FRENCH AND LEBANESE PRESIDENTS TO MEET IN BEIRUT

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is making a trip to Lebanon next Saturday to meet and congratulate newly-elected Lebanese President, General Michel Suleiman. Sarkozy will also visit France’s army battalion that is part of the United Nations’ peace-keeping force in southern Lebanon

France, the former colonial power in both Lebanon and Syria, has been actively involved in trying to solve the deadlock in the election of a new Lebanese President. Lebanon was without a President since November of last year. Early on, France sent its Foreign Minister to Lebanon in an attempt to end the election crisis.

Ultimately, it was Qatari mediation that brought a resolution to the impasse. That mediation was initiated following a spate of violence by Hizballah that left 82 people dead.

Under the Qatari deal, General Suleiman, the Lebanese Army chief who refused to confront Hizballah, would become President but Hizballah would gain virtual veto power over governmental decision making by holding a majority of positions in a new Cabinet.

Throughout the Presidential election impasse, France backed the West-leaning coalition in opposition to PM Fuad Siniora. This put a strain on Franco-Syrian relations as did the eruption of the Hizballah violence. Sarkozy’s visit will again show support for the Lebanese government and may irritate the Syrians.
It is believed that Sarkozy will also meet with newly–reappointed Prime Minister Siniora. PM Siniora just completed two days of discussions with various Lebanese factions concerning the formation of the new Cabinet. He called on all factions to work together to "heal wounds" caused by recent fighting.

The upcoming visit follows last Thursday’s telephone call between Sarkozy and Syrian President Bashir al Assad. Sarkozy reportedly expressed his appreciation for Syria’s support of the Doha Agreement. Syria’s official news agency SANA, said that during the phone conversation Sarkozy praised "the tireless efforts made by President al-Assad for the success of the Doha agreement and the election of the president by the Lebanese parliament."

PM Suleiman’s official duties started immediately. The first official foreign visitor to see President Suleiman was Germany’s Foreign Minster, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is in Lebanon on the first leg of a tour of the Middle East. Steinmeier’s visit was followed closely by a congratulatory phone call from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The new President then bid farewell to Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani who had be on a visit to Lebanon. That was followed by a meeting with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah.

Bahrain International Motor Show postponed due to lack of Interest

The first annual Bahrain International Motor Show which was scheduled to open 24-27 April in Bahrain in cooperation with Messe Essen GmbH has been postponed until October 4th according to the Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA).

The event, to be held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center, was hoped to be packed with different activities in addition to parallel events at the Bahrain International Circuit such as 4X4 rides and drag racing.

It has been postponed due to lack of adequate entries, said BECA senior sales officer and BIMS 2008 project manager Ali Al Shehabi.

Obviously, BECA’s German partners promised more than they could deliver on short notice.

"Exhibitors that have confirmed their participation in BIMS this year are from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UK, Germany, Japan and the UAE," he said. "But the entries that we have received are not what we were expecting and need more exhibitors. We hope to encourage more exhibitors to join the event by October." National pavilions from Germany, Taiwan and the UAE have already reserved a presence at the event.

BECA, which owns and produces BIMS in joint venture with Germany's Messe Essen GmbH, is headed by Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro.

BIMS 2008, when finally held, promises to be a spectacular experience for trade show visitors as well as the entire family.

"BIMS is shaping up to be a hallmark event for Bahrain with its unique exhibits of production, concept and performance cars across different brands," he says.

"Its inaugural launch in October coincides with the celebration of Eid Al Fitr, enabling thousands of car enthusiasts and families to visit the show." Dr Fakhro said that the new dates in autumn would make it more viable for Bahrain's auto dealers to showcase their new models and concept cars.

"We are working closely with the automotive media for additional visitor marketing promotions and have launched an extensive promotional campaign in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Bahrain to increase visitor attendance to BIMS 2008," said BECA acting chief executive officer Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen.

“Motorsports in particular, and the automotive industry, in general, are an important driver of Bahrain’s economy. The success story that is The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix and the recent launching of the German, high-performance sports car maker, RUF GmbH in Bahrain, the first ever automobile manufacturing and assembly facility in the Arab world, are testimony to the wealth of entrepreneurial and high-tech skills residing in the country,” says Mohammed Dhirar Al Shaer, CEO of BECA. “Bahrain Motor Show is one of the ideal platforms for the Kingdom’s automotive industry to be placed on the international map and win in the race for economic prosperity.”

This is most unfortunate for all concerned. The show is a great concept and we hope it can be salvaged in October.