Postponing Session Serves Dialogue, EDL Workers’ Dilemma to See Light
From postponing dialogue sessions to following up electricity workers' demands, these have become Lebanon's main concerns. While Syria remains a neighbor to Lebanon, its news and crisis' repercussions are becoming closer than ever.
The major Lebanese dailies tackled the interacting Lebanese-Syrian headlines in Tuesday's edition.
Postponing Dialogue ... A Positive Omen?
At the time the Lebanese were hoping a comprehensive dialogue would be brought to light, Al-Akhbar daily stated that the calls conducted by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, failed to convince the March 14 camp, especially the Future Movement, to take part in the dialogue session that was scheduled for Tuesday. Therefore, the session was postponed till the 16th of August.
On this level, al-Akhbar daily noted that President Suleiman will launch clear and honest stances on the political and security developments in the country, during the fast-breaking feast on Wednesday night in Baabda Palace.
According to renowned March 14 sources, the daily added that postponing the dialogue session for three weeks shouldn't be taken as a negative indicator, especially after it was expected to be postponed for more than a month. The sources indicated that postponing the sessions might give time for more discussions and calls in order to provide the participation of all parties, as the sought is the participation of both March 14 and March 8 in an effective dialogue.
Moreover, the sources reminded of the March 14 forces' three conditions to attend the dialogue; including handing in the complete telecoms data to the concerned apparatuses, providing protection for figures that were advised to stay alert on assassination attempts, and having Hizbullah accept a serious dialogue over its arms.
EDL Contract Workers Issue to See Light
On another hand, while the Electricite Du Liban (EDL) Contract Workers are vowing escalating of protest starting Tuesday, sources from the follow-up committee indicated to as-Safir daily that "political efforts are being exerted to tackle the file within tight circles, to introduce an accepted solution formula."
Also on this level, sources from the ministerial majority confirmed in an interview with al-Akhbar daily, that the ongoing negotiations between Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement have made progress in finding a solution between the latter and Lebanese Speaker, Nabih Berri, on the issue of contract workers.
The sources didn't give more details on the negotiations taking place, only that the agreement is based on evacuating the EDL building from protesters after being their salaries.
Lebanon Protests Syrian Violation? ... Damascus Rejects Arab Statement
Not so far away from the political arena, Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Ali expressed his surprise at Lebanese President Michel Suleiman's call for Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour to deliver a protest to Syria against the incident of crossing the Lebanese borders.
In an interview with as-Safir Lebanese newspaper, Ambassador Ali clarified that he didn't receive any complaints from the Lebanese side. He further described the Lebanese step as "surprising".
"Syria is the one that's supposed to complain, as it is the one that was and is still receiving gunfire and rockets fired from the Lebanese side," he stressed.
"The violations emerging from the Lebanese side harm the brotherly Lebanese-Syrian relations," he added.
For his part, Lebanese Foreign Minister Mansour stated that his ministry will follow up the issue and accomplish its duties.
More on Syria, Damascus has confirmed on Monday that it strictly rebuffs the Arab League statement, in which it called for the departure of Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, in favor for a transitional regime. Syria believed that the aforementioned is a blatant interference in its affairs, dubbing it "political hypocrisy," as-Safir daily reported.
As for the Russian side, Russian President, Vladimir Putin warned that if the regime was topples in an unconstitutional way; there will be an everlasting civil war in Syria.
On his part, Syrian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Jihad al-Maqdisi, commented on the reports issued on his country's chemical weapons' arsenal. During a Press conference on Monday, he iterated that his country's chemical weapons stock are secure, and would only be used in case of a foreign attack, not internally.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
