DAILY SCOPE: Prisoner Swap Negotiations Suffer Setback, Al-Nusra Makes New Demands

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

An-Nahar:

Deal to release kidnapped soldiers delayed not failed

As-Safir:

Hariri to Frangieh: committed to what we have agreed on

Al-Akhbar:

Franjieh visits Bassil... Divergence continues

Al-Joumhouria:

Siniora: We are still at the beginning of the road

Ibrahim: Adamant despite hindrances

The Daily Star:

Derian praises Hariri's efforts to end void

As-Safir:

Servicemen Exchange Deal Hindered, not Canceled

One subject governed the Lebanese arena over the week end that is the case of the soldiers kidnapped by the terrorist al-Nusra front. The title find its way to the Lebanese headlines as Negotiations to free the Lebanese servicemen suffered a setback on Sunday afternoon, after steps on the ground and media reports gave the impression earlier in the day that the exchange was imminent.

To begin with, "as-Safir" Newspaper wrote: "Until a late time yesterday night, the servicemen exchange "deal" kidnapped by "al-Nusra Front" in the Arsal outskirts was still "facing" the winds that puffed suddenly from there, in the last hour, due to the impossible demands the kidnappers suggested as things were heading to their "final destination."

The newspaper further added: "Despite the obstacles the deal faced yesterday, the General Security Head Major General Abbas Ibrahim, leaving the "Chtaura Park Hotel" where he followed up the long day of negotiations, stressed that "things didn't find an end, negotiations are ongoing and we cannot say there is a failure.""

"The PM Tammam Salam's decision to cancel his visit to Paris for participating in the Climate Summit, to follow up the issue of the soldiers, was evidence that there is information regarding the progress of the negotiations, and that they would find a happy ending that have been awaited by the parents of the servicemen since a year and four months," the paper added.

Al-Akhbar: Three Demands Hamper the Servicemen Exchange Deal

In addition, the "al-Akhbar" newspaper said that: "The deal to exchange the kidnapped servicemen didn't fail yet. The negotiations resumed, despite the "al-Nusra Front's" hampering finishing the process at the last moments.

There is no guaranteed results yet, but everyone is waiting. Some three new demands have been added to the previous demands to impede the exerted efforts or delay them for some time, especially after General Security Head Major General Abbas Ibrahim stressed that the deal has not failed yet."

The paper further added that: "The first hampering demand was the place of delivering the aid convoy."

"After it was agreed, according to security sources, that the convoy shall be delivered in the area of Wadi Hmayed, where the "al-Nusra" vehicles were supposed to take the load, the Syrian "al-Qaeda" branch demanded that the convoy continues its way towards Wadi al-Khalil."

According to the daily, "However, the Lebanese side didn't accept this condition, noting that the person in charge of conducting the negotiations is the Director of Information Affairs Bureau in the General Security Brigadier General Monah Sawaya, under direct supervision of General Ibrahim. This is how the convoy stopped its movement for security reasons."

Other sources reported that the security convoy reached some house at Wadi al-Hosen, where a meeting was held with an "al-Nusra" delegate, in which new demands were added to the previous list. Moreover, the second hindering demand was to settle the issue of Sheikh Mostafa al-Hujeiri, better known as "Abou Takiyeh", who represents one of the main obstacles that were set in the way of finishing the deal, according to what was reported from Minister of Interior Nouhad al-Mashnouk in his private sittings."

The newspaper continued: "According to the information, "al-Nusra" insisted on settling the judicial file of al-Hujeiri and his son "Obada", as well as guaranteeing his security. However, the third demand was adding new names to the list of those who are to be exchanged, among which was the Leader in "Fatah al-Islam", the Yemeni "Salim Saleh", known as "Abo Torab."

An-Nahar: Deal to Release Kidnapped Soldiers Delayed

For its part, "an-Nahar" newspaper wrote: "After the exchange deal of the servicemen kidnapped by "al-Nusra Front" was expected to reach an end, the latter added new conditions to impede the deal and abort the Qatari mediation, noting that the Lebanese side, represented by the General Security Head Major General Abbas Ibrahim, accomplished all the requirements of the deal, and completed all security and logistic preparations, but "al-Nusra" added the conditions it had set previously, before changing its mind."

A source familiar with the issue told "an-Nahar" that what "al-Nusra" is promoting regarding the Lebanese breaching its commitment to implement its demands is not true. The ball is on "al-Nusra's" ground as it attempted adding impossible conditions to the demands.

The newspaper added that: "General Security Head Major General Abbas Ibrahim was since the morning in charge of leading the negotiations with the Qatari mediator in a place near Arsal, and he sent the aid convoys as well as the General Security convoys that should undergo the exchange operation in Arsal outskirts, finishing all security and logistic preparations. But in the last 15 minutes, "al-Nusra" raised the level of its demands."

"After General Ibrahim waited for hours, the "al-Nusra" Prince "Abo Malek al-Talli" sent his answer via the Qatari mediator telling that he insists on his new demands, and won't exchange before they are done. Therefore, General Ibrahim returned the aid convoys and the security convoys back where they came from."

Al-Joumhouria: Security Chief Won't Abandon Bid to free Lebanese Hostages

In remarks to al- al-Joumhouria daily, General Security head Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim said he will not abandon his efforts to release 16 servicemen held by the Syria-based Nusra Front, no matter what obstacles the extremist group throws his way.

"We have fought hard negotiations with the kidnappers...and we have showed flexibility in many demands put forward by al-Nusra Front," Ibrahim said in remarks published Monday.

He further stated: "We have finalized everything concerning the [swap deal], until things got to the point we can no longer respond to the intolerable demands presented by the kidnappers at the last minute."

However, the security official was adamant not to give up even if the kidnappers "continue [employing] their blackmail policy."

Source: al-Ahed News