MEDIASCOPE: Negotiations with LA Soldiers’ Abductors Continue on More than on Level

Local Editor

As the presidential void is still current in Lebanon, the parliamentary prolongation has been determined. The Lebanese have been negotiating with the soldiers' abductors through intermediaries on two levels, respectively through the Lebanese Army [LA] General Abbas Ibrahim and Health Minister Wael Abu Faour.

Meanwhile, with the rejection of Turkey to approach the file of the abducted LA soldiers; Qatar, attempts to play the role of a mediator with the terrorist groups Daesh ["ISIL"] and al-Nusra to release the kidnapped in an attempt to ‘clean its record'.

Iran for its part has a plane ready in its airport for takeoff, awaiting a green light from the Lebanese government to receive an endowment of arms to the Lebanese army, necessary in the confrontation of the terrorist groups.

AS-SAFIR:

As-Safir newspaper said that even though a decision has been made on the parliamentary prolongation, yet the presidential void is still ongoing.
On the security level, As-Safir correspondent in France said that as the Lebanese army continues its mission in preserving security in the North, US and French message have been sent to the Qatari leadership, implying they should make a quick move on the file of the Lebanese army kidnapped soldiers who were abducted by al-Nusra and "ISIL" terrorist movements.

The correspondent noted that the US pressure from on one hand, and Qatar's need to ‘clean its record' and restructure its image in the West do not support the terrorist organizations, and denying that they (which was one of the aims of the visit Qatari Emir paid to London) was a boost to bring back the Qatari initiative to the surface.

According to sources, As-Safir said that the Qatari mediator for the first time will provide the demands of both abductors of Lebanese soldiers, Daesh and al-Nusra.
Lebanese Army General Abbas Ibrahim assured the Lebanese side welcomes the mediation, especially after Turkey has taken a decisive decision not to approach this file at all.

AL-AKHBAR:

As the Lebanese soldiers remain abducted by the terrorist groups, Al-Akhbar newspaper revealed that negotiations with the abductees are taking place through Army General Abbas Ibrhim and Health Minister Wael Abu Faour.

On this note, the sources said that Abu Faour had to go to Arsal, where he had met mediators that are in direct contact with the abductors. Meanwhile, the families of the abductees decided to put action on halt after a meeting with the caretaker PM Tamam Salam, in an attempt to facilitate the mission.

Meanwhile, Al-Akhbar newspaper wrote that the Iranian Embassy awaits a phone call from Lebanese official authorities, in which it would reply to Tehran's offer on providing the Lebanese Military institution with an endowment to help the army in its confrontation against the terrorists inside the Lebanese territory.
According to an Iranian diplomatic source, since the 17th of October, the "endowment is ready to fly to Beirut, and all the Bureaucratic procedures are done; required is only a phone call from the Lebanese side and in three hours the aid will reach Lebanon."

The source added that the Iranian offer enjoys three important characteristics, first: it is very practical; second it is neither conditioned nor has to a political "price" in return, and third is that Iran does not arm Lebanon and then arm its enemies, whether these were "Israel" or the terrorist groups.

The Iranians, according to the source, opened the doors of arms and weaponry manufactories before the Lebanese delegation that accompanied Lebanon's Defense Minister earlier in September, and said that the endowment will include ‘TAO' missiles, Mortar Shells, artillery missiles; which are useful in the confrontation with the terrorist groups. The source noted that this would be the first batch of the endowment.

The source also assured "We are all concerned with the situation in Lebanon, particularly that the terrorist groups look forward to turning Lebanon into another Iraq or Syria as we can see from the events taking place in the North's Arsal, Tripoli and Minieh. It is in Lebanon's interest and all of us too to prevent this from happening."
Yet, the question, according to the source remains on whether the Lebanese government will take a step and accept the Iranian offer? Still, the answer is somehow clear with the US-French and international warning against such a step which cannot be clearer.

Source: Lebanese dailies, Translated and Edited by website team