DAILY SCOPE: Cabinet Awaits Work Mechanism, Lebanon Awaits Sayyed Nasrallah Speech

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All eyes are on the speech to be delivered by Hizbullah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a ceremony due today, Monday, to commemorate the anniversary of the martr leaders. According to papers, Sayyed Nasrallah is expected to tackle the latest regional and domestic issues, especially in light of the different stances given last week, with the latest being that of MP Saad Hariri on the anniversary of his father's assassination [Rafik Hariri].

Also, the scenario of the past week assures, according to the papers, that more likely there will be no ministerial session, until there is consensus on how to put a ‘productive work mechanism' for the ministerial council.

As-Safir newspaper, commenting on the speech to be delivered by Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Nasrallah, anticipated that he will most probably start with the Shebaa farms operation that took place earlier this month, in retaliation to the "Israeli" assassination of 6 resistance members in Qunaitra region.

Commenting on the ‘sectarian and provocative' speech delivered by MP Saad Hariri on the 14th of February, as-Safir questioned the decision on removing political and sectarian banners and posters in light of such provocative rhetoric that is more offensive than images and posters!

Yet despite his tone, the paper said it is more likely that the Hizbullah-Future dialogue will resume mid of next week in Ain al-Tineh to continue discussions.

The paper, moreover, quoted sources from the March 8 camp saying "The speech of saad Hariri does not imply that it stems from dialogue, but rather he had two goals behind that speech he delivered: first, to provoke the feelings of his audience in the first live speech he delivers to them since long time, and second is to send a message of pledge and approval to the new Saudi leadership."

"If Hariri considers that Hizbullah should not interfere in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Bahrain, then why does he give himself greenlight to launch harsh stances on the events taking place in these countries, and how does he explain his intervention which others reject? If he is accusing the party of shoving Lebanon into an axis against another, then what right he has to push Lebanon into Riyadh's axis," the source wondered.

For his part, Head of the Progressive Socialist Paarty MP Walid Jumblat has said it was important for Hizbullah and the Future movement to stick to their dialogue to resolve several issues.

"What's important is for the dialogue between Future and Hizbullah to continue," said Jumblat in remarks published in as-Safir daily on Monday.

Furthermore, in his remarks to the paper, Jumblat called for adopting a pragmatic approach to resolving controversial issues, including the filling of the fourth basin at Beirut Port, the security plan in the eastern Bekaa Valley, limiting tension and building dams.

Referring to world and regional powers, Jumblat stressed that "bigger policies are not made by us."

Meanwhile, informed sources told al-Jomhouriya newspaper that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will deal with the regional developments in his Monday speech, and will stress on the importance of the resistance. The sources also said it is unlikely that Sayyed Nasrallah would reply to the speech of Hariri.

On another note, caretaker Prime Minister Tammam Salam said on Monday he will not allow his government to collapse, pushing to reach an agreement on the formula to replace the current decision-making mechanism.

In remarks to an-Nahar daily, Salam said "My government is currently filling the presidential void, and I am not willing to move the presidential void to the government."

He called for extensive consultations to prevent the disruption of the government, adding that ‘an idea is being discussed' to the decision-making problem.

Also, according to the Daily Star, speaking during a private meeting at his Mseitbeh residence, Salam said he was making contacts with the Cabinet parties in an attempt to find an alternative formula to the decision-making mechanism, which has failed to facilitate the government's work.

"Our adoption of the measures and mechanism [governing] the Cabinet's work happened in extraordinary circumstances. But [the mechanism] has hit snags as a result of the obstruction by some parties participating in the Cabinet," Salam said.

Source: al-Ahed news