DAILY SCOPE: UN Official in Arsal, Lebanese Offshore Oil Exploited
Local Editor
NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES
AS-SAFIR
UN: Arsal Defense Line for Lebanon, Europe
Decisive Moments in Vienna Nuclear Talks: Obstacle in Inspection
AL-AKHBAR
Al-Saud Wikileaks: Saudi Plot to Shake Iranian Government
AN-NAHAR:
Race of Flexibility and Rigidity on Eve of the Council of Ministers
Berri: If One Team Withdraws Session Continues
AL-LIWAA
National Understanding: Stop Cabinet, Parliament Stalemate
At the time Iran and the P5+1 countries extend their meetings in Vienna to end the negotiations with ‘good' results on the nuclear talks, a UN official from Lebanon's Arsal - through which the Lebanese army and Resistance forces have been safeguarding all of Lebanon - declared that the area is not only a defense line for Lebanon but for Europe as well. Meanwhile, Lebanese senior officials have publicized that the cabinet stalemate should come to an end, and the cabinet will convene this time even if only two-thirds of the ministers attend the session. These topics as well as others made headlines of newspapers on Wednesday 01-07-2015.
UN Official: Lebanese Army Key Factor in Fighting Terrorism ---AS-SAFIR
Under the title "The UN: Arsal Defense Line for Lebanon, Europe," As-Safir newspaper wrote on Wednesday that the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag suddenly paid a visit to Arsal in a Lebanese army helicopter, where she visited the posts of the Lebanese army.
Kaag described Tuesday as "critical" the Lebanese Army's duty in safeguarding the country's stability and security, saying the military deserved support. Sources quoted Kaag as saying that the Lebanese army was able to achieve major accomplishments with very little capabilities for confronting terrorism. This, according to the sources, encourages the international community to support the Lebanese army especially as it is an integral part of the system confronting terrorism.
Accompanying Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwagi and Defense Minister Samir Moqbel on a tour of military stations in the northeastern border town of Arsal, Kaag said "I was given the opportunity to see firsthand, from a forward military position, the critical role that the Army plays in safeguarding the country's stability and security. I expressed my admiration for the leadership of the [Lebanese Army] and for all the young men serving on the front lines. They deserve our strongest support," the UN special coordinator said.
Troops stationed around Arsal have been targeting militant positions in the town's outskirts since the deadly clashes with ISIS and al-Nusra Front inside Arsal last August, which left 18 soldiers, 40 militants and dozens of civilians dead.
The Army has also pounded militant positions on the outskirts of the nearby village of Ras Baalbek.
Berri: Cabinet Will Convene as Long as Two-Thirds Attend--- AN-NAHAR
An-Nahar newspaper quoted Speaker Nabih Berri as saying that the cabinet will convene on Thursday as long as a majority of two-thirds of the ministers attend the session that will be chaired by Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
The daily quoted him as saying on Wednesday that "as long as the two-thirds majority of ministers is secured, then the session will be held."
"The decisions will be taken as stipulated by the constitution. Issues that require two-thirds will be voted on by the two-thirds of ministers and articles that require the votes of half plus one, will be voted on by an absolute majority," Berri told his visitors.
He also stressed that the decrees do not require the signature of all 24 ministers.
"If some of the ministers withdraw from the session, then the cabinet will continue to convene as long as there is a constitutional quorum," he said, adding "I am adamant on holding legislative sessions because the situation in the country is no longer bearable," he said.
Maritime Demarcation Hampering Lebanese Offshore Rights --- AL-LIWAA
Al-Liwaa newspaper said on Thursday that the US Special Envoy for Energy, Amos Hochstein arrived to Beirut on Tuesday night through Istanbul in order to meet Lebanese officials headed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam, in order to discuss the demarcation of maritime borders and to follow up on discussing Lebanon's rights in the disputed offshore oils.
On this note, a ministerial source told the Lebanese daily that since Lebanon has not signed the decree-laws on the oil riches, it has given "Israel" a big pretext to exploit the Lebanese natural riches under claim that Lebanon does not reflect any readiness to mark its maritime borders and its right in the natural resources.
Lebanese officials have agreed to form a committee of experts which informed Washington and the United Nations that Lebanon holds onto the demarcation of its maritime border under the supervision of the UN. They also rejected any "Israeli" aggression on Lebanon's maritime and oil rights.
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