DAILY SCOPE: Hariri Back with Shaky Confidence, International Delegations in Beirut

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Truth about King Salman's Sickness... in Reports

Syrian, Lebanese Army are a Guarantee

AN-NAHAR:

Salam: What Matters is Filling the Presidential Void

AL-AKHBAR:

Hariri: I Don't Trust Myself!

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Lebanon Confronts Disguised Naturalization

AL-BINAA:

Nasrallah Draws Lines of Deterrence and Power Today

Lebanese newspapers on Monday shed light on the different topics whether local or regional. Topping the news was the coming visit of a high-ranking UN delegation to Beirut this week, headed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to discuss the presidential void in the country and the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon.

Newspapers focused on the interview with Hizbullah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, which will be aired on al-Mayadeen Lebanese TV channel today, Monday. Also, the dailies followed up on the illegal internet networks scandal and the dangers of the ongoing presidential impasse on the country.

AL-AKHBAR: Hariri has Shaky Confidence in Himself, Future Party

In an article entitled "Hariri: I do not trust myself!", al-Akhbar Lebanese daily wrote that during the first few days to the arrival of former PM Saad Hariri to Lebanon, he gave an impression that he was dynamic and was willing to break the political recession.

"Many thought that a series of workshops will be launched inside the Future party, as well as among the Sunni parties and the March 14 bodies, paving the way for an all-encompassing initiative to find a solution to the current situation in Lebanon. But soon it became clear that Hariri came back alone, without neither money nor Saudi decision... As if nothing had changed since he left the country."

None of Hariri's companions is still around, the article pointed out, except for Mohammad Qabbani and Mohammad Hajjar. His financial weakness and incapability has allowed many of his party's members and friends to overpass his decisions, resign from their ministerial posts, or even neglect him and get busy with their work.

According to the author, if Hariri would fight to get the Prime Ministry, that is because it is the sole means to getting back his position in Saudi Arabia, which has abandoned him lately.

The author quotes a Future party member as saying that today; Hariri is like a mountain climber whose foot got stuck in the rocky stones and is stranded at the edge of a cliff, waiting for one of his friends to tell him "here, take my hand".

Also, the author added that one of his oldest friends had said that "Hariri does not trust himself anymore, or his initiative. His shaky confidence in the Future party and his doubts that he will definitely become PM again push him into passing time and trying to ignore his problems, until maybe Saudi Arabia or some other country would understand their dire need to him on their side.

AN-NAHAR: High-Ranking International Officials in Beirut

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Frederica Mogherini will visit Beirut today, Monday to meet officials and visit unofficial camps for Syrian refugees in Bar Elias, before the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arrives to Lebanon on Wednesday, said An-Nahar newspaper.

The reason why these high-ranking officials make a move today is because the UNURWA has decreased its services and help to the refugees in Lebanon since last year, said the daily, adding that the two international delegations will face a long list of demands prepared by the Lebanese government that aims at helping and supporting the Syrian and Palestinian refugees and follow up on their movements.

On the presidential file, political circles told An-Nahar newspaper that it is expected that a new round will start in which officials will be searching for new candidates to fill the office, especially as some parties have expressed dismay at the alliance between the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement. Since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014, the Baabda Palace has been vacant.

The two-day visit of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Beirut has been set for March 25, as he will be accompanied by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.

AL-JOMHOURIA: Upcoming Week Full of Events, Officials to Demand Solutions

In light of the calm political front currently in Lebanon, and as Christians celebrate their religious festivals across Lebanon, the coming week will change this tranquil environment as new stances are to be made public, one of which is that of Hizbullah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah while another is that of the high-ranking international officials who will be visiting Lebanon this week.

According to al-Jomhouria, the discussions to take place between the international officials and Lebanese officials will not only include the possibility of giving Lebanon loans with zero percent interest, but also the current circumstances and developments in the region that have had direct impact on the Lebanese arena.

Also, sources told the paper that Prime Minister Tammam Salam is willing to discuss the refugee crisis and its burdens with Ban and Mogherini and the aid allocated to resolve the crisis that has not been delivered to Lebanon yet.

Moreover, sources pointed out that Salam and Lebanon's House Speaker Nabih Berri are willing to discuss the demarcation of Lebanon's maritime border, stressing that it is not acceptable for this issue to remain frozen.

Source: al-Ahed News