July-War Secrets: Exposed by Nabih Berri and Retold by Ali Hassan Khalil (Episode 7)
TRANSLATED from Lebanese Daily As-Safir- Local Editor
Feltman to Berri: Hizbullah's Withdrawal to North Litany Region Is Not Required... But Hizbullah Mustn't Have Arms in Southern Litany Region...
Rome Conference: Beginning of Political Unrest for Siniora...
Berri Proposes a Solution Guaranteed by Italians
"All Ways Lead to Rome" used to be true before Washington D.C. replaced Rome during the July War. At least this was how MP Berri observed the political navigation as the prevailing temperature scored high records upon Condoleezza Rice's decision which functioned as sovereign for "Israel". Indeed, Washington was "Rome", where the whole world gathered for the sake of "Israel"... and like the Leaning Tower ("the Tower of Pisa), the proposals made leant without falling.
The delegations to the Western countries, as well as the Lebanese "angels", made their brainstorming as they had a heart for "Israel" and we had a heart for our country (Lebanon).
NATO appears at a point, then the MNF peaks through other passages... With respect to them, the solution key was handing over both ("Israeli") captives, but the cease-fire, return of the dislodged and detained Lebanese people, and the mine maps could wait forever... In a mine land we walked... The "Mistress" negotiated in the name of "Israel"... But the smartness of "the Teacher" (as MP Berri is known publicly) protected Lebanon.
He didn't miss any single detail as he met with delegates and ambassadors and reflected on the Arab and Islamic stances. He debated issues with Siniora and kept open channels with all local leaderships. Furthermore, he made special room for daily coordination with Hizbullah. As for running the media battle, MP Berri wouldn't at all turn down a press conference, yet he chose where to appear and what message he had to deliver to the sides concerned.
We would find him gazing at the sea through the western window of his office as he dressed in sportswear and kept a rosary in his hand. We offered him a report on some actualities... And his answer was that "the boots" of every Resistance man in Maroun Al-Ras, Bint Jbeil, Al-Khiyam, and Aita el Chaab would remake history for the Arabs and Muslims.
In fact, the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's arrival in occupied Palestine gave big impetus to the continuity of the "Israeli" War on Lebanon; whereby Rice spoke clearly about supporting the military operations, only marking that the Lebanese government must not be overthrown. Also, she focused on a firm, long settlement that would found for "peace" with "Israel". As well, Rice announced that she was deeply affected and concerned about the "Israeli" people that was "suffering the terror of missiles", but she ignored the "Israeli" massacres perpetrated in different Lebanese regions.
Premier Siniora tried to formulate a stance that would allow him to attend the Rome Conference, the political aims beyond which had become clear; whereby Rice wanted to alter the Conference into her own platform and promote the plan she had made with "Israel".
Premier Siniora was, in fact, convinced with Rice's idea in regard to deploying a multinational force for combative missions, but he requested that this force be under the cover of the United Nations even if that meant reference to the Seventh Chapter. However, as he made calls with MP Berri in the afternoon of Monday, and as he kept up with the stances of the local political parties, it appeared that Siniora refused the deployment of any international force besides the UNEF (UN Emergency Forces), which was supposed to stick to its current missions.
On Tuesday, July 25, 2006, Siniora sent his advisor Muhammad Shatah, who was practically "the foreign minister" of Siniora and "the March-14 Alliance". Besides, Shatah was this team's strictest person concerning the employment of the current political War so as to create a new, internal reality. I was present in Ain el Tineh when Shatah arrived, and he had a prospect of Premier Siniora's word in Rome:
"1- Declaring complete and immediate cease-fire in concurrence with handing over both "Israeli" captives to the Lebanese government, as well as allowing "the Red Cross" to visit them
2- Reaching an agreement on:
- "Israel's" release of the captives and detainees in prisons through the Red Cross's mediation
- The "Israeli" forces' withdrawal beyond "the Blue Line".
- The vow of the UNSC (UN Security Council) to place the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills under the supervision of the UN until the publishing of the borders and final declaration of their Lebanese identity.
- The handing over of the remaining mine maps to the UN by "Israel".
3- The perfect functioning of the Lebanese State as sovereign on all Lebanese lands until the international borders, depending on security forces.
4- Reinforcing the international forces and extending their work and missions.
5- The execution of the required procedures by the UN so as to settle "the Armistice Agreement" and look at developing its sentences.
6- The international community's vow to support reconstruction in Lebanon and to rebuild the national economy"
MP Berri listened to Shatah's proposals while we wrote them down. And MP Berri's comment was:
"First: Regarding the Form
Premier Siniora must pay attention to the way he leaves Beirut, for any permission from "Israel" will create a problem in the Islamic atmosphere and the Lebanese one in general.
