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Lebanese in Brazil will not vote come May

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by Peter Speetjens --executive-magazine.com The Lebanese parliamentary elections on May 6 are bound to make history, as, for the first time ever, Lebanese residing abroad have been granted the right to vote. Their appetite to do so, however, has so far appeared to be rather humble. In total, 82,900 Lebanese abroad have registered to vote, according to the official Lebanese government website. Numbers quoted in The Monthly, a publication by Information International, a Beirut-based research and consultancy firm, cite 45,827 Christians and 38,329 Muslims registered (the discrepancy in the overall total is likely caused by the difference in those who registered versus those registrations that were accepted). Some 60 percent of registered Lebanese voters abroad live in Australia, Canada, the US, France, and Germany—in that order. Only 2,106 Lebanese, or 2.5 percent, registered in Brazil, which may come as a surprise, given the country’s status as the world’s “second Lebanon.” “Estimates vary slightly, but we reckon there are some 8 million Brazilians of Lebanese descent, about half of whom live in and around São Paulo,” says Sabah Khoury, Lebanon’s consul in São Paulo. “They live in every corner of the country. [Other] major concentrations are in Rio de Janeiro and Foz de Iguaçu in the south, where we plan to open another consulate.” One need not travel far to spot Lebanese and Arab traces in São Paulo. Situated on Paulista Avenue, the city’s most prestigious thoroughfare, the Lebanese consulate sits right across from “Club Homs,” a restaurant and event venue established by Syrian immigrants in 1920. Several skyscrapers along the avenue boast Arabic family names, while eateries on every corner sell kibbeh and sfiha, which have become staple foods in Brazil. Two of the city’s mayors since 1990 were of Lebanese descent, while a third was Syrian, and Hospital Sírio-Libanês is widely regarded as the city’s, if not the nation’s, best.

Historic ties

According to Khoury, the low number of registered voters in Brazil is arguably due to the complex registration procedure. “People could register online or at the consulate,” she says. “However, the Ministry of Interior in Beirut had to approve the application, which could take a month or more, while the registration period closed in November. I think people may have underestimated that. “On the other hand, although 8 million is a fair estimate, we should put the figure in perspective,” she added. “The first Lebanese immigrants arrived in Brazil in the late 19th century following the visit of Brazilian Emperor Pedro II to Lebanon. Their descendants often are only partly Lebanese.” Pedro II had a keen interest in the Orient and visited the region twice in the 1870s. Legend has it that in 1871 he halted his convoy on the way to Baalbek to talk to a group of peasants and encourage them to emigrate to Brazil, where plenty of fertile land and opportunities would await them. True or not, the first Lebanese immigrants arrived in South America’s promised land in 1871. Driven by economic malaise, hunger, or conflict, many more would follow in this first wave of emigration from Lebanon that roughly lasted till the end of the Second World War. Naturally, many of the early pioneers married other immigrants. As a result, there are numerous Brazilians who have a claim to Lebanese roots, but their link to the country of their great-grandmother or great-grandfather is cultural or nostalgic at best. To count potential voters among Brazil’s considerable Lebanese contingent, the focus should be on more recent arrivals.

Officials in Beirut Say US-Led Syria Strike Did Not Violate Lebanese Airspace

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“The army's radars and the radars at Beirut's airport did not detect any violation of the Lebanese airspace at dawn yesterday,” the sources told al-Hayat newspaper in remarks published Sunday. The narrowly targeted strike took aim at three alleged chemical weapons facilities in Syria's Damascus and Homs provinces and the sounds of explosions were heard in Lebanese border regions. U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies ordered the mission in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack a week ago on the rebel-held town of Douma that left more than 40 people dead.

