Parliament Back to Life, Lebanon Disavows UN Statement on Syria
Lebanese like all other Arab people were transfixed Wednesday to TV stations broadcasting the Century's trial of the Pharaoh. Yes it was real; Mohammad Hosni Mubark is in jail.
In a scene that no one would have found unthinkable just eight months ago, the iron man who ruled Egypt for 30 years was wheeled behind the iron bars of a courtroom cage in a hospital bed to hear charges that could carry the death penalty.
Accused of many charges, Mubarak, along with his sons, interior minister, and assistants, showed up in the Cairo Court to be tried for their crimes.
The Lebanese interest in the trial went along with the political developments at the internal level.
Oil to Thursday's Session
After more than a year for losing its legislative role, the Parliament opened its doors and regained its position through a workshop of discussions that lasted for four hours lasting in the endorsement of 25 draft laws, most of which are related to international agreements and treaties.
In the session, Parliament endorsed a draft law to raise the minimum wage of employees in state administration and the Lebanese University, as well as municipalities and state institutions not subject to the Labor Law.
Forty-three draft laws, some significant, are set to be debated on the second session Thursday. These include a draft law on Lebanon's maritime borders with "Israel".
However, a draft law on the matter was distributed among the MPs.
The General Assembly is expected to approve a draft law to secure funds in the 2011 budget to establish new prisons in north and south Lebanon, and a law granting amnesty for some crimes committed before Dec. 31 last year is also expected to be debated.
Commenting on Wednesday's session, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that "some MP statements at parliament did criticize previous governments over their handling of the security and electricity files."
After a closed-door meeting with House Speaker Nabih Berri to assess the parliament session, Mikati told the reporters that "we will be held accountable for every action we commit and the new government has not been criticized for any procedure it has taken since it received the vote of confidence."
"The yesterday's hearing sessions raised questions about the secret of "March 14" political quiet in their interventions... It seemed clear that there is a strong decision to adopt this approach, without knowing whether it was a direct request from former PM (Saad) Hariri or foreign inspirations in terms of the Syrian developments," "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper said.
Hariri to Jaddah, Not Beirut
Meanwhile, "al-Akhbar" daily revealed Thursday that Hariri won't return to Lebanon
in Ramadan.
After the "Future" Movement and its allies spread information that the former PM will come to Beirut on the first day of the month of Ramadan, in order to persevere on a tradition adopted by his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri resembled by organizing Iftar banquets, it seemed that the son is to dismiss this tradition by returning from the French coast to KSA.
"Parallel to its unwillingness to disturb the work of the Mikati's government and its desire to maintain political stability in Lebanon, the KSA wants to avoid sending a direct negative message to Syria from Lebanon reflected in Hariri's position," "al-Akhbar " stated.
Lebanon Affects, is Affected by Syria
In a parallel context, Lebanon disassociated itself Wednesday from a U.N. Security Council statement on Syria.
Lebanon's envoy told a council meeting that "the statement would not help end the Syrian crisis.
"Today more than ever the Lebanese stand by Syria and its sovereignty and the council's statement do not help improve the situation there, that's why Lebanon is dissociating itself from the statement," deputy ambassador Caroline Ziade said.
"Whatever affects Lebanon, affects Syria, whatever affects Syria will also affect Lebanon," Ziade addressed the meeting.
"Since Lebanon considers that the statement being discussed today does not help address the current situation in Syria, Lebanon therefore disassociates itself from this presidential statement," she added.
Similarly, Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour announced that Lebanon can't support any resolution that condemns the Syrian regime at the U.N. Security Council.
"We will not support any resolution against Syria," Mansour told "al-Liwaa" newspaper.
He noted that Lebanon's deputy Ambassador Caroline Ziade was instructed to take this stance at the Security Council meeting on Wednesday.
"Al-Liwaa" reported that Ziade initiated the contact with Mansour informing him that the Security Council is heading towards releasing a strong statement against Syria.
According to information obtained by the newspaper, Mansour requested a delay in the release of the statement, to contact the President, PM and Speaker.
A Security Council statement urged "all Syrian sides to act with utmost restraint, and to refrain from reprisals, including attacks against state institutions."
The statement condemned what it called "the widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities."
"The Security Council calls on the Syrian authorities to fully respect human rights and to comply with their obligations under applicable international law. Those responsible for the violence should be held accountable," the statement said calling on the "Syrian authorities to cooperate fully with the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights."
Source: Lebanese newspapers
