Electoral Law into Discussion, Berri Discusses National Dialogue
In parallel, the Council of Ministers is to hold an ordinary session in the Serail Thursday followed by another one Friday at the Baabda Presidential Palace in order to discuss the draft electoral law.
"March 14" Doubted Campaign against LAF
November cold did not prevent the brightness of its sun.
Despite the heavy clouds, the sun rays declare that the truth must be uncovered.
In the Middle East, where the drums of war are knocked in sake of "Israel", Iran announced its readiness for all possibilities as the United States announced that its ambassador is going to return back to Damascus.
In Beirut, where politicians are good at dancing on the abyss' edge, competing political files are waiting as the Secretary General of Hizbullah His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is to announce Friday the resistance's position from the internal and regional developments on Martyr's Day.
Mikati Back: Lebanon Not Isolated
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati returned to Beirut from his official visit to
London where he met his British counterpart David Cameron and other officials.
"As-Safir" Lebanese daily reported that Mikati's visit to London, took the political form par excellence.
"This was reflected in British PM David Cameron's heat welcoming to his Lebanese counterpart, on one hand, and in his approach in discussing files on the other especially by declaring readiness to help in solving maritime borders issue," the paper explained.
Noting that Western countries care only about institutional relations, "as-Safir" pointed out that "Mikati's visit and the accompanying diplomatic and media attention proved that the talk about atmosphere of isolation since the formation of the Government of Mikati is a pure Lebanese empty talk."
Rumors, Syrian Citizens in Lebanon:
Meanwhile and upon his arrival, Mikati telephoned the chief of the Higher Relief Commission Ibrahim Bashir and gave him instructions to follow up the humanitarian situation of Syrian refugees who fled to Lebanon.
"Rumors about the halt of aid to the refugees is untrue and falls under political propaganda," Mikati stressed.
Emphasizing that the Higher Relief Council increased its humanitarian aid recently
and the Lebanese government is dealing with this issue in a purely humanitarian manner, he asked all concerned sides to steer this issue away from political debates.
At the same level, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman held separate talks Wednesday with a number of security officials, urging them to intensify their efforts in maintaining Lebanon's security given the current situation in the country.
"An-Nahar" daily informed Thursday that Suleiman held talks with General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim, Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi, Military Intelligence Director Edmond Fadel, and General Director of State Security George Qaraa.
"President requested from security officials that they submit clear and complete reports on rumors concerning the kidnapping of Syrian citizens in Lebanon," the paper added.
Berri: National Dialogue, Electoral Law
At another Lebanese level, Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri met President Suleiman Wednesday to discuss recent developments as well as the call for national dialogue.
Following the meeting, Berri asserted that "the dialogue we seek under the chairmanship of the President's Excellency is concerned with future without denying the past."
"I remind those who have forgotten that I am the one who initiated dialogue and I am of course not against discussing perform it in accordance with regulations," he said.
Concerning the electoral law, Berri confirmed that "while appreciating the effort made by the Interior Ministry, I would like to point to a major flaw in this electoral law which excludes the idea of electronic voting that allows voters to vote in any place - be they in Lebanon or abroad."
At another level, high-ranking military sources expressed surprise at the "March 14"campaigns targeting the Lebanese Armed Forces and called for shielding the military institution from political tensions.
Sources told "as-Safir" that "the accusations against the LAF aim to limit its movements and force it to relinquish monitoring the borders with Syria so that a state of lawlessness and impunity prevails, as some would wish."
"However, the LAF will not be affected by these accusations," sources confirmed "as-Safir".
The sources stressed that "the campaign and cheap accusations will not change anything," saying that "the army is committed to carrying out its national tasks."
"The Syrian authorities cooperated with their Lebanese counterparts to resolve the conflicts," the sources said.
Source: Lebanese newspaper, Tranalated and Edited by moqawama.org
