Berri to Resume Dialogue, Suleiman No One Could Threaten Me
Zeinab Essa
"Israel" decided to end Palestinian Celebrations with the Swap's Victory.
"Israel" decided to shift its internal financial crisis into Gaza's sea of blood.
In less than 24 hours 10 Palestinians were slaughtered by "Israeli" airstrikes and the play continues.
Not so far from US-"Israeli" pressure to reduce the resistance powers' effect in the region, Arab League decided to carry the sword of internationalizing the Syrian crisis amid mass pro-Assad millions protests that governed the Syrian scene.
In Lebanon, the awaited appointments in public administration as well as
Special Tribunal for Lebanon funding are still the hot topic of internal debate.
"Israel" decided to shift its internal financial crisis into Gaza's sea of blood.
In less than 24 hours 10 Palestinians were slaughtered by "Israeli" airstrikes and the play continues.
Not so far from US-"Israeli" pressure to reduce the resistance powers' effect in the region, Arab League decided to carry the sword of internationalizing the Syrian crisis amid mass pro-Assad millions protests that governed the Syrian scene.
In Lebanon, the awaited appointments in public administration as well as
Special Tribunal for Lebanon funding are still the hot topic of internal debate.
Al-Assad: Attempt to Destabilize Syria Will Lead to Massive Earthquake
AL declared Sunday that it waits Syrian Presidential response to its "serious" plan in the so-called "ending the unrest".
An Arab ministerial team "agreed on a serious proposal to stop the killing and all forms of violence in Syria," Qatar's Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Jassem al-Thani
declared.
The plans details remained undisclosed and Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Moallem is expected to officially respond to the Arab proposal Monday after holding talks with the Syrian leadership.
Hamad said that "a meeting will be held on Wednesday at the Arab League whether an agreement is reached over the document or not, hoping to receive an answer on Monday and to reach an agreement."
This comes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reiterated that "any attempt to destabilize Syria will lead to a massive earthquake that damages the entire region and affects the whole world."
In an interview with Russia's 1 TV channel, al-Assad stressed that "any mention of such a scenario would be more costly than the world could afford, which is why it seems that the trend is moving towards political, and economic pressure."
Rejecting foreign interference and opposing anything which comes from outside Syria, the Syrian President assured that his country "is capable of overcoming the economic blockade by adjusting to the new status, which we'd already adjusted to in previous circumstances."
Sources told "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper that Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi canceled a visit to Beirut planned for Monday to follow up on the Syria crisis.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour held talks Sunday in Doha with Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on the bilateral ties between the two countries and the situations in the Arab region, "particularly in Syria."
Earlier on Sunday, Mansour took part in a meeting for the Arab Peace Initiative Committee in Doha.
He told the meeting that "the situation in Palestine requires an Arab posture, especially after the Arab initiative reached a dead-end due to "Israel's" policies."
The minister suggested that an Arab summit be held by the Arab heads of state to "take the appropriate decision in light of the current impasse in the peace process."
AL declared Sunday that it waits Syrian Presidential response to its "serious" plan in the so-called "ending the unrest".
An Arab ministerial team "agreed on a serious proposal to stop the killing and all forms of violence in Syria," Qatar's Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Jassem al-Thani
declared.
The plans details remained undisclosed and Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Moallem is expected to officially respond to the Arab proposal Monday after holding talks with the Syrian leadership.
Hamad said that "a meeting will be held on Wednesday at the Arab League whether an agreement is reached over the document or not, hoping to receive an answer on Monday and to reach an agreement."
This comes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reiterated that "any attempt to destabilize Syria will lead to a massive earthquake that damages the entire region and affects the whole world."
In an interview with Russia's 1 TV channel, al-Assad stressed that "any mention of such a scenario would be more costly than the world could afford, which is why it seems that the trend is moving towards political, and economic pressure."
Rejecting foreign interference and opposing anything which comes from outside Syria, the Syrian President assured that his country "is capable of overcoming the economic blockade by adjusting to the new status, which we'd already adjusted to in previous circumstances."
