Hizbullah, Jumblatt Normal Ties, Patriarch Meets Suleiman, Electricity in Parliament
The Lebanese slept on the news of public transport strike and woke up on its suspension.
As the government succeeded in assimilating one of the scattered mines in its track, the attention is still focused on the campaign against the Maronite Patriarch Bsharah Rai from here and there.
However, the new Bkirki master turns his deaf ear to those whom their hatred blinded their insight praying:
May God forgive those people who don't know.
Transportation Strike Suspended:
The dawn's light of Thursday carried with it the news of suspending the scheduled national transportation strike.
After the midnight meeting held between Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the two representatives of public drivers' unions, Bassam Tlais and Abdul Amir Najde, the drivers reached to an agreement with PM based on giving the ministry of finance the green light to begin receiving the requests of fuel subsidy payments starting Monday.
"As-Safir" Lebanese newspaper quoted Mikati as saying "the meeting was positive and was dominated by a spirit of cooperation and responsibility and we agreed on suspending the strike."
In parallel, the government agreed Wednesday to set the transportation issue on its next session's agenda.
Ministerial sources informed "an-Nahar" that "discussions during the ministerial meeting focused on the illegal fuel subsidy decision taken by former PM Saad Hariri's government."
"Change and Reform bloc ministers argued that the government should stabilize the price of gasoline instead. Other ministers said the current government should not retreat from the deal especially that President Michel Suleiman, Hariri and Mikati participated in reaching the agreement with drivers," "as-Safir" reported.
After discussions, ministers approved the subsidy on condition of a parliamentary adoption of the draft law.
"Mikati told Tlais and Najde that House Speaker Nabih Berri has promised him that parliament would discuss the draft law within a month," "an-Nahar" daily reported.
At another level, PM Mikati called on Lebanese factions to tone down their rhetoric and "return to the language of reason and logic."
"I reiterate my sincere call on all sides to return to the language of reason and logic and to abandon harsh rhetoric, which deepens the divisions among the Lebanese," Mikati said, according to Information Minister Walid Daouk, who spoke to reporters following the ministerial session.
"The necessity to stress that the events being witnessed in the region require that we exercise at least the minimum level of solidarity until this storm passes peacefully," Daouk quoted PM.
Mikati voiced hope that the electricity bill, which was approved by the government last week and referred to Parliament, would be adopted in a mood of cooperation and accord, without tension, pre-judgment and political description depicting the bill as if it is being demanded by one political group and rejected by the other.
Electricity Legislative Session
Meanwhile, the joint parliamentary committees are planning to hold a session Thursday to discuss the draft energy bill approved by the government.
Future bloc MP Mohammad Qabbani told "an-Nahar" daily that he was disappointed with the aforementioned draft bill.
"The opposition can not impede the electricity project in the Parliament as the majority expresses support after the government approved the draft unanimously and without any reservation," "al-Binaa" newspaper reported.
Jumblatt- Hizbullah Good Ties
Separately, "National Struggle Front" Ministers Ghazi Aridi and Wael Abou Faour confirmed to "an-Nahar" ahead of Wednesday government's session that "ties between MP Walid Jumblatt and Hizbullah officials are good."
Denying the existence of any dispute or deterioration in ties, Aridi informed the paper that he held talks with a top official from Hizbullah.
"Abou Faour also hinted that a telephone conversation was held between Jumblatt and MP Mohammed Raad to clarify his position," "an-Nahar" clarified.
At another level, President Michel Suleiman and Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai are scheduled to hold talks Thursday in Bkirki.
Suleiman and Rai are expected to hold closed-door talks during which the patriarch would inform him about his visit to France and his talks with top officials there.
PM Mikati is also expected in Bkirki on Friday.
French ambassador Denis Pietton stated that "Paris was disappointed with the statements made by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai following talks with top French officials."
"The dispute that erupted among Lebanese parties over his remarks, led to unsatisfactory expectations among the Lebanese, particularly that they see the patriarchate as a moral authority in addition to being a political and religious authority," Pietton claimed.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
