advantage of the popular dissatisfaction with the government to incite riots.
September 7
A sandstorm hits Lebanon and dust envelops the country leaving two people dead and sending over 600 others to hospital for breathing difficulties.
French President François Holland announces his resolve to visit Lebanon in order to inspect the conditions of the Syrian refugees after his participation in the UN General Assembly’s meetings at the end of September.
Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea discusses the status quo, particularly the issue of the abducted soldiers in Ersal, with the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim.
September 8
The Future Movement Bloc issues a statement after its meeting considering that Hezbollah’s level of corruption has exceeded all expectations.
Opening of the Middle East Security and Defense Conference under the patronage of former PM Saad Hariri, who is represented by Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq.
Ahmad El-Assir’s defense lawyer requests more time to present his defense without setting a specific date for his presentation.
Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil reveals that the municipalities’ revenues for 2014 will be distributed before the end of September 2015.
The Internal Security Forces dismantle a bomb on the road to Teenayel in Beqa’a.
September 9
The dialogue table convenes its first session in Parliament in the presence of all invitees (16 blocs) with the exception of the Lebanese Forces. The presidency of the Republic and the electoral law dominate discussion and Speaker Nabig Berri adjourns the session until September 16.
The civil society rallies at the Martyrs Square, calling for a solution for the garbage crisis and the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammad Mashnouq. Protesters throw eggs at the convoys of some dialogue attendees.
The Cabinet approves Minister of Agriculture Akram Chehayeb’s waste management plan, which calls for the temporary one-week reopening of the Naameh landfill, the creation of two new sanitary landfills in the Bekaa and Akkar, as well as the extension of Sukleen’s contract by 18 months.
A Hezbollah delegation headed by Ibrahim Amin Sayyed visits Patriarch al-Rai in Bkerké and announces that it supports the nomination of General Michel Aoun for President.
The Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea announces that the current dialogue aims to divert attention from the presidency of the Republic and that Parliament has no right to legislate presently.
September 10
Protests staged in Naameh and Akkar against Minister Akram Chehayeb’s waste management plan.
Sympathizers, including Grand Mufti Abdul Latif Deryan, extend their condolences at the Druze Community House over the death of Sheikh Wahid Balous in Syria. In his speech, MP Walid Jumblatt reaffirms the need to arrange the dispute with Hezbollah and Emir Talal Erslan.
The Ministry of Energy and Water and the Ministry of Finance trade hostile statements over the failure to settle the monies owed to the Danish company tasked with improving the Zouk and Jiyyeh power plants, which subjected the State to financial penalties.
Beirut’s investigative judge George Rizk sentences Tareq Yatim, the murderer of George Rif, to death and Lina Haidar to two years in prison.
Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri reiterates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to arm the Lebanese Army pursuant to the contracts signed with France.
Head of the Phalanges Party MP Sami Gemayyel meets King Abdullah in Jordan.
Employees at the Batroun Governmental Hospital protest over the termination of contract between the hospital and the National Social Security Fund.
September 11
Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai pays a pastoral visit to the Qada’a of Aley, stating that the election of a president is the portal to all solutions.
Antoine Lahad, the former commander of the so-called South Lebanon Army, dies in Paris at the age of 88.
Prime Minister Tammam Salam chairs a delegation heading for New York on September 24 to participate in the UN General Assembly session.
September 12
A group of men assault the airport customs chief over seizure of smuggled goods at Beirut airport, and Hisham Sabaa later holds a conference denouncing the incident in which his son is involved.
The Lebanese Forces holds a ceremony in Ashrafieh commemorating the assassination of Bashir Gemayyel.
September 13
MP Walid Jumblatt holds a ceremony at the Mukhtara palace in honor of the departing US Ambassador to Lebanon, David Hale, at the end of his term of office in Lebanon. “We are in need of someone who leads us to a new Doha agreement,” says Jumblatt during the ceremony.
September 14
British Prime Minister David Cameron pays a quick visit to Lebanon to check the Syrian refugee camps in Beqa’a. Cameron moves afterwards to Beirut to meet with PM Tammam Salam and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, stressing his country’s support for Lebanon and its army.
Minister of Youth and Sports Abdul Mouttaleb Hennawi visits Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general Naim Qassem, a move interpreted as a rapprochement initiative by former President Michel Suleiman towards Hezbollah.
Around 200 protesters gather near Beirut’s international airport to warn the government over allowing the body of the head of Israel’s former proxy militia in south Lebanon to be buried in his homeland in Kfarkatra.
Dar El-Fatwa declares Thursday, September 24, the first day of Eid El-Adha.
September 15
Sheikh Ahmad El-Assir appears before the military court for trial. The judges adjourn the trial until October 20 at the request of El-Assir’s lawyers who also request to refer him to a medical team. Before the session was adjourned, El-Assir was permitted to see his parents.
Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira arrives in Lebanon and meets with Speaker Nabih Berri, PM Tammam Salam and his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil.
The Lebanese Army intelligence arrests Ibrahim El-Atrash, one of those involved in the abduction of Lebanese soldiers and other terrorist acts.
The Higher Islamic Shia’a Council declares Thursday, September 24, the first day of Eid El-Adha.
The civil movement activists protest in front of the Ministry of Finance’s revenue directorate demanding to stop the pay of inactive MPs.
Head of the Phalanges Party MP Sami Gemayyel announces the establishment of the Lebanese Corruption Observatory.
September 16
The dialogue table convenes in Parliament to discuss the presidential elections in the absence of MP Michel Aoun and schedules the next session for Tuesday 23. The final communiqué reaffirms the government’s decisions regarding garbage.
