“Foreign Interference”, Scenario Performed Throughout Region
Siraj Kobeissy
It has become a play performed in the region. The "Foreign Interference" that is. The "US Master" has for sure injected its most disturbing trait in the minds of its Arab allies, that they have become very obedient, resembling an example of the best "teacher-student" relation.
Like the US, its Arab allies has become accustomed to interfering, not to find a solution, but to make the crisis even more complicated. Lebanon for some time has been a target, and now Syria has become a victim of this scenario written by the US, and directed by the Arab League (AL).
In their Friday edition, the Lebanese Dailies tackled the Syrian issue in a broad approach, in addition to other Lebanese and regional issues.
Also on the level of "foreign interference", and as Lebanon is still confused with parties calling "for and against" funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed he would resign in case the cabinet refuses to fund the required 49%. This comes amid a "March 14" campaign to push for an international pressure on Mikati and his government so it would approve the funding.
In an interview with LBC's Kalam el-Nas talk show, PM Mikati indicated that through resigning, he would protect Lebanon from any possible "foreign sanctions" that would be imposed on it. He further called upon all political parties to make up a loophole for the funding, whether through the cabinet, the parliament, dialogue committee, or even through any decree.
Mikati also described the STL funding as the "insurance policy" that protects Lebanon's stability, saying, "Through funding we protect Lebanon, and we strengthen the resistance. Lebanon is more important than any of our personal interests".
Moreover, on the STL level, and as opinions started to spread concerning the possible sanctions to be witnessed if Lebanon did not fund, International Law professor Shafiq al-Masri said possible to amend this agreement between Lebanon and the UN.
In an interview with al-Akhbar daily, Professor al-Masri reminded that the STL was establish in accordance with chapter 7 of the UN charter, which illustrates its political goals and intentions, because the nature of chapter 7's decisions surpass all local laws and national constitutions. These UN Security Council decisions therefore replace the local authorities, and are considered obligatory to UN member states.
Al-Masri said that there are three commitments Lebanon should abide by. First there is the protocol signed between UN Secretary General and the Lebanese Justice Ministry, second is the agreement signed between the UN and the Lebanese government, and third is the general commitment, i.e. Chapter 7.
He said that in case Lebanon did not abide to the so-called "commitment", and if this "rebellion" represented a threat to the international peace and security, only then does the UNSC have the right to interfere and impose sanctions. The question here is, "If the STL was not funded, would that really threaten the international peace and security? Does the Lebanese independence in minding its own business and solving its problems internally endanger the international scene?"
For sure it endangers the US and "Israeli" interests in the region, precisely Lebanon, as the STL has more than once proved to be politicized in all means.
It has become crystal clear that the STL was established to target the resistance in Lebanon, and since it is one tool of the US-"Israeli" interests, the latter have other tools and puppets controlled around the region.
Syria, the pro-resistance independent country is in the line of fire again, only this time the clock is ticking, and the interference has reached its peak. The AL has dismissed all possible compromise solutions for the Syrian crisis, and gave Damascus a deadline, Friday 1:00 pm, to either sign the protocol designated for the observers that will be sent to Syria, or accept that the Syrian crisis would be internationalized, along with economic sanctions that would torch the situation into worse.
After a series of meetings held in Cairo, AL Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi announced that the AL's Ministerial Council has given Syria until 1:00 pm Friday to sign the protocol designated for the observation fact-finding mission.
Al-Arabi added that he informed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the decision, asking for the UN's support for the AL efforts in settling the critical situation in Syria.
Algeria was the only "Arab" country to propose a compromise solution for the Syrian crisis, which tried to consider the Syrian amendments on the protocol together with the draft protocol presented by Morocco. This attempt was disregarded.
The AL Ministerial Council stressed that if "the Syrian government did not sign the protocol, or didn't abide by its rules after signing, then the Economic and Social Council will meet on Saturday to consider imposing a package of economic sanctions".
Of the economic sanctions already assigned, even before the protocol's ratification, are halting all flights to Syria, stop relations with the Syrian Central Bank, freezing all assets of the Syrian government, and freezing all financial agreements with the Syrian government.
Moreover, an Arab diplomat present at the Ministerial meeting indicated that AL Secretary General received a letter from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem stating that his country has accepted to sign the protocol, and that it nominates Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mokdad to sign it on behalf of the Syrian government.
Furthermore, sources close to the Syrian government indicated to as-Safir newspaper that Damascus did not yet sign the cooperation protocol, and it is waiting to examine the AL's stance. The official Syrian source stressed that Syria might not approve the protocol eventually at the time when the AL is already considering economic sanctions.
More on the region, around the corner in Egypt, the Tahrir Square revolution is back, with daily protests, and mass Friday demonstrations, calling for the formation for a new government. The Egyptian Armed Forces realized that there is no power like that of the people, therefore as soon as possible, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces decided to nominate former Prime Minister Kamal Janzouri for the position, after he was appointed by [Hosni] Mubarak's regime in 2000.
The people have already planned million-man protests in the three major Egyptian squares. They aim at calling against the head of the Supreme Council for Armed Forces Al-Mushir Tantawi's speech, in which he didn't meet the minimum of the people's demands and expectations.