Second: Regarding the Context
1- We must separate the cease-fire from the handing over of the captives to the government, whereby we must iterate the cease-fire and determine the period of exchange, which can reach a maximum of a week. Also, the Lebanese government is to carry out the negotiations as we stick to carrying out this exchange, but we needn't mention that we are to hand over the captives to the Lebanese authority.
2- Prioritizing the return of the dislodged people, whereby this concurs with "Israel's" withdrawal beneath "the Blue Line".
3- Talking frankly about "Israel's" withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills which are to be handed over to the UNEF until the completion of the liberation process. Besides, the people of these Farms and Hills maintain their right in returning to them immediately after the withdrawal. And we refuse to debate their Lebanese identity, for we've already settled this issue.
4- Concerning the reinforcement of the UNEF, I haven't exactly understood what is meant; we must clearly refuse the (deployment of) a multinational force, whether it's commissioned or not. Certainly, we refuse the talk of the (deployment of) the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) forces, whereas we find that increasing the number of the UNEF is absolutely non-problematic."
"In all cases," added MP Berri, "I insist that we divide the solution into two stages:
First Stage: Cease-fire, captives' exchange, return of the dislodged people
Second Stage: All Remaining Standards"
This proposal," added Berri, "is upon fear that some points might not be considered and resolved, which will delay the process of execution and keep things undefined."
Anew, Dr. Shatah concentrated that the solution key was to hand over both "Israeli" captives to the Lebanese government.
So MP Berri replied quickly, "Well, Premier Siniora can promise, while in the Conference, that we'll carry out this process in a week after cease-fire, and I'll arrange this issue with Hizbullah. In other words, if the attendees of the Conference agree on cease-fire tomorrow, then the (captives' exchange) process will have been settled by next Wednesday."
Shatah then said, "I don't think this will work. Anyway, I'll talk to Premier Siniora about it, but what about the international forces?"
So Berri replied, "If they propose the deployment of a multi-national force, then let it be on the other side of the borders: inside Palestine."
Now Shatah left to inform Siniora and continue the debate.
MP Siniora understood the message which Dr. Shatah had, and he outlined his speech for the Rome Conference, responding to MP Berri's proposals only in some parts of the speech. Also, Siniora delivered a word to all Lebanese people, expressing his pessimism regarding the making of the cease-fire decision.
Feltman: Rice Is Returning to Beirut
In the meantime, the American Ambassador to Beirut Jeffrey Feltman had asked for an urgent appointment (with MP Berri) although he was to take part in the meeting with Rice on Monday, the 24th of July. When he arrived in Ain el Tineh, he tried to reflect the positively improving atmospheres of the previous day's meeting. He suggested what follows:
"The issue of withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms is almost done, and the "Israelis" are willing to withdraw." (What Feltman said wasn't new, for Rice had informed MP Fawzi Salloukh of this the day earlier.)
"The request of Hizbullah's withdrawal to the north of the Litany River is no longer proposed; it is rather requested that Hizbullah be disarmed in the region below the Litany River."
As well, Feltman reported that Rice would be in Beirut when the works of the Rome Conference ended.
MP Berri listened to Feltman; Berri didn't comment, but he confirmed the proposals he had made in the meeting with Rice. Actually, what attracted Berri's attention was that while "Israel" was reporting its readiness to withdraw from the Shebaa Farms, some Lebanese sides had doubts concerning the Farms' Lebanese identity and asked for proof to this identity.
Having met with Feltman, MP Berri met with the French Ambassador Bernard Emie; attending the meeting was Dr. Mahmoud Berri (the representative of MP Berri). Despite the efforts he made to reflect a certain independency of his stance, it was obvious that Emie had no new plans; instead, his stance now had a new "form", but it was essentially the same American stance made earlier. The preparations for the Rome Conference made one more point of discussion in the meeting.
The Rome Conference: Beginning of Trouble with Siniora
Wednesday, July 26, 2006 was the day to hold the Rome Conference. MP Berri asked me if something new had happened regarding Italy's role, especially when the Italian Ambassador to Beirut Gabriel Kika hadn't asked for an appointment so far. So I informed MP Berri that there was nothing new and that no list of the captives' names and martyrs' bodies was made in preparation for the exchange process.
Attention was now directed towards the Conference, the path of which seemed to have been directed by Condoleezza Rice even before it was held. Besides, the Conference seemed to provide coverage for "Israel" to continue its War.