Sources told "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper that Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi canceled a visit to Beirut planned for Monday to follow up on the Syria crisis.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour held talks Sunday in Doha with Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on the bilateral ties between the two countries and the situations in the Arab region, "particularly in Syria."
Earlier on Sunday, Mansour took part in a meeting for the Arab Peace Initiative Committee in Doha.
He told the meeting that "the situation in Palestine requires an Arab posture, especially after the Arab initiative reached a dead-end due to "Israel's" policies."
The minister suggested that an Arab summit be held by the Arab heads of state to "take the appropriate decision in light of the current impasse in the peace process."
Berri: To Resume Dialogue without Conditions
Moving to Lebanon, House Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to meet President Michel Suleiman before the end of this week to discuss with him the possibility of resuming dialogue between the Lebanese foes.
In an interview with "as-Safir" Lebanese daily, Berri announced that "he will discuss with Suleiman the chances of resuming the national dialogue, to inquire him about the reasons that are preventing the launching of the all-party talks."
Berri expressed belief that Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Hizbullah, "Change and Reform Bloc Leader" MP Michel Aoun, and "National Front" Leader MP Walid Jumblat have agreed on resuming the dialogue.
"The issue depends on "March 14" position, especially "Future Movement," he unveiled adding that "he is ready to discuss the matter with "Future" bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora if the meeting with the President established a solid ground to begin from."
The speaker stressed that "the dialogue should resume without any previous conditions."
Noting that "the most critical issue is how to safeguard Lebanon amid the developments in the region," Berri noted to "as-Safir" that "Lebanese officials should not meddle in the Syrian situation."
"If some officials don't want to comply with the conventions and treaties that established the special relations, the best solution is not to interfere in the Syrian situation and disavow Lebanon from any repercussions," Berri emphasized.
Suleiman: Lebanon Committed to UN
For his part, President Suleiman informed "ad-Diyar" daily that "Lebanon is characterized by its commitment to the UN legitimacy and its international resolutions."
"There is no alternative to this commitment to protect Lebanon and its stability," he said.
"We should fund the STL and funding it doesn't mean that we would give up our criticism of it if it makes mistakes," Suleiman told "ad-Diyar" adding that "It made a mistake in leaking the investigation and the indictment."
Asked if Lebanese officials had received any warnings if they failed to fund the STL, Suleiman said: "I am the Lebanese president and no one threatens me or warns me."
"There is a diplomatic way in asking about Lebanon's stance from the implementation of international resolutions," he stressed.
Denying that "he was at loggerheads with MP Aoun over the Christian posts in state institutions," he said "the delay in appointing Christian civil servants to several top posts was the result of the involved ministers' procrastination in
announcing their candidates."
Lebanese Gov't's Meeting
At another level, the Lebanese government is scheduled "to discuss the parliamentary elections draft law and several other issues during a session at Baabda palace on Tuesday."
"The government has 79 items on its agenda. In addition to the electoral law, ministers are expected to discuss a suggestion by the foreign ministry to rent the Coral Beach building and turn it into a temporary headquarters for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia," "as-Safir" daily reported.
"The cost would be around 7 million dollars yearly," "as-Safir" said adding that "the amount is much less than the rent of the current ESCWA headquarters in downtown Beirut."
"Ministerial sources expected the government to discuss the issue of wages," "as-Safir" mentioned.
According to majority ministers, "the principle of proportionality is settled but the debate will focus on the details of the draft submitted by Minister Charbel, knowing that we have not had enough time to examine it," "al-Akhbar" newspaper clarified.
Rai: Arming LA Not Linked to Hizbullah
In parallel, Maronite Patriarch Bshara Rai stressed on his return from a month-long trip to the United States that "the international community must play its role in solving the issue of Hizbullah's weapons because the issue cannot be handled by the Lebanese alone."
"One of the most important issues the international community should help us with is to urge "Israel" to implement UN Security Council resolutions," said Rai.
"The international community should also help Palestinian refugees return to their homeland. Palestinians should return to their land and live in a state like everyone else," Rai noted adding that "this would help solve the issue of
Palestinian arms in Lebanon."
"I told them the US that arming the Lebanese Army should not be linked to the issue of Hizbullah's weapons," Rai added.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
