Gov’t’s Heat Debate, Mobile Companies to Judiciary

The international compass rearranges its direction

The Syrian scene shows clear results

Millions went into streets and people chanted for reform and in support for their leadership while the situation on the Turkish-Iraqi borders opens the doors to all possibilities.

In Iraq, where the occupation stays under various names, Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr announced that the resistance is the only response of the Iraqi people on the continuous occupation.

Turning to the Lebanese scene, the government issued its decision to initiate the process of oil drilling in a tense atmosphere of debates that start with strikes and does not end with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and budget.

Gov't: Land Drilling Ahead of Water

Lebanese government met Wednesday on several topics. However, the session witnessed a heated debate over the disputed transfer of funds from Telecommunications to the Finance Ministry.

The lengthy debate, which took place during a session that lasted for more than six hours, became intense as Prime Minister Najib Mikati approved a proposal made by Ministers Mohammed Fneish and Ali Hassan Khalil to form a ministerial committee headed by Deputy PM Samir Moqbel on the implementation of the oil exploration law.

Despite the verbal clashes, the government approved among other things, plans to start drilling for oil and gas on Lebanese soil after mapping the territories.

Ministerial sources within the "Change and Reform Bloc" informed "as-Safir" that "the most noticeable achievement by the Council of Ministers Wednesday was that it abrogated the decision made by former PM Fouad Siniora's government with regard to exempting mobile phone companies from paying the taxes and fees imposed on them."

"The justice minister was asked to bring the case of these companies before the judiciary," the paper reported.

Commenting on another recent controversial government decision, Sports Minister Faisal Karami told reporters after leaving the session that the government would stick to its agreement, reached with the General Labor Union last week, to mandate an increase in wages without any changes.

Mikati said during the session that his government needed more time to consider the different demands by labor unions, urging all parties to cooperate to find a solution to disputed issues.

Stressing that the government was ready to develop suitable solutions, PM clarified that unions should consider the treasury's resources.

"It is unreasonable to ask that the government address within days or weeks issues that have been pending for years," Mikati added

Meanwhile, as thousands of teachers and pupils at public schools stayed away from the classroom during Wednesday's nationwide strike, several private establishments carried on with business as usual.

Addressing crowds of teachers who participated in a sit-in near the Grand Serail Headof the Secondary Teachers Association, Hanna Gharib, vowed that teachers would gradually escalate their protest moves since their demands were not met.

Hizbullah in Moscow

At another level, Loyalty to the Resistance bloc headed by MP Mohammad Raad concluded Wednesday its first day of official visit to the Russian Capital, Moscow, upon the invitation of the Duma Group on Relations with Middle Eastern Parliaments.

The delegation held a series of meetings, the most important of which was with Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachyov.
According to Russian media sources, Kosachyov welcomed the Lebanese delegation and wished for the development of relations between Lebanon and Russia, which serves the interest of the Lebanese and Russian peoples.

Kosachyov reminded of "Russia's constant principles on the current regional issues and developments, and reiterated Russia's rejection of any foreign interference in the affairs of regional states."

"The Hizbullah delegation will discuss with Russian officials the Lebanese local situation, including the developments concerning the Special Tribunal for Lebanon," "as-Safir" newspaper reported.

Russian ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin told "an-Nahar" newspaper that "we participated in funding STL, but we are against politicizing the tribunal."

Concerning the visit of a Hizbullah delegation to Russia, Zasypkin said that the Russian parliament had invited the delegation long time ago.

"We consider it as an important event in the relations between Lebanon and Russia. The delegation is discussing critical political issues in the Middle East," the ambassador stated.

The parliamentary bloc was headed by MP Mohammed Raad accompanied by MPs Hassan Fadlallah and Nawwar Sahili.
The delegation is set to hold talks with Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov on Thursday as part of its three-day visit.

The delegation is due to visit the council of Muslims in European Russia and the Foreign Ministry, and will also give lectures at Moscow universities.
The group on Wednesday met Constantin Kosachyov, the head of the Russian parliament's lower house's international affairs committee, which invited the group.

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