During the holding of the Conference, MP Berri met with a delegation of the Italian media means, and he offered a solution proposal, the mediator of which could be Italy. Also, MP Berri showed his readiness to execute this proposal in a week, some days, or even one day. The proposal was as such:
"- Immediate cease-fire
- Italy's sponsorship of one-day process of captives' exchange after Italy's suggestion concerning the numbers that the exchange could involve
- Return of the dislodged people
- Discussing the other political issues with utmost positivity, along with the reiteration of the government's sovereignty on the Lebanese lands."
Meanwhile, Premier Siniora was delivering his speech in the Rome Conference, and he spoke about:
1- Cease-fire
2- The vow to release the Lebanese and "Israeli" captives and detainees through the mediation of the International Red Cross Committee.
3- The "Israeli" Military's withdrawal beneath "the Blue Line".
4- The return of the dislodged people to their villages.
5- Keeping the UN in charge of the Shebaa Farms until the borders are published and the Lebanese authority holds authority of these lands.
6- Handing over the mine maps.
7- Functioning of the Lebanese State as a sovereign government on all Lebanese lands; whereby legal armed forces are deployed, limiting the possession of arms and authority to the Lebanese government as "the Taef Agreement" indicates.
8- Reinforcing the international forces working in the South, increasing their numbers and ordnance and expanding their missions and work scope.
9- Working in terms of the armistice and debating its possible adjustments or the development of its standards when necessary.
It turned out that Siniora's speech accorded with many of MP Berri's remarks; however, he announced points, upon which he hadn't agreed with MP Berri, especially regarding "the formation of international forces directly commissioned by the UN as well as increasing their numbers and ordnance and expanding their missions and work scope." Likewise, Siniora's stance on liberating the Shebaa Farms was rather ambiguous, especially the part regarding the return of the Farms' people there. As well, Siniora aroused ambiguity concerning the adjustments to "the Armistice Agreement" and the development of its standards, the thing which we hadn't discussed earlier.
As a matter of fact, MP Siniora's stance began a problem, upon which we tried - as much as possible - to restrain from stirring division at that moment. Still, it was impossible to ignore this stance, whereby MP Berri demanded that I declare a stance to the media, and so I declared to the French Press Agency (AFP) the positivity of the points of Siniora's speech that we agreed on with him. Yet, I declared that discredited other points that must have been discussed internally before adhering to them.
This issue was, in fact, the subject of MP Berri's discussion with "As-Safir Newspaper's" board, whereby Mr. Talal Salman (founder and chief editor of "As-Safir Newspaper") was present. Meanwhile, His Eminence Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah was in Haj Abdullah Berri's house in Bir Hassan (Beirut), saying to "Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel" that the battle represented a race between the Nation's plan and surrender.
Anyway, the outcomes of the Conference were disappointing, whereby the Conference did not exceed "the call to work for ‘reaching' cease-fire rather than ‘calling for' it."
Well, Mp Berri uttered the right expression, "Although all ways lead to Rome, Washington D.C. has now replaced Rome."
The truth is that most of the Arab attendees publicly supported cease-fire, but deep inside they didn't want that unless the Resistance was finished and a new reality was created.
Berri Offers Initiative to Italy
On Thursday, July 27, 2006, I moved to the Iranian Embassy and met with one of the officials there, so he said that continuous moves were being made towards Saudi Arabia and that the information of an African country's intelligence, which intersected with American information, stated that a plan had been made a year earlier to rearrange the situation in the Middle East region.
Besides, the official said that a French delegation, sent by President Jacque Chirac, had arrived in Beirut without having a listed visit on the French Embassy's schedule. The delegation members confirmed the agreement of the French stance with MP Berri's stance regarding cease-fire first, but they repeated that they had to wait for Rice's return to find out what the "Israeli" decision was, for the problem was that the "Israeli" stance was essentially vague concerning the extent "Israel" wanted to reach through its operation (the July War).
Also, the delegation members pointed out that their information stated that during her meeting with "the March-14 Alliance", Rice had informed the Alliance that she wished to deploy international forces in all main ports including Beirut Port; in Beirut International Airport; and along the land borders.
On the same day, MP Berri met with the Italian Ambassador after the latter had asked for an urgent meeting. The meeting actually took place in concurrence with the ferocious battles along the axis of Bint Jbeil; the Resistance's achievement of important victories; and great casualties among the elite "Israeli" forces.
MP Berri began his talk with Ambassador Kikia by complimenting the role Italy played in 1983 and the services it offered through the free hospital (that it established) as it was the only country excluded from the confrontation with Lebanon. Berri told Kikia that the proposal offered an exchangeable service, whereby it gave Italy an important role in settling the situation. Then MP Berri commenced explaining the plan of exchange to the Italian Ambassador in case the approval of cease-fire was announced:
"-An Italian plane lands in Tel Aviv and another lands in Beirut.
