DAILY SCOPE: Lebanese Dialogue Proceeds, Yemen-Iran Cooperation in Response to Isolation

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AN-NAHAR

Spirit Returns to Cabinet Because Vacancy is Long?
 
Al-AKHBAR

‘Ansarullah' Breaks Isolation: Turns to Tehran, Moscow

ASSAFIR

Republic without President...Without Audience
Syrian Army Widens Control on Southern Front
Houthis Respond to Isolation Attempt by Enhancing Cooperation with Iran

AL-MUSTAQBAL

Security Concerns over Border Risks in May
"Ain el Tineh" Monitors after "March 24"

THE DAILYSTAR:

Current Mechanism to Govern Cabinet Session: Berri

Lebanese newspapers on Monday shed light on the government mechanism in light of House Speaker Nabih Berri assuring the ministerial sessions will resume soon. Also, the ongoing dialogue between Hizbullah and the Future party as well had a share in newspapers with the seventh session to be held between the two sides. On the regional level, papers focused on the latest developments in Syria and Yemen.

Lebanon: Dialogue on the Run, Presidential Void Part of Confronting Terrorism

Starting with the Lebanese arena, as-Safir newspaper said that the dialogue will resume today, Monday, between the two delegations of Hizbullah and the Future party in Ain al-Tineh, with the intention of increasing the level of understanding and common agreement as much as possible, as well as improving the conditions of confronting terror without eliminating the possibility to discuss the presidential void as it is tightly related to the matter of confronting terrorism.

An-Nahar Lebanese daily issued Monday on this note pointed out that the Hizbullah and the Future party will continue discussing the strategy on confronting terrorism, with also a high possibility that they will tackle the presidential impasse. The paper quoted Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri as saying "there are political issues that should be discussed which will be a starting point to the confrontation of terrorism."
The same daily had reported on Sunday that Speaker Nabih Berri's sources said that the talks will focus on the presidential elections "and how to help facilitate consensus over it in a manner that would fortify constitutional institutions."

Berri meanwhile expressed his optimism that April "would carry positive factors that would help stage the elections."

For its part, al-Liwaa newspaper underlined that following the sixth meeting between Hizbullah and the Future party, Berri said it has become necessary to discuss political files, topped by the presidential void in an attempt to voice that these two sides do not hold responsibility for the impasse and that the problem lies somewhere else.

As for Future party sources, these explained that the discussion on the presidential elections will focus on the mechanism of the process and will not discuss or deal with names of candidates. The source further noted that the Future party delegation is trying to reach an understanding through which a president can be elected, stressing it is crucial for all members of parliament to attend the sessions and stop the boycott and by that the sessions can take place and maybe witness progress in this file.

Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah are scheduled to hold on Monday the seventh round of their dialogue that was kicked off between them in December.
More on the Lebanese level, well-informed sources told al-Binaa newspaper that the meeting between head of the Free Patriotic Party General Michel Aoun and Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea will not meet soon, highlighting that almost 30 year-old issues between the two Christian figures cannot be solved in one month, and will rather need more time.

As for the mechanism crisis, as-Safir newspaper quoted ministerial sources saying that Prime Minister Tammam Salam is still continuing consultations with various political parties to reach an agreement over a new government mechanism. Sources also said that Salam will more likely amend the mechanism himself according to need and importance, leaving only the very important issues for consensus.

Differences between cabinet ministers on the amendment of the mechanism prompted Salam to suspend sessions in the past two weeks until the ministers reach an agreement on the formula, which he wants it to be based on article 65 of the constitution.

The current mechanism, which was adopted after the cabinet assumed the responsibilities of the president in accordance with the constitution, states that ministers should give unanimous support to the government's decisions.

Syria: Army Advances in Counter-terrorism Campaign 

On the Syrian file, Syrian Army units continued on Sunday its counterterrorism campaign in several areas across the country, dealing heavy blows to their organizations.

Sources told as-Safir that units of the Syrian army and armed forces killed a number of ISIL terrorists in the eastern province of Hasaka. Well-informed sources said that the Syrian army regained control over 31 villages in Tal Brak countryside in the province and positioned its troops 2 km away from the town itself. The newspaper quoted informed sources as saying that the army is in full control of the Tel al-Sayyad area after defeating tremendous gatherings of the Nusra front extremists and groups of other extremist groups there.

An opposition source told as-Safir that "the intense shooting prevented the groups from preserving territory," noting that the armed groups launched quick attacks but all were to avail.

SANA for its part said the army, also, destroyed ISIL terrorists' vehicles in the two villages of Abyadh and Dawoodiya, and Milbiya area in the countryside of the eastern province of Hasaka.

The source added that an army unit thwarted an attack launch by ISIL terrorists on Dawoodiya, pointing out that other army units destroyed with artillery fire ISIL gatherings in Milbiya area. Scores of ISIL terrorists were killed, many others were injured and their vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

Also, units of the army and armed forces tightened control over Rajem al-Sayd area at southwestern of Damascus countryside after killing the last gatherings of al-Nusra Front terrorists in it, according to a military source was quoted by an-Nahar.

Yemen: Houthis Response to International Attempt of Isolation

Senior Iranian diplomats were on hand to welcome the flight -- the first between the two countries in many years. Yemen's official Saba news agency said that under the deal Iran Mahan Air and Yemenia would operate 14 flights each a week.

The paper added that the landing of the first plane was a clear response to the international attempt to move the political and diplomatic Yemeni capital from Sanaa to Aden. The Houthis said in a statement on February 24 that the Revolutionary Committee is monitoring the "suspicious" moves of Hadi, adding that he has lost "his legitimacy to act as president of" the Arabian Peninsula country.

Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah's cabinet resigned on January 22, after Ansarullah fighters seized the presidential palace in the capital. The parliament, however, rejected Hadi's resignation.

The Yemeni president escaped house arrest in Sana'a and fled to Aden on February 21.

On February 24, Yemeni media reported that he had sent a letter to the parliament a day earlier, withdrawing his resignation.
Hadi has met with several tribal and provincial figures in Aden to garner support against Ansarullah fighters, who took control of the capital following the failure of the Yemeni government to provide security and properly run the affairs of the country.

The Houthi movement played a key role in the 2011 uprising that forced the country's dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to quit after 33 years in power.
On February 6, the Houthis released a constitutional declaration on the Transitional National Council, stressing that the movement will continue fighting corruption and try to improve the living conditions of Yemeni people.

According to the constitutional declaration, the Transitional National Council will be set up to elect the presidential council in a bid to end Yemen's political deadlock.
Ansarullah fighters say President Hadi is now being sought as a fugitive.

Source: al-Ahed news