DAILY SCOPE: Syria Conference Test for International Community

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Sparks of Battle in Northern Syria Reach Geneva

International Boycott Drives "Israel" Crazy

AL-AKHBAR:

Basil Warns from "Dealing Lightly" With London Conference: A Test for International Community

AN-NAHAR:

Hunger Revolution Kicked Off by Civil Defense

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Al-Hassan to al-Jomhouria: Financial Situation in 2016 Worrying!

AL-LIWAA:

Syrian Army Forces Reach Outskirts of Nobol and Zahraa; Opposition Cancels Meeting with De Mistura

Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam heads today to London, accompanied by an official delegation to attend the conference on the Syrian displaced people at the time developments are ongoing on the northern front in Syria. On another note, the Lebanese cabinet has approved funding the municipal elections, while ‘skirmishes' continue among the parties represented in the cabinet with no clear sign of whether the Baabda office will see a president anytime soon.

On the regional level, unprecedented Saudi air raids have been taking place in Yemen's Sanaa, killing and injuring scores of civilians, while messages travel back and forth between the opposition forces and Geneva, as the forces have shown no serious intentions to engage in dialogue.

All these news in addition to other domestic and regional developments were discussed in Wednesday's newspapers.

AN-NAHAR-Military Appointments A Matter of Dispute among Lebanese Parties

Despite the fact that the Lebanese cabinet appointed three members in the Military Council, the military appointments remain to be a matter of dispute among the different political parties represented in the Lebanese cabinet, said An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday.

According to the Lebanese daily, the post of the head of Military Intelligence is expected to be a point of divergence and new clash between the different parties in coming March, as different sides support different candidates to fill the post.

An-Nahar reported that while former President Michel Suleiman seeks to push for the appointment of Brigadier General Wadih Ghafari as Army Intelligence Chief, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji backs Brigadier General Camille Daher.

Well-informed sources told the paper that head of the Free Patriotic movement and MP Michel Aoun will also have his say on the matter, where he is expected to nominate his candidate and reject the officers named either by Suleman or Qahwaji.

Discussions have been ongoing among high-ranking officials on the controversial issue of appointments in the military council, yet the cabinet has failed to hold regular sessions since September because of the dispute on the decision-making mechanism and the dispute on the appointment of high-ranking military and security officials in absence of a president.

On another note, An-Nahar newspaper said that several members of Parliament and ministers told the paper that they do not expect the February 8 session to take place due to lack of quorum.

AS-SAFIR - Political Campaign and Illusion on Injustice against Christians

Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil criticized reports allegedly saying that injustice has fallen upon the Christians at the state institutions, and assured that this is a campaign with merely political goals and is basically an illusion, reported As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday.

The Minister assured there has been no new appointments at the ministry, but rather normal and regular formations and upgrades. According to Khalil, a female Christian employee was upgraded to second category and a Shiite was appointed as acting employee to fill her place.

Khalil pointed out that this case was "one out of 400 jobs", and that "the decision also included the appointment of other Christian employees in other departments."

AL-AKHBAR-Syria Conference Test for International Community

Lebanese Foreign Minister Jebran Basil said that the Syria Donors Conference to be held in London on Thursday is "a test to the international community and its intentions to help Lebanon, its government, people, and economy."

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, Basil said that Lebanon will present "a unique and new project to return the Syrians safely to their homeland."

The paper quoted sources as saying that "the Lebanese delegation, which will be headed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam and includes Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, agrees that the Syrians should return home."

Basil also expressed his concerns over the attitude of the international community towards the issue of displaced people and displacement, warning the Lebanese government to remain alert while dealing with the issue especially in terms of the wording of articles and terminology that result from the conference. He assured that "Lebanon will not accept any encouragement that the displaced settle down in Lebanon."

The conference will try to find ways to keep more refugees in the region, including by putting large numbers to work and making them less dependent on aid.

AL-AKHBAR-400 Saudi Raids on Yemen's Capital, Failure to Enter Sanaa

During the past few days, the Saudi-coalition forces have conducted more than 400 air raids in Yemen's Sanaa, sources told al-Akhbar newspaper. According to a military source, the coalition forces make a dozen attempts on daily basis to break through and enter the Yemeni capital, yet to no avail because of the strong defense portrayed by the popular committees who have been able to repel all attacks so far.

The sources also reported that the popular committees and the Yemeni army, and in retaliation to the vicious attacks on the Yemeni cities, launched attacks on military posts belonging to the coalition forces particularly in Jarra strategic mount.

Some 8,300 people have been killed and over 16,000 others injured since the strikes began. The Saudi war has also taken a heavy toll on Yemen's infrastructure.

Source: al-Ahed News