Jumblatt to Meet Al-Faisal, Oil Appointments on Track
Zeinab Essa
Lebanon has entered a stage of electoral heat and political lineups in preparation for the zero hour on the coming months: 2013 parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, as the political debate is expected to reach high ceilings, urgent files are present on more than one level.
In addition to the electoral law and the oil topic, the electricity generating vessels as well as the consecutive strikes are to be present in the daily menu of politics.
Electoral Law on Gov't's Agenda
On the electoral law, the Lebanese government is scheduled to discuss Wednesday the draft law concerning the expatriate vote after the Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour proposed the logistic and technical mechanism for the poll.
Hours after meeting the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Mansour confirmed to "as-Safir" newspaper that "we are ready, and the Lebanese embassies are able to conduct the elections."
"We only need the mechanism, especially after the ministry finished a geographical and demographical survey for all the Lebanese expatriates in foreign countries," he clarified, noting that "we have identified the number of station polls needed."
The minister also revealed that the estimated cost for the polls reaches nearly two million dollars.
In a parallel context, "an-Nahar" daily uncovered that Suleiman's meeting with Mansour aimed at finding ways to fill vacant diplomatic seats ahead of the 2013 parliamentary elections.
"Suleiman will soon kick off consultations with political and other prominent leaders in order to discuss the election law with proportional representation remaining a top issue," the President's sources told the daily.
For his part, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel linked the completion of the electoral law with the availability of political consensus and the political will to complete this matter.
He further reiterated to "as-Safir" that "he is with proportionality. However, the final decision is for the Council of Ministers."
LF's Political Bidding
On another level, the electricity file is back to the political bidding through the electricity generating ships title.
Lebanese Forces brought the issue of generating ships back to spotlight as its MP George Adwan requested the House Speaker Nabih Berri to form a parliamentary inquiry in this matter.
According to "al-Akhbar", Adwan voiced hope that "the General Assembly forms this committee to prove the effectiveness of the parliamentary censorship."
He also urged the parliament to establish a similar committee on extra-budgetary spending since 1990.
In response, Berri viewed that the "parliamentary work must be finalized," promising that he would refer Adwan's request to the Parliament's Bureau in preparation for its submission to the General Assembly to take the appropriate decision."
However, Berri's sources refused in remarks to "al-Akhbar" to set a date for the request, "because things need time for discussion, especially that we have just ended the long parliamentary sessions."
In parallel, Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed Adwan's request, considering that "the formation of the committee gives us more transparency."
Furthermore, Mikati's sources turned down the claims that "the government has given up the plans for renting generating ships."
Sources asserted to "as-Safir" that "we are in the process of legal negotiations with the Turkish company about all the administrative, legal, and technical details."
"We must discuss all the expected problems and the needed conditions to achieve success," sources added.
Oil Appointments in Next Phase
On the oil file, the Minister of Administrative Development Mohammed Fneish stressed for "as-Safir" that " the ministry has received quite a number of applications for the appointment of the Board of Oil Directors."
"We can say that we have launched the appointment's path, and will complete it as quickly as desired," Fneish assured.
He further stated that "if all the measures are completed as expected, it is likely to resolve the appointment of oil Board members the next May."
Concerning the visit of the "National Struggle Front" Leader to Saudi Arabia, "al-Akhbar" reported that the man will meet the Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal as a first step to restore the relationship with the Kingdom.
"Contrary to the impressions that emerged from some political circles in Beirut, Jumblatt's visit to the KSA is unlikely to bring about any change in his position on the government," the paper commented.
Lebanon has entered a stage of electoral heat and political lineups in preparation for the zero hour on the coming months: 2013 parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, as the political debate is expected to reach high ceilings, urgent files are present on more than one level.
In addition to the electoral law and the oil topic, the electricity generating vessels as well as the consecutive strikes are to be present in the daily menu of politics.
Electoral Law on Gov't's Agenda
On the electoral law, the Lebanese government is scheduled to discuss Wednesday the draft law concerning the expatriate vote after the Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour proposed the logistic and technical mechanism for the poll.
Hours after meeting the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Mansour confirmed to "as-Safir" newspaper that "we are ready, and the Lebanese embassies are able to conduct the elections."
"We only need the mechanism, especially after the ministry finished a geographical and demographical survey for all the Lebanese expatriates in foreign countries," he clarified, noting that "we have identified the number of station polls needed."
The minister also revealed that the estimated cost for the polls reaches nearly two million dollars.
In a parallel context, "an-Nahar" daily uncovered that Suleiman's meeting with Mansour aimed at finding ways to fill vacant diplomatic seats ahead of the 2013 parliamentary elections.
"Suleiman will soon kick off consultations with political and other prominent leaders in order to discuss the election law with proportional representation remaining a top issue," the President's sources told the daily.
For his part, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel linked the completion of the electoral law with the availability of political consensus and the political will to complete this matter.
He further reiterated to "as-Safir" that "he is with proportionality. However, the final decision is for the Council of Ministers."
LF's Political Bidding
On another level, the electricity file is back to the political bidding through the electricity generating ships title.
Lebanese Forces brought the issue of generating ships back to spotlight as its MP George Adwan requested the House Speaker Nabih Berri to form a parliamentary inquiry in this matter.
According to "al-Akhbar", Adwan voiced hope that "the General Assembly forms this committee to prove the effectiveness of the parliamentary censorship."
He also urged the parliament to establish a similar committee on extra-budgetary spending since 1990.
In response, Berri viewed that the "parliamentary work must be finalized," promising that he would refer Adwan's request to the Parliament's Bureau in preparation for its submission to the General Assembly to take the appropriate decision."
However, Berri's sources refused in remarks to "al-Akhbar" to set a date for the request, "because things need time for discussion, especially that we have just ended the long parliamentary sessions."
In parallel, Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed Adwan's request, considering that "the formation of the committee gives us more transparency."
Furthermore, Mikati's sources turned down the claims that "the government has given up the plans for renting generating ships."
Sources asserted to "as-Safir" that "we are in the process of legal negotiations with the Turkish company about all the administrative, legal, and technical details."
"We must discuss all the expected problems and the needed conditions to achieve success," sources added.
Oil Appointments in Next Phase
On the oil file, the Minister of Administrative Development Mohammed Fneish stressed for "as-Safir" that " the ministry has received quite a number of applications for the appointment of the Board of Oil Directors."
"We can say that we have launched the appointment's path, and will complete it as quickly as desired," Fneish assured.
He further stated that "if all the measures are completed as expected, it is likely to resolve the appointment of oil Board members the next May."
Concerning the visit of the "National Struggle Front" Leader to Saudi Arabia, "al-Akhbar" reported that the man will meet the Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal as a first step to restore the relationship with the Kingdom.
"Contrary to the impressions that emerged from some political circles in Beirut, Jumblatt's visit to the KSA is unlikely to bring about any change in his position on the government," the paper commented.
"Israel" to Build Wall on Borders with Lebanon
On the security level, "al-Akhbar" daily reported that the Zionist entity is to start building a wall along part of Occupied Palestine's border with Lebanon.
According to "Israeli" media, the wall will be constructed near the next Metulla settlement.
"It [the wall] is more than 2 kilometers long and 10 meters high," the "Israeli" channel 10 learned, claiming that " it also aims at preventing clashes between "Israeli" and Lebanese border forces whose posts are often just meters apart."
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
