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Suleiman Meets Brazilian VP, Asks Assistance to Urge Israel Implement 1701

President Michel Suleiman discussed on Saturday with Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer the importance of developing the bilateral relations between the two countries, asking assistance to pressure Israel to implement U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

Suleiman stressed during a meeting with Temer at Baabda Palace on the importance of reforming the United Nations and the World Trade Organizations.

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Moussawi Slams Hariri, Says No Place for him in Ongoing Battle in Region

Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi said on Saturday that the developments in the region are more important than those who are seeking to entertain themselves on twitter.

“Those who are seeking to entertain themselves (with the developments in the country), or on twitter… have no place in this battle (that is going on in the region),” Moussawi said.

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Gemayel Says March 14 Will Safeguard Lebanon against Conspirators

Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel stressed on Saturday that the March 14-led opposition stances are to safeguard Lebanon against those who are conspiring against it.

“We are not only defending the rights of a certain group but the rights of all the Lebanese citizens … and the sovereignty of the country,” Gemayel said during a meeting with a delegation of residents of the town of Tarshish.

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Jumblat Will Not Leave Parliamentary Majority

Contacts between Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and the parliamentary majority have not been severed, stated a source from the majority to al-Joumhouriya newspaper in remarks published on Saturday.

It added however that contact between the Druze leader and Damascus has been severed for the time being.

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Saniora: If I Were Miqati, I Would Have Abstained from Voting on Arab Decision on Syria

The head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora stressed that Lebanon does not meddle in the developments in Syria, saying that it does not believe in adopting such policies because it has nothing to gain from them and it isn’t even capable of intervening in Syria.

He told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published on Saturday: “If I were Prime Minister Najib Miqati, I would have abstained from voting on the Arab foreign ministers’ decision to suspend Syria’s membership in the Arab League.”

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Opposition Rejects Calls for Dialogue if Hizbullah’s Arms Won’t Be Addressed

President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri’s calls to resume the national dialogue have remained unanswered given the division between the government forces and opposition over the purpose of holding the talks, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

It said that the two officials were expected to hold talks after the last week’s al-Adha holiday in order to discuss resuming the dialogue, but the meeting did not transpire.

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Miqati Heads to Vatican on Nov. 28 amid Efforts to Keep Lebanon Out of Regional Changes

Prime Minister Najib Miqati is scheduled to travel to the Vatican on November 28 where he is expected to meet with Pope Benedict XVI, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

It noted that the visit is significant as it is part of efforts to keep Lebanon away from the political changes in the region given the division the developments in Syria have created among the government forces and opposition in Lebanon.

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STL Acquired Funds for its Budget, but that Doesn’t Exempt Lebanon from its Obligations

The spokesman of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Marten Youssef revealed that the tribunal has acquired all the funds needed for the budget of its third year in functioning, adding that some 30 different countries have contributed to it.

He told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that this does not mean that Lebanon is exempt from meeting its obligations to the STL.

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Jumblat: If Proportional Representation Aims to Weaken Our Sway, We Got the Message

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Friday voiced his total rejection of implementing the proportional representation system in the 2013 parliamentary elections.

In an interview on Hizbullah’s Al-Manar television, Jumblat said: “Before we discuss proportional representation, let’s discuss how we can limit the use of political spending, and unfortunately we have only a little influence left, limited to the so-called Druze electorate, and if the aim is to undermine this influence, then we got the message.”

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Lebanon Delays Sadr Case Ruling Pending Proof Gadhafi Dead

A Lebanese court on Friday delayed its verdict in a case alleging Moammar Gadhafi’s involvement in the 1978 disappearance of prominent Shiite cleric Imam Moussa Sadr, pending confirmation of the Libyan leader's death.

"Local, regional and international media on October 20 reported the killing of Colonel Moammar Gadhafi, who is wanted in the case" of the disappearance of Sadr and three others, a court statement read.

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