DAILY SCOPE: Salam Will Not Resign, CIA Official in Beirut
Local Editor
NEWSPAPERS' HEADLJNES:
AS-SAFIR:
CIA Official in Secret Visit to Lebanon on Cooperation to Fight Terrorism
Hizbullah-Future Dialogue to Reconstruct Dialogue, Security
AL-AKHBAR:
Shohayeb's Plan to More Failure
AL-BINAA:
US Army Says Assad Will Triumph, Kerri Calls Iran to Vienna Meeting
European Parliament Warns from Fraud in Turkish Elections
Lebanese newspapers on Wednesday focused on the different Lebanese domestic developments, with questions circulating on whether the Prime Minister will resign soon as the cabinet fails to put an end to the multiple crises in the country.
Al-Liwaa: Salam Will Not Resign, Waste Crisis Solution Pending
Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam will not resign from his post because such would not serve the country's interests and can lead to harsh political and constitutional consequences that can lead to a quick deterioration in the security status of the country, said al-Liwaa newspaper on Thursday.
According to sources, the PM and the cabinet will remain to make efforts for the dialogue to continue.
Salam's visitors, according to the paper, said that the coming two days will be decisive in terms of the garbage crisis management plan that has so far failed to see light.
Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb is meanwhile expected to announce on Thursday that he will no longer continue his efforts to resolve the garbage crisis, which will grant the PM more time to exert political pressure on those hindering an agreement on the minister's proposal, said the sources.
According to media reports, Salam was planning to resign on the backdrop of the ongoing deadlock over resolving the garbage disposal crisis and over the government paralysis as well.
The waste crisis had 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.
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.
AS-SAFIR: US CIA Official in Secret Visit to Beirut, Talks on Countering Terrorism
Deputy head of the US Central Intelligence Agency David Cohen paid a secret visit to Lebanon, which lasted around 3 hours during which he met with Lebanese top officials over a week ago, uncovered As -newspaper on Wednesday.
The paper said he held talks on fighting terrorism with Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, and General Security head Abbas Ibrahim.
He also held talks during his trip with State Security chief George Qaraa, Army Intelligence chief Edmond Fadel, and Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Imad Ossman.
According to the paper, discussions also addressed the needs of Lebanon's military and security institutions to go on with its fight on terrorism.
AL-AKHBAR: Exporting Wastes Too Complicated
Well-informed sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that the choice of exporting wastes abroad that was suggested a while ago is very complicated.
"The process of exporting one ton only is no less than 200 dollars, while the process also requires a set of procedures that cannot be attained before one month at least," the sources noted.
In an attempt to ease Lebanon's waste disposal problem, Germany was exploring ways for Beirut to export its garbage to the European country.
Also, Lebanon was studying the possibility of exporting the garbage to Africa. Politicians in Beirut, divided by local and regional conflicts, have been unable to agree on where to dump the capital's rubbish. Mounting piles of garbage festering in the summer heat are triggering health warnings and protests by residents furious their government failed to avoid a crisis ignited by the long-scheduled closure of a major landfill site last month.
Source: al-Ahed news
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