The Doha Agreement
Encyclopedia
The Doha Agreement was an agreement reached by rival Lebanese
factions on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Doha
, Qatar
. This Agreement marks the end of an 18-month long political crisis in Lebanon.
After battles broke out in Lebanon
because of the ongoing political crisis, Qatar
's EmirSheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani invited all Lebanese political parties to its capital Doha
to seek an agreement, in order to end the ongoing political crisis and avoid an eventual civil war.
. This was the first time after the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) weapons were used by Hezbollah on the internal front. Battles moved to several areas in the country including Mount Lebanon and the North, and 300 people are estimated to have died in the operation.The Arab council quickly acted to stop the violence. Based on the Arab initiative regarding containment of the Lebanese crisis, and in pursuance of the agreement concluded among the Lebanese parties in Beirut on May 15, 2008, under the aegis of the Arab Ministerial Committee an agreement was reached.
; and as a result of this Conference, as well as of the bilateral and collective meetings and consultations between the president and members of the Arab Ministerial Committee and all parties that took part in this Conference the parties were able to reach an agreement.
, knowing that this is the best constitutional method to elect the president under these exceptional circumstances.
Second: forming a national unity government composed of 30 ministers distributed among the majority (16 ministers), the opposition (11 ministers) and the president (3 ministers), and by virtue of this agreement, all parties commit not to resign or obstruct the government’s actions.
Third: adopting the caza as an electoral constituency in conformity with the 1960 law, whereby the districts of Marjayoun-Hasbaya
, Baalbek
-Hermel
and West Bekaa-Rashaya
remain as a single electoral constituency each.
As for Beirut, it was divided in the following manner:
The first district: Achrafieh
– Rmeil – Saifi
The second district: Bachoura – Medawar – the Port
The third district: Minet al-Hosn – Ain al-Mreisseh – Al-Mazraa – Mousseitbeh – Ras Beirut – Zoqaq al-Blat
Agreeing on referring the reform clauses mentioned in the draft law prepared by the National Commission on Electoral Law Reform, which was headed by Minister Fouad Boutros, to the parliament in order to examine and discuss them in accordance with the rules in effect.
Fourth: Pursuant to the above mentioned Beirut Agreement, especially Paragraphs 4 and 5, which stated the following:
Paragraph 4: The parties commit to abstain from having recourse or resuming the use of weapons and violence in order to record political gains.
Paragraph 5: Initiate a dialogue on promoting the Lebanese state’s authority over all Lebanese territory and their relationship with the various groups on the Lebanese stage in order to ensure the state’s and the citizens’ security.
Hence, the dialogue was initiated in Doha on promoting the state’s authority according to Paragraph 5 of the Beirut Agreement, and an agreement was reached on the following:
- Prohibiting the use of weapons or violence or taking refuge in them in any dispute whatsoever and under any circumstances, in order to ensure respect for the national partnership contract, based on the Lebanese people’s commitment to live with one another within the framework of the Lebanese system, and to restrict the security and military authority over Lebanese nationals and residents to the state alone so as to ensure the continuity of the coexistence formula and civil peace among all the Lebanese; and the parties pledge to all of the above.
- Implementing the law and upholding the sovereignty of the state throughout Lebanon so as not to have regions that serve as safe havens for outlaws, out of respect for the supremacy of the law, and referring all those who commit crimes and contraventions to the Lebanese judiciary.
This dialogue is to be resumed under the aegis of the president as soon as he is elected and a national unity government is formed, and with the participation of the Arab League in such a way as to boost confidence among the Lebanese.
Fifth: Reasserting the commitment of the Lebanese political leaders to immediately abstain from resorting to the rhetoric of treason or political or sectarian instigation.
The Arab Ministerial Committee undertakes to register this agreement before the Arab League General Secretariat as soon as it is signed.
This agreement was signed in Doha on May 21, 2008 by the Lebanese political leaders participating in the Conference and in the presence of the president and members of the Arab Ministerial Committee.”
's majority and opposition blocs to end an 18-month political standoff and elect a new president.
