They withdrew their ambassadors, denounced, condemned and several steps might be taken

Mariam Ali

Actions that one expect to be either against the Zionist entity whose massacres extend from Occupied Palestine to Lebanon or the US master whose aggressions spread all over the globe.

But once again, the Arab compass loses its direction and the campaign pressure aims at Syria.

Ambassadors to Syria Summoned, Oglu to Damascus

Kuwait and Bahrain on Monday decided to recall their ambassadors from Damascus, a day after the giant oil Saudi Arabia took the same step.
"We have decided to recall our ambassador from Syria for consultations," Kuwait's Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Sabah told reporters.
"No one can accept the bloodshed in Syria ... The military option must be halted," said al-Sabah.

The Kuwaiti official announced that the foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states will hold a meeting shortly to discuss the developments in Syria.

"There will be a meeting for the GCC foreign ministers soon and a joint GCC move to discuss the issues related to Syria," he said.
For his part, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa followed his gulf neighbors' steps announcing that the unrest kingdom had recalled its ambassador from Syria for consultation.

"Bahrain is recalling its ambassador in Damascus for consultation, and has called for a resort to reason," said al-Khalifa in a brief statement forgetting all about the reason one mentioning martyrs, wounded, and arrested Bahrainis in the military campaign against civilian protests.

Arab League's head, Nabil al-Arabi, said he "hoped the crisis could be overcome by peaceful means and by launching a serious dialogue towards the reconciliation that the people have been demanding."
The Arab positions reiterating the US symphony were appreciated by Washington.

"We are very much encouraged, heartened by the strong statements that we've seen over the weekend by the Arab League as well as by the Gulf Cooperation Council," US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is expected to fly to Damascus Tuesday to deliver US State's Department message.
"As-Safir" Lebanese newspaper reported Tuesday that "Turkey has already presented itself as an intermediary between the Syrian leadership and the leaders of the "Muslim Brotherhood" but to no avail due to Damascus principle position against those who fought an armed conflict with the authority."

Hariri Supporting KSA

In the Lebanese scene, the former Prime Minister Saad Hariri who has been away from the Lebanese borders as well as the internal political scene decided to confirm his loyalty to his KSA nationality.

Hariri praised on Monday Saudi King Abdullah's position on the developments in Syria, saying that "it will pave the way for a new approach in the developments in the Arab country."

"The latest statements from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League should motivate the Lebanese government to realize the seriousness of this historic moment," he added.

Adding that "Lebanon cannot disassociate itself from the open massacre being committed in its closest fraternal country," he demanded that "Lebanon's president, government, and institutions should instead disassociate themselves from adopting policies of oppression that the Syrian people are enduring."

"It should not become part of a political, media, diplomatic, and security system that announces its loyalty to a side that is waging a war against its people, and which has been condemned by the Arabs and the whole world," Hariri claimed.

"Beyond these, Syrian allies in Lebanon viewed that the Saudi position resulted from the culmination of a state of frustration that hit the regional and international coalition, which expected to see at the beginning of the month of Ramadan qualitative increase in the protest movement on the ground, leading to cracking down on al-Assad as a prelude to remove him from power," "as-Safir" reported.

"However, what happened that is that the Syrian regime completed in the first week of this month the process of regaining the initiative and the prosecution of armed groups, especially in the city of Hama, which was seen as one of the most prominent focal points for the assumed revolution," the daily added.

"Emphasizing that the king's speech disclosed the implied intentions against Damascus, without gloves or powder, the Saudi position not only reflects the failure of betting on "Trojans" to turn the tables inside Syria but also falls in the context of retrospective connection with a Lebanese account hanging with al-Assad, after the collapse of the "S-S" equation and the exclusion of Saad Hariri as prime minister parallel to the weakening of the Saudi influence of in Lebanon," the writer uncovered.

