[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 6/29/09: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
Tomorrow U.S. forces will begin withdrawing their forces from Iraqi cities, in accordance with the security agreement. Most of the U.S. forces will be withdrawn and a small number of soldiers will remain to carry out the handover to the Iraqi security forces and police. Despite government reassurances, there are fears that violence will increase after the withdrawal.

Guest, MALE #1:
The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi cities is in accordance to our laws, constitution and sovereignty. This is a country that wants to enjoy its sovereignty and independence. Against our will, these foreign forces came, and now they must leave.

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
Two days ahead of the U.S. withdrawal, Al Arabiya visited the city of Durra, which is one of the cities where the withdrawal will take place tomorrow.

Reporter, MALE #1:
Behind these walls is the city of Durra, which was recently in the hands of Al Qaeda and armed militias. However, today it is in the hands of the Iraqi forces, after taking on many battles against these organizations, with the support of the U.S. forces. The city of modern markets is a model of coexistence between Sunnis, Shiites, and Christians. This is what the Durra area, south of Baghdad has become known for. It is secure and people have resumed their normal daily lives. We toured some of the alleyways in the neighborhoods, where just a few months ago it was impossible to even think about entering them

Presenter, Female #1
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticized Western leaders over what he referred to as “crazy statements over the Iranian presidential elections. Al-Arabia has learned that the Iranian Ministry of Interior is studying a proposal to ban a leading spiritual institution led by Khatemi and the pro-reform Participation Front of Iran due to allegations of funds received from abroad and instigating riots. Meanwhile, Iranian reformist presidential candidate, Mahdi Karubi, called for the formation of an independent committee to investigate the entire election process. Karubi rejected the special committee, which the Iranian authority proposed to form.
Reporter, Male #1
It seems that Tehran is taking serious steps to help end the presidential elections crisis. Iran’s Guardian Council of the Constitution announced that it has appointed a 5-member special committee to randomly recount 10% of the votes. However, incoming reports from Qom have confirmed that some are seeking solutions to help bring calm to the streets and end the crisis. Moderate leader of the Iranian National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Ala’a Deen Burajerdi, met with senior officials from the various high religious authority councils in Qom. According to sources in the Religious Authority Council of Qum, led by Lutif Allah Safi Bulbgani, several religious leaders, including Shubari Zinjani, met to discuss the post-election developments. Zinjani stressed the importance of attending to all complaints filed by the opposition over the election results. In addition, sources close to the Makram Shirazi religious authority council said that they have proposed a political solution for the national reconciliation, which will help overcome their differences. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Al-Hawza Al-Ilmiya in Qom, Hussein Mossavi Tabrizi, who is close to Mir Hossein Mossavi, said that Iran’s Assembly of Experts, led by Hashemi Rafsenjani, must remain neutral in order to help resolve the current crisis. Tabrizi said that the special committee inside the Guardian Council of the Constitution is biased. He proposed that the committee must include members from the reformist movement….an issue that was raised by MP Ali Mutaheri, the son of Islamic scholar, Murtada Mutaheri, who was assassinated in 1980 by the al-Rurqan group. Meanwhile, Mir Hossein Mossavi rejected the special committee and continued to call for annulling the election results, or appointing another committee approved by both sides and backed by the religious authority councils. The Assembly of Experts, led by Rafsenjani, called for listening and obeying the preacher of the nation. He also called on the Guardian Council to deal with the issue in a way that is acceptable to God. He said that the special committee must assume the role of the judge and decide on the case. However, Mahdi Karubi said that the special committee must change two of its five members, and it must review all, not only twenty-eight of the complaints. Najah Mohammad Ali, Al Arabiya.

Presenter, Man #1
There is a recount of votes in the presidential election that happened in Tehran on June 12th. The process of recounting began this morning in various provinces in Iran. Representatives from the Guardian Council of the Constitution, Ministry of the Interior, the regional governor and the media attended the recount as supervisory staff. Neither of the two lost presidential candidates, Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Medhi Karroubi, who lost the election, attended the event. More than 4,500 boxes are planned to be recounted, and the results will be announced by the end of today.

