Gov’t’s Session Still On, Financial Debate Continues
LA Seizes Ammunitions in Tripoli's Port
It's the era of elections.
In Europe, a wave of change is to alter the continent's political face starting with a new Socialist President in France, a new ruling regime in Greece, and a return to the Emperor Putin to the Russian Kremlin.
In Syria, millions of voters headed to polls to choose a new legislative council in light of the new constitution.
In Lebanon, the electoral calculations govern the political scene while major files remain on top of debate.
Oil Time...
"As-Safir" Lebanese newspaper reported Tuesday that the Lebanese oil wealth is back to the Lebanese agenda of priorities.
This came as the deadline for applying to the Oil committee ends Wednesday in preparation for another phase in which concerned parties would refer suitable applications to a committee tasked with choosing the members.
In this context, the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman headed Monday a meeting on this topic.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, Justice Minister Chakib Cordobawi, Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil, Chairman of the Coordination Committee with the United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon Major-General Abdul Rahman Ahiteley, General Director of Oil Sarkis Halis, and a number of consultants attended the meeting.
According to official information, "as-Safir" learned that the conferees reviewed the process by which the surveying of offshore oil fields has reached the stage of exploration.
"The attendants agreed on proceeding the stages to determine the Lebanese Exclusive Economic Zone and to preserve Lebanon's rights," it said.
In parallel, President Suleiman wished to keep the meeting decisions as confidential so that no complications or interventions of any kind appear.
"As-Safir" sources mentioned that "this meeting forms an introduction to the operational phase in the oil file."
"The mechanisms of this phase will be present in the Wednesday's 36-item governmental agenda," the paper added.
The sources revealed that the conferees discussed the "idea of drawing a maritime Blue Line that determines the economic area between Lebanon and Occupied Palestine."
"This line would leave the disputed area between Lebanon and "Israel" to negotiations undertaken by the United Nations," "as-Safir" revealed, noting that its area is larger than 860 km squares.
The daily further noted that President Suleiman was enthusiastic to the idea , because it will enable Lebanon to access quickly to the stage of practical application and benefit from its resources.
Similarly, both the PM and the Foreign Minister expressed relief to the idea.
However, "as-Safir" sources pointed out that "Minister Bassil showed discomfort on the proposal."
According to Bassil "Lebanon's position must be more firm and coherent in this context."
"There shouldn't be any incomplete steps, since we have also common maritime points with both Cyprus and Syria," the minister clarified.
On the security level, the Lebanese army confiscated a large quantity of machinegun ammunitions aboard an Italian ship in the port of Tripoli.
"As-Safir" unveiled that the ammunitions are to 9 mm, 12.7 mm, and Kalashnikov weapons.
"The ship's cargo is owned by the Italian company "Gremaldi"," the daily added, noting that " this cargo, that carries the Italian flag, is basically formed of vehicles including two Renault Rapid cars."
"One of the two Rapid cars included 15 boxes of ammunition in addition to carpets and children toys," the paper's correspondent informed, adding that the car belongs to the trader A.M. who managed to escape.
According to the daily, each box contained 1,000 bullets for different kinds of machineguns.
"The army confiscated the two cars, arrested a number of people for investigation and raided several places that A.M. might be hiding in," the daily mentioned.
It further reported that the Lebanese Army Intelligence moved the rapid car with its cargo to the Qobeh base and launched a probe in the incident.
The daily highlighted that the ship sailed from Italy to Germany, stopped in the Egyptian port of Alexandria, before sailing towards Tripoli.
"This raises a lot of questions especially that the "Lutfullah II" ship sailed from Alexandria to Tripoli," "as-Safir" said.
Gov't to Meet, Financial Crisis on Top
In parallel, "al-Akhbar" daily quoted ministerial sources who ruled out rumors that the government will postpone its Wednesday session.
"The session is still on and that there was no justification to postpone it," the sources confirmed, stating that "there is still a possibility to find a way out of the financial crisis."
The sources said "the issue might be discussed during the session but decisions could be postponed for later sessions with other items on the agenda receiving attention."
"It is impossible to adopt Head of the "Future Bloc" MP Fouad Siniora's proposal," the sources confirmed, noting that "as Siniora appears to be trying to help the government, in reality, he is trying to embroil it in a legal violation."
For his part, Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi viewed that the Lebanese financial crisis is political on the first level."
"We prepared all what the Finance and Budget Parliamentary Committee has prepared," Safadi said, adding that "he submitted to the Cabinet a draft decree of loaning 4900 billion liras."
In the same context, "an-Nahar" daily stated that "President Suleiman reiterated his rejection to sign the bill for including legal violations that he says should be settled by the government and the parliament."
"Discussions continues between all governmental parties to reach a solution," the paper said.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
