March 14 Fails in “Popular Festival”, Lebanon Awaits Syrian Sanctions’ Repercussions
Siraj Kobeissy
While the Gaza Strip is still under the "Israeli" fires, and while Bahrain still witnesses a brutal crackdown on protesters, and Egypt struggles in light of a misleading military rule, while Yemen struggles to find its way out after a tyrant rule, the Arab League (AL) came with its shining armor to only worsen the situation in Syria, through imposing economic and financial sanctions.
This was expected, for of course a good student will always walk on the path of its teacher, which in this case is the west, precisely the US.
"Where was the AL and its tough decisions when Gaza was bombarded? Where is it now when the Bahraini people are being detained and tortured?" people would ask. As they seem to be rhetorical questions, people are demanding fair answers, yet they are not receiving any.
The Syrian updates made the headlines in the Lebanese Dailies, and so did other local and regional issues.
Athletic Lebanon
On the Lebanese level, and away from political discomfort, Beirut hosted the ninth BLOM-sponsored "Beirut Marathon", in the participation of some 32 thousand people, not only from Lebanon, but from 84 Arab and foreign countries.
People taking part in the marathon expressed great pleasure of the organization and great performance by athletes, professionals and amateurs, as new records were reached. This comes in a second triumph for Lebanon's athletic institutions, after the Lebanese National Soccer Team won a historic game, bringing it one step closer to taking part in the "World Cup 2014".
Berri to the Rescue... March 14 Performs Poorly in Anti-Gov't Popular Gathering
Politically, and after a couple of days since PM Najib Mikati threatened to resign if the cabinet did not approve funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri came to the rescue as usual.
According to al-Akhbar daily, Speaker Berri is waiting for the comeback of Mikati and MP Walid Jumblatt to Lebanon, in order to suggest his initiative. This comes in light of premiership sources confirming Mikati's decision to resign by the beginning of next month in case the STL was not funded.
Sources indicated that Speaker Berri does not expect the government to collapse soon, adding that his sole concern is that the current government survives. The same sources added that Berri stress on the importance of examining the current stage, and taking into consideration all possible scenarios that would help keep the government standing, and those that would lead to its collapse. Speaker Berri hopes the decision would be adopted after studying the pros and cons of the circumstances, the sources further noted.
On his part, PM Mikati stated from the Vatican in Rome, that the people should hold on to justice, adding that one "cannot ignore what has had occurred in Lebanon of crimes and assassinations", reiterating that "justice is an essential way to reveal the truth and halt crimes".
In an interview with the Vatican Radio, Mikati noted that the STL funding bill will be discussed in the cabinet this week, hoping that each minister "would put up to his responsibility".
Back in Mikati's origin town, Tripoli, March 14 organized their so-called "independence festival", which eventually turned out to be a poor popular gathering to call against the government, Syria, and Hizbullah.
Although the festival was held in Tripoli, yet most of the participating "crowd" came from Akkar and other northern areas. Apparently the March 14 leaders were disappointed by the very few people taking part, and by their incompetence to achieve their main goal: "to mobilize the people of Tripoli against the government, Syria and against Hizbullah".
However, as-Safir daily reported that the people of Tripoli, who are supporters of Mikati generally, knew better than to meddle in issues that won't bring them but trouble, especially that for the first time in Lebanon, Tripoli is represented fair and square through four ministers, and the Premier; a chance they won't abandon.
Lebanon Abstains on Syrian Sanctions
Meanwhile, Lebanon was being part of the AL as it approved economic and financial sanctions on Syria. Lebanon on its part abstained from voting, as it believed any deterioration in the Syrian situation would for sure affect Lebanon because they share bright economic, political, security, and social interests. Iraq also refused to vote in favor of those sanctions.
The sanctions decided against Syria included suspending and halting inter-Arab trade transactions, stopping financial deals, and freezing all agreements with the Central Bank of Syria.
Not only on the economic, security, and social levels, but also Lebanon will be dragged into the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on the financial level, especially in the bank sector. According to Lebanese baking sources, al-Akhbar daily indicated that the Central Bank of Syria owns $200 million worth assets, and some Lebanese banks like Byblos, Audi, France Bank, and others have invested branches in the Syrian territories. These banks still don't know their fate in light of this escalating West-led Arab campaign against Syria.
What was disturbing about the Cairo meeting to approve the Syria sanctions was the presence of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davutoglu, who was part of an "Arab" meeting to announce the "Arab League's" sanctions on Syria.
An unprecedented step it is for a mother institution to impose sanctions on one of its own member states. Why didn't the AL interfere this fast in Yemen, Bahrain, and Gaza...? Simply because it wouldn't serve them or their "Masters" in achieving their anti-resistance goals in the Middle East.
