’’Israel’’ Fears Escalation with Hizbullah, Aoun Stresses People’s Needs
Zeinab Essa
"The "Change and Reform" bloc is open to any solution provided that it maintains stability in Lebanon," Aoun confirmed.
While the wages proposal has been put on Wednesday's 69-item agenda, other demands such as the approval of electricity and water development projects and making appointments at the Higher Judicial Council are still waiting for the government's green light.
Security in South
The hours of the last night in November didn't long enough so that the rays of morning announce the rise of a settlement to the Lebanese governmental crisis.
In their places positions remain fixed. The Mikati government is struggling to find a way out. However, till the moment the heavy clouds are still disturbing the atmosphere between the Grand Serail and Rabia.
In spite of some recorded progress on the line of financing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, remaining obstacles have prevented the exposure of the solution.
According to Lebanese timing possible delayed solutions to the crisis might emerge at the last moment but fears rise out of the international timing that works according to strategic objectives that start from Damascus and do not end at the borders of Beirut and Tehran.
Will the Lebanese will of solution overcome foreign interference? Answers depend on the coming hours.
Berri Optimistic, Jumblatt Fears Void
Lebanese political figures held intensive meetings along Tuesday to find a solution to the crisis that emerged after Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati threatened to resign if the Special Tribunal for Lebanon wasn't funded by the government.
The basic chef to the solution recipe, House Speaker Nabih Berri remained discreet regarding the scenario of the possible settlement.
In an effort to knitting yarns of the settlement and dismantling of its nodes, Berri held meetings with PM Mikati, "National Struggle Front Leader" MP Walid Jumblatt.
Stressing that his meeting with Mikati was positive, Berri predicted in remarks to "as-Safir" Lebanese daily that a possible settlement may rise based on solving the STL funding issue parallel to the government's survival as well as activation of its productivity.
However, he said that he will not yet reveal "the details of this formula."
On the ingredients of the solution and the details of a scenario of the settlement, "March 8"sources informed "al-Akhbar" Lebanese daily that the formulas secures STL financing, with neither a government decision nor a referral to the parliament.
"We don't need to approve it and we will stay on our rejection to STL financing," the sources clarified noting that "the decision, however, will be kept to Mikati, and Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi and no one else."
"This is conditioned that no crisis is created when later discussing the placement of money to be paid to the STL, in any budget in Council of Ministers," "al-Akhbar" quoted the sources.
Mikati, who met Hizbullah minister Mohamed Fneish, declared Tuesday that "work is underway to find a solution for the tribunal funding. Doors are still open, but nothing is final."
Announcing that Wednesday's ministerial session will be held as scheduled, Mikati viewed that "it is natural for the session to be held. I will call for another session if tomorrow's session was not held. I will make the appropriate contacts."
For his part, Fneish said after the meeting that "Hizbullah wants the government to stay but does not approve the funding."
In parallel, Jumblatt urged the necessity of the government's survival considering it a basic element in the country's stability.
"The current government is essential to ensure stability because any other alternative would merely lead to a political vacuum," Jumblatt stressed to "as-Safir".
Emphasizing that "the priority in the current phase should be unity between various Lebanese parties in order to preserve stability, he noted that House Speaker Berri is exerting efforts to fortify the government and resolve the dispute over the STL funding.
Meanwhile, President Michel Suleiman sources close told "as-Safir" "that the president agreed with officials he met on Tuesday that no one has an interest in forcing the collapse of the current government."
"The consecutive developments in the region require that Lebanon have active constitutional institutions ... as it will be difficult to form a new cabinet amid the current political rift," the sources said.
Aoun Shows Leniency
At the level of "Change and Reform" Bloc, "as-Safir" reported that the head of the bloc MP Michel Aoun showed leniency regarding finding a solution to STL funding issue.
"We all know that the tribunal is illegitimate and we are leaving this issue to be settled by the council of ministers," Aoun told reporters following his bloc's weekly meeting.
Regarding the possible boycott of Aoun ten ministers to Wednesday's session, it was not yet clear if the meeting would be postponed or not.
According to "as-Safir" the bloc's ministers linked their participation in the government to a set of conditions.
"The government's discussion of the salary boost and the implementation of several development projects were among the demands made by "Change and Reform" ministers," the paper clarified.
"The ministers will only attend the government's session if they receive promises that their requests will be met," sources told "as-Safir".
At another level, Abdullah Azzam Brigades, claimed responsibility for launching 122mm Katyusha rockets to the Western Galile of Occupied Palestine.
This comes as Lebanese army succeeded in finding the launching platforms in addition to two "9 Volt" batteries, a timer and a number of electrical cables on the side road between the southern border towns of Ain Ebel, Rmeish.
Commenting on the security development, President Suleiman said it was an "isolated incident."
"This ... marks a violation of the stability in the south and a breach of UN Resolution 1701, Lebanese laws and Lebanon's obligations to the international community, primarily the United Nations," he said in his statement.
Source: Lebanese newspaper, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
