Smuggling Weapons to Syria Escalates, Wages, Budget, STL Funding in the Gov’t

The Lebanese book is full of folk tales, but the sweetest to the citizens' hearts are those that have happy endings or make them laugh.

Considering the huge amount of tragedies in the Lebanese calendar, the citizen explores the source of smile here or there, and finally he finds it: The opposition in Lebanon is a source of smile.

"March 14's" situation is difficult and its leadership's search for a place from overseas makes its leaders point their confusing arrows in every direction.

As the next few days are to uncover the facts, the week's page concludes on a number of titles.

Walid Jumblatt is fixed in the majority as he said, and his relationship with Hizbullah is strategic.

Lebanese Army is continuing in the course of arresting smuggled arms to Syria.

The Lebanese government is to convene Tuesday to study the budget as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's stunning blow item turned to be disabled and the ministerial parties are determined to find the needed solutions.

Jumblatt Fixed with Hizbullah, In Majority

"National Struggle Front" Leader MP Walid Jumblatt announced that he would maintain his "strategic" ties with Hizbullah and dismissed reports he was close to breaking away from the majority.

"I am still in the same position and I am staying within the majority. However, I am not in a mould and I have my independent characteristics," he said.

In an interview on "al-Manar" TV channel Friday night, Jumblatt reiterated his support of the "army, people and resistance" principle equation.

"The relations with Hizbullah were and are still good. Sometimes some excesses happen here and there but they will not affect this strategic relationship," Jumblatt said.

Denying a strain with Hizbullah, Jumblatt said he had "frank talks with the Secretary General of Hizbullah His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the situation in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine."

On the economic level and the wage increase deal, the "National Struggle Front" leader wished more studies were done, and hoped that administrative reforms will be done soon.

Jumblatt also revealed that his Parliamentary bloc would vote for the financing of STL if a compromise over the divisive issue could not be reached within the Parliament majority.

The MP also spoke of a "shock party-related announcement, which he will make during the general assembly of his party at the end of the current month."

"Al-Akhbar" Lebanese newspaper informed that "the announcement, which remains a secret so far, may well be what MP Jumblatt himself said to key leaders both in Lebanon and abroad, namely that he has decided to step down from the leadership of his party and to call for this general assembly in order to notify party leaders and cadres of his irrevocable decision."

Praising the government's work in solving the issues, Jumblatt said that Mikati "is doing an excellent job to distance Lebanon from any International implications and not to let Lebanon be used against Syria."

Concerning Syria, Jumblatt stressed that he didn't break ties with Damascus calling for a cease-fire in Syria, condemnation of the attacks on the army, the withdrawal of the military from the streets, the release of all prisoners, condemnation of any demand by the opposition for foreign intervention, holding those who committed crimes against the Syrian people and the army to account and giving the press access to cover all Syrian areas.

Arms Smuggling Continues

Meanwhile, the Lebanese army stopped in North Lebanon-Akkar a truck loaded with weapons and explosives that were going to be smuggled into Syria."

National News Agency reported that the truck driver, who hails from Wadi Khaled, a Lebanese town bordering Syria, managed to flee the scene.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian-Lebanese joint military committee met to discuss the technical implementation of arrangements to prevent smuggling through illegal crossings on the border in the Bekaa.

High-ranking Lebanese officers met their Syrian counterparts at the "Dabbousieh" border crossing to coordinate steps to tighten security measures.

For its part, the sources close to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad informed "al-Binaa" newspaper that al-Assad talked about two Lebanese spots through which arms smuggling is taking place:

"The first in Arsal region and it was seized to a large extent and the other is in Akkar and is still not controlled," he said.

"Al-Assad was clear in not interfering in STL financing issue as it is a Lebanese subject and "the Lebanese brothers are to decide what fits them,"" "al-Binaa" reported.

STL Funding in the Budget

At another Lebanese concern, "as-Safir" Lebanese daily reported that the government will keep the STL funding item to the final stages of discussing the general budget i.e. until after weeks.

Ministerial sources informed the paper that "Mikati's intensive contacts on this subject, may succeed in convincing the concerned parties especially Hizbullah in finding a solution."

"The Lebanese President Michel Suleiman kept on his stated position that has already been taken in support of the funding," they added.

In parallel, "Change and Reform" bloc leader MP Michel Aoun, "Marada Movement" leader MP Sleiman Franjieh and Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan held a meeting on Friday evening at Aoun's residence in Rabieh to coordinate their stances regarding the rejection of STL funding and appointments.

On the public demands, next week is expected to witness an extensive movement to the Labor in an attempt to modify the government's decision of increasing wages.

The head of LU Ghassan Ghosn told "as-Safir" that a meeting will be held next Monday with the Labor Minister Charbel Nahas to be followed with Economy Minister Nicolas Nahas as well as a possible meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati.