Turkish Cyprus on Line of Natural Resources, Berri Stresses Dialogue

Lebanon is on the verge of hot weather with the expectations of a rise in temperatures in the coming days that might reach 42ºC. Meanwhile, the heat of political tension remains bearable as the country enters in an optional vacation ahead of the Holy month of Ramadan.
However, the political scene might witness a rise in its heat with the expected speech to the Secretary General of Hizbullah His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Tuesday in the festival celebrating the Divine Victory of July war 2006.

Hariri Back to Lebanon?!

Waiting Sayyed Nasrallah positions on the Special Tribunal of Lebanon arrest warrants, government, maritime borders, "Israeli" continuous threats as well as the Syrian crisis, reports emerged on an expected return to the former Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the beginning of the Holy month.

Sources close to the "Future" movement leader told "an- Nahar" daily Monday "Hariri will return to Lebanon in the first days of the month of Ramadan early August to be present in a series of Iftars held at the BIEL exhibition center rather than Qoreitem where Iftars were held in previous years."

The sources said that " "March 14" meeting held at the Bristol hotel, Hariri's interview with "MTV" and a conference that it would hold on Tuesday again at the Bristol are all part of the opposition's approach in toppling the government."
Hariri's failure at the political level made him turn his weapons against Hizbullah and its Secretary General.

Hariri accused on Saturday Hizbullah and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah of standing behind what he called "personal hatred campaigns against him and the whole Hariri family."

A statement issued by Hariri's press office claimed that "some media campaigns against him are ongoing attempts aimed at attacking everything related to ex-PM Rafiq Hariri, his family, and political and national approach."
The press office said that "these campaigns are fabricated and organized by well-known media outlets, in a series of steps that began with Rafiq Hariri and are today working on completing it."

"These campaigns are adopted and sponsored by Hizbullah and Sayyed Nasrallah who chose to reply to Hariri through their media tools by expressing personal hatred to everything that relates to Hariri and his family," the statement claimed.

Noting that all what it described "as fabricated published news will not change the truth, Hariri's statement concluded that "he is keen to continue his commitment to justice and the STL."

And away from Hizbullah arms, "it doesn't seem that the "Future Movement" (at least so far) is able to create a serious opposition to the government," "al-Akhbar" Lebanese newspaper noted.

Dialogue Faces "March 14, Berri Stresses Dialogue "

Meanwhile, Lebanese president call to National dialogue still faces the objection barrier of "March 14".

In response to "March 14" rejection to dialogue invitation, House Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday the "importance of launching a national dialogue between different parties", reiterating his readiness to participate in the dialogue.
"We have our political disputes (in Lebanon) but there's no enmity, therefore launching dialogue is a normal issue, especially because we're passing through a critical stage," Berri told "ad-Diyar" Lebanese daily.

"Launching a dialogue is a must during this crucial moment that Lebanon and the Arab world are passing through," "as-Safir "newspaper quoted him as saying.
Asked about "March 14"- demands to implement the decisions of the previous national dialogue, he said: "We are ready to discuss the ways that we have to implement those decisions, in addition to discussing the defense strategy."
Berri refused to limit the dialogue table to discussing Hizbullah's weapons.
"Demanding a specific timeframe for the dialogue doesn't make any sense," Berri stressed clarifying that "the president is the only one who can set a timeframe for the national dialogue table."

Concerning the demarcation of the maritime borders, the House Speaker warned the government from not completing a draft law regarding the issue.
Berri stressed that "he will support a parliamentary draft law to be discussed and approved during August parliamentary sessions."

Abu Faour, Jumblatt Stress Importance of Dialogue

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour said on Monday that the cabinet's behavior and balanced performance will help in creating a suitable environment for launching dialogue. In this context, Abu Faour noted that the statements of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and ex-Premier Rafik Hariri have a "positive" point.

"They both stressed the importance of launching a national dialogue," he said.
"We're following this principle to deal with each other within the government," he told An Nahar newspaper. Abu Faour, who represents PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat in the cabinet, stressed that the lawmaker isn't seeking to launch a "new initiative."

However, the minister told the daily that Jumblat's call for dialogue is because "he realized the critical situation locally and abroad."

Concerning the appointments in state institutions, the newspaper quoted him as saying that "the ministries and administrations are demanded to work according to the mechanism set and agreed upon with the civil service council and the ministry of administrative development to fill the vacancies."

As for PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt, and while on a tour in Rashaya, he paid tribute to Resistance fighters who were killed during the July 2006 war, reiterating former Premier Saad Hariri and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's calls for dialogue.

This dialogue would help "devise a defense strategy that can fortify the Resistance," he said adding "Only free people can liberate the oppressed."

Aoun: Future Linked to Resistance

For his part, "Change and Reform Bloc" leader General Michel Aoun stressed on Sunday that Lebanon's future is "closely linked to the Resistance and the powers that are confronting "Israel's" policies."

In an interview with "al-Nour" radio station, Aoun stressed that: "we cannot survive as a nation without these powers and without the Resistance's support."
Noting that"this need resulted in the equation of the people, army, and Resistance," he stated that "some sides have not realized the importance of the victory and its effect on the Lebanese and Lebanon's future."

"I think the defeat will remain with "Israel" for a long time and it will be very difficult to rid itself of the memory and outcomes," he added.
"It was the first such defeat that it ever experienced ... as long as "Israel" is unable to make peace with its surrounding, it will not survive," Aoun noted.

Turkish Cyprus on Line of Natural Resources

In a parallel context, Lebanese Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil said on Sunday that "he expects oil drilling in Lebanon to begin in late 2012 regardless of the conflict over the maritime borders with "Israel"."

"The state will not pay a penny for the oil drilling and will share the benefits of oil exploration with the drilling company," Bassil announced.
The Lebanese Parliament in August 2010 passed an oil exploration bill, which calls for the establishment of a treasury and a committee to oversee exploration and drilling off Lebanon.

As for the natural oil resources title, it's moving in several directions between what is legislative and what is a diplomat, taking into consideration an important development in this case, resembled by the entrance of the Cypriot Turks on this line, expressing strong objection to the agreement signed between Greek Cyprus and "Israel", and warning of its negative consequences.

"As-Safir" daily revealed the Cypriot Turks believed that the agreement between the Greek Cypriot and "Israel" constitutes a violation of their oil, and they are ready, with support from Ankara, to meet any single implementation of this agreement, which Lebanon has already objected.

In this context, the spokesman of the Republic of Northern Cyprus (Turkish) Osman Ertuğ, told "as-Safir" that "the North Cypriot side does not see that it is the right of Greek Cypriots and the "Israelis" to sign a unilateral agreement to invest resources in the territorial waters, as they return to the whole people of Cyprus both in the south or the north."

"If it South Cyprus moves in this agreement with "Israel", we will see what are measures t be taken and we will coordinate our positions and our actions with Turkey, because Turkey is a key player in the region," the spokesman added.