However, Syria, despite all challenges, pressures, and crucial sanctions, it remained in support of the resistance against the only enemy of Arabs, the Zionist entity.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org team
While the Gaza Strip is still under the "Israeli" fires, and while Bahrain still witnesses a brutal crackdown on protesters, and Egypt struggles in light of a misleading military rule, while Yemen struggles to find its way out after a tyrant rule, the Arab League (AL) came with its shining armor to only worsen the situation in Syria, through imposing economic and financial sanctions.
This was expected, for of course a good student will always walk on the path of its teacher, which in this case is the west, precisely the US.
"Where was the AL and its tough decisions when Gaza was bombarded? Where is it now when the Bahraini people are being detained and tortured?" people would ask. As they seem to be rhetorical questions, people are demanding fair answers, yet they are not receiving any.
The Syrian updates made the headlines in the Lebanese Dailies, and so did other local and regional issues.
Athletic Lebanon
On the Lebanese level, and away from political discomfort, Beirut hosted the ninth BLOM-sponsored "Beirut Marathon", in the participation of some 32 thousand people, not only from Lebanon, but from 84 Arab and foreign countries.
People taking part in the marathon expressed great pleasure of the organization and great performance by athletes, professionals and amateurs, as new records were reached. This comes in a second triumph for Lebanon's athletic institutions, after the Lebanese National Soccer Team won a historic game, bringing it one step closer to taking part in the "World Cup 2014".
Berri to the Rescue... March 14 Performs Poorly in Anti-Gov't Popular Gathering
Politically, and after a couple of days since PM Najib Mikati threatened to resign if the cabinet did not approve funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri came to the rescue as usual.
According to al-Akhbar daily, Speaker Berri is waiting for the comeback of Mikati and MP Walid Jumblatt to Lebanon, in order to suggest his initiative. This comes in light of premiership sources confirming Mikati's decision to resign by the beginning of next month in case the STL was not funded.
Sources indicated that Speaker Berri does not expect the government to collapse soon, adding that his sole concern is that the current government survives. The same sources added that Berri stress on the importance of examining the current stage, and taking into consideration all possible scenarios that would help keep the government standing, and those that would lead to its collapse. Speaker Berri hopes the decision would be adopted after studying the pros and cons of the circumstances, the sources further noted.
On his part, PM Mikati stated from the Vatican in Rome, that the people should hold on to justice, adding that one "cannot ignore what has had occurred in Lebanon of crimes and assassinations", reiterating that "justice is an essential way to reveal the truth and halt crimes".
In an interview with the Vatican Radio, Mikati noted that the STL funding bill will be discussed in the cabinet this week, hoping that each minister "would put up to his responsibility".
Back in Mikati's origin town, Tripoli, March 14 organized their so-called "independence festival", which eventually turned out to be a poor popular gathering to call against the government, Syria, and Hizbullah.
Although the festival was held in Tripoli, yet most of the participating "crowd" came from Akkar and other northern areas. Apparently the March 14 leaders were disappointed by the very few people taking part, and by their incompetence to achieve their main goal: "to mobilize the people of Tripoli against the government, Syria and against Hizbullah".
However, as-Safir daily reported that the people of Tripoli, who are supporters of Mikati generally, knew better than to meddle in issues that won't bring them but trouble, especially that for the first time in Lebanon, Tripoli is represented fair and square through four ministers, and the Premier; a chance they won't abandon.
Lebanon Abstains on Syrian Sanctions
Meanwhile, Lebanon was being part of the AL as it approved economic and financial sanctions on Syria. Lebanon on its part abstained from voting, as it believed any deterioration in the Syrian situation would for sure affect Lebanon because they share bright economic, political, security, and social interests. Iraq also refused to vote in favor of those sanctions.
The sanctions decided against Syria included suspending and halting inter-Arab trade transactions, stopping financial deals, and freezing all agreements with the Central Bank of Syria.
Not only on the economic, security, and social levels, but also Lebanon will be dragged into the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on the financial level, especially in the bank sector. According to Lebanese baking sources, al-Akhbar daily indicated that the Central Bank of Syria owns $200 million worth assets, and some Lebanese banks like Byblos, Audi, France Bank, and others have invested branches in the Syrian territories. These banks still don't know their fate in light of this escalating West-led Arab campaign against Syria.
What was disturbing about the Cairo meeting to approve the Syria sanctions was the presence of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davutoglu, who was part of an "Arab" meeting to announce the "Arab League's" sanctions on Syria.
An unprecedented step it is for a mother institution to impose sanctions on one of its own member states. Why didn't the AL interfere this fast in Yemen, Bahrain, and Gaza...? Simply because it wouldn't serve them or their "Masters" in achieving their anti-resistance goals in the Middle East.
However, Syria, despite all challenges, pressures, and crucial sanctions, it remained in support of the resistance against the only enemy of Arabs, the Zionist entity.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org team
