DAILY SCOPE: Slow Investigations Raise Suspicions on Internet Scandal, Hammond Anti-Terrorism Talks in Beirut

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Internet Scandal: Judiciary Slowing Down, "Internal Forces" Absent and Cooperation Weak!

AN-NAHAR:

Roar over Scandals Related to Disputed Files

King Salman to Meet Sallam in Istanbul

AL-AKHBAR:

National Unity Government, a Constitution and Ongoing Battle against Terrorism

Assad Widens Door for Solution

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Berri Insists on Legislation

AL-BINAA:

Hammond in Beirut before Hollande...Hariri Delays Message from Moscow to Saudi Arabia

Lebanese newspapers that were once known as the "beacon of freedom" and the "voice of the voiceless" in a region that lacks freedom of media; struggle to continue working in light of the presidential impasse and the paralyzed cabinet that has caused stagnation in the country on different levels.

The dailies issued on Thursday shed light on the different developments including the internet scandal. Newspapers considered that more evidence and threads are being uncovered as investigations proceed, some of which prove that some issues happened right before the eyes of the state.

Newspapers also followed up on Head of the Future party Saad Hariri's visit to Moscow, who comes back carrying a message from Russia to Saudi Arabia in an attempt to resolve the presidential void in Lebanon.

AS-SAFIR: Slow Pace of Investigations on Internet Scandal Raises Question Marks

Question marks loom in the horizon on the slow pace of investigations and the hesitation in the illegal internet network scandