Gov’t to Discuss High Voltage, Parliament Session on Its Performance
As the Syrian front moves towards calm and rest, it seems that the political compromise went out of the international cave in a clear admission that Syria won the battle.
The United Nations envoy Kofi Annan declared Monday that Damascus agreed immediately to start pulling troops out of cities.
"The Syrians have told us they have put a plan in place for withdrawing their army units from populated zones and surrounding areas. This plan ... will be completed by April 10," Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said in Geneva.
He further stressed that "if we are able to verify this has happened on the 10th, then the clock starts ticking on the cessation of hostilities, by the opposition as well. We expect both sides to cease hostilities within 48 hours."
In parallel, the rest in Syria is expected to leave its consequences on the Lebanese front as "March 14" is to sink again in the mud of failing bets.
On the internal scene, governmental ships are expected to sail from the port of electricity vessels and plants to reach soon that of oil wealth and electoral law.
Power Ships Committee Holds Positive Meeting
The ministerial committee tasked with the electricity generating ships file met Monday headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
According to "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper "the committee set the rules upon which the government would negotiate with American and Turkish companies to lease power-generating ships as a temporary solution for the country's electricity cuts."
After the meeting, Energy Minister Gibran Bassil announced that "the committee has set the scientific and logical rules on whose basis negotiations with the two remaining companies will be held."
"We have said that a technical committee on which delegates from the PM and ministers are represented, along with an international consultant whom we seek his assistance in this process, will unify the rules and figures so that negotiations can be held," Bassil said.
He further hoped that the " [technical committee's] report will be presented tomorrow [Tuesday] if possible so that the [ministerial committee's] next meeting can be held Wednesday or Thursday this week."
For his part, the committee member Environment Minister Nazem Khori confirmed that the committee decided to adopt a clear and accurate methodology to reach the best possible outcomes."
In an interview with "as-Safir" he stated that "we can say that we are moving in the right direction."
Sources close to PM Najib Mikati told "an-Nahar" that "the atmosphere of the meeting was relaxed.
"Discussions in the committee of experts allowed for bringing down the proposed prices and establishing a solid and unified negotiation platform with the two companies concerned," the PM's sources said.
Gov't to Meet, Diplomatic Appointments Soon
Meanwhile, the government is to convene Tuesday with a 69-item agenda.
According to "an-Nahar" daily, the government is to discuss the installation of high-voltage electricity lines in the North Metn towns of Mansourieh and Ain Saadeh.
"The government that will meet at the Grand Serail seems to be leaning towards the implementation of the project with adopting tougher measures," the paper added.
"This will include providing a cover by the security forces to install the lines," "an-Nahar" reported adding that "the state will buy the property of the residents whose homes lie under the high-voltage electricity lines."
In parallel, the daily learned that that the diplomatic appointments on the level of ambassadors are to be accomplished at the end of this month.
"Two obstacles are being resolved on the embassies in Europe, including the one in Rome," it stated.
"Israel" Seeking Settlement
On another context, "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper revealed that Cyprus notified Lebanon that ""Israel" is willing to find a solution to the issue of the maritime border with Lebanon."
"The contacts between the Lebanese and Cypriot sides after the mutual official visits between both countries, have expressed the seriousness of Cyprus to find a solution to this issue," a Lebanese official informed the daily.
Meanwhile, sources pointed out that Cyprus informed the Lebanese side of the outcome of its talks with "Israel".
"Unlike recent times, the "Israelis" wanted to find a solution to the issue of borders away from any escalation," Cypriot sides told their Lebanese counterpart assuring that "Cypriots are positive in dealing with the Lebanese position."
According to the paper, "the demarcation agreement between Nicosia and Tel Aviv kept point 1 not hanged until all parties, including Lebanon, reach consent."
However, Lebanese sources asserted that "Lebanon will not enter any direct or indirect negotiations with the "Israelis"."
"Lebanon aims at confirming its rights by benefiting from its natural resources that extends in its Exclusive Economic Zone," the sources highlighted.
Still, according to the sources, "This starts by ending the mistake prejudicing Lebanon and depriving it of more than 850 square kilometers of maritime surface area. Cyprus has promised to offer its assistance regarding this issue."
Diplomatic sources told "as-Safir" that "the US administration is exerting efforts-sometimes through the UN- to resolve the dispute between Lebanon and "Israel" as the matter might justify the Lebanese resistance targeting to "Israel" and its offshore oil installations in Occupied Palestine."
"US companies are not prepared to invest a single cent if no solution appeared to the disputed maritime border," sources told the paper.
For his part, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour declared that his ministry is waiting for the United Nations to confirm the map submitted by Lebanon.
"We have already discussed the issue with the Cypriot authorities... and demanded them to rectify the mistakes done by them through demarcating their maritime borders with Israel, which harmed Lebanon," Mansour told the same daily.
Parliamentary Session to Question Gov't
On another level, House Speaker Nabih Berri called Monday for a Parliament session between 17 and 19 April to assess the government's policies.
The session will convene at morning and again in the afternoon during the three days.
The discussions in Parliament next week will be the first of their kind since the formation of Prime Minister Najib Mikati's Cabinet last June.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