-The plane on which the Lebanese captives are heads to Cyprus, and as soon as they arrive, I become in charge of both "Israeli" captives.
-When the plane heads from Cyprus to Beirut, the "Israeli" captives present in the headquarters of the Italian Embassy move to the Parliament downtown.
-As the Lebanese captives arrive in Beirut International Airport, the "Israeli" captives get on the same Italian plane to "Israel"."
Ambassador Kikia wrote down all that he heard and set off to report this to his government, as well as to the sides willing to share, so as to guarantee this agreement in case it took place.
Voting, Division in Ministerial Council Are Avoided
On Thursday, July 27, MP Berri asked some brothers (members) of the Amal Movement to move to the South in order to inquire about the situation and communicate with the leaderships in Saida. I felt like going with them, and I did so without informing MP Berri of this since I knew he wouldn't accept that. Indeed, when he knew I had been gone, he became angry and asked me to come back at once to keep up with issues related to holding the session of the Ministerial Council that afternoon.
Upon the blocking of the coastal route, MP Bazzi, a group, and we headed to Saida throughout a long mountainous route; whereby we ventured this trip after "the Jiyeh Power Plant" had already been bombarded. We checked on the wounded people at Hammoud Hospital and on our men in Haret Saida. Then we met with Mrs. Bahiya Hariri in her house in Majdelyoun before moving to the headquarters of MP Osama Saad.
While I was on my way, MP Berri asked me to talk to the ministers so that during the session of the Ministerial Council, they would discredit the standards declared by Siniora without an agreement. At the same time, I talked to Haj Hussein Khalil to coordinate our stance. During the session of the Ministerial Council, we had several calls with the ministers who coordinated the stance with MP, Haj Muhammad Fneish, whereby they refused Siniora's suggestion for voting for the adoption of the context of his speech in Rome.
Hereupon, Siniora gathered his stuff more than once to indicate his withdrawal, but the ministers still refused his request since it was against the accord and it wasn't on the agenda, either. Then President Emile Lahoud spoke, calling for keeping the government's unity as the battle was still open; thus, we marked our discrediting regarding the points of disagreement and agreed that the execution of any point later on would require reference to the Ministerial Council so as to receive ratification... This way, we avoided voting and division at a time.
At 7:00 in Ain el Tineh, we met with Haj Hussein Khalil and an important figure.
MP Berri reported what had happened with the Italian ambassador, as well as the proposal MP Berri had made; whereby guaranteeing this proposal would require several states' cooperation with Syria and Iran to discuss the other issues besides the cease-fire and the captives' exchange.
Also, we discussed Rice's return to Lebanon with the resolutions of the Rome Conference. And we saw that we had to formulate specific proposals, whereby MP Berri reformulated the stance as such:
"1- Permanent cease-fire
2-Exchange of captives and martyrs' bodies
3-The return of the dislodged people
4-Mine maps
5-Refusing the multinational force; yet, we were not against increasing the number and ordnance of the UNEF in accordance with their missions.
6-We don't mind reinforcing the deployment of the Lebanese Army that is originally present in the South.
7-Once the deployment of the multi-national force is proposed, the response will be ‘the deployment of this force on the side of occupied Palestine rather than on both sides.'
8-Liberating the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills, as well as allowing their people to return there
9-This is an issue I propose as a maneuver: "Israel" must compensate for its War.
And I reiterate that the solution is double-staged."
So Haj Hussein asked, "Are we to refer to the same arrangement in the second stage?"
And MP Berri replied, "It doesn't matter since the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) and the Army are present. My proposal is defined: the UNIFIL is not to adjust its missions; when they mentioned Kosovo's experience, I told them that there, racial exterminations took place; whereas here, a process of land liberation existed."
Furthermore, MP Berri said that Siniora reported to him that he ‘had struggled' to subject the multi-national forces to the authority of the UN as their missions and role were extended, for it had been suggested that these forces should belong to the NATO. Siniora added that President Jacque Chirac ‘had helped' him. Thus, MP Berri replied, "Yet the problem exists." Berri requested that further consideration of the stance be made and that we meet again because we were facing a historic stage.
Afterwards, MP Berri spoke about the proposal of the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament (the Islamic Consultative Assembly) Larijani to hold an Islamic parliamentarian conference to consolidate with Lebanon. Larijani suggested that the conference be held in Riyadh even though he knew conferences were ‘good for nothing.'