The UN “welcomes and strongly supports the agreement reached by Lebanese leaders in Doha
on May 21..., which constitutes an essential step towards the resolution of the current crisis... and the complete restoration of Lebanon
's unity, stability and independence.”
In a non-binding statement adopted by all its 15 members, the council also “welcomes the agreement to ban the use of weapons and violence as a means to settle disputes, irrespective of their nature and under any circumstances.”
It hailed the agreement between the western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, to elect a new president, establish a national-unity cabinet and address Lebanon's electoral law. The council reaffirmed “its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, unity and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders and under the sole and exclusive authority of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory.”
The statement also recalled previous Security Council resolutions calling for the dismantling and the disarming of all Lebanese and foreign militias.
Individual countries also supported the agreement:
which had begun on Friday, December 1, 2006 in Beirut
.
On 25 May 2008 Lebanon's parliament elected General Michel Sleiman as the new president of the country, a post that had been vacant since November.
Lebanese across the political spectrum have greeted it with relief and joy. After electing President Michel Suleiman
, fireworks erupted all over the country, and festivals were held all over Beirut such as the festivals in the Beirut Central District
which was the first large non-political gathering in the district for months with Haifa Wehbe
, Ragheb Alama
, and Assi Al Hillany
performing.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
factions on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. This Agreement marks the end of an 18-month long political crisis in Lebanon.
After battles broke out in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
because of the ongoing political crisis, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
's EmirSheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani invited all Lebanese political parties to its capital Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
to seek an agreement, in order to end the ongoing political crisis and avoid an eventual civil war.
Before The Doha Agreement
Lebanon's ongoing political crisis suddenly exploded when the government issued two decisions to remove Hezbollah's telecommunications network and resign the Rafik Hariri International Airport's head of security after finding out about a Hezbollah surveillance camera monitoring the western runway number 17, which is used primarily for executive jets. In response to these decisions, mushrooming riots swept across Beirut resulting in heavy clashes between Hezbollah and the majority, afterwards Hezbollah militants invaded and took control of western BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. This was the first time after the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) weapons were used by Hezbollah on the internal front. Battles moved to several areas in the country including Mount Lebanon and the North, and 300 people are estimated to have died in the operation.The Arab council quickly acted to stop the violence. Based on the Arab initiative regarding containment of the Lebanese crisis, and in pursuance of the agreement concluded among the Lebanese parties in Beirut on May 15, 2008, under the aegis of the Arab Ministerial Committee an agreement was reached.
The Lebanese national dialogue
The Lebanese National Dialogue Conference was held in Doha between May 16 and May 21, 2008, with the participation of the Lebanese political leaders who are members of the National Dialogue Conference and who have asserted their commitment to saving Lebanon and ending the current political crisis and its dangerous consequences for the coexistence formula and civil peace among the Lebanese, as well as their commitment to the principles enshrined by the Lebanese constitution and the Taif AgreementTaif Agreement
The Taif Agreement was an agreement reached to provide "the basis for the ending of the civil war and the return to political normalcy in Lebanon." Negotiated in Taif, Saudi Arabia, it was designed to end the decades-long Lebanese civil war, politically accommodate the demographic...
; and as a result of this Conference, as well as of the bilateral and collective meetings and consultations between the president and members of the Arab Ministerial Committee and all parties that took part in this Conference the parties were able to reach an agreement.
The Agreement
First: The parties have agreed on having the Lebanese parliament speaker, based on the rules in effect, invite the parliament to convene within 24 hours to elect consensus candidate General Michel SuleimanMichel Suleiman
Michel Suleiman or Sleiman is the President of Lebanon. Before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. After LAF commander Émile Lahoud took office as president in November of 1998, Suleiman succeeded him, taking his place in December...
, knowing that this is the best constitutional method to elect the president under these exceptional circumstances.
Second: forming a national unity government composed of 30 ministers distributed among the majority (16 ministers), the opposition (11 ministers) and the president (3 ministers), and by virtue of this agreement, all parties commit not to resign or obstruct the government’s actions.