Reporter, Man #1
All eyes are on the Guardian Council of the Constitution, which has the final say in Iran’s presidential election. As the period allocated to evaluate the election grievances, which was extended to five days has ended, there is a slim chance that there will be fundamental changes in the announced results. It is most likely that in the next few hours Ahmadinejad will be officially declared the tenth president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As the last step to preempt Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s criticism of the elections, a neutral committee comprised of renowned political and religious individuals was formed to recount one tenth of the representatives’ votes. This was again rejected by Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who did not appoint a representative to supervise the recount, insisting on annulling the entire election.

Guest, Man #1
We requested that the opposition provide their grievances and appoint a representative. If their representative does not attend then we will take the necessary measures.

Reporter, Man #1
This step comes as a result of efforts exerted by a special committee from the Parliament of Islamic Consultancy, which is headed by Alaa-din Burujerdi. The committee’s goal is bridge the gap between different political sides’ opinions. The committee met with the two candidates from the opposition, Mousavi and Karroubi and a number of religious sources and listened to the chairman of the Iranian Assembly of Experts Hashemi Rafsanjani’s opinion, who disagrees with Ahmadinejad,

Guest, Man #2
We met with Shaikh Hashemi Rafsanjani. The atmosphere of the negotiations was kind of different. But this disagreement does not mean that the differences will continue in the society. We all should seek the law to resolve the situation.

Reporter, Man #1
More tension has over shadowed the already strained Iranian-British relations, when Tehran announced the arrest of eight Iranians working at the Butich embassy in Tehran, accusing them of inciting the latest chaos.

Presenter, Male #1
In the opening speech, the G8 summit expressed its sorrow for what it called violent action and urged Tehran, in a joint declaration, to resolve the crisis through dialogue. Russia refuses to condemn Iran, and considers the elections to be democratic and an internal affair.

Reporter, Male #2
Foreign ministers, representing countries with the world’s largest industries, met at the G8 summit to discuss the security situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, some of the member states exploited Iran’s absence from the conference, as an opportunity to pressure Tehran in the backdrop of the latest elections. The subject of Iran created division among those attending the meeting. Delegates differed on the language of the final statement made by the G8 summit. The pressure exerted by Italy, who hosted the meeting, failed to create a consensus to strongly condemn Iran. Italy’s foreign minister, Franco Fratini, thought it necessary for the G8 summit to make the condemnation of Iran a political position. However, Russia viewed Italy’s behavior to be inappropriate as Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergio Lavrov confirmed, after his meeting with Franco Fratini, that the Iranian elections are an internal matter and that their election process was democratic. He confirmed that isolating Iran is the wrong approach and that cooperation and dialogue with Iran will lead to a solution. He called for using language that will help them move forward and solve the differences over the Iranian nuclear program. Iran announced that it would not participate in the meetings regarding the issue of Afghanistan. This was a message in protest of western interference in its internal affairs that has increased in the backdrop of their last presidential elections.

Guest, Male #3
We decided not to participate in the meetings in Italy because we are against western interference in our internal affairs.

Reporter, Male #2
The Iranian position reiterated the necessity to respect the will of the people. They believe that condemnation will not allow for dialogue but will lead to increased complications of the relations between the two sides.

Presenter, Male #1
At this time, members of the US senate have pledged to support who they call “Iranian’s who reject the results of the latest presidential elections” and describe the elections as fraudulent. Republican Senator John McCain revealed preparations to draft legislation about this matter in the upcoming month. He indicated that he aims to increase the budget allocated to radio stations financed by the American congress against Iran. Likewise, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham accused Iran of meddling with the election and said that they should help Iranian voices to be heard.

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
The Israeli Army radio reported that the Israeli Ministry of Defense finally approved a plan to build 1,450 new settlement units in a settlement in the West Bank.