Arab Summit to Be Lenient on Lebanon’s ‘Right to Resistance’, Take Hard Line on ‘Hezbollah’

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Dhahran - by Thaer Abbas -aawsat.com- The US-led strike against Syrian regime targets on the eve of the Arab summit has mounted additional burdens on Beirut as Lebanese officials attempt to find a middle ground between Arab consensus and stances related to Syria and “Hezbollah”. It appears that Lebanon achieved its goal in obtaining an Arab recognition of its “right to resistance,” as stipulated in a statement released after an Arab foreign ministers meeting that was held this week ahead of Sunday’s summit. The Arab summit will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in the city of Dhahran. The foreign ministers voiced their “complete” solidarity with Lebanon, stressing the need to provide its government and institutions with political and economic support in a manner that “will preserve its national unity, security, stability and territorial sovereignty.” They also acknowledged its right to liberate the Shebaa, Kfarshouba hills and Lebanese part of the Ghajar village that are occupied by Israel. They said that Lebanon has the right to resist any assault through legitimate means, stressing the importance of differentiating between terrorism and legitimate resistance against Israel. Resistance acts should not be considered terrorist, added the Arab ministers.

Arab diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that there is Arab and international agreement to safeguard Lebanon’s stability and support its official institutions. They highlighted in this regard the recent Rome and Paris conferences that were held on Lebanon. “Hezbollah,” said the sources, is a completely different issue, which the international community is determined to deal with and “soon.” Arab countries cannot tolerate having their security threatened by a militia, they continued, saying that the party “has become even unbearable in Lebanon.” What Lebanon has gained in theory, it will lose when it comes to Iranian meddling. The ministers described “Hezbollah” as terrorist on at least three occasions. At one point it was referred to as “the terrorist ‘Hezbollah’, a partner in the Lebanese government.” The ministers held it responsible for supporting terrorism and terrorist groups in the Arab world through supplying them with advanced arms and ballistic missiles. This was a clear message to the Lebanese government, which will be forced to express its “reservations” on these articles of the statement. Lebanese official sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Beirut is keen on avoiding “going against Arab consensus.” Other articles in the Arab foreign ministers’ statement followed closely last year’s remarks issued by the Arab summit in Amman. They reiterated that Lebanon was “on the verge of social, economic and security collapse” due to the ongoing burden of Syrian refugees. It also omitted a statement that welcomed the election of Michel Aoun as president.

Russia to support Lebanon in refugee return: Russian minister

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The Daily Star - BEIRUT: A Russian official said that Russia will support Lebanon in returning Syrian refugees to their country, during a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle Eastern Affairs Mikhail Bogdanov said the pledge came “in light of the developments taking place,” according to a statement released by Aoun’s office, which did not elaborate on any plans to this end. Bogdanov’s comments came during a meeting with Aoun in the Saudi city of Dhahran, after the Lebanese delegation arrived for the 29th Arab League summit being held there Sunday Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose regime has been supported on the ground by Hezbollah for at least the last five years of Syria’s civil war. Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement is allied with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Aoun spoke with Bogdanov about the presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, calling for a “gradual return” as, he claimed, “several areas are now enjoying security stability after the fighting ended.”

The Lebanese government estimates roughly 1.5 million Syrians are residing in Lebanon, while the number registered with the U.N. refugee agency in Lebanon dropped below 1 million by the end of last year. After the meeting, Bogdanov was also quoted as saying that bilateral relations had been discussed, in addition to developments in the region and the “crisis that the Arab family is witnessing at this stage.” They also discussed security and combating terrorism, Bogdanov said. A date for an official visit by Aoun to Russia will be set after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration on May 7, Bodanov added. Putin was reelected last month with over 75 percent of the vote.

'Mission Accomplished!': Trump praises the US, UK, and France for Syrian military strikes

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by Sonam Sheth and David Choi -businessinsider.com - President Donald Trump on Saturday praised the US military, the UK, and France for a series of military strikes on Syria that were carried out late Friday. "A perfectly executed strike last night," Trump tweeted Saturday morning. "Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!" He added: "So proud of our great Military which will son be, after the spending of billions of fully approved dollars, the finest that our Country has ever had. There won't be anything, or anyone, even close!" The joint operation, led by the US, was undertaken in response to a devastating chemical attack in the rebel-controlled Damascus suburb of Douma, which killed dozens of people earlier this month. The attack is believed to have been ordered by the Syrian government, spearheaded by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Friday's military campaign targeted research facilities that are thought to have been involved in the production of chemical weapons. The operation drew a swift and harsh response from Russia, a key Syrian ally. Russia has several military bases and troops in Syria, and the US said Friday that it did not coordinate with or notify Russia of the strikes.

The Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed the allegations against Syria and said its own experts found no "trace of chlorine or any other chemical substance used against civilians." Following the strikes, Russia called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the military campaign. A Security Council diplomat said the body would meet later Saturday. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the operation an "act of aggression" that will only serve to worsen the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Meanwhile, Anatoly Antonov, Russia's ambassador to the US, said in a statement Friday that "the worst apprehensions have come true. Our warnings have been left unheard. A pre-designed scenario is being implemented." "Again, we are being threatened," Antonov continued. "We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences. All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris."

During a week of tense sabre-rattling, Russian officials periodically warned the US that a military response may spiral out of control to war. "Insulting the President of Russia is unacceptable and inadmissible," Antonov said in his statement responding to the US-led military action. "The US — the possessor of the biggest arsenal of chemical weapons — has no moral right to blame other countries." However, Defense Secretary James Mattis seemed to have anticipated Russia's rhetoric and addressed it during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Friday evening. "Based on recent experience, we fully expect a significant disinformation campaign over the coming days by those who have aligned themselves with the Assad regime," Mattis said.

The United Nations Security Council rejected a resolution Saturday from Russia that would have condemned "the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the US and its allies in violation of international law and the UN Charter." Russia, China and Bolivia voted in favor of the draft resolution, Reuters reported. Eight countries voted against the draft and four abstained. In order to pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the US, France, China, Russia, or the UK. Russia has forcefully denounced a series of joint military strikes that the US, UK, and France launched against Syria late Friday.

Lebanese cardinal warns against ‘new drums of war’ in Syria

by cruxnow.com BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai appealed to world leaders to stop the war in Syria and to work for comprehensive peace through diplomatic means. “As the great powers are beating the drums of a new war against Syria, we regret the absence of a language of peace from the mouths of senior officials in our world today,” said Cardinal Rai, patriarch of Maronite Catholics, in an address April 12 directed to the international community. In reference to the stance of world leaders toward Syria, the cardinal said, “Most tragically, their hearts are devoid of the slightest human emotion toward the millions of innocent Syrians who have been forced to flee their land under the fire of war, its crimes, destruction, terror and violence.” “We appeal to the conscience of the great powers and the international community to work to end the war and to bring about a just, comprehensive and lasting peace through political and diplomatic means - not military,” Rai stressed. “The people of the Middle East are entitled to live in peace and tranquility. The declaration of war is very weak,” he said, adding that peacebuilding is the ultimate in heroism. “Among the great powers, you will remember that we all know how to start wars, but we do not know how they end.” Noting that Lebanon has hosted more than 1.1 million refugees, or nearly half of its population, “at a time when most European countries have closed their doors,” Rai continued: “We ask today, did these countries which are beating the drums of war bear a fraction of the hardship due to the displacement of the Syrian population?” Rai’s appeal came amid threats of military retaliation against Syria over the alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians in the Ghouta region. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that “missiles will be coming.” But on the morning of April 12, Trump tweeted, “Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!” Opponents of unilateral U.S. action scheduled an emergency closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council April 12, and Britain also scheduled an emergency Cabinet meeting, The Associated Press reported.

Where the World’s Ultra Rich Population Lives

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Lebanon refuses use of its airspace for attacking Syria

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BEIRUT, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's President Michel Aoun condemned Thursday Israeli airstrikes in Syria, saying the country's use of Lebanese airspace was an "attack on our sovereignty," the National News Agency (NNA) reported. Aoun reiterated during a cabinet session an announcement made by the Foreign Ministry two days prior to that Lebanon was set to make a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council over Israel's illegal use of Lebanese airspace to attack Syrian targets. Prime Minister Saad Hariri also commented on current tensions during the session, saying "we are working to free Lebanon from any potential problems it might incur as a result of regional developments." On Monday, Russia's Defense Ministry said that two Israeli F-15 warplanes had launched eight guided missiles from Lebanese airspace, targeting an air base near Syria's Homs.