Financial General Prosecutor Judge Ali Ibrahim informs EDL’s Director General Kamal Hayek that power would be cut off to the homes and companies of those politicians dodging electricity bills. Hayek has handed Ibrahim a list of the amounts owed from evasion, which are worth LBP 1.2 billion.
Civil movement activists stage a demonstration in Beirut’s downtown marred by skirmishes with the security forces and clashes among protesters themselves after one of them cursed at Speaker Nabih Berri.
September 17
The eleven protesters who had gone on hunger strike to push for the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammad Mashnouq end their strike.
The Loyalty to Resistance Bloc accuses the Future Bloc of casting his corruption on others.
Minister of National Defense Samir Moqbel announces after meeting Bishop Awdeh that he disapproves of the military promotions.
September 18
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon acquits Al-Jadeed television of all charges but declares Karma Khayat, Al-Jadeed’s deputy director, guilty of not abiding by the tribunal’s calls to stop the publication of certain material. The STL sets the date for the sentence on September 28.
Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq and Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayyeb meet with the heads of municipalities and associations of Akkar to discuss the garbage issue.
A number of head of municipalities in Aley and Al-Shahhar Al-Gharbi support the reopening of the Naameh landfill for seven days and the Naameh Landfill Closure campaign protests and insists on keeping it closed.
Former PM Najib Mikati announces the establishment of Nour Al-Fayhaa, a company that will provide round the clock power to Tripoli.
Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq requests a decree to withdraw the approval of notification of establishment given to the Foundation for Ahmadi Muslims following the objections voiced by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan.
September 19
PM Tammam Salam announces after meeting Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain Tineh that Cabinet sessions will be held after he returns from New York.
PM Tammam Salam chairs a delegation heading for Dubai to extend condolences to Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum over the death of his son Sheikh Rashed.
Unknown assailants open fire at dawn at Al-Jadeed television building in Beirut.
During a round of meetings held in Eqlim El-Kharroub, MP Walid Jumblatt upholds Aoun’s demand to promote Brigadier General Shamel Roukoz, noting that the election of a consensual candidate for presidency is highly unlikely. Jumblatt receives at his residence Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Fateh Ali.
Patriarch al-Rai visits the areas of Sahel El-Shouf and Jezzine, including the town of Jeba’a where he meets delegations from Amal and Hezbollah.
September 20
MP General Michel Aoun hands over the presidency of the Free Patriotic Movement to Minister Gebran Bassil who calls for a rally on October 11 heading for the Presidential Palace, in commemoration of the October 13 Massacre.
Minister of the Displaced Alice Shabtini slams General Michel Aoun in an interview with al-Liwaa, wondering why those who fight the Americans in Iraq are jailed while those who fight the Syrian people are rewarded.
The security forces thwart the attempt of civil movement activists to reach into Parliament during their protest in Beirut’s downtown.
September 21
Speaker Nabih Berri files charges against protestor Salah Noureddine for slander and defamation after the latter had carried a banner bearing photos of Berri, Hariri and Jumblatt and accusing them of corruption.
Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq files charges against journalist Mohammad Zbib for slander and defamation after the latter released a photo of a cheque issued by Banque Al-Madina to the benefit of Mashnouq.
Morning rains herald the beginning of the winter season.
A number of artists and politicians arrive at the Financial Prosecutor’s office to settle outstanding electricity bills.
September 22
The dialogue table convenes for the third time at the Nejmeh Square and the final communiqué schedules the next sessions for October 6, 7 and 8. The dialogue participants meet to discuss military appointments.
Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji reaffirms the army’s resolve to fight terrorism in a speech before the ambassadors of states supporting the Lebanese Army.
September 23
US Ambassador to Lebanon announces that his government does not participate in the protests staged currently in Beirut but supports the freedom of expression.
September 24
The civil movement organizes the Abou Rakhoussa bazaar for the second time in Riadh Solh Square.
PM Tammam Salam heads for New York.
Lebanese regions celebrate Eid El-Adha and Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan holds prayers in Mohammad El-Amin’s Mosque in the presence of the Prime Minister. In his speech, Mufti Deryan calls for support for the government. In his turn, Mufti Qabalan urges adherence to dialogue.
September 25
In an interview with Al-Manar TV, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah voices support for a proportionality based electoral law, reaffirming Hezbollah’s commitment to Aoun’s candidacy without timeframes. Nasrallah adds that the demands raised by the civil movement are legitimate.
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi voices his objection to extending the terms of officers during his speech at the opening of Tripoli’s festivals.
PM Tammam Salam arrives in New York and meets King Abdullah of Jordan, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration and the King Philip IV of Spain.
Former PM Saad Hariri bashes Nasrallah’s speech, particularly his statements on Saudi Arabia.
September 27
Speaker Nabih Berri says the dialogue table is able to go a long way if the participants have good intentions.
September 28
PM Tammam Salam meets French President and his Turkish and Iraqi counterparts in New York.
Families of the kidnapped soldiers resume their protests.
The STL orders Karma Khayat to pay a 10, 000 euro fine.
September 29
Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri says the campaign against Saudi Arabia is indicative of political bankruptcy.
Minister of National Defense Samir Moqbel will not accept any compromise at the expense of the army.
General Michel Aoun brandishes the possibility of boycotting dialogue sessions.
The “We Want Accountability” campaign protests near EDL building.
September 30
In his speech before the UN General Assembly, PM Tammam Salam calls for a political solution in Syria and says the use of Lebanon as a stage for the proxy conflicts of others will destroy its status as a haven of moderation and coexistence.
The 29th session to elect a president adjourned until October 21.
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