Lebanese Wages Decree Rejected, Syria Waits
Like nowhere in the world, Lebanon gives one the opportunity to ski in the mountains, and then have a swim in the beach on the same day; an interaction also found between the Lebanese "political and social" affairs. For example, one cannot think about the effect Syria's crisis would have on Lebanon without tackling the "livelihood" crisis faced in the country.
Although Lebanon is quite a small country, yet its problems seem to grow "bigger and bigger". At the time of foreign interference in Lebanon causing disturbance in the performance of the government and national institutions, some internal conflicts are emerging.
Poor Lebanon! It seeks helping others with what complies with its own interests, but others come to "exploit" Lebanon so it would serve their own interests.
Feltman in Lebanon. Why?
While Syria is still in the line of fire under western and Arab League (AL) threats of sanctions, US Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman came to Lebanon to "predict" the inevitable collapse of Syria's [Bashar al-Assad] regime.
Feltman conducted a "tour" on some Lebanese politicians including the March 14 leadership, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker Nabih Berri, MP Walid Jumblatt, Army Commander Jean Qahwaji, Head of Internal Security Forces Ashraf Rifi, Patriarch Bechara al-Rai and other figures with which he discussed the "Syrian-Lebanese" affairs.
However, although Feltman expected to meet Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, the latter refused such a visit, as a response to the "indecent" treatment he received during his last visit to the US.
Furthermore, sources questioned the meeting between Feltman and Patriarch al-Rai, especially after the Patriarch was not allowed to meet any US official during his last visit to the US, due to his pro-Syrian and pro-resistance stances.
According to a US Embassy statement, the aim from this meeting was to change al-Rai's aforementioned perspective through convincing him of the importance of international and regional efforts to halt the so-called "brutality of the Syrian regime against the Syrian people".
Sources close to Lebanese Speaker Berri stated to an-Nahar daily that his meeting with Feltman was not on a "good course" as both expressed completely different perspectives to the issue in question; Syria. Berri on his part accused the US and the western interference of sabotaging the AL initiative, stressing that nothing will be solved in Syria but through internal dialogue between the regime and the people.
Al-Akhbar daily on its part stated that Speaker Berri had announced preciously he would boycott the US delegation in Lebanon and would not receive them.
Syria... Where to?
With Jeffrey Feltman's visit to Beirut, the US concerns seem to be seriously igniting to other stances. On his part, the French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton confirmed that France supports the AL efforts to send an observing fact-finding mission to Syria. French concerns on Lebanon followed the US, where Pietton expressed that Lebanon is most probably subject to being affected by the complicated Syrian crisis.
"We see that it's Lebanon's interest to avoid importing others' conflict to its territories", Pietton stated in an interview with Lebanese daily as-Safir, in a context of urging Lebanon to support the AL sanctions.
"The more the situation becomes complicated in Syria, and the longer the crisis becomes, there would be economic repercussions on its neighboring countries, not only on Lebanon", the French Ambassador to Lebanon added.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to ease the Syrian tension rather than increase it, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari reaffirmed his country's preservative stance regarding the AL sanctions imposed on Syria, referring to the joint economic relations, not to mention the presence of a big Iraqi community in Syria.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on another hand, and on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels, warned his counterparts that any attempt to further interfere in the Arab World turmoil will only increase tension, and cause sectarian conflict.
Also, Lavrov expressed his deep concern regarding the escalating sectarian (Sunni-Shiite) division in the Islamic world, adding that if this issue was not addressed to be resolved, then there will be some unfortunate events.
Moreover, the NATO representatives reiterated that the organization has no intention to interfere in the Syrian crisis like it did in Libya.
Lebanese Wages on Stake, GCLW Calls for Nation-Wide Strike
Back to Lebanon, this time on the Lebanese of "workers" governmental crisis, which erupted after the cabinet issued a decree approving a not-so-welcomed wages increase, head General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (GCLW) Ghassan Ghoson stressed that his organization will meet on Friday to call for a nation-wide general strike on Monday or Tuesday.
The wage decree was apparently not fair, for it didn't meet the mutual demands of the people.
Hereby in this context, Hizbullah's Educational Mobilization issued a statement in which it supported the intended GCLW strike.
In addition, GCLW sources noted that it is expected from some working committees to file complaints to the Lebanese State Council to demand the annulment of the wages decree.
The Lebanese government had approved on Wednesday the wage increase decree, increasing the minimum wage by L.L. 100,000 to L.L. 600,000, salaries under L.L. 1 million by 30 percent up to a L.L. 200,000 increase, and salaries above L.L. 1 million by a 20 percent increase up to L.L. 275,000. This proposal came as an amendment to a previous "refused" one presented by Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas.
Lebanon is confused! With regional, international, and internal pressures and tension, Lebanon deserves to get a grip on its own interests, in accordance with stances against the foreign interferences sweeping across Lebanon and the regional countries.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org team