Presenter, MALE #1:
The revelation over the new settlement plans comes ahead of the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack’s visit to New York to meet with the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell. They plan to discuss the U.S. Administration’s demand to freeze all settlement building activity in the settlements.

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
Details in this report by our colleague Elias Karram.

Reporter, MALE #2:
Before the Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, travels to Washington to discuss the U.S.’ demand to freeze settlement building in the occupied West Bank, an announcement was made about the construction of 1,450 new settlement units in the Adam settlement in northern occupied Jerusalem. The plan comes as part of an agreement between the Israeli Defense Ministry and the settler leadership, to compensate the settlers for the removal of a random settlement outpost, Migrone, which was originally built on privately owned Palestinian land. Al Jazeera obtained a document that was submitted to the Israeli Supreme Court under the framework of deliberations over the removal of the Migrone settlement outpost. It confirms the number of proposed settlement homes.

Guest, FEMALE #2:
The Ministry of Defense and the Israeli courts are lying to Israelis and the Americans. They say that they are prepared to freeze the settlements and are prepared for a Palestinian state. However, in practice, they approve increasing the construction in a settlement on occupied territories.

Reporter, MALE #2:
The Israeli Ministry of Defense, rushed to issue a statement denying the existence of such a plan. It confirmed that it has approved only fifty settlement units to provide alternative residences for the settlers of Migrone. This comes as the minister of intelligence affairs, Dan Mirador, said that Israel has the right to build large settlement blocs to provide for so called “natural growth.”

Guest, MALE #3:
I think that the settlements are not a problem which needs to be solved. Rather, the problem is honoring agreements. Agreements must be honored. That is a fundamental principle in international relations. I hope that my friend Barak can focus on this during his visit to Washington.

Reporter, MALE #2:
This revelation overrides what was announced about Barack’s intention to propose to the Americans freezing settlement construction for three months as a goodwill gesture to restart negotiations with the Palestinians. But before this happens, it appears that Israel will try to provoke the Obama Administration to acknowledge the understandings that were made with his predecessor, President Bush. He allowed Israel to build large settlement blocs and did not require a withdrawal back to the 1967 borders. The Obama administration has already denied that these verbal understandings ever existed. Israel is trying to impose a settlement reality on the ground that threatens to stop any efforts to launch peace negotiations. In exchange for removing random outposts, efforts are being made to legitimize other settlement sites. It is as if there exists legal settlements and illegal settlements, all according to what Israel dubs them to be. Elias Karram. Al Jazeera. Occupied Jerusalem.

[Summary]

Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, will be visiting New York in order to meet with U.S. special Middle East envoy, George Mitchell. The top issue on the agenda is the Obama administration’s demand that all settlement construction in Judea and Samaria be ceased.

Presenter, Female #1
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri began talks and consultations with all the various political groups. The talks aim to help fill the ministerial positions of his new government. Hariri met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri. This news comes after armed confrontations erupted in Beirut between supporters of the Amal Movement on one side and supporters of the Future Bloc on the other. In addition, the Lebanese Prime Minister-designate held a meeting with former PMs…..A meeting that is being labeled as “post-election standard procedure.” Meanwhile, the Lebanese army deployed its troops and machinery in various parts of Beirut. This comes after clashes erupted yesterday between supporters of the Future Movement, led by PM-designate Saad Hariri, and gunmen from the Amal Movement, led by Parliament speaker, Nabih Berri. A Lebanese woman was killed and two men were wounded in the clashes that erupted in the area of A’isha-Bakkar. The Lebanese army warned that they will shoot any person carrying firearm in the streets of Beirut, vowing to crack down swiftly on anyone breaking the law. Joining us from inside the Lebanese parliament is our correspondent, Ilian Shatri. Ilian, where did the parliamentary consultations lead to, especially regarding the opposition’s demands for the formation of the upcoming government?

