Berri Reveals EU Warning not to Reject Lebanese ‘Federation’
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The president of a European country has advised Lebanese political parties from across the political spectrum not to object the division of Lebanon into a Switzerland-like federation, Speaker Nabih Berri revealed on Thursday.
Berri told al-Akhbar daily in an interview that he has received unconfirmed information about the head of state’s advice that was made around 15 days ago.
“Lebanon is heading to a Swiss federation and all the political parties should be wise and not to object such a plan because refusing it would shake Lebanon’s stability,” the speaker quoted the unnamed official as telling a Lebanese party.
The official reportedly added that “the fire is spreading rapidly and it would be wise to douse it in its cradle.”
Lebanon is sharply divided between the Hizbullah-led March 8 majority coalition and the March 14 opposition alliance. The Syrian conflict has exacerbated the political tensions, and many fear Syria's chaos will eventually spill across the border.
Sectarian violence has also led to bloody gunbattles between the supporters of both sides in Beirut and the northern city of Tripoli.
Berri also confirmed to his interviewer reports about a plot to assassinate him.
“Someone wants to throw a burning matchstick on a flammable ground,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources close to Berri told An Nahar daily that the speaker is expressing regret at the divisions among the parliamentary majority.
“This majority no longer exists,” it is made up of “cantons,” they quoted him as saying.
“What has it done so far and why all the procrastination?” they wondered.
Berri believes that the majority of forces represented in the cabinet have taken their hands off the responsibility to draft an electoral law and want to throw it to the parliament’s court, the sources said.
The cabinet has held several sessions to agree on an electoral draft-law proposed by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel. But differences on proportionality, the size of districts, the women’s quota and other issues have delayed the adoption of the law.
02 August 2012, 08:11
14
A Federation sounds good to me. This country is a failing state as it is and cannot remain as such.
02 August 2012, 08:20
33
this explains what is going on these days, all of hizbushaitan and fpm actions:
- why hizbushaitan are training fpm: for them to take control of Christian regions by force.
- cabinet: push inactivity to the extreme to show a failed state and make the federation as a de facto situation.
- army and security forces: push the people to refuse them as agents to the syrian regime.
- ....
federation might be the outcome, but not without a major civil war to demarcate the federations.
is this what we want?
02 August 2012, 08:20
25
True. Federation is a must. We have things that divides way more then the things that unites us. But the first excuse we will hear is that Israel will benefit from this...... so what? we are beneficiaries as well....
02 August 2012, 08:25
04
since agaes Lebanon has been called the ¨Switzerland of the Middle East¨. So let it be....perhaps then we can learn to live together.
02 August 2012, 08:31
04
I dont understand why all this resistance to a federation! It is the best thing for Lebanon. What political forces is really against it?
02 August 2012, 09:25
33
there is no resistance against federatin actually, rather the demarcation points of each federation are the issues and who will control each.
this cannot be achieved peacefully in Lebanon unfortunately, especially with hizbushaitan spreading its medium range missiles in Christian regions which they need to control either directly or by proxy.
02 August 2012, 09:03
11
That still would not explain how one would implemenent "federal" (i.e. soverign decisions). Who decides to go to war? Canton #3?? What happens to Cantons #2 and #1 in case of an Israeli attack? Where is electricity produced and distributed? In Canton #2? How would revenues be collected? What if Canton #2's residents refuse to pay? You end-up with 3 power generating plants; can you imagine the amortization costs? Come on guys, the coutnry is too small for further break-up, economies of scale would automatically mean that we would be swalled-up by our neighbors...
All we need is a classical system of an independent judiciary and the simple enforcement of law across the board.
02 August 2012, 17:34
00
each canton would be responsible by himself if he provokes another country.
While all canton would help each other is one is attacked without provocation from another country.
Each canton runs his own electricity production and distribution, and can sell to other cantons.
zouk power plant is not even enough for christian region. economies of scale is not an issue.
02 August 2012, 09:04
10
That still would not explain how one would implemenent "federal" (i.e. soverign decisions). Who decides to go to war? Canton #3?? What happens to Cantons #2 and #1 in case of an Israeli attack? Where is electricity produced and distributed? In Canton #2? How would revenues be collected? What if Canton #2's residents refuse to pay? You end-up with 3 power generating plants; can you imagine the amortization costs? Come on guys, the coutnry is too small for further break-up, economies of scale would automatically mean that we would be swalled-up by our neighbors...
02 August 2012, 09:14
01
I don't understand how a federation will stop the fighting. Could someone explain? I seriously don't know how that concept works.
