STL Funding, Embassies Warnings, Wages Debate Govern Scene

Zeinab Essa

The Lebanese scene missed the internal details as the international arena occupies the throne of local interest.

Declaring its political bankruptcy in face of the political revolutionary tide in the Middle East, Washington found no way but to face the Iranian giant by sowing seeds of sedition in the region and here was the plot: Tehran must be accused of trying to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington.

This comes at a time when Arab eyes are turned to the prisoners swap in occupied Palestine, stressing that the resistance is the only way to liberate the land as
well as prisoners.

In parallel, the direction of international wind moves towards Lebanon starting from the International Tribunal and passing by threatening atmosphere that some
embassies are trying to spread.

US Pressures on Lebanon

"An-Nahar" Lebanese daily reported Friday that Washington attempts to gain the support of Security Council members, including Lebanon, to impose new sanctions on Iran over accusing its false accusation that Iran planned to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington.

"Obama's administration informed Lebanon twice about its latest plans. During a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Lebanon's ambassador Antoine Shedid was asked to support new sanctions against the Islamic Republic," informed the daily.

Revealing that during another meeting between US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, and her Lebanese counterpart Nawwaf Salam, Rice reiterated that Washington was holding consultations to propose a new draft resolution against Iran, "an-Nahar" clarified that Lebanon will most likely reject any condemnation of
a US-drafted resolution.

Embassies, Security

Meanwhile, several embassies have tightened travel warnings for Lebanon, advising their nationals to avoid parts of the country.
I
n a clear attempt to create climates of security tension in Lebanon, American, Australian, British, Canadian and French embassies have warned their citizens of the risk of traveling to Lebanon.

The US, Canadian and Australian embassies cite in their warnings the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

"US citizens in Lebanon should monitor ongoing political developments, particularly in relation to the STL, as Lebanese political leaders have warned publicly that the tribunal's findings could spark civil unrest," reads the recent
travel warning issued Thursday.

From Washington, "as-Safir" newspaper reported Friday that Lebanese Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's visit to US did not result in any change in its decision to halt military assistance to the Lebanese army.

"The relation between the US and Lebanese army is strong and we support the funding of the Lebanese army's aid program," a State Department source in told
the daily.

STL Funding, Salaries

In Lebanon, statements made by former Prime Minister Omar Karami, who recently met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Hizbullah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, were clear as he has reiterated that funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon won't pass in the government or Parliament.

In parallel, "as-Safir" learned that Sayyed Nasrallah met Thursday night with "National Struggle Front" leader MP Walid Jumblatt and informed him about Hizbullah's stance regarding the STL.

Well-informed sources confirmed to the same daily that "PM Najib Mikati's decision regarding STL funding is final and there is no backing down."
However, "as-Safir" paper pointed out that Mikati had not lost hope about approving the funding with the minimum possible damage.

"Consultations are likely to soon be held between Mikati and Hizbullah as well as House Speaker Nabih Berri who has advised Mikati not to hasten debate on the state budget bill so as to give a consensus-based decision on the STL a chance," the daily said.

At another level, the wage increase storm didn't abate for the third consecutive day.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas is scheduled to draft Friday the decree of wage hikes approved by the government earlier in the week.

Nahhas told "as-Safir" daily that "he is obliged in accordance with the law to prepare the decree as called for by the government although the ministers of the
"Change and Reform bloc" rejected it."

Nahhas also confirmed that the decree would be ready and referred to the government during its next session.

For his part, Head of Labor Union Ghassan Ghosn told "an-Nahar" newspaper that he urged PM on Thursday to revise the plan.

Sources close to Mikati didn't promise the LU to resolve the issue.
"The wage boost will be implemented as approved. There won't be any revision," they emphasized.

Separately, Berri told "an-Nahar" that there is a possibility of implementing a deal that he had brokered to increase by LL200,000 the salaries of workers earning between LL500,000 and LL1 million and LL300,000 for those earning more than LL1 million.

"Berri told Mikati about his proposal during a telephone conversation on Thursday night," the paper mentioned.

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