Feltman to Berri: Hizbullah's Withdrawal to North Litany Region Is Not Required... But Hizbullah Mustn't Have Arms in Southern Litany Region...
Rome Conference: Beginning of Political Unrest for Siniora...
Berri Proposes a Solution Guaranteed by Italians
"All Ways Lead to Rome" used to be true before Washington D.C. replaced Rome during the July War. At least this was how MP Berri observed the political navigation as the prevailing temperature scored high records upon Condoleezza Rice's decision which functioned as sovereign for "Israel". Indeed, Washington was "Rome", where the whole world gathered for the sake of "Israel"... and like the Leaning Tower ("the Tower of Pisa), the proposals made leant without falling.
The delegations to the Western countries, as well as the Lebanese "angels", made their brainstorming as they had a heart for "Israel" and we had a heart for our country (Lebanon).
NATO appears at a point, then the MNF peaks through other passages... With respect to them, the solution key was handing over both ("Israeli") captives, but the cease-fire, return of the dislodged and detained Lebanese people, and the mine maps could wait forever... In a mine land we walked... The "Mistress" negotiated in the name of "Israel"... But the smartness of "the Teacher" (as MP Berri is known publicly) protected Lebanon.
He didn't miss any single detail as he met with delegates and ambassadors and reflected on the Arab and Islamic stances. He debated issues with Siniora and kept open channels with all local leaderships. Furthermore, he made special room for daily coordination with Hizbullah. As for running the media battle, MP Berri wouldn't at all turn down a press conference, yet he chose where to appear and what message he had to deliver to the sides concerned.
We would find him gazing at the sea through the western window of his office as he dressed in sportswear and kept a rosary in his hand. We offered him a report on some actualities... And his answer was that "the boots" of every Resistance man in Maroun Al-Ras, Bint Jbeil, Al-Khiyam, and Aita el Chaab would remake history for the Arabs and Muslims.
In fact, the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's arrival in occupied Palestine gave big impetus to the continuity of the "Israeli" War on Lebanon; whereby Rice spoke clearly about supporting the military operations, only marking that the Lebanese government must not be overthrown. Also, she focused on a firm, long settlement that would found for "peace" with "Israel". As well, Rice announced that she was deeply affected and concerned about the "Israeli" people that was "suffering the terror of missiles", but she ignored the "Israeli" massacres perpetrated in different Lebanese regions.
Premier Siniora tried to formulate a stance that would allow him to attend the Rome Conference, the political aims beyond which had become clear; whereby Rice wanted to alter the Conference into her own platform and promote the plan she had made with "Israel".
Premier Siniora was, in fact, convinced with Rice's idea in regard to deploying a multinational force for combative missions, but he requested that this force be under the cover of the United Nations even if that meant reference to the Seventh Chapter. However, as he made calls with MP Berri in the afternoon of Monday, and as he kept up with the stances of the local political parties, it appeared that Siniora refused the deployment of any international force besides the UNEF (UN Emergency Forces), which was supposed to stick to its current missions.
On Tuesday, July 25, 2006, Siniora sent his advisor Muhammad Shatah, who was practically "the foreign minister" of Siniora and "the March-14 Alliance". Besides, Shatah was this team's strictest person concerning the employment of the current political War so as to create a new, internal reality. I was present in Ain el Tineh when Shatah arrived, and he had a prospect of Premier Siniora's word in Rome:
"1- Declaring complete and immediate cease-fire in concurrence with handing over both "Israeli" captives to the Lebanese government, as well as allowing "the Red Cross" to visit them
2- Reaching an agreement on:
- "Israel's" release of the captives and detainees in prisons through the Red Cross's mediation
- The "Israeli" forces' withdrawal beyond "the Blue Line".
- The vow of the UNSC (UN Security Council) to place the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills under the supervision of the UN until the publishing of the borders and final declaration of their Lebanese identity.
- The handing over of the remaining mine maps to the UN by "Israel".
3- The perfect functioning of the Lebanese State as sovereign on all Lebanese lands until the international borders, depending on security forces.
4- Reinforcing the international forces and extending their work and missions.
5- The execution of the required procedures by the UN so as to settle "the Armistice Agreement" and look at developing its sentences.
6- The international community's vow to support reconstruction in Lebanon and to rebuild the national economy"
MP Berri listened to Shatah's proposals while we wrote them down. And MP Berri's comment was:
"First: Regarding the Form
Premier Siniora must pay attention to the way he leaves Beirut, for any permission from "Israel" will create a problem in the Islamic atmosphere and the Lebanese one in general.
