Armed Militia in Arsal, Pope might Cancel Visit to Lebanon
Here in the region, terminologies form a reflection of a wider game.
And between the US-Western backed civil war term and the Russian-Syrian keen on internal Syrian stability, it seems that battle of positions will continue.
Amid all this tension, hardly does Lebanon try to preserve its stability in face of the surrounding dangers. This comes as major internal files emerge to the scene.
Budget Discussion Postponed
As the Lebanese governmental train was supposed to stop at the station of Lebanese budget, it was decided to postpone this test because of the Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi's inability to participate in the cabinet's scheduled session Thursday.
Thus, the government would tackle a single item resembled by the 2012 Treasury loans.
In parallel, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman seeks to adopt Baabda's dialogue declarations as a national constitutional pact.
Suleiman: Baabda Declarations A National Pact
In this context, Suleiman told "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper that the "Baabda Declaration exceeded the expectations through its constitutional terms, which have become a reference for all the coming governments and future covenants."
"The item that stresses Lebanon's dissociation from the regional axes and international conflicts, as well as abiding tensions and regional crises, is a binding item to all Lebanese sides," he confirmed.
The President further affirmed that "this position forms a positive Lebanese dissociation based on the constitutional formula."
In response to all those who criticized the declaration, Suleiman told "as-Safir": "There are those who have not read, and probably does not want to read what was agreed on by all rivals."
"We didn't avoid the discussion of weapons," he asserted, and pointed out that "time wasn't enough for this item."
Moreover, the Head of the state revealed that "the next dialogue session will directly discuss the defense strategy and arms after we have set the framework for our work in the first session."
Suleiman stated that "we do not have a subject to start with, according to the agenda, accept the national defense strategy."
"This will include the issue of weapons from three aspects: the weapons of the resistance and how to use it positively, the Palestinian weapons, and the disarmament of spread weapons inside and outside cities," Suleiman said.
For its part, "an-Nahar" Lebanese daily reported Thursday that "March 14" group plans to introduce the Syrian crisis into the next dialogue table.
According to high-ranking opposition sources, ""March 14" seeks to stir the so-called issue of Syrian violations of Lebanese sovereignty during the next national dialogue session later this month."
Pope to Cancel Visit?
On another level, Lebanese papers highlighted that the Pope Benedict XVI would cancel his September scheduled visit to Lebanon at the last moment.
According to "as-Safir", "the Syrian crisis and its effects on Lebanon would lead to such decision."
"The Vatican's reticence at giving precise outlines on the voyage is telling of a desire to move slowly in a regional situation that is becoming more explosive daily," a Vatican source told "an-Nahar".
He also stated that " the Vatican secretariat has been analyzing the development of the Syrian crisis closely, pointing that the conflict is being fuelled by weapons and armed men from overseas, including Lebanon."
Army Deployment to Face Arsal Armed Militia
On the security level, "al-Binaa" Lebanese daily reported Thursday that a meeting was held in the last days in the Bekaa town of Arsal in an attempt to discuss the recent border incidents.
The conferees mainly discussed the armed clash that took place in Khirbet Daoud village between the Syrian army and Lebanese arms smugglers.
In this context, the daily unveiled that "one of the largest dealers and arms traffickers was killed inside the Syrian territories as dozens were also injured while smuggling weapons to Syrian rebels."
According to the newspaper, "the meeting in question resulted from calling for the formation of armed groups estimated between 250 to 300 members and fighters."
"These include Lebanese, Syrians and Arabs led by Ali Hussein Hujairi , who is responsible for attacking the Syrian army's centers at the borders with Lebanon," "al-Binaa" mentioned.
In parallel, official security sources told "al-Akhbar" daily that "the Lebanese army decided to deploy its units in one of the desolate areas of Arsal areas, especially in the area of Khirbet Daoud."
"Arsal became an active area for the smuggling of weapons to Syria," the army sources uncovered.
Marada Marks Geagea's Massacre
On another context, the Marada Movement marked Wednesday the 34th anniversary of the 1978 Ehden massacre by Head of Lebanese forces Samir Geagea.
The massacre led to the death of MP Suleiman Franjieh's father former minister Tony Franjieh, his mother, sister and more than 20 other people.
A ceremony was held at Franjieh residence. Meanwhile, a Hizbullah delegation headed by Agriculture Minister Hussein al-Hajj Hassan and a number of other ministers and lawmakers also attended the ceremony.
Minister Hajj Hassan stressed that the Marada movement leader's [MP Franjieh's ]"national stances are usually taken by great men like those embraced by his father and grandfather."
Source: Lebanese dailies, Translated and edited by moqawama.org