Third: adopting the caza as an electoral constituency in conformity with the 1960 law, whereby the districts of Marjayoun-Hasbaya
Hasbaya District
The Hasbaya District is a district in the Nabatiyeh Governorate of Lebanon. The capital of the district is Hasbaya....
, Baalbek
Baalbek District
Baalbek District is an administrative district in the Beqaa Governorate of the Republic of Lebanon, having Baalbek as its capital. It is by far the largest district in the country comprising a total of 2319 km2....
-Hermel
Hermel District
The Hermel District is a district in the Beqaa Governorate of Lebanon. Population estimated at 39,000The capital of the Hermel District is Hermel.-References:*...
and West Bekaa-Rashaya
Rashaya District
Rashaya District is an administrative district in the Beqaa Governorate of the Republic of Lebanon.Most of Rachaya's population are Christians with a large Druze minority. Many people of Rachaya have left for larger cities in Lebanon such as Beirut...
remain as a single electoral constituency each.
As for Beirut, it was divided in the following manner:
The first district: Achrafieh
Achrafieh
Achrafieh, , is one of the oldest Christian districts of East Beirut, Lebanon.-Overview:It is located on a hill in the eastern part of Beirut alongside the shore. Achrafieh is both a residential and commercial district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and...
– Rmeil – Saifi
The second district: Bachoura – Medawar – the Port
The third district: Minet al-Hosn – Ain al-Mreisseh – Al-Mazraa – Mousseitbeh – Ras Beirut – Zoqaq al-Blat
Agreeing on referring the reform clauses mentioned in the draft law prepared by the National Commission on Electoral Law Reform, which was headed by Minister Fouad Boutros, to the parliament in order to examine and discuss them in accordance with the rules in effect.
Fourth: Pursuant to the above mentioned Beirut Agreement, especially Paragraphs 4 and 5, which stated the following:
Paragraph 4: The parties commit to abstain from having recourse or resuming the use of weapons and violence in order to record political gains.
Paragraph 5: Initiate a dialogue on promoting the Lebanese state’s authority over all Lebanese territory and their relationship with the various groups on the Lebanese stage in order to ensure the state’s and the citizens’ security.
Hence, the dialogue was initiated in Doha on promoting the state’s authority according to Paragraph 5 of the Beirut Agreement, and an agreement was reached on the following:
- Prohibiting the use of weapons or violence or taking refuge in them in any dispute whatsoever and under any circumstances, in order to ensure respect for the national partnership contract, based on the Lebanese people’s commitment to live with one another within the framework of the Lebanese system, and to restrict the security and military authority over Lebanese nationals and residents to the state alone so as to ensure the continuity of the coexistence formula and civil peace among all the Lebanese; and the parties pledge to all of the above.
- Implementing the law and upholding the sovereignty of the state throughout Lebanon so as not to have regions that serve as safe havens for outlaws, out of respect for the supremacy of the law, and referring all those who commit crimes and contraventions to the Lebanese judiciary.
This dialogue is to be resumed under the aegis of the president as soon as he is elected and a national unity government is formed, and with the participation of the Arab League in such a way as to boost confidence among the Lebanese.
Fifth: Reasserting the commitment of the Lebanese political leaders to immediately abstain from resorting to the rhetoric of treason or political or sectarian instigation.
The Arab Ministerial Committee undertakes to register this agreement before the Arab League General Secretariat as soon as it is signed.
This agreement was signed in Doha on May 21, 2008 by the Lebanese political leaders participating in the Conference and in the presence of the president and members of the Arab Ministerial Committee.”
International support for The Doha agreement
The UN Security Council welcomed the deal reached by LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
's majority and opposition blocs to end an 18-month political standoff and elect a new president.
The UN “welcomes and strongly supports the agreement reached by Lebanese leaders in Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
on May 21..., which constitutes an essential step towards the resolution of the current crisis... and the complete restoration of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
's unity, stability and independence.”
In a non-binding statement adopted by all its 15 members, the council also “welcomes the agreement to ban the use of weapons and violence as a means to settle disputes, irrespective of their nature and under any circumstances.”