Second: Regarding the Context
1- We must separate the cease-fire from the handing over of the captives to the government, whereby we must iterate the cease-fire and determine the period of exchange, which can reach a maximum of a week. Also, the Lebanese government is to carry out the negotiations as we stick to carrying out this exchange, but we needn't mention that we are to hand over the captives to the Lebanese authority.
2- Prioritizing the return of the dislodged people, whereby this concurs with "Israel's" withdrawal beneath "the Blue Line".
3- Talking frankly about "Israel's" withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills which are to be handed over to the UNEF until the completion of the liberation process. Besides, the people of these Farms and Hills maintain their right in returning to them immediately after the withdrawal. And we refuse to debate their Lebanese identity, for we've already settled this issue.
4- Concerning the reinforcement of the UNEF, I haven't exactly understood what is meant; we must clearly refuse the (deployment of) a multinational force, whether it's commissioned or not. Certainly, we refuse the talk of the (deployment of) the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) forces, whereas we find that increasing the number of the UNEF is absolutely non-problematic."
"In all cases," added MP Berri, "I insist that we divide the solution into two stages:
First Stage: Cease-fire, captives' exchange, return of the dislodged people
Second Stage: All Remaining Standards"
This proposal," added Berri, "is upon fear that some points might not be considered and resolved, which will delay the process of execution and keep things undefined."
Anew, Dr. Shatah concentrated that the solution key was to hand over both "Israeli" captives to the Lebanese government.
So MP Berri replied quickly, "Well, Premier Siniora can promise, while in the Conference, that we'll carry out this process in a week after cease-fire, and I'll arrange this issue with Hizbullah. In other words, if the attendees of the Conference agree on cease-fire tomorrow, then the (captives' exchange) process will have been settled by next Wednesday."
Shatah then said, "I don't think this will work. Anyway, I'll talk to Premier Siniora about it, but what about the international forces?"
So Berri replied, "If they propose the deployment of a multi-national force, then let it be on the other side of the borders: inside Palestine."
Now Shatah left to inform Siniora and continue the debate.
MP Siniora understood the message which Dr. Shatah had, and he outlined his speech for the Rome Conference, responding to MP Berri's proposals only in some parts of the speech. Also, Siniora delivered a word to all Lebanese people, expressing his pessimism regarding the making of the cease-fire decision.
Feltman: Rice Is Returning to Beirut
In the meantime, the American Ambassador to Beirut Jeffrey Feltman had asked for an urgent appointment (with MP Berri) although he was to take part in the meeting with Rice on Monday, the 24th of July. When he arrived in Ain el Tineh, he tried to reflect the positively improving atmospheres of the previous day's meeting. He suggested what follows:
"The issue of withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms is almost done, and the "Israelis" are willing to withdraw." (What Feltman said wasn't new, for Rice had informed MP Fawzi Salloukh of this the day earlier.)
"The request of Hizbullah's withdrawal to the north of the Litany River is no longer proposed; it is rather requested that Hizbullah be disarmed in the region below the Litany River."
As well, Feltman reported that Rice would be in Beirut when the works of the Rome Conference ended.
MP Berri listened to Feltman; Berri didn't comment, but he confirmed the proposals he had made in the meeting with Rice. Actually, what attracted Berri's attention was that while "Israel" was reporting its readiness to withdraw from the Shebaa Farms, some Lebanese sides had doubts concerning the Farms' Lebanese identity and asked for proof to this identity.
Having met with Feltman, MP Berri met with the French Ambassador Bernard Emie; attending the meeting was Dr. Mahmoud Berri (the representative of MP Berri). Despite the efforts he made to reflect a certain independency of his stance, it was obvious that Emie had no new plans; instead, his stance now had a new "form", but it was essentially the same American stance made earlier. The preparations for the Rome Conference made one more point of discussion in the meeting.
The Rome Conference: Beginning of Trouble with Siniora
Wednesday, July 26, 2006 was the day to hold the Rome Conference. MP Berri asked me if something new had happened regarding Italy's role, especially when the Italian Ambassador to Beirut Gabriel Kika hadn't asked for an appointment so far. So I informed MP Berri that there was nothing new and that no list of the captives' names and martyrs' bodies was made in preparation for the exchange process.
Attention was now directed towards the Conference, the path of which seemed to have been directed by Condoleezza Rice even before it was held. Besides, the Conference seemed to provide coverage for "Israel" to continue its War.
