DAILY SCOPE: Syrian People Should Determine Their Fate

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Palestine Resisting With Its Blood, "Israel" Freaking Out

AN-NAHAR:

Vatican Report Warns from Weakening ‘Bkirki'

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Government, Dialogue Ongoing... Aoun Determines His Conditions

AL-BINAA:

Nuclear-Deal, Ukrainian Solution in Action...

AL-AKHBAR:

Intifada: A New Generation of Palestinian Revolutionaries

Lebanese newspapers on Wednesday discussed the different regional and domestic issues. Lebanese issues including the waste management crisis and the cabinet impasse still wait resolving. Papers also highlighted the latest developments on the regional level with the focus on the Syrian crisis.

Jumblatt Holds Talks with Saudi Officials, Hariri in Riyadh --- AL-JOMHOURIA

Head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt traveled to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to hold talks with a number of Saudi officials, and where he will possibly meet with head of the Future Party Saad Hariri, reported al-Jomhouria newspaper.

Hariri had traveled from Jeddah to Riyadh on Tuesday. The two officials are likely to discuss local developments and the Syrian crisis. According to sources, the focus of discussions between Jumblatt and the Saudi officials will be the latest regional and international issues, where the former had recently paid visits to Moscow and Paris.

According to sources, Jumblatt's visit comes in the context of a final attempt to resolve the reflections of the regional and international developments and conflicts on the domestic arena in Lebanon, especially as the Lebanese cabinet remains to be at deadlock and the constant fear for the country's stability.

Garbage Landfill Determined, Technical Geological Approval Pending --- AL-LIWAA

The Lebanese daily al-Liwaa came to know on Wednesday that the Environment Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq will continue his meetings to facilitate the opening of a new waste landfill and end the pending garbage crisis.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam's sources told the daily that technical, geological, and environment experts are expected to visit the two sites later on Wednesday to determine their illegibility late during the day.

Sources also told the paper that the landfill that has been chosen in the Bekaa valley is in a remote area, which makes it suitable to serve the purpose.

Only one of the sites will be used for a Bekaa landfill, while the other one will be established in Srar in Akkar, explained the daily.

Informed sources, concerning the garbage crisis, told the daily that because of the cabinet impasse, Lebanon lost a number of chances, donations and offers to solve the crisis.

A meeting was held on Tuesday between PM Salam, Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and concerned officials to follow up on the waste disposal crisis and efforts to resolve it. Shehayyeb had announced on Tuesday that a landfill will be established in al-Bekaa after the necessary geological studies had been made.

Numerous proposals had been made by officials to dump the trash in various landfills throughout Lebanon, but they were met with rejection by local residents of those areas. Finally, according to Lebanese dailies, Hizbullah has facilitated the issue and approved the setting up of the landfill in the Bekaa valley as it seems to be safe and far from residential areas.

The waste crisis erupted in July when Lebanon's largest landfill in Naameh was closed. Trash began piling up on the streets of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, forcing the dumping of waste in makeshift sites and along riverbanks.

Iran Encourages Talks with Saudi Arabia, Syrians Should Determine their Fate --- AS-SAFIR

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told As-Safir newspaper on the sidelines of the Brussels meetings that "Iran has no problem to talk or cooperate with Saudi Arabia" noting that "Iran in numerous times expressed its readiness to hold talks with the Saudi side."

He pointed out that talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia can help resolve the different issues in the region, but underscored that it is such an exaggeration to say that such a meeting would resolve all issues in a month due to the many regional and international players engaged in the equation.

Abdollahian questioned the reasons behind the ongoing Saudi rejection to hold any talks with Iran, highlighting they have chosen to resort to power rather than dialogue.

Commenting on the Syrian file, the official said that all sides should allow the Syrian people to determine their fate through authentic and just elections, without preventing Bashar al-Assad from candidacy. By that, if the people determine through elections that Assad is not apt for presidency, then he shall leave.

He also stressed that "Iran has not sent troops to Syria, but rather specialists who can provide guidance on fighting terrorism; and they were sent upon demand by the Syrian government," assuring that simultaneously as these provide help and consultancy on fighting the terrorist groups, they do not target the peaceful opposition because Iran respects all those who oppose the Syrian government and believe they have the right to enter the political sphere and have their share in the government in the future."

Abdollahian hailed the Russian stance on Syria and its stepping up in confronting terrorism, adding that Putin's step is weakening the terrorist groups in Syria.

Senior Iranian and European Union [EU] officials have met in Brussels to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, especially the crisis in Syria.

Abdollahian met with EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini for three hours on Tuesday in Brussels, which hosts the EU headquarters, an EU statement said.

Source: al-Ahed News