Dubai Correspondent, Female #2
Sahar, the first round of parliamentary talks ended a short while ago which lasted to the early afternoon hours. Lebanese PM-designate Saad Hariri met with the various parliamentary blocs from both the majority and the opposition. The second round of talks will begin in the afternoon, at about 3:00 PM Beirut local time and is expected to last until 9:00 P.M. The atmosphere inside the parliament is positive. Most opposition blocs, including the Development and Liberation Movement, Led by Nabih Berri, the Reform and Change Bloc, led by General Michel Oun, and Hezbollah’s Wafaa bloc of the Lebanese resistance, led by MP Mohammad Raad, didn’t publicly say they want 1/3 of the parliament’s seats. The opposition said they want to participate in a national unity government. They added that they have already submitted their demands to PM-designate Saad Hariri. The Majority coalition, including the Future and “Zahla in the Heart” Movements, said they want to participate effectively in the upcoming government. The situation is relatively calm and positive despite the latest security development that took place in the streets of the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

Presenter, Female #1
This is what I was going to ask you next: How is the situation on the ground following last night’s clashes?

Dubai Correspondent, Female #2
The streets are witnessing relative but cautious calm. Since yesterday, the Lebanese army has taken strict security measures, not only in the areas where there are clashes, but in all parts of the Lebanese capital of Beirut. The army deployed armored vehicles through out the streets of Beirut, in an attempt to prevent the clashes from spreading to other parts of the capital. The army’s heavy presence also aims to reassure the citizens, who have expressed fear over last night’s clashes. The road leading to the area of A’isha-Bakkar was closed in protest over the violence. However, the army intervened and immediately reopened the road. The area is witnessing relative calm, especially after the Lebanese army was given a political blanket to crack down quickly and swiftly on violators. The army warned that they will shoot anyone on sight carrying weapons in the streets of the capital. In brief, it seems that a new political initiative is being launched in the Lebanese parliament.

Presenter, Female #1,
Ilian Shatri, our correspondent from Beirut, thank you very much.

Presenter, Man#1
Shortly before forming their new government, political observers are looking at the economic situation in Lebanon. They have emphasized the necessity to benefit from the current atmosphere to jump start the economy. We leave you with a report by Sharbi Al-abud.

Reporter, Man #1
In 2002, president Rafiq al-Hariri succeeded in bringing the world’s attention to Lebanon, which led to the Paris Conference II, which provided large amounts of financial aid to Lebanon. This aid faced political obstacles that were created by the president of the republic at the time, Emile Lahoud. After President Al-Hariri was assassinated, parliamentary elections were held and Fu’ad Siniora founded a new government. In 2007, the world returned to focus on Lebanon again at the Paris Conference III. But the financial aid that Lebanon gained was again impeded. Today, after Lebanon has come out of its crisis and is at the beginning of a new era, it has become necessary to benefit from these achievements to refresh the economy.

Guest, Man #1
Today, we have four years in front of us. Sure, there are threats and the country is facing risks, but we have a lot of opportunities. We must think of ways to take advantage of these opportunities: how Lebanon can benefit from the global recession? How can we prevent thousands of companies from closing down? Lebanon’s economy and a few others in the world are the only economies that have been growing.

Reporter, Man #1
But how can that be?

Guest, Man #2
During stable and positive times, Lebanon can take big steps. What do I mean by this? I mean during this time, we can create many job opportunities for the young Lebanese people. Perhaps those who cannot find jobs in neighboring countries can work in Lebanon. Lebanese companies are looking for different areas in Lebanon to launch their operations. More importantly, in the past, Lebanese enterprises suffered, due to the closure of the commercial sector because of all the problems. Now Lebanon has an opportunity to revive the economy, and we must seize it. The basic point is that these institutions must operate properly. The Parliament must speed up the process of passing the fifty draft laws that are important to the country. There are four draft laws pertaining to the budgets which must pass. Also, the ministerial cabinet must work in harmony without getting involved in any derailment projects. One cannot hold economic projects hostage to political tension.

Reporter, Man #1
Therefore, this is a new opportunity for the Lebanese economy to rise again. Will these appeals be received well? Or will the hopes of reviving the Lebanese economy become the victims of grudges and derailment?