During the holding of the Conference, MP Berri met with a delegation of the Italian media means, and he offered a solution proposal, the mediator of which could be Italy. Also, MP Berri showed his readiness to execute this proposal in a week, some days, or even one day. The proposal was as such:
"- Immediate cease-fire
- Italy's sponsorship of one-day process of captives' exchange after Italy's suggestion concerning the numbers that the exchange could involve
- Return of the dislodged people
- Discussing the other political issues with utmost positivity, along with the reiteration of the government's sovereignty on the Lebanese lands."
Meanwhile, Premier Siniora was delivering his speech in the Rome Conference, and he spoke about:
1- Cease-fire
2- The vow to release the Lebanese and "Israeli" captives and detainees through the mediation of the International Red Cross Committee.
3- The "Israeli" Military's withdrawal beneath "the Blue Line".
4- The return of the dislodged people to their villages.
5- Keeping the UN in charge of the Shebaa Farms until the borders are published and the Lebanese authority holds authority of these lands.
6- Handing over the mine maps.
7- Functioning of the Lebanese State as a sovereign government on all Lebanese lands; whereby legal armed forces are deployed, limiting the possession of arms and authority to the Lebanese government as "the Taef Agreement" indicates.
8- Reinforcing the international forces working in the South, increasing their numbers and ordnance and expanding their missions and work scope.
9- Working in terms of the armistice and debating its possible adjustments or the development of its standards when necessary.
It turned out that Siniora's speech accorded with many of MP Berri's remarks; however, he announced points, upon which he hadn't agreed with MP Berri, especially regarding "the formation of international forces directly commissioned by the UN as well as increasing their numbers and ordnance and expanding their missions and work scope." Likewise, Siniora's stance on liberating the Shebaa Farms was rather ambiguous, especially the part regarding the return of the Farms' people there. As well, Siniora aroused ambiguity concerning the adjustments to "the Armistice Agreement" and the development of its standards, the thing which we hadn't discussed earlier.
As a matter of fact, MP Siniora's stance began a problem, upon which we tried - as much as possible - to restrain from stirring division at that moment. Still, it was impossible to ignore this stance, whereby MP Berri demanded that I declare a stance to the media, and so I declared to the French Press Agency (AFP) the positivity of the points of Siniora's speech that we agreed on with him. Yet, I declared that discredited other points that must have been discussed internally before adhering to them.
This issue was, in fact, the subject of MP Berri's discussion with "As-Safir Newspaper's" board, whereby Mr. Talal Salman (founder and chief editor of "As-Safir Newspaper") was present. Meanwhile, His Eminence Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah was in Haj Abdullah Berri's house in Bir Hassan (Beirut), saying to "Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel" that the battle represented a race between the Nation's plan and surrender.
Anyway, the outcomes of the Conference were disappointing, whereby the Conference did not exceed "the call to work for ‘reaching' cease-fire rather than ‘calling for' it."
Well, Mp Berri uttered the right expression, "Although all ways lead to Rome, Washington D.C. has now replaced Rome."
The truth is that most of the Arab attendees publicly supported cease-fire, but deep inside they didn't want that unless the Resistance was finished and a new reality was created.
Berri Offers Initiative to Italy
On Thursday, July 27, 2006, I moved to the Iranian Embassy and met with one of the officials there, so he said that continuous moves were being made towards Saudi Arabia and that the information of an African country's intelligence, which intersected with American information, stated that a plan had been made a year earlier to rearrange the situation in the Middle East region.
Besides, the official said that a French delegation, sent by President Jacque Chirac, had arrived in Beirut without having a listed visit on the French Embassy's schedule. The delegation members confirmed the agreement of the French stance with MP Berri's stance regarding cease-fire first, but they repeated that they had to wait for Rice's return to find out what the "Israeli" decision was, for the problem was that the "Israeli" stance was essentially vague concerning the extent "Israel" wanted to reach through its operation (the July War).
Also, the delegation members pointed out that their information stated that during her meeting with "the March-14 Alliance", Rice had informed the Alliance that she wished to deploy international forces in all main ports including Beirut Port; in Beirut International Airport; and along the land borders.
On the same day, MP Berri met with the Italian Ambassador after the latter had asked for an urgent meeting. The meeting actually took place in concurrence with the ferocious battles along the axis of Bint Jbeil; the Resistance's achievement of important victories; and great casualties among the elite "Israeli" forces.
MP Berri began his talk with Ambassador Kikia by complimenting the role Italy played in 1983 and the services it offered through the free hospital (that it established) as it was the only country excluded from the confrontation with Lebanon. Berri told Kikia that the proposal offered an exchangeable service, whereby it gave Italy an important role in settling the situation. Then MP Berri commenced explaining the plan of exchange to the Italian Ambassador in case the approval of cease-fire was announced:
"-An Italian plane lands in Tel Aviv and another lands in Beirut.
