Life Back into Gov’t, Siniora’s $ 11 Billion spending on Top, Bellemare Replaced: Not Yet
Syria Votes, Opposition Suffers
"The issue of administrative appointments is expected to be tackled during subsequent meetings in accordance with what was agreed upon during the time when political leaders were trying to find a solution to the dispute over the transport allowance decree," "as-Safir" learned.
Dreams flew into the space but on earth lies a number of facts that are too difficult to hide.
And if Uncle Sam and its moderate Arabs allies decided to swim in the space of unknown, the Syrian people simply said their word.
Between the Land and the Space, we are to win both and all conspirators' bets against Syria are to fall at the step of Damascus, the fortress of steadfastness and resistance.
In a clear application to promises of reform, millions of Syrians poured Sunday into poll centers to vote on a referendum for a new constitution.
As TV stations were busy airing live footage showing that a large number of voters had turned out, voting in the capital Damascus was extended until 10pm following a late rush.
Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife voted at the headquarters of state-owned television and radio.
Stressing that "the attack on Syria is a media assault," al-Assad clarified that "it is true that media is important, but it does not beat reality."
"They can be stronger in space but we are the most powerful on earth and we are to win both the Earth and space."
This comes as the results of the poll are to be released Monday.
In parallel, all US promises of supporting the so-called Syrian oppositions went in vain as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Sunday against "arming rebels in Syria because such a move could inadvertently lead to support for al-Qaeda and Hamas."
"We really don't know who it is that would be armed," the top US diplomat told CBS News during a visit to Morocco, as she noted that al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has expressed support for the Syrian rebels.
"Are we supporting al-Qaeda in Syria?" she asked. "Hamas is now supporting the opposition. Are we supporting Hamas in Syria?"
In the same context, the Lebanese "as-Safir" newspaper unveiled Monday that the so-called "Friends of Syria" conference held in Tunis led to nothing but to a failure at the opposition front."
"The Tunisian failure emerged to the surface the deep divisions that co-existed under the roof of the National Council as the top representative of a broad spectrum of the Syrian opposition abroad," the paper clarified.
The paper further uncovered that "19 members in Tunisia announced the formation of the Syrian national Working Group."
Gov't Back, Berri Gives Siniora Last Chance
At the Lebanese front, four weeks on the suspension of governmental work are to end Monday with an ordinary session to be held in Baabda Presidential Palace.
"Change and Reform Bloc" sources hoped in an interview with "al-Akhbar" daily that "Prime Minister Najib Mikati responds similarly to the bloc's positive deal with the governmental crisis."
The sources expected that "communication is to take place between Mikati and the bloc on the topic of appointments on the sidelines of the governmental meeting Monday."
Seeking to usher a new era of governmental performance, a cabinet's draft law to legalize extra-budgetary spending of about $6 billion in 2011 is expected to overshadow the session parallel to $ 11 billion spent in former PM Fouad Siniora's time.
Monday's Cabinet session comes against the backdrop of a crucial meeting, to be chaired by House Speaker Nabih Berri, of Parliament's secretariat and heads of parliamentary committees in an attempt to find a solution for the problem of extra-budgetary government spending
In an interview with "as-Safir" daily, Berri announced that he decided to "give Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora a chance until the next parliamentary session scheduled on March 5 to deal positively with the ministerial committee tasked to follow up on the government expenditures issue."
"Siniora can't link 8.9 trillion L.L. spent by the government in 2011 to the governments' expenses from 2006 until 2010," Berri explained.
He also said that "the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee described every item of the 2011 expenditures," however "we do not know on what the $11 billion were spent."
Calling the "Future bloc" to "vote whether with or against allocating to the cabinet 8.9 trillion L.L. for extraordinary expenses in 2011 instead of withdrawing from the session," the speaker informed that he "will call for voting during the next parliamentary session if the quorum was complete."
Similarly, Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas said in remarks to "al-Joumhoria" newspaper that "we need to know how the 2006 cabinet (Siniora's cabinet) spent $11 billion."
Religious Meeting
At another level, "an-Nahar" newspaper reported that Speaker Berri is preparing for a conference set to gather the religious leaders of different sects in Lebanon and the region to stress the importance of dialogue among all religions.
According to the paper, Berri had sent letters to heads of different confessions in Lebanon informing them about his intentions.
"He sought to bring the religious leaders together amid the turmoil in the region, especially the developments in Syria and the possible repercussions they might have on Lebanon," it added.
Farell to Replace Bellemare?
At the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's developments, The PM's office denied receiving yet any official information on the appointment of new Prosecutor as a successor of Daniel Bellemare.
This came as it was leaked Sunday the Deputy of International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia Norman Farrell is to replace Bellemare.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
