Proche-Orient Études Juridiques

Éditorial

Léna GANNAGÉ — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ce nouveau numéro de Proche Orient, Études juridiques est d’abord un témoignage, le reflet d’une époque particulièrement tourmentée de la vie libanaise.
À l’origine, il entendait se pencher sur les aspects juridiques de la crise qui frappe le Liban depuis 2019. Une crise aux dimensions multiples : politique, économique, constitutionnelle ; marquée par l’effondrement du système financier, la spoliation des droits des déposants, l’explosion du port de Beyrouth, l’impunité, le vide institutionnel et la paralysie du système judiciaire libanais.
Les contributions qui vont suivre se penchent de près ou de loin sur ces différents sujets.

La neutralité : notion de droit international et positionnement politique de l'État

Aida AZAR — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In international law, the concept of neutrality refers to the situation of a State that intends to remain uninvolved in armed conflicts. It is linked to the law of war and follows a specific legal framework that includes rights granted to neutral countries as well as duties imposed upon them, primarily abstention and impartiality. However, neutrality can be dissociated from war and can consist, in times of peace, of avoiding any actions that could draw a State into a conflict or a dispute between foreign powers. In such cases, it corresponds to a political stance of the State. Whether it is military or political, neutrality is called upon to play a role in pacifying international relations. The choice of neutrality by a State is the result of a combination of political, legal, and diplomatic circumstances, and it is such a combination of circumstances that has brought the issue of neutrality to the forefront. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, the neutral status of the Ukrainian State has emerged as a condition set by Moscow to end the war, and due to this conflict, Finland and Sweden have reconsidered their neutral States status. In a different context, the neutrality of Lebanon, a country that has experienced significant military and political upheavals, is proposed and defended by some of the Lebanese to ensure the stability of the country.

La levée du secret bancaire au Liban

Karim DAHER — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Banking Secrecy Law, adopted in Lebanon in 1956, formally prohibited banks and their personnel from disclosing any information relating to their clientele to any public or private party. The purpose of enacting this law was to attract financial inflows to Lebanon in the 1950s and 1960s, a period that coincided with the oil boom in Gulf countries, and nationalization processes in neighboring Arab countries, especially Egypt and Syria, as well as later from wealthy Gulf oil monarchies. While this legislation ensured the protection and confidentiality of these deposits, it weakened tax citizenship, promoted a culture of corruption and impunity, encouraged tax evasion and solidified income and wealth inequality. The banking secrecy, nearly absolute and only exceptionally revocable, experienced its first breach with its complete removal for non-resident taxpayers in Lebanon in 2016, in accordance to Law n° 55 on the Common Reporting Standard (CRS or MAC), followed by Law n° 306 of October 28, 2022, applicable to residents. This law amended radically provisions of the bank secrecy law to enhance anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures, combat corruption, enhance tax compliance, and reduce tax evasion in line with international standards. It is noteworthy that this law was one of the prerequisites demanded by the International Monetary Fund to reach a comprehensive support and financing program agreement with Lebanon, a program that is still pending.

Les banques libanaises sont-elles en état de cessation de payement ?

Antoine F. EID — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

To the question : “Are the Lebanese banks in cessation of payment ?”, the answer is obviously yes according to both the special definition of the cessation of payment of banks in the Intra law n° 2/1967, and the general definition of the “cessation of payment” in the Code of commerce (art. 489). The legal scrutiny so confirms the common “feeling” of obvious bankruptcy of the banks for almost three years. In parallel, are refuted the exceptions opposed by the banks, such as the alleged payment by cheques which are actually “cheques sans provision”, or “force majeure”, or concern for non-discrimination. Mention is also made of the consecration by the Lebanese law of the “virtual bankruptcy” (art. 489 of the Commercial Code).

Les responsables politiques devant la justice : réflexions à partir de l'expérience française

Bertrand MATHIEU — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article studies the liability and accountability regimes potentially applicable to political authorities in France and in Lebanon. After insisting on the specific features of liability applied to the head of State, ministers, national representatives and judges in the French system, the author tackles the same issues under Lebanese law, particularly in the difficult circumstances following the Beirut port explosion.

L'indépendance de la justice : une question de moralité des juges ?

Myriam MEHANNA — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Defining and measuring the concept of judicial independence, often a source of contradictions, is crucial to ensure that the reform of the judicial system genuinely leads to the protection of the independence of judges and justice.
This article puts forward three essential points: 1. Judicial independence is a measurable concept based on a set of specific guarantees; 2. It is also a complex concept, encompassing multiple facets that must be protected simultaneously; 3. Ultimately, it stems from legislative (and possibly constitutional) recognition of these complementary guarantees rather than from a moralizing discourse imposed on judges.

L'indépendance et l'impartialité du ministère public

Samer YOUNES — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Which public prosecutor? For which mission and towards what future? Is he really the defender of public interest? Who is he and what does he do?
These questions can only be answered through the historical lens of the French public prosecution which inspired the Lebanese model based on a rigid hierarchical organization coupled with individual instructions, often oral and hidden. To be faithful both to his name and mission, the public prosecution judge must be independent from any unjustified interference in his work. This requires a status or regime guaranteeing his independence, as is the case for his colleagues in investigation and on the bench, in accordance with the constitutional principle of unity of the judiciary. Although independence and impartiality are not synonyms, these two notions complement each other. But can we speak of the impartiality of a public prosecutor who sets in motion the public action? We will attempt to answer these crucial questions based on developments in doctrine and jurisprudence, with a view to strengthening the public prosecution as a system, and enhancing its independence and impartiality which mainly derive from objectivity. By doing so, the public prosecutor can discharge its mandate as protector of rights and guardian of freedoms.

ثوابت وتساؤلات في إمكانية حلول فيما خص إيفاء الديون المحررة بالعملة الأجنبية في ظل الأزمة المالية

Paul HAGE-CHAHINE — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

."إن عنوان هذه الندوة هو: "إيفاء الديون المحررة بالعملة الأجنبية في ظل الأزمة المالية
.وبالفعل فإن الأزمة المالية التي يمرّ بها لبنان منذ نهاية عام ٢٠١۹ على الأقل لها معطى، الا وهو تدني قيمة الليرة اللبنانية
.أما عناصر الأزمة التي خلقت إشكالية في إيفاء الديون التي كانت محررة بالعملة الأجنبية وأحيانا أدت إلى إستحالة تسديدها
.فمن أهمّها تعامل اللبناني بالعملة الأجنبية، ولاسيما الدولار الأميركي
وهنا تجدر الإشارة أن اللبناني كان قد أخذ كل الاحتياطات لهذا الأمر فأودع مدخراته في المصارف بالعملة الأجنبية احتياطاً لتدني قيمة النقد الوطني التي كان قد عايشها من قبل "فلا يُلدَغ المرء من الجحر مرتين
غير أن الأمر انقلب عليه بوضع يد المصارف على هذه الودائع. إضافة إلى أن الهندسات المالية والتعاميم الهما يونية لمصرف لبنان قد زادت الوضع تعقيداً بابتكار عملة هجينة سمّيت من باب السخرية "باللولار"، أي الدولار القديم المودع بالمصارف مقابل الدولار النقدي أو الورقي. بحيث أصبح المودِع يسحب الجزء اليسير من وديعته على فترات زمنية وبنسبة تقارب ١٥% من قيمة المبلغ المودَع

إيفاء الديون المحررة بالعملة الأجنبية في العقود الداخلية

Nagib HAGE-CHAHINE — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The issue of the payment of debts denominated in a foreign currency arises in two types of contracts: international contracts and domestic contracts. In international contracts, this issue is easily resolved by Lebanese Courts who have consistently ruled that the debtor must repay the debt arising from an international contract in the foreign currency that is stipulated in that contract. On the other hand, this raises three problems that have led to conflicting court decisions in domestic contracts. These issues are the following: the validity of contractual provisions requiring that payment be made in a foreign currency; whether the debtor has the right to discharge his obligation in the national currency; and determining the currency exchange rate that should be used in case it is found that the debtor has the right to discharge his obligation in national currency.

عملة إيفاء الديون مع ملاحظات حول تحديد سعر صرف العملة: دراسة مقارنة

Antoine TOHME — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This study tries to clear up the ambiguity that deals with the interpretation of legal articles related to repayment. It includes an attempt to interpret the text of article 301 of the Law of Obligations and Contracts. It also deals with the text of the second paragraph of that article, which mentions the phrase "normal time" during which the parties have the right to stipulate the payment in a foreign currency or metal. The study also deals with an explanation of the concepts of compulsory circulation and legal circulation of currency, and the impact of these concepts on the interpretation of the text of article 301 Obligations and Contracts and articles 7, 8 and 192 of the Monetary and Credit Law. The study concludes that in light of the system of compulsory circulation of the Lebanese currency currently in force, the payment of monetary debts is an obligation in the national currency according to the provisions of article 301 of the Law of Obligations and Contracts. The study will also clarify the concept of international contracts, and the practical obstacles that make it difficult to pay in foreign currency on Lebanese territory. The study also adopts the opinion that the bank deposit must be returned in its currency and not in the national currency, based on the text of article 307 of the Trade Law and the banking customs prevailing in Lebanon. In conclusion, the study will touch, albeit incidentally, the issue of the exchange rate of the national currency, and indicate that the price must be calculated at the date of conclusion of the contract when the parties did not agree on the foreign currency revenue to protect their rights from deterioration.