Al-Assad Receives Ghosn, Electoral Law into Light
It was narrated in the Lebanese political book that a man was known in his political turnings.
However, this man classifies himself among the professional readers in the cup of international politics.
Today, the positions of the winds' forecaster opens the appetite for fat analysis to monitor the stability of some positions and the swinging of others while some chose to reposition following the direction of the regional wind.
Meanwhile, questions are raised on the effect of such a familiar turning on the internal Lebanese scene.
Aoun Meets Rai, Berri Defends Him
"National Struggle Front" Leader MP Walid Jumblatt assailed Monday Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai's statements claiming that "Lebanon cannot remain hostage to regional conflicts."
For his part, Rai held separate talks with "Change and Reform Bloc" leader MP Michel Aoun at the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki.
"It is normal to visit His Eminence to wish him well after his safe return from France, and of course it is not something unusual for us to back his stances, because he is the one entrusted with the Synod for Lebanon and the Synod for the Middle East," Aoun said after the meeting.
"As-Safir" Lebanese daily quoted Rai's reiteration to Aoun "I tell them the truth and I will always say I am not with one against any one."
"This is what we called for yesterday and today, and what the Patriarch does is to create a climate of convergence between his sons," MP Ibrahim Kenaan told "as-Safir" stressing that "the campaign against Rai turned out to be fabricated."
"Who has the right to question Bkirki or orders it?" he wondered.
Sources informed "an-Nahar" newspaper that the Council of Patriarchs may call for a unifying Christian stance on all developments.
In the same context, House Speaker Nabih Berri expressed his discontent on over the violent verbal attack against Patriarch Rai by "March14"team.
"His eminence realizes what's happening in Syria and the region, and his only aim is to protect the Christians and all the Lebanese," Berri told "an- Nahar" newspaper.
Clarifying that "the opposition would turn against those they worship" when their interests change," Berri pointed out that "he has already said it and today they are implementing it."
French Ambassador to Lebanon Dennis Pietton described Rai's visit to France as "successful".
Speaking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, Pietton said Rai's visit to France was "important" during which the patriarch met a number of French officials, including President Nicholas Sarkozy, to discuss Lebanese-French ties, the popular uprisings in the Arab world, including the situation Syria, the STL and the work of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
Syria's Message of Support
At another level, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday held talks with Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn concerning "cooperation and coordination between the Syrian and Lebanese armies."
"Expressing appreciation of the Lebanese army's great efforts in coordination with the Syrian counterpart to monitor the borders between the two countries," al-Assad hailed the Lebanese army "which helped foil several weapons smuggling attempts targeting the two countries' stability and security."
On Saturday the Lebanese army thwarted an attempt to smuggle tasters and individual communication devices to Syria through an illegal border crossing in the Rashayya region.
Electoral Draft Law, Electricity Bill
In parallel, Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel announced that a committee tasked with preparing an electoral draft law for the 2013 parliamentary elections has almost finalized its work.
"We can say that 90 percent of the draft law has been authored and 10 percent is still being thought out," Charbel told a news conference at the Interior Ministry in Beirut, before holding a meeting to discuss the draft law with the committee and representatives of political parties.
Charbel said that the bill calls for an electoral system based on a proportional representation.
"A proportional representation system ensures just representation and this will become evident if politicians are convinced to adopt this draft law," he said, noting that "such a system improves the quality of governance in Lebanon."
"Under previous laws, some people who should be in Parliament were not able to do so, thus depriving Parliament of their expertise, knowledge and all that they acquired in life," the minister noted.
"Honestly, we do not have political parties now, but sectarian ones," Charbel said, adding that the system would boost the representation of women in Parliament as well.
The electricity bill arrived at Parliament and is now close to being approved by the legislature.
Meanwhile, the government is expected to address other issues, mainly administrative appointments.
Ministerial sources informed Lebanese papers they expected several appointments to be announced following Wednesday's ministerial meeting at Baabda Palace, to be followed also by another batch of appointments in a number of public institutions and departments.
Politically, funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon rises into the surface as Lebanon's payment deadline gets nearer.
"Consultations are under way away from the spotlight with the aim of finding an appropriate exit that will protect the government from any political implications on the one hand, and protect Lebanon's relations with the international community on the other," "as-Safir" quoted concerned ministerial source.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
