DAILY SCOPE: Russian Role Provides Stability to Lebanon and Its People

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

"Israel" Embellishes Its Occupation: Look at Palmyra!
Yemen: Hadi Government Approves Resuming Talks

AN-NAHAR:

40 ISIL Terrorist Fighters Killed in Hama, Aide to Zabadani, Foua and Kefraya
Nuclear Deal Enters Practical Phase: Washington and Europe Lifting Sanctions

AL-AKHBAR:

alestine; The Knives Uprising
Syria; The Battle of Ten Fronts
AL-BINAA:

Zaspkin to al-Binaa: No New Afghanistan...Best Relations with Iran and No Presidency in Lebanon

AL-LIWAA:

Salam Warns Country on Verge of Collapse; Nasrallah to Discuss Relations with Future Party
Russia Covers All Syria in Air Raids; Says Al-Fateh Army Dismantled

Lebanese newspapers on Monday discussed different domestic and regional topics, focusing on stances of Lebanese officials on the different matters still lingering without solution in the horizon, as well as the latest events taking place in Syria.

AN-NAHAR: Lebanese officials Should Help Eliminate Obstacles, Allow Cabinet to Convene

Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam is waiting for the appropriate time to call cabinet to session, said An-Nahar newspaper on Monday.

According to the paper, Salam is taking things slow at least until all factors of the waste management plan's first phase are ready for implementation, so that the cabinet's session would at least be productive on that level.

The official hoped that the obstacles hindering the cabinet from convening would be overcome this week in order to call it to session, saying "How is it that all sides are committed to the government and yet they do not help eliminate obstacles that are impeding its productivity?"

Salam, who hopes to achieve this goal this week, noted that tackling the crisis does not reauire miraculous solutions.

"Is further stalling in this sensitive file acceptable?" he asked.
The newspaper also quoted sources that "If the waste management file is not tackled at cabinet, then the Prime Minister will disclose those hindering this issue and apologize to the Lebanese."
The cabinet has been unable to convene because of major differences between its members on the promotion of high-ranking military officers and the decision-making mechanism that it should adopt in light of the presidential impasse.
Also, 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.

AL-BINAA: Russian Role Provides Stability to Lebanon and Its People

Russian ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zaspkin told al-Binaa newspaper that "the situation in Lebanon is directly linked to the regional events," noting that the developments in the region do not allow presidential elections to take place in Lebanon at the moment.

He pointed out that the "intervention in Syria will bring about more security and stability to Lebanon and the Lebanese."

The Russian diplomat rejected claims that Russia has any initiative to help resolve the presidential impasse, assuring it is a domestic affair that concerns the Lebanese.

The Lebanese daily quoted Zaspkin as saying on Monday that "Lebanon is the country of balancing and no one can impose a president, assuring that Russia has no intentions to do so in first place.

Commenting on the Syrian file, Zaspkin said that "Morales and geo-political concerns are the first motive behind the Russian intervention in Syria," pointing out that particularly after the latest events, he is convinced that President Bashar al-Assad should be the President of Syria especially during the transitional phase.
On September 30, Russia started its air campaign against ISIL and other terrorists in Syria based on a request by the Syrian government.

AL-AKHBAR: Battles in Syria Well-Calculated, Terrorists Retrieving

Military sources in Syria told al-Akhbar newspaper that some of the terrorist armed groups have fled areas of battle, while others have been fighting fiercely in fear of losing territory, which would have direct political implications.

Well-informed sources told the Lebanese daily that the battles taking place are well-calculated and thought, adding that the Russians, Syrians and Iranians as well as their allies expect the allies of the terrorist groups to provide them with all the support possible.

Nevertheless, the Syrians and their allies do not see this as an obstacle that would prevent them from advancing n Aleppo and Idlib, said the sources.

According to the source, the battles in Syria's Northern areas have three major goals: to retrieve Jisr al-Shoughour, Hama-Aleppo highway, as well as enable the army to take control of a larger area in Eastern Aleppo and its rural areas where ISIL forces are located.

The Syrian army managed on Saturday to restore security to the Hweija town in northern Aleppo countryside, after launching a military operation against the dens of the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri group, leaving scores of its terrorists killed or wounded.

Source: al-Ahed news