DAILY SCOPE: Saudi Arabia Accepts Direct Talks with Iran
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Cabinet Meet Unlikely to See any Major Breakthrough
Lebanese newspapers on Wednesday focused on the cabinet, which is to meet but with no major breakthrough to be seen. They also focused on the country's crises, such as the waste management and electricity crisis, which remain to make the headlines of dailies. On the regional level, papers highlighted possible Saudi-Iranian direct talks, amid Russian mediation, which might allow major changes in the region, namely in Syria and Yemen.
Cabinet Convenes Amid Major Differences - AL-JOMHOURIYA
The cabinet is scheduled to convene on Wednesday amid deep differences between its members on its working mechanism and the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.
Sources told al-Joumhouriya daily that at the start of the session, Salam will reiterate the importance of electing a new president and will make an assessment of the security and economic situation of the country.
But sources close to Prime Minister Tammam Salam declined to draw possible scenarios during the session.
For his part, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel stressed that he would "abide by laws" and regulations if the cabinet failed to agree on the appointments.
"I have certain authorities that I could use," Moqbel told al-Joumhouria, hinting that he would issue a decree to extend the term of Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman who is set to retire at midnight Thursday.
Another cabinet minister, who was not identified, was more optimistic, however, telling al-Liwaa newspaper that the military appointments will be settled during the cabinet session.
He expected the extension of the terms of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji, Salman and the secretary-general of the Higher Defense Council.
The signs of a possible settlement appeared on Tuesday, he said, when the Change and Reform bloc of MP Michel Aoun sounded optimistic about the session.
"It seems that the atmosphere of consensus has returned and the first test will be during tomorrow's session," former Minister Salim Jreissati said after the bloc's weekly meeting in Rabieh.
Saudi Arabia Accepts Russian Suggestion: Direct Talks with Iran -- AL-AKHBAR
Sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that Saudi Arabia has accepted the US-backed Russian suggestions to hold direct talks with Tehran to discuss bilateral relations and the region's hot issues. Yet, according to the source, Riyadh said it will take this step only if Iran is ready to find way for understanding when it comes to Syria and Yemen at the same time and not limit the talks to the Syrian war alone.
Moreover, sources said that according to European and American information, Saudi Arabia would in fact like to stop the war on Yemen, and wants to carry out "a bargain between Syria and Yemen".
The Iranian deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs has reiterated Tehran's call for an end to Saudi Arabia's blockade on the impoverished and war-ravaged Yemen.
In a Wednesday phone conversation with Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian condemned the ongoing Saudi aggression against its neighbor and called for effective measures by the United Nations to put an end to the Saudi military campaign and siege on the Yemeni people.
On a related note, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for talks with officials from allies Iran and Russia that are expected to focus on efforts to end the civil war in his country.
Iran and Russia have stood by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, providing military and financial support during more than four years of the conflict. The United States and some of its Gulf Arab allies have said Assad must leave office.
Iran Suggests New Initiative on Syria, Consensus Seen in Horizon -- AL-BINAA
Al-Binaa newspaper revealed that the Iranian initiative springs from the fact that there is regional and international consensus on the need of having an understanding on the Syrian issue, which comes as a condition to unite efforts on other dossiers as well.
According to sources, the dispute over the Syrian issue is a reason for many complications and obstacles, and no one is discussing the threats and dangers of terrorism. Also, all sides are convinced that the Syrian army is a central power that can deter terrorist groups and fight the ground battle, a role that can be only played by the army.
The Iranian initiative, according to the paper, includes four items, two of which call for an immediate ceasefire and the formation of a national unity government, while the third item calls for a re-amendment of the Syrian constitution to reassure the country's ethnic and sectarian groups. The fourth item calls for holding elections under the supervision of international observers.
Source: al-Ahed news
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