Cost of Living Committee: Agreement on Increasing Wages, Mikati Stresses Syria’s Stability

Zeinab Essa

At a time November peers carrying with it signs of goodness and odor of earth, the sky's rain is capable of washing the trees and stones away from some people's hearts.

In Lebanon, where the hearts and minds of some politicians are terribly stoned, the political landscape is divided between foreign agendas and national interests.

From New York, Lebanon closed the chapter of heading the United Nations Security Council so that the scene is exposed on the following: international security movement in Beirut, Foreign pressure on both the government and the Christian church, Special Tribunal for Lebanon Financing and lively concerns that start from expected strikes not to end on electricity and oil.

ESCWA Security Measures:

Lebanese capital roads near the UN building, downtown Beirut, were closed and traffic was directed to nearby streets after reports that the diplomatic premises could be targeted in an attack similar to bombings on UNIFIL patrols in the South.
 
The road east of the building and another known as the tunnel of Economic and Social Committee for Western Asia, ESCWA, was closed upon a decision by the Internal Security Forces' head of the Beirut traffic department Brig. Gen. Mohammed al-Ayyoubi.
 
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told "an-Nahar" Lebanese daily Saturday that during a recent interview with US Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams, "the United Nations informed him that ESCWA employees are fearful for their security situation."
 
"The UN and the government of Lebanon have been engaged in discussions on how best to address potential vulnerabilities. In this context and against the background of the two recent bomb attacks against UNIFIL, it has been decided, for the time being, to take these measures and to minimize the presence of UN staff until such vulnerabilities are addressed," Bahaa al-Koussy, director of the UN Information Center in Beirut, told The "Daily Star".

"An-Nahar" reported that Qatar offered to host ESCWA and provide the buildings and facilities needed to move its headquarters from Lebanon.

Gov't To Address Raising in Wages

At another lively concern, employers and workers reached an agreement in principle on a wage increase that will be determined by three subcommittees formed as a result of the meeting of the Cost of Living Committee.

"An-Nahar" has learned that employers are being flexible regarding workers' request to increase wages by a reasonable amount in lieu of increasing the minimum wage to 1,250,000 LL as per the request of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers.
 
Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas said after the meeting that "the session was very fruitful because representatives of employers and wage-earners have been dealing with the issue not in a combative way, but as mediators who come and try to find a middle ground."
 
"As-Safir" newspaper reported that the committee is set to meet again next Monday as minister Nahhas expects the committee to submit a recommendation by the coming weekend.

Rai to Iraq after US

In a parallel context, Maronite Patriarch Bshara Rai is scheduled to head towards United States on Saturday in a visit that lasts about a month.

"As-Safir" learned that Rai's circles also started preparing for a historical visit to Iraq on the occasion of the first annual commemoration of the attack against the Our Lady of Salvation church.

Rejecting all advice to avoid the visit due to security concerns, Rai's visit to Iraq stems from his loyalty towards the Christians who remain there," the paper noted.
 
Stressing that the trip is aimed at helping those who emigrated from Iraq return to their country, Bkirki circles informed the daily that the patriarch is expected to visit the Vatican after his trips to US and Iraq.

Ahead of his pastoral tour, Rai met Friday President Michel Suleiman briefing him on his trips "out of his keenness on the role of the president as he precedes any foreign visit by holding talks with Suleiman," "as-Safir" mentioned.

For his part, "Marada Movement" Leader MP Sleiman Franjieh praised Rai saying that the patriarch is doing the right thing.
 
Considering that Rai's stances "emanate from the depth of his conscience and reflect his own convictions rather than anyone else's diktats," Franjieh added that "Rai is not on our side but he is no longer on others' side."
 
"I am betting on the Syrian regime because it is a lay regime while the alternative is an extremist one, hence Patriarch Rai's fear that extremism will inevitably impact negatively on all minorities," he clarified.

Franjieh unveiled that he supports the patriarch's opinion regarding the electoral law "due to the patriarch's unifying role between Christians and the Lebanese."
 
Meanwhile, "March 14" circles told "as-Safir" that the Christians inside the coalition have decided to hold a meeting under the slogan of "the role of Lebanon's Christians in the Arab Spring."

"The Church cannot afford to look at a pivotal moment in Arab history as if it is swimming against the tide of history in general and its own history in particular," the source claimed.

Mikati : Situation in Syria have Dangerous Repercussions on Region

For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned that the deterioration of the situation in Syria will have dangerous repercussions in the region.

In an interview with the "Wall Street Journal," Mikati stressed that "there is no point in Lebanon taking an official stand on the violence in Syria as any position may destabilize our country's fragile stability."

"I don't know what or who may succeed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power, but the road will be long," he noted.

At a noticeable security development, a businessman belonging to the the National Syrian Social Party" Jack Obaid, uncovered that he was kidnapped a week ago in the Jounieh area, at the hands of the "Group of Meerab security," that belongs to "Lebanese Forces."

In parallel, a high official judge informed "al-Ahbar" daily that "the prosecution has not been notified that someone named Jack Obaid was arrested.
 
"This reinforces that what happened comes under the kidnapping title," "al-Akhbar" commented.

Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org