Ban for Disarming Hizbullah, Sayyed Nasrallah Waited Response Saturday
To there... hearts eager, and to the holy shrine tears' trip degrades.
As the spirits race, the throats vow: if they cut our legs and hands we'll crawl to visit you our Imam Hussein (P.B.U.H)
Neglecting the threats of terrorist explosions and the hardships of weather, the Husseini loyalists long with their hearts and spirits to visit the Martyrs' master and share a sacred bond of love with Him.
Int'l Envoys to Beirut
The newspaper pointed out that "it was not available to Ban Ki-moon to hear the condemnation of the protesters in front of the "ESCWA" for his "bias to "Israel"", and their denounce of "United Nations' silence towards the Zionist continuous attacks in Lebanon and Palestine."
"Arms outside the authority of the state are not acceptable," he said.
Confirming the necessity of renewing STL protocol, the UNSG announced that he had discussed the matter earlier on Friday in meetings with President Suleiman, PM Mikati and Speaker Berri.
He also demanded compensations for the oil spill caused by "Israel's" bombardment of storage tanks at the thermal power station in Jiyeh during the July 2006 "Israeli" aggression against Lebanon.
"To date, "Israel" has not accepted to turn the post-July war cessation of hostilities into a permanent ceasefire in order to justify incessant over flights in Lebanese airspace and its naval and territorial violations," Berri added during talks in Ain al-Tineh with the UN chief.
During the meeting, Berri asserted that "the spirit of UN Resolution 1701 requires that the UN demarcates Lebanon's maritime borders, in the vein of its demarcation of the land borders, given that it is an international peacekeeping force."
Asking for "serious support from the United Nations after the conference held by Lebanon on the disposal of the cluster bombs left over from the "Israeli" aggression," the speaker also highlighted "the very solid relation between the Lebanese people in the South and UNIFIL peacekeepers."
Addressing the Syrian crisis, Berri noted that "what's happening in Syria is different than the so-called Arab Spring."
Berri also stressed his "support for the Arab initiative on Syria," expressing regret that "the initiative still lacks a political aspect and efforts by the Arab League to launch dialogue between the regime and the opposition."
In parallel, "an-Nahar" has learned that Ban will keep his Special Envoy for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559 Tere Roed-Larsen in place.
"As-Safir" well-informed sources mentioned Saturday that "wages' file has reached a stage of high sensitivity, thus, making the coming forty-eight hours crucial in terms of access to settle consensual on this subject before the government's meeting next Monday."
On the forty day visitation (Arbaeen) of Imam Hussein, more than 15 million people are heading to Karbala on foot.
In Lebanon, particularly Baalbek, the secretary General of Hizbullah is scheduled to deliver a speech in the memory. This comes as the international mobility towards Lebanon raises many political and security questions.
The two days scheduled visit of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to Lebanon has semi- declared objectives related to certain topics: UNIFIL, Syria, Resistance arms, and renewal of Special Tribunal for Lebanon protocol as well as opening of a conference on democratic transition in the Arab countries to be attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
The Turkish top diplomat who is expected to arrive Beirut Saturday morning is to hold bilateral talks with Lebanese officials in addition to meeting with a senior official in Hizbullah.
"The meeting is the first of its kind after toppling the former government of Saad Hariri," "as-Safir" Lebanese daily commented.
However, away from the expected and scheduled, Commander of the US Central Command Gen. James Mattis made an unannounced striking visit to the Lebanese capital where he met President Michel Suleiman, House Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the presence of Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, as well as the Lebanon's army commander Gen. Jean Qahwagi before leaving to Larnaka.
Sources in the Baabda Presidential Palace and the Serail informed the dailies that "Ban did not mention the STL in any way, except within the framework of Lebanon's commitments."
Ban Seeks Hizbullah Arms
Under the title "Ban Seeks Hizbullah Arms", "al-Akhbar" newspaper reported Saturday that "Ban and Mattis, the first is the head of International civilian Peace and the second a top military US official toured and moved in Lebanon discussing regional issues, and urging Lebanon to apply its obligations, and declaring that the Lebanese army should be the only legitimate defense force to ensure the borders of Lebanon."
Following talks with the Lebanese top officials, Ki-Moon told reports in a press conference that "he is deeply concerned about the military capabilities of Hizbullah as well as the lack of progress in disarmament."
Ban was quoted by Mikati's media office as saying that he would discuss the matter of "Israeli" violations with "Israeli" officials during his upcoming visit to the Zionist entity, emphasizing the importance of an "Israeli" withdrawal from the northern part of the occupied village of Ghajar.
Berri to UNSG: Syrian Crisis Varies from Arab Spring, Demarcate Borders
For his part, House speaker Nabi Berri stressed to the UN visitor "the need that the United Nations demarcates Lebanon's maritime borders."
Wages Still on Top
In the midst of the international move towards Lebanon, the file of wages is sill occupying the internal scene.
"The subject is not to be set on the Council of Ministers' agenda Monday if the case remained in the circle of the dispute," the paper added.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
