Lebanese Cabinet on Electricity Consensus, Annan’s Plan Sets Cease Fire Thursday
It is not a matter of concern; it is actually anxiety that keeps all eyes alert on the dire or good consequences of an "official" or "popular" step in any country around the globe.
In Lebanon, anticipations could be almost predicted; however every once in a while, new surprises appear to light, with direct effects or long-range future-generation effects.
Electricity, oil, elections, telecoms, and Syria, have become among the "anxiousness-boosting" topics discussed in the major Lebanese dailies, and among the people themselves.
The Telecoms Data Roundabout
Once again, the "Telecoms Data" was set in the aim, at the time when the March 14 camp's fingers were pointing at Lebanese Telecoms Minister Nicolas Sahnawi, with claims that he is increasing threats and endangering the people's lives, through "hiding" the said data.
On this level, Minister Sahnawi confirmed in an interview with as-Safir newspaper that "his Ministry will not tackle the situation, unless according to rules, and it will implement the laws despite all pressures. We will only give the complete data [after] the approval of the judiciary board."
Furthermore, Judge Aouni Ramadan asserted to the same newspaper that it is not the Telecoms Minister's authority to decide whether to hide or give out the telecoms data to any side, it is actually the sole power of the Judiciary Board.
Also, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said that the Judiciary Board is the only side entitled to look into the disputed issue, as-Safir daily added. This came after Head of Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea announced he was subjected to an "assassination attempt", and therefore blamed the "lack" of access to the telecoms data.
Electricity Generating-Generation
Furthermore, the electricity generating file was still the major discussion right until Thursday's ministerial session. The Ministerial Committee to look into renting the electricity-generating ships convened on Thursday, led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and decided to sign a deal with the Turkish company after negotiations were still on with the US Company as well, as-Safir daily indicated.
According to ministerial sources, the Turkish company seemed lean since the beginning regarding a potential discount on the cost/kilowatt, while the US Company did not open a door for discussion in this regard, the Lebanese daily added.
In addition, sources close to PM Mikati noted that the inter-ministerial negotiations were productive as the convened ministers reached a consensus to decrease the rental period of the two ships for two to three years, an-Nahar daily reported.
Meanwhile, the government decided to directly commence domestic 1500 megawatt electricity-generating power plants, the daily added.
Lebanese Water and Energy Minister, Gibran Bassil, for his part said in an interview with as-Safir newspaper that "we have adopted the right steps, which eventually met the interests of everyone. If not everyone were serious and cooperative [in this regard] then we wouldn't have reached this [decision]."
Referring to the anticipated "Administrative Board for the Petroleum Sector", Minister Bassil called on the specialized and professional personnel to put forward their expertise in this sector to fill in the job in a two-week period. He added that if this issue was tackled in the required pace, then the board would be see light by mid-May, the daily quoted.
CIA Recruits US-Residing Lebanese
Also relevant to the Lebanese, al-Akhbar daily newspaper revealed a new scandalous security breach; this time of the Lebanese sovereignty in foreign territories.
This time, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is directly affiliated, as it mingles in the students' clubs, among which Lebanese are members, in US universities, in an attempt to recruit espionage agents.
In this context, the Lebanese daily asserted that this "scheme" has been ongoing since 2008 in the many US universities, after one of the US-Lebanese students' associations decided to gather the Lebanese students in several US cities and offer them an annual recruiting and volunteering door at the CIA.
The daily further reported that a group of Lebanese-Americans studying in US universities joined a charity organization called The Lebanese Collegiate Network (LCN). The said network seeks to gather as much Lebanese-containing clubs in the US, and to join them in one network.
So far, al-Akhbar stated, the LCN succeeded in "embracing" around 20 college clubs with Lebanese members. It also has been organizing, since its establishment, seminars about the CIA, and the most recent was last week in Los Angeles.
In a direct relation, the daily further unveiled the CIA's years-long financial contributions at the LCN; a blatant breach of the CIA laws of performance within the US territories. Questions are raised on whether the US administration and congress are aware of the aforementioned spending. Other questions are raised on what Lebanon would do to protect the Lebanese from the ongoing US -intelligence schemes to breach the national sovereignty; in or outside Lebanon, the daily iterated.
Syria Expects Cease Fire Thursday, Regime Demands Opposition Pledge to Stop Violence
On the Syrian Level, logistic preparations are taking part to introduce the implementation of Kofi Annan's six-point plan. Despite a French-US-Arab pessimism at the UN Security Council, Annan's initiative is moving forward with hopes to reach a "true" cease fire by next Thursday, after a 48 hour space for the regime and opposition to set violence aside, starting next Tuesday.
On this level, Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told al-Akhbar daily that Annan's team held discussions with the many Syrian opposition parties, including the rebel Free Syrian Army, who vowed to hand in their weapons as soon as the regime forces abide by a total cease fire.
Whether the opposition will for sure abide by its claims, Syrian Ambassador to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari asserted his country's demand of a "written pledge" by the opposition stating it won't exploit the retreat of the regime forces to take over Syrian areas, saying that Annan does not have any guarantees for the opposition claims.
As-Safir daily on another hand reported that a Syrian official accused Arab and regional countries of igniting civil war in Syria, indicating that stances of some sides is similar to declaring war and aggression on Syria. The official also accused the said countries of sabotaging the mission of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan to Syria.
Moreover, he indicated that not all countries seek success of Annan's mission, with reference to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the US, as-Safir further reported.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
