DAILY SCOPE: Zarif Assures Iran Keen on Interest of Region, Peoples

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Aoun Takes Back Martyrs Square

Zabadani Truce, New Equation in Syrian War

AL-AKHBAR:

Zabadani Negotiation Facts: Turkish Mediation and Attempts to Expel the Armed Terrorists

AL-BINAA:

Zarif Calls on Saudi Arabia to Unravel Understanding between Lebanese

AD-DIYAR:

Battle between Saudi Arabia and Its Allies vs. Aoun; He Who Wins Street Triumphs

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Action Restricted by Stability, Dialogue and Government Trio

Lebanese newspapers on Thursday shed light on the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's visit to Lebanon and what this step might bring to the region. Also, Lebanese dailies highlighted the current domestic developments with the Free Patriotic Movement supporters heading to streets for protests, calling for true partnership in decision making.

In an interview with As-Safir newspaper, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Tehran would like to cooperate and place maximum effort for the sake of the region and its peoples, expressing his hope that the finally resolved nuclear dossier would positively reflect on the pending conflicts in the region.

Zarif told As-Safir "In our opinion, the nuclear file was a marginal issue that has been solved, but the real and major issue is related to this [Middle East] region itself, and in fact we would like to cooperate and put utmost efforts for the better of this region and its peoples."

As for canceling his visit to Turkey in the meantime, Zarif said the reason was that he had come to Lebanon, and there was no chance he could meet Turkish officials in a very short time. He told the Lebanese daily that he will be visiting Turkey the coming week.

Asked about the "Smile Diplomacy" Zarif had adopted during negotiations on the nuclear dossier with the West in Vienna, and on whether such diplomacy works during talks with Saudi Arabia - especially in light of Saudi and Gulf skepticism over Iran's intentions in the region - Zarif said "We smile to our friends in this region from the bottom of our hearts."

"We think that our Saudi friends should see things as they are. We have confronted and tolerated many problems, and were subject to major hardships from our neighboring countries. We did not support Saddam Hussein against Saudi Arabia, in fact, they supported Saddam in his war against us. In any case, if one side should appease the other, then they [meaning the Saudis] should do so, knowing that we do not ask them to do so."

He finally hoped that the nuclear deal sealed between Iran and the West would have a positive impact and bring solutions to the conflicts of the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif highlighted on Wednesday the importance of dialogue in overcoming crises, stressing that Tehran is prepared for "all forms of cooperation" with Lebanon to help it achieve growth.
He declared during the second day of his trip to Beirut: "We do not meddle in internal Lebanese affairs and neither should other countries."

He had arrived in Lebanon on Tuesday as part of a tour of the region.

He kicked off his talks by meeting Prime Minister Tammam Salam and later Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Discussions focused on bilateral relations, the latest local and regional developments, and cooperation between Lebanon and Iran.

FPM Call for True Partnership in Decision Making --- AL-JOMHOURIA

Education Minister Elias Bou Saab told al-Joumhouria daily that he and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil will insist during the cabinet session on "having true partnership in the decisions of the government."

The cabinet is scheduled to convene on Thursday amid the insistence of Prime Minister Tammam Salam to discuss urgent issues, and plans by the Free Patriotic Movement ministers to stick to the government's working mechanism and the appointment of top military and security brass.

Salam is holding onto the agenda of the session, which includes the growing garbage management crisis and "740-million-dollars" worth of international loans that need approval.

Bou Saab rejected the "marginalization of a certain team," saying "we are partners in the government."

Bassil for his part said that the FPM ministers will have their own agenda during the session.

The two ministers want the cabinet to first discuss the decision-making mechanism and the appointments of top military and security officials before moving to other items on the agenda.

Sources told al-Jomhouria that the scenario inside the cabinet was not predictable and that the session "will not be calm."

It was also not clear if Aoun would give the green light to his supporters to resort to the streets again. But high-ranking FPM sources told As-Safir newspaper that the movement's next move hinges on "how others will deal with our known demands."

Earlier this week, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel signed decrees to extend the terms of Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji, Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman and Maj. Gen. Mohammad Kheir, the secretary-general of the Higher Defense Council, by one year each.

The step was taken despite vehement opposition from Aoun, who favored the appointment of new officers for the posts.
Meanwhile, the FPM leader warned Qahwaji against putting the military in confrontation with protesters, blaming him for "politicizing the Army to serve politicians."

Lebanon, Jordan Conclude Military Deal --- AL-LIWAA

Trade and Commerce Minister Alan Hakim described Prime Minister Tammam Salam's visit to Jordan as successful, noting it aimed at mutual cooperation between the two countries and enhancing bilateral relations.

The minister told al-Liwaa newspaper that a security-military deal has been concluded between the two countries, pointing out that Jordanian officials will be soon visiting Lebanon in completion of the deal.

Also, during the one-day visit to Jordan and upon Salam's pledge, sources close to the Prime Minister have said that Jordanian authorities expressed readiness to facilitate the export of Lebanese products through the Port of Aqaba. Trucks have been unable to transport agricultural and industrial produce to Persian Gulf countries since April, when rebels seized the Syrian side of the crossing with Jordan, prompting Amman to close it.

The sources also pointed out some Jordanian concerns, saying Jordan's interior minister informed the Lebanese delegation accompanying Salam that Jordanian authorities seized this week one million Captagon pills stashed in a truck coming from Lebanon.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team