People over the region are anticipating what this blessed Friday will embrace. It is only a matter of time before everything is clarified and settled, whether to the best or to the worst! In this case, while the "Foreign Interference" play is still ongoing, it most probably would be a poor performance.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org team
It has become a play performed in the region. The "Foreign Interference" that is. The "US Master" has for sure injected its most disturbing trait in the minds of its Arab allies, that they have become very obedient, resembling an example of the best "teacher-student" relation.
Like the US, its Arab allies has become accustomed to interfering, not to find a solution, but to make the crisis even more complicated. Lebanon for some time has been a target, and now Syria has become a victim of this scenario written by the US, and directed by the Arab League (AL).
In their Friday edition, the Lebanese Dailies tackled the Syrian issue in a broad approach, in addition to other Lebanese and regional issues.
Also on the level of "foreign interference", and as Lebanon is still confused with parties calling "for and against" funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed he would resign in case the cabinet refuses to fund the required 49%. This comes amid a "March 14" campaign to push for an international pressure on Mikati and his government so it would approve the funding.
In an interview with LBC's Kalam el-Nas talk show, PM Mikati indicated that through resigning, he would protect Lebanon from any possible "foreign sanctions" that would be imposed on it. He further called upon all political parties to make up a loophole for the funding, whether through the cabinet, the parliament, dialogue committee, or even through any decree.
Mikati also described the STL funding as the "insurance policy" that protects Lebanon's stability, saying, "Through funding we protect Lebanon, and we strengthen the resistance. Lebanon is more important than any of our personal interests".
Moreover, on the STL level, and as opinions started to spread concerning the possible sanctions to be witnessed if Lebanon did not fund, International Law professor Shafiq al-Masri said possible to amend this agreement between Lebanon and the UN.
In an interview with al-Akhbar daily, Professor al-Masri reminded that the STL was establish in accordance with chapter 7 of the UN charter, which illustrates its political goals and intentions, because the nature of chapter 7's decisions surpass all local laws and national constitutions. These UN Security Council decisions therefore replace the local authorities, and are considered obligatory to UN member states.
Al-Masri said that there are three commitments Lebanon should abide by. First there is the protocol signed between UN Secretary General and the Lebanese Justice Ministry, second is the agreement signed between the UN and the Lebanese government, and third is the general commitment, i.e. Chapter 7.
He said that in case Lebanon did not abide to the so-called "commitment", and if this "rebellion" represented a threat to the international peace and security, only then does the UNSC have the right to interfere and impose sanctions. The question here is, "If the STL was not funded, would that really threaten the international peace and security? Does the Lebanese independence in minding its own business and solving its problems internally endanger the international scene?"
For sure it endangers the US and "Israeli" interests in the region, precisely Lebanon, as the STL has more than once proved to be politicized in all means.
It has become crystal clear that the STL was established to target the resistance in Lebanon, and since it is one tool of the US-"Israeli" interests, the latter have other tools and puppets controlled around the region.
Syria, the pro-resistance independent country is in the line of fire again, only this time the clock is ticking, and the interference has reached its peak. The AL has dismissed all possible compromise solutions for the Syrian crisis, and gave Damascus a deadline, Friday 1:00 pm, to either sign the protocol designated for the observers that will be sent to Syria, or accept that the Syrian crisis would be internationalized, along with economic sanctions that would torch the situation into worse.
After a series of meetings held in Cairo, AL Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi announced that the AL's Ministerial Council has given Syria until 1:00 pm Friday to sign the protocol designated for the observation fact-finding mission.
Al-Arabi added that he informed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the decision, asking for the UN's support for the AL efforts in settling the critical situation in Syria.
Algeria was the only "Arab" country to propose a compromise solution for the Syrian crisis, which tried to consider the Syrian amendments on the protocol together with the draft protocol presented by Morocco. This attempt was disregarded.
The AL Ministerial Council stressed that if "the Syrian government did not sign the protocol, or didn't abide by its rules after signing, then the Economic and Social Council will meet on Saturday to consider imposing a package of economic sanctions".
Of the economic sanctions already assigned, even before the protocol's ratification, are halting all flights to Syria, stop relations with the Syrian Central Bank, freezing all assets of the Syrian government, and freezing all financial agreements with the Syrian government.
Moreover, an Arab diplomat present at the Ministerial meeting indicated that AL Secretary General received a letter from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem stating that his country has accepted to sign the protocol, and that it nominates Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mokdad to sign it on behalf of the Syrian government.
Furthermore, sources close to the Syrian government indicated to as-Safir newspaper that Damascus did not yet sign the cooperation protocol, and it is waiting to examine the AL's stance. The official Syrian source stressed that Syria might not approve the protocol eventually at the time when the AL is already considering economic sanctions.
More on the region, around the corner in Egypt, the Tahrir Square revolution is back, with daily protests, and mass Friday demonstrations, calling for the formation for a new government. The Egyptian Armed Forces realized that there is no power like that of the people, therefore as soon as possible, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces decided to nominate former Prime Minister Kamal Janzouri for the position, after he was appointed by [Hosni] Mubarak's regime in 2000.
The people have already planned million-man protests in the three major Egyptian squares. They aim at calling against the head of the Supreme Council for Armed Forces Al-Mushir Tantawi's speech, in which he didn't meet the minimum of the people's demands and expectations.
People over the region are anticipating what this blessed Friday will embrace. It is only a matter of time before everything is clarified and settled, whether to the best or to the worst! In this case, while the "Foreign Interference" play is still ongoing, it most probably would be a poor performance.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org team
