Maronite Summit in Baabda, Syrian Operations at Lebanese Borders
Berri to Preside Session, Jumblatt, "March 14" Boycott
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
As some people have lost their compass towards reality, it was necessary to remind of the correct direction.
It is the beginning and never the end. Ask about it to uncover the hidden facts.
Within its hands lie Muses miracle, Jesus cradle, and Mohammad's ascension.
It is Palestine the sky's bride and land's capital. And from it the beginning of the end of the Zionist regime is launched.
Sayyed Nasrallah: Days of Zionist Regime to an End
As the Secretary General of Hizbullah His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah reiterated that confronting the attempts of Judaizing al-Quds through a well-studied and calculated project is our duty, he further stressed that "the choice to hold negotiations to return al-Quds to Palestine is unrealistic because "Israel" considers the city as its permanent capital."
Inaugurating the Forum entitled "Declaration of al-Quds as the capital of Palestine, the Arabs and Muslims," Sayyed Nasrallah said: "tell me where al-Quds is, I tell you where the region would be."
His Eminence further noted that the first signs of al-Quds' liberation were the South Lebanon 2000 liberation, following the July 2006 victory in Lebanon and then the "Israeli" assault on the Gaza Strip that reaped only failure.
"The era of victories has arrived while that of defeats has come to an end," Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated.
At the internal level, it seems that the lost of quorum in Monday's legislative session is to open the Lebanese front on two possibilities: either an open crisis on extra-budget spending or an open door for last minutes' compromises.
This came as "National Struggle Front" leader MP Walid Jumblatt joined "March 14" forces' decision in boycotting the parliamentary session.
However, House Speaker Nabih Berri refused to postpone the session.
In an interview with "as-Safir" Lebanese daily, Berri announced that he "will head to parliament to preside the session in accordance with its agenda."
"The session is supposed to be normal and natural, because it does not differ from other legislative sessions," the House Speaker informed acknowledging that "who are to boycott must bear the responsibility for their decision."
Confirming that "the session's agenda includes several draft-laws that concern the Lebanese," Berri viewed that "if $5.9 billion spending bill of Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government isn't approved after discussion, this would neither be the first time nor the end of the world."
"I have proposed an initiative and improved its conditions of success," he said pointing out that "it was up to all sides to cooperate with him to resolve the dispute between the majority and the minority opposition."
For his part, MP Jumblatt declared to "as-Safir" that "his bloc's decision to boycott the session lies in insistence to find a political solution to the dispute."
"This doesn't mean that we are no longer part of the ruling majority," he said.
However, it seems that Jumblatt's assurance didn't find its echo at "Change and Reform Bloc" places.
In this context, Energy minister Gibran Bassil accused Jumblatt of supporting "March 14" in its demand.
"Ex-PM Fouad Siniora's panic reached an extent to boycott the legislative session if he didn't get two lines clearance of $ 11 billion his government spent," Bassil said to the same paper describing Siniora's move as "political audacity."
Suleiman, Aoun, Al-Rai Meet in Baabda
At another level, Lebanese political circles were busy estimating the outcomes of the surprising meeting that gathered President Michel Suleiman with both "Change and Reform Bloc" MP Michel Aoun and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai at Baabda Presidential Palace.
Commenting on the meeting "al-Akhbar" daily reported that "it was said to have tackled public appointments as well as safeguarding the president's position."
In remarks to "an-Nahar" newspaper, Suleiman clarified that "the meeting touched on the overall Lebanese situation and developments and did not focus on particular objectives or issues."
Describing the meeting as "good", the Head of the state uncovered that "the attendees discussed issues related to administrative appointments, electrical law, in addition to the subject of state budget."
Similarly, sources close to al-Rai also said that the meeting was "excellent."
In another topic, Suleiman revealed to "as-Safir" that "he is seeking to amend the age of retirement for the army commander, suggesting that it be raised to 62 instead of 58."
"We don't want to have to extend the mandate of General Jean Qahwaji when he reaches the age of retirement," Suleiman told the daily adding that "it is important that the current army commander remains in his post until the end of my tenure."
The President explained that "amending the age of retirement could maintain the mandate of the current army chief until the end of his tenure so that the post of the head of army doesn't remain vacant."
At the security level, after pro- and anti-Syrian regime rallies passed peacefully in Martyrs' Square Sunday, a significant development took place along the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Syrian Operations at Border, French Officers Held in Homs
The Lebanese army on Sunday arrested a group of Syrian armed men who had entered Lebanese territory via the border town of al-Qaa, seizing a car and a large cache of weapons.
In addition, the Syrian forces started bombing the tunnel which connects the Syrian town Jose with the region of al-Qaa in the Lebanese territory.
"The tunnel was used, facilitated by "Future" party, to the smuggling of arms and fighters to Syria," NNA reported.
In parallel, the "Daily Star" Lebanese paper reported Monday that "around 13 French officers are being held by Syrian authorities in central Homs city."
"It was not clear why the officers were in Syria, when they had arrived or whether they were part of a larger contingent in the city," the paper informed.
Stating that the "French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said there was no confirmation of French armed forces being held in Syria," the paper's sources stressed that "Paris and Damascus were working to reach an agreement on what to do with the officers."