It hailed the agreement between the western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, to elect a new president, establish a national-unity cabinet and address Lebanon's electoral law. The council reaffirmed “its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, unity and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders and under the sole and exclusive authority of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory.”
The statement also recalled previous Security Council resolutions calling for the dismantling and the disarming of all Lebanese and foreign militias.
Individual countries also supported the agreement:
- The agreement was welcomed by FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, with President Nicolas SarkozyNicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
saying that it was "great success for Lebanon and all the Lebanese, whose courage and patience never failed despite the ordeals they have been through." French Foreign Minister Bernard KouchnerBernard KouchnerBernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
said though the agreement failed to tackle the root of the political crisis, yet was a first step. "It goes in the right direction, but none of the essence (of the crisis) appears to have been resolved. Yet, it is better to have a president and a (functioning) government," he said. FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, for his part, saw the deal as “a foundation upon which Lebanon and its national unity can be rebuilt and its sovereignty as well as territorial integrity reinforced.” - GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
welcomed the agreement. - IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian Foreign Ministry spokesperson welcomed the agreement and said “Iran hopes the Doha agreement will give the Lebanese a bright future.” - Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
supported the agreement and its ambassador to Lebanon said "Saudi Arabia announces its support for the agreement. We are very happy that this accord has been reached.” - Syria welcomed the agreement.
- The United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
praised the agreement. "The United States welcomes the agreement reached by Lebanese leaders in Doha, Qatar. We view this agreement as a positive step towards resolving the current crisis by electing a President, forming a new government, and addressing Lebanon’s electoral law, consistent with the Arab League initiative. The United States supports the government of Lebanon and its complete authority over the entire territory of the country," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza RiceCondoleezza RiceCondoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
told reporters. The United statesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's President George BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
released a statement saying he hoped the new agreement would “usher in an era of political reconciliation to the benefit of all Lebanese.” - BritainUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's UN Ambassador John SawersJohn SawersSir Robert John Sawers, KCMG is a British diplomat and senior civil servant. He is the current Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service...
, the council chair this month, expressed hope that the DohaDohaDoha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
deal “will bring to an end a dispute that has being going on for far too long.” He also hoped that “in the coming days, we will see implementation of this agreement and that the painstaking process of rebuilding Lebanese unity can begin.”
After The Doha Agreement
The opposition ended its sit-inSit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of protest that involves occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment.-Process:In a sit-in, protesters remain until they are evicted, usually by force, or arrested, or until their requests have been met...
which had begun on Friday, December 1, 2006 in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
On 25 May 2008 Lebanon's parliament elected General Michel Sleiman as the new president of the country, a post that had been vacant since November.
Lebanese reaction towards the agreement
After the agreement the opposition barricades were dismantled and so were the opposition protest camps in Martyr's Square.Lebanese across the political spectrum have greeted it with relief and joy. After electing President Michel Suleiman
Michel Suleiman
Michel Suleiman or Sleiman is the President of Lebanon. Before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. After LAF commander Émile Lahoud took office as president in November of 1998, Suleiman succeeded him, taking his place in December...
, fireworks erupted all over the country, and festivals were held all over Beirut such as the festivals in the Beirut Central District
Beirut Central District
The Beirut Central District or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a...
which was the first large non-political gathering in the district for months with Haifa Wehbe
Haifa Wehbe
Haifa Wehbe born in Mahrouna, Lebanon on March 10, 1976 is a Lebanese model, actress, and singer born to a Lebanese father and Egyptian mother who rose to fame in the Arab world as runner up for Miss Lebanon and later through the release of her debut album Houwa El-Zaman in 2002...
, Ragheb Alama
Ragheb Alama
Ragheb Subhi Alama is a Lebanese singer, composer, television personality, and philanthropist. Alama began his career in the 1980s when he appeared as a contestant on the talent show broadcast Studio El Fan, on which he received the Platinum Award...
, and Assi Al Hillany
Assi El Helani
Mohammed El Helani , widely known as Assi El Helani , is a Lebanese singer who has been a major figure in the music scene of the Middle East since the 1990s. Assi's musical career officially started after winning the Art Studio TV Program for young artists at the age of 17.He has released more than...
performing.