-The plane on which the Lebanese captives are heads to Cyprus, and as soon as they arrive, I become in charge of both "Israeli" captives.
-When the plane heads from Cyprus to Beirut, the "Israeli" captives present in the headquarters of the Italian Embassy move to the Parliament downtown.
-As the Lebanese captives arrive in Beirut International Airport, the "Israeli" captives get on the same Italian plane to "Israel"."
Ambassador Kikia wrote down all that he heard and set off to report this to his government, as well as to the sides willing to share, so as to guarantee this agreement in case it took place.
Voting, Division in Ministerial Council Are Avoided
On Thursday, July 27, MP Berri asked some brothers (members) of the Amal Movement to move to the South in order to inquire about the situation and communicate with the leaderships in Saida. I felt like going with them, and I did so without informing MP Berri of this since I knew he wouldn't accept that. Indeed, when he knew I had been gone, he became angry and asked me to come back at once to keep up with issues related to holding the session of the Ministerial Council that afternoon.
Upon the blocking of the coastal route, MP Bazzi, a group, and we headed to Saida throughout a long mountainous route; whereby we ventured this trip after "the Jiyeh Power Plant" had already been bombarded. We checked on the wounded people at Hammoud Hospital and on our men in Haret Saida. Then we met with Mrs. Bahiya Hariri in her house in Majdelyoun before moving to the headquarters of MP Osama Saad.
While I was on my way, MP Berri asked me to talk to the ministers so that during the session of the Ministerial Council, they would discredit the standards declared by Siniora without an agreement. At the same time, I talked to Haj Hussein Khalil to coordinate our stance. During the session of the Ministerial Council, we had several calls with the ministers who coordinated the stance with MP, Haj Muhammad Fneish, whereby they refused Siniora's suggestion for voting for the adoption of the context of his speech in Rome.
Hereupon, Siniora gathered his stuff more than once to indicate his withdrawal, but the ministers still refused his request since it was against the accord and it wasn't on the agenda, either. Then President Emile Lahoud spoke, calling for keeping the government's unity as the battle was still open; thus, we marked our discrediting regarding the points of disagreement and agreed that the execution of any point later on would require reference to the Ministerial Council so as to receive ratification... This way, we avoided voting and division at a time.
At 7:00 in Ain el Tineh, we met with Haj Hussein Khalil and an important figure.
MP Berri reported what had happened with the Italian ambassador, as well as the proposal MP Berri had made; whereby guaranteeing this proposal would require several states' cooperation with Syria and Iran to discuss the other issues besides the cease-fire and the captives' exchange.
Also, we discussed Rice's return to Lebanon with the resolutions of the Rome Conference. And we saw that we had to formulate specific proposals, whereby MP Berri reformulated the stance as such:
"1- Permanent cease-fire
2-Exchange of captives and martyrs' bodies
3-The return of the dislodged people
4-Mine maps
5-Refusing the multinational force; yet, we were not against increasing the number and ordnance of the UNEF in accordance with their missions.
6-We don't mind reinforcing the deployment of the Lebanese Army that is originally present in the South.
7-Once the deployment of the multi-national force is proposed, the response will be ‘the deployment of this force on the side of occupied Palestine rather than on both sides.'
8-Liberating the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills, as well as allowing their people to return there
9-This is an issue I propose as a maneuver: "Israel" must compensate for its War.
And I reiterate that the solution is double-staged."
So Haj Hussein asked, "Are we to refer to the same arrangement in the second stage?"
And MP Berri replied, "It doesn't matter since the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) and the Army are present. My proposal is defined: the UNIFIL is not to adjust its missions; when they mentioned Kosovo's experience, I told them that there, racial exterminations took place; whereas here, a process of land liberation existed."
Furthermore, MP Berri said that Siniora reported to him that he ‘had struggled' to subject the multi-national forces to the authority of the UN as their missions and role were extended, for it had been suggested that these forces should belong to the NATO. Siniora added that President Jacque Chirac ‘had helped' him. Thus, MP Berri replied, "Yet the problem exists." Berri requested that further consideration of the stance be made and that we meet again because we were facing a historic stage.
Afterwards, MP Berri spoke about the proposal of the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament (the Islamic Consultative Assembly) Larijani to hold an Islamic parliamentarian conference to consolidate with Lebanon. Larijani suggested that the conference be held in Riyadh even though he knew conferences were ‘good for nothing.'
The Next Episode Will Include:
Hizbullah Executes "the Post-Haifa Stage"
"Israel" Perpetrates New Massacres
International Atmosphere Shifts Slowly
