DAILY SCOPE: Dual-Talks Imply Progress

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AL-AKHBAR:

Nasrallah to Bogdanov: Syria Red Line
 
AS-SAFIR:

Calamity of Takfirist Extremism Undoes Division of Politics
Will the Dual-Talks Result in a Quintuple Alliance?!

AN-NAHAR:

Syrian File ‘Present' in Ain el-Tineh Dialogue
IS Captures Jordanian Pilot After Targeting Coalition Plane

AL-LIWAA:

Salam in Bkeriki With Christmas Concerns: Presidential Void is Nonsense

Newspapers on Thursday discussed the first session of dialogue that took place between the Future movement and Hizbullah, in addition to other domestic issues. Meanwhile, on the regional level of discussion, the latest military developments topped the news.

Starting with An-Nahar newspaper, the daily wrote that the launching of talks between the Future Movement and Hizbullah has already set its positive impact on the political life in Lebanon, especially that it will be followed by a meeting between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces soon. The two sides, according to An-Nahar have exchanged Holiday greetings, and communication between the two sides has reached a stage which implies a soon meeting and dialogue is possible.

Head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt told an-Nahar "I am very comfortable, of course, to the dialogue between the Future movement and Hizbullah; what happened is a major achievement and this is what House Speaker Nabih Berri and I have been working on."

An-Nahar came to know that the Syrian crisis was part of the discussion that took place between the two sides, implying at the end that the dialogue will not include this matter. Further into the details, the representatives of the Future movement started a discussion on the security situation which should be safeguarded and the atmosphere between Sunnis and Shiites which should be given much attention, noting that ‘Arsal should not be an experiment zone to Daesh and al-Nusra Front or other extremist groups, stressing their opinion on how important it is to keep Lebanon uninvolved and draw borders between Lebanon and Syria.

On the part of Hizbullah, the representatives in the dialogue explained that Hizbullah involvement in Syria is in defense to the existence of Lebanon in face of terrorism, and that is part of the struggle with "Israel".

On another note, Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam, following a meeting with Patriarch Beshara Rai at the seat of the Maronite Church in Bkerki said that the Future movement and Hizbullah should facilitate the election of a new president soon. He also hoped that the dual-talks which kicked-off on Tuesday after four years of estrangement would eventually comprise other factions and lead to the ending of presidential impasse.

Al-Liwaa newspaper quoted ministerial sources as saying that the two conferees stressed the importance of ending the presidential void, as well as solving all stuck matters in the government.
The dialogue could reflect positively on all crises, he said, adding: "I look forward that it expands" to include all other parties.

The first round of talks between Hizbullah and Future movement representatives was hosted on Tuesday by Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh. Salam reiterated his call on all political parties to prioritize the presidential polls.

"A body without a head is not complete," he told reporters, adding "We want coexistence to continue. One of its basic elements is the presence of a new head of state." Moreover, the paper said that Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai was comfortable to the dialogue, urging for the election of a wise head of state who prioritizes Lebanon's interests.

For its part, Al-Binaa newspaper quoted Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem saying that the freshly-launched dialogue between the party and Future Movement was part of the political and social stability in the country.
He assured this two-pronged dialogue would reduce sectarian tensions and provocations, adding that it would also ensure a suitable climate to help fight terrorism.

In a different context, Sheikh Qassem considered that the steadfastness in facing the US imperial plots will oblige the Americans to underwent to the righteous will of the free peoples, citing the Cuban instance.

Source: al-Ahed news