According to the Lebanese daily "what was announced by King Abdullah parallel to Gulf, Turkish, American and European attitudes is a political alternative for military war which is not possible now against Syria."
The paper's sources highlighted that "the goal is not only the head of Syria, but also to weaken "Hamas", "Hizbullah", and Iran , which this trio forms with Damascus a risk on US and "Israeli" interests in the region."

Berri: March 14 Lost Control

In the same context, House Speaker Nabih Berri said that "March 14" forces have lost control over their nerves, stressing that disarming "Israel" and not the resistance must be a national aim.
"The real danger is the "Israeli" greed and its wars against Lebanon... Disarming the Zionist arms not the resistance is an urgent national goal," Berri said on Monday at an Iftar at BIEL.

He urged the government to accomplish the decrees related to the oil, before "Israel" takes advantage of the situation.
Concerning the "March 14-led" opposition's stance on the Syrian developments, Berri called on it to stop helping the West against Lebanon's neighbors and the Arabs.

He said: "They were shocked by the pioneering role that the government played at the Security Council, which facilitated the release of a balanced statement."
"Lebanon remained loyal by disavowing itself from every Arabic conflict," the speaker noted.

"Ask your masters at the Security Council about Lebanon's stance, and be sure that all your accusations will fall," Berri stressed clarifying that this propaganda you're following made you lose your nerves, and this is the truth."
Refraining from Interference...

A prominent source in the new majority warned that "the theory of connecting Lebanon squares to what is happening on the Syrian arena is a dangerous theory, and the first error in this matter is the last error... and therefore it is better for all parties to refrain from interference in Syrian affairs in any way because the stability in Syria is par excellence in the interest of Lebanon and vice versa."

In an interview with "as-Safir", the source pointed out that "today, there are those people who do not read well the facts and secrets and are pushed instinctively into a direction without horizon, which only victims would be the stability and civil peace in Lebanon."

End Violence in Syria, Prevent Arms Smuggling

For his part, PM Najib Mikati stated that Lebanon supports all efforts to reach an end to the violence in Syria.
During a ministerial session that was held Monday, Mikati said that "Lebanon's steady position is based on refraining from meddling in Syria's internal affairs."

Calling "the sides in Lebanon who are critical of this position to stop exploiting the developments in Syria to achieve circumstantial political gains," Mikati acknowledged that "Syrian constructive dialogue should pave the way for desired reforms that should be based on national convictions that any change must be aimed at serving the people and achieving security and stability in order for Syria to play its role in the region and the world."

"Based on this conviction, Lebanon took its stand at the United Nations Security Council, which served as a message to the Arab and international communities," PM added.

"It's important that we protect Lebanon and fortify its internal scene from the repercussions of the regional developments," he stressed.
"An-Nahar" Lebanese daily reported "that Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour then discussed his visit to Syria in the government saying: "The Syria officials are comfortable with the general situation in Syria and with Lebanon's position at the Security Council, which enjoyed the blessing of all the council members.""

Meanwhile, media reports said Tuesday that ministers have agreed on urging security forces in preventing arms smuggling from Lebanon to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for smugglers seeking to strike the security and stability of Syria.

"As-Safir" newspaper said that "Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Mohammed Fneish and Ali Qanso stressed during the government's meeting at the Grand Serail that every person has the freedom to express his political stance but this should not turn into participation in the plot against Syria."

"Security and judicial agencies should follow up this issue," the daily quoted the ministers as saying adding that "the ministers MP Walid Jumblat also stressed the need to take all necessary measures to prevent the smuggling of weapons to Syria."

Ministerial sources told "an-Nahar" daily that the ministers stressed that "arms smuggling has severe repercussions on the situation in the country." "They accused two sides of involvement in the alleged smuggling," the sources said, "without naming the parties concerned."

"The ministers agreed to task security and judicial agencies with carrying out the necessary investigation to hold those involved accountable," "an-Nahar" noted.
Separately, sources close to the Future Movement denied knowledge of a possible meeting between Hariri and MP Walid Jumblatt. However, according to some information, Jumblatt is likely to visit Saudi Arabia and meet Hariri.