Suleiman Seeks Solution for March 14 Dialogue Boycott, Lebanon-Heading Syrian Refugees to be Followed Up
When there is no communication, then relationships are doomed to shatter into pieces. In a nut shell, this is how the political situation in Lebanon and the world is estimated. With attempts to allocate "dialogue" dates, there is always a side that seeks sabotage of the whole "getting together" plan, and therefore; consensus on anything becomes a dream.
Syria's situation is not so alien than that of Lebanon, for at the time the regime is urging political, "diplomatic dialogue", foreign interfering parties are urging a purely-opposition government formation.
These issues and other related ones made the headlines of the Lebanese dailies in their Monday edition.
Dialogue "Major" Alleged Loophole Closed... What to Follow?
In its Monday editorial, as-Safir daily stated that this new week is expected to kick off on four issues that ought to remain the matter of discussion within the upcoming days. These issues are the dialogue table, telecoms data, electricity daily contractor workers, and the Syrian refugees fleeing into Lebanon; in addition to the restored tension on some border points.
Regarding the dialogue table, the daily went on to say that Lebanese President Michel Suleiman wanted to take it easy in finalizing the fate of the dialogue session, which is supposedly "still" scheduled for Tuesday. The flexible formula reached during the Baabda meeting, which Okays providing the March 14 with the telecoms data, retreats one of the major pretexts that March 14 team was holding on to, in opposition of the dialogue.
According to sources, if March 14 stayed put on their conditions until the dialogue date, then among the options before the President is to convene the dialogue session with the parties attending, and then it would be postponed till later.
The sources added that the goal confirms the continuity of dialogue, which has become a vital need in light of the exceptional situation witnessed in the country, believing that the alternative to dialogue is chaos.
Moreover, the sources added to the daily that the meeting headed by President Suleiman in the Baabda Palace, over the telecoms data, was useful and productive; clarifying that the meeting reached a possible formula over handing in the data to the security apparatuses. As for the other issues, they are supposed to be discussed at the dialogue table, the sources iterated.
Majority Relations... Communication Leads Solutions
On another hand, al-Akhbar daily focused on the relations among the majority party, indicating that signs of solution are beginning to appear through the consecutive meetings convened throughout the past week.
The daily added, according to March 8 political sources, that the meetings held by Minister Suleiman Franjiyeh, and other allies, with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Michel Aoun, opened the door before solving the crisis, especially after Franjiyeh expressed readiness to solving disputes.
The sources confirmed that Franjiyeh's efforts did not tackle the details of the crisis, but left it to be solved in the upcoming meetings between Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement.
Furthermore, al-Akhbar daily reported that Energy and Water Minister Gibran Bassil held a meeting with Head of Hizbullah Liaison and Coordination unit, Wafiq Safa, during which both parties tackled matters of disputes and ways of solving them.
Sources circulating both parties affirmed that the meeting reflected a positive atmosphere, unlike the previous ones, the daily further noted.
Syrian Refugees' File to be Tackled
Still on Lebanon, but this time with a Syrian atmosphere, an-Nahar daily stated that meetings will be held in the upcoming week, in order to follow up the crisis of the Syrian refugees fleeing into Lebanon.
Meetings will be convened, starting Monday, between Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, and the regional director of the UN Commission for refugees in Lebanon, in order to deeply look into this file.
The Doha meeting Decimates Annan's Plan
The Syrian atmosphere is transited to Doha, where an emergency meeting for Arab Foreign Ministers was held on Sunday, during which Qatar's Prime Minister, Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani believed that "there is a consensus on the departure of Syrian President [Bashar al-Assad], in return of his safe departure."
"What has been requested in the meeting today is a quick stepping aside in return for a safe departure from power," he stated.
Also, the Qatari Prime Minister indicated that the parties convened agreed to call on the Syrian opposition, and the so-called Free Army, to form a government of national unity.
Moreover, the US-backed Arab official considered that the Syrian President is ought to adopt a "brave decision to prevent the shed of blood, and maintain Syria's capacities." He indicated that the mission of UN-Arab special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, should change and become concerned with how to transfer the power; after his plan failed to reach any result.
Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani urged the opposing countries, with reference to Russia and China, to reconsider and deal with the situation from an Arab and ethical perspective.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
