Mikati Not to Resign, STL to Vote, Lebanon to Discuss Oil

Owners of the Arab Flag met as they never did before:

They condemned, denounced, and since decades they did not hesitate to threaten with suspension and recognition of another authority.

Don't rejoice for the Arab leaders' target wasn't the "Israeli" enemy.

The political compass of those is a US made.

Once the American master waved his hand, they held their meeting: neither to support children of Gaza nor the children's body parts of Qana.

They met and their only targets were Iran and Syria.

Lebanon, Syria:

Meanwhile, the international storm against the resistance corners left its effect on the Lebanese field.

Lebanese Foreign minister Adnan Mansour took part in the Arab Foreign ministers' meeting that was held Sunday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Syria.

Hours from the meeting, Mansour declared that Lebanon will not take a position that would harm Syria's security and stability.

"Lebanon will take a stand that supports Syria and its efforts to implement reform," he added.

For his part, "Lebanese Democratic Party" leader MP Talal Arslan stressed that Syrian and Lebanese fates are one.

"Lebanon and Syria's destinies are linked together, and thus, Lebanon's stability is linked to Syrian stability, and to its steadfastness and resistance against the Western-"Israeli" campaign," Arslan said.

Meeting a Syrian delegation, MP Arslan noted that "there is a huge media campaign from neighboring and regional countries on Syria magnifying the issue."

Emphasizing that "those who meddle with Syria are meddling in Syria's resistance role in the region which is consistent with the Lebanese and Palestinian's position," Arslan expressed regret that "some political parties are betting on the Syrian instability and on hitting its national unity."

Democracy Voting to STL

At the internal level, Prime Minister Najib Mikati denied his intention to resign over the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's debate.

In an interview with "al-Akhbar" Lebanese daily, Mikati assured that his government will continue to work after it succeeded in guaranteeing stability.
Promising that his government is to tackle all problems at the security, social, economic, and political level, PM told "al-Akhbar" that he's satisfied with the ministerial achievements.

In parallel, Mikati's sources informed "an-Nahar" newspaper that "all the information about the resignation is just wishes and attempts to create a tumult."
"The government will confront all challenges despite the differences in the viewpoints of its members," they assured adding that "it will continue to work away from the pressure of stances."

The sources announced that "the government will discuss the STL funding as part of the 2012 budget but would postpone deliberations on the issue until the remaining articles are discussed."

"The STL funding will be discussed calmly and logically similar to the other articles of the budget," they stressed to "an-Nahar".

Similarly, sources told "as-Safir" that the government would remain for a long time," adding that "it is doing its job away from political or media bickering."
"All things will be addressed in a timely manner," sources said.

For his part, the Deputy Secretary General of Hizbullah His Eminence Sheikh Naim Qassem viewed that Mikati's government was formed through a popular will, without any foreign settlements or pressure.

"Since the government was formed of a parliamentary majority which includes parties of different views and convictions, it is natural that its ministers do not agree on all issues," his eminence explained.

Criticizing rival politicians for jumping to conclusions as soon as differences in opinions occur between lawmakers, he also announced that "the government's fraction agreed that we would discuss everything freely inside the government and every party has its own opinion."

"But in terms of complicated, difficult matters, if we do not reach a consensus, then voting should take place," Qassem added.

Stressing the importance of the equation "the army, people, and resistance" equation which was stipulated in the policy statement, he also explained that "this equation was announced with the government of former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and continued with Saad Hariri's government, which means that it is a point of consensus for all the Lebanese people."

On the US false claims against Iran, his eminence pointed out that "the US accusation that Iran planned to assassinate the Saudi envoy in Washington aims to distort Iran's image in the Arab and Muslim world."

"The US is accusing Iran because it represents an obstacle to US schemes in the region," Qassem acknowledged.

In the same STL context, the head of the "Arab Tawhid Party" former minister Wiam Wahhab considered that "all international resolutions, from the 1559 to that which formed the STL, are US-"Israeli" resolutions.

During the lay of the first stone of "Salman al-Farisi" Hospital in Al-Jahiliya town, Wahhab called on those who are eager to fund the STL and own many properties to pay the tribunal's cost from their own pocket and not from that of the Lebanese people.

Oil, Strikes to Front

At another context, Lebanese oil wealth returns to the forefront as House Speaker Nabih Berri called for a meeting in Parliament Monday of the relevant parliamentary committees to discuss the issue.

In addition to Berri, the meeting will be attended by PM Mikati and the concerned ministers.

The session will also discuss communications with Cyprus undertaken by the government in a bid to demarcate Lebanon's maritime borders, ahead of what is hoped will be oil exploration and the development of the country as an oil-exporter.

Meanwhile, as the teachers' unions were readying for Wednesday's strike to protest the government's handling of wage increases, Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour is set to launch Monday a program in support of the poorest families in Lebanon under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman who will attend the opening ceremony.

Abu Faour told "as-Safir" that the program would initially cover about 74,000 families living below the poverty line.