Gov’t Endorsed Oil Body, Parliament Passed Transportation Allowance
The Syrian military decisiveness found its track towards international diplomacy.
The United Nation's Security Council met on a diluted statement concerning
Syria and the result was: No solution to emerge away from the Syrian regime's approval.
No Threats, Warnings, or time spans, but a non-binding presidential statement backing the mission of UN envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.
UNSC Statement on Syria
The presidential statement, which carried less weight than a formal Western draft resolution, gave strong backing to a six-point plan that Annan proposed to al-Assad this month.
The council called on "the Syrian government and opposition to work in good faith with the envoy toward a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis and to implement fully and immediately his initial six-point proposal."
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin shortly before the statement was agreed on, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made clear that "Moscow supported the amended text."
After meetings with German officials in Berlin, Lavrov said "the council's text reflects the reality in Syria and supports Annan's aims."
The Russian FM also confirmed that "the most important thing is that there are no ultimatums...and no suggestions as to who carries more blame."
"In light of the fact that there are armed sides that fight the government, it is not probable to rely on the UNSC to ask the governmental forces to withdraw from the main cities without taking similar steps by the opposition," Lavrov confirmed.
Syrian official sources commented on the new developments by saying "things are moving towards a political solution, led by Syria, under the auspices of the international community."
In an interview with "al-Akhbar" Lebanese daily, the sources informed that "the slogan of toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may be thrown in trash."
"The only alternative is through dialogue within the framework of a political process led by Damascus," the sources confirmed.
In parallel, the Security Council condemned in a press statement the "latest terrorist bombings which took place in Damascus and Aleppo."
Cohen's Message:
In Lebanon, banking sources revealed Thursday that "US Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen carried a threatening message to Lebanon concerning Syria."
According to "al-Akhbar" daily, "Cohen threatened Lebanese banking sector with major US steps if it showed leniency with the punitive measures imposed on Syria and Lebanon."
"Cohen delivered a US administration clear message that it's not kidding and that the Lebanese banking system will suffer greatly in the event of discovery of lanes to allow Syria and Iran escape US, European, and Arab sanctions."
Gov't, Parliament Successful Sessions
On the internal front, the Lebanese government provided a dose of solidarity to the Lebanese Army after "March 14" campaign against the military institution.
In their Wednesday's session, ministers underlined "the need for all political groups to respect the military as a safeguard of national unity."
On the other hand, the government endorsed the creation of an administrative body to oversee the oil sector.
Briefing reporters after the session, Information Minister Walid Daouq said "work would take place swiftly on the oil governing body, which will be in the interest of Lebanon and the oil sector."
In an interview with "as-Safir" newspaper, Energy minister Gibran Bassil viewed that "after the council of ministers' Wednesday achievement, the ball is now in the court of the Civil Service Council."
"The council must within one month appoint the members of the committee for administering the oil sector," he added pointing out that "any routine delay would prevent Lebanon from making use of its natural resources."
Moving to the legislative front, Lebanese parliament passed Wednesday awaited transportation allowance after merging two draft laws by "Future Movement" MP Nabil de Freij and "Change and Reform bloc" MP Ibrahim Kanaan.
Similarly, the parliament passed a law of reducing the prison's year into nine months.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
