Another Financial Scandal, Dialogue Embarrasses Future
Nothing new in the case of the 11 Lebanese kidnapped by Syrian rebels. However, the noise eased as no place existed but for longing hearts and patient eyes.
Yet, political movement accompanied efforts to release the hostages as the suffering families preferred to remain silent until their sons are freed.
Turks Move Continues
In this context, new developments breached the calm view as the Turkish ambassador in Lebanon, Innan Ozyildiz moved in more than one side. Ozyildiz met House Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad.
According to "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper, the Turkish ambassador move came to transfer a message from Ankara to Beirut.
"The Turkish Ambassador's visits to Ain al-Tineh, the Grand Serail and Hizbullah were in response to a direct request from Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu," the paper learned.
It also clarified that "the message indicated that Turkey is well aware of the sensitivity of the case of the kidnapped men for Lebanon, and the repercussions of this issue on the internal level."
The Turkish envoy further assured his Lebanese hosts that his country will spare no effort to solve this issue and to pave the way to return the kidnapped men to their loved ones.
"As-Safir" learned that Speaker Berri stressed to the Turkish diplomat that Lebanon was ready to contribute to the efforts exerted to release the abductees.
For his part, MP Raad confirmed that Hizbullah relies on the Turkish government to resolve the crisis, and stressed that the party is, with its people, exercising all possible self-restraint in dealing with this crisis.
In parallel, informed sources told "as-Safir" that "the Turkish channel of negotiation is still open with the kidnappers, and that the Turkish ambassador's tour showed that Ankara has an actual intention to find a solution."
The sources emphasized that the ongoing efforts for the release of the abductees must be away from media, popular and political clamor.
"The existence of many cooks usually lead to the burning of the dish," sources recalled the Arab proverb as saying.
Lebanon: Al-Qaeda New Target
Meanwhile, new information were revealed on the security threats that encounter Lebanon.
"Al-Akhbar" daily reported Wednesday that "during the last weeks, Lebanese security services received serious information related to "al-Qaeda" activities in Lebanon."
"This included the list of targets, including assassinations and exploding certain facilities," the daily clarified and highlighted that "well-known al-Qaeda members arrived Lebanon to implement the plans."
Security sources informed the daily that "between the 1st and the 3rd of May, Head of Foreign Relation in al-Qaeda, Ahmed C., arrived Lebanon accompanied by his aide Abdullah H. (He is a tall white-skin man who carry a false identity on behalf of Ahmed Hussein Akl)."
"The aim of the visit is to carry out series of operations, most notably the decision to assassinate Speaker Berri," "al-Akhbar" reported.
It also mentioned that "among other goals is the possibility of the assassination of Pope Benedict XVI during his scheduled visit to Lebanon next September."
"The assassination of political and religious Shiite and Christian figures is among the plan aimed at agitating sectarian strife in Lebanon," the paper explained.
"Al-Akhbar" also reported that the Saudi Majed al-Majed (the aide of Ahmed Jamil who lives in Lebanon) told Palestinians Abdul Majid Azzam and Tawfiq Taha, that the other leaders of al-Qaeda, among whom is the Tunisian Sheikh. S.A., arrived in Lebanon via Turkey."
"The Tunisian man has strong relations with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," the paper added.
Financial Scandal again...
On another level, "as-Safir" daily unveiled some of the hidden threads related to the scandal of donations.
"The meeting of the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee showed features of a new financial scandal," it reported.
According to the daily, "only 8 percent of all donations that Lebanon received since 1997 are included in the category of imports of the Treasury, while the remaining 92% have been transferred to special accounts at the Central Bank, and perhaps in private banks too!"
Future Preconditions for Dialogue
Meanwhile, President Suleiman's call for national dialogue has been faced by Future Movement pre-conditions.
The parliamentary Future bloc conditioned the formation of a neutral government to oversee next year's parliamentary elections and the discussion of the resistance's arms to participate in the next month's new session of dialogue.
This came as PM Najib Mikati called on "national leaders to accept the invitation because it is an important occasion to meet and consult on issues mentioned in the invitation."
Similarly, Speaker Berri viewed the "return to the national dialogue table is very important in these exceptional circumstances."
"If the political leaders just sit, side by side after a long break, this will help vent the internal tension," Berri stressed to "as-Safir".
He also stated that "this will leave a positive impact on the general situation in the country."
Source: Lebanese papers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