02 August 2012, 19:38
00
Abu Roger,
Each Federation would elect its own "government" to handle local matters such as public projects, power, water, education, health care, commerce, drinking age, internal police force, fire department, taxes, etc.
There would a "federal Parliment" with representatives from every federation to handle matters at the federal level such as foreign policy & embassies, army, federal police, exterior borders, federal projects, initially airports and ports until the federations build their own, setting minimum standards and regulations, etc.
The only way for this system to work is that Lebanon MUST remain NEUTRAL!
Many details would have to be worked out but it is the best solution for Lebanon. If people in Nabatieh want to ban liquor and people in Hamra want to walk naked down the street then who cares!The big issue is how to handle people migrating from one federation to another! there should a very simple process based on residency requirements and not act of God!
02 August 2012, 19:44
00
One important aspect for this to work is that the federation will only have "light weapons" only for internal security purposes, and the army would be the only entity in the country with the missiles and tanks.
That is one of the reasons that HA is against it. Also, HA knows normal people want to live normal lives, and they would stand to lose most of their population from the south who are sick and tired of the "resistance", and would rather go out drinking and gambling!!!
02 August 2012, 09:37
14
That is the best solution ever for Lebanon! Maybe the only solution. all taxes, electricity bill, vat, water bill paid by the citizen stays within the confederation.!!
02 August 2012, 10:12
00
Demarcation points for this federation (which is the best thing for Lebanon) should take into consideration the areas forcibly occupied after the civil wars in the mountain (Al-Jabal) and what is now Dahieh and return it to their rightful owners. The other best thing for Lebanon is to include Lebanese diaspora, even people of Lebanese descent if they want to, in the Lebanese political and social life.
02 August 2012, 11:13
21
Yeah what an idea :D those who want to fight the "Zionist enemy" and to liberate Al Quds and Palestine get one side . Those who want to live in stability , security, prosperious enconomy get the other side. Khalas that sounds great to me !!!!
02 August 2012, 11:31
13
I am totally for it at least this way I will pay my taxes and it's not Geha who will have free electricity in aakar or Beirut or who konws where
02 August 2012, 17:21
10
I live in keserwan and pay all my dues :) FYI
you are twisted guys, and just refuse facts like Touma: you need to see for yourselves :)
within a few days it will be all over the news :)
02 August 2012, 19:35
00
so you are a true kesrweneh geha unlike my fellow shiite bro kesrweneh still pretending to be a christian, he reminds me of le phenicien , flamethrower , cookie monster , karim-m1 ... you should see the imam ripping his turban off in frustration every time the idiot betrays himself
02 August 2012, 11:31
03
I hope that this is seriously being considered. We're going to end up with some enclaves (say Kobeiyat) but some solution could be worked out. I think that this might bring back many of the Christians that we lost to immigration.
02 August 2012, 12:32
12
Karim, You forgot about the 3rd confedaration!! Let the wilayat el fakih and it subordonnates (FPM, Marada, SSNP and the baath representent) be in the 3rd federation and join their terrorist al quds, fight israel for generation and generation and do what they please. That way the neutral federation can work on being a peaceful, neutral country and improving its economy, while the Wahabi and wilayat el faqih federation can wage its wars and terrorism without affecting the other Lebanese that want to live in peace.
02 August 2012, 14:21
00
Crusader, dont call others terrorist when you name yourself with such a name. The crusaders were terrorists as were all your maronite militias. The worst kind of terrorists even.
02 August 2012, 14:26
00
And what is stopping lebanese cities from beeing clean right now? Im afraid you guys are fooling yourself massively. You blame all your problems on the hezb but if this federation takes place, you wont be able to blame them anymore for that :) just wait and see. Any cantoon that has morw than one sect living in it will have division, its the lebanese way, you cant fight it. And if its the same sect only living it- then two leaders or two families will make sure the division stays.
02 August 2012, 18:31
10
Of course Shia wouldn't accept a federation, they allready have their own state/canton and they are gaining more and more authority on the rest of the country...
02 August 2012, 19:27
00
This is the country I want!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEiWzEdh2OU
02 August 2012, 23:34
00
True FT. A federation means joint foreign policy and joined defense, and even federal tax and so forth. If we don't want to have ANYTHING to do with the Muslims, then we have have to go with outright partition Balkan or India-style. That would surely involve massive relocation of people.
I advocate a federation with strong autonomy for the cantons and a relatively weak central government, all based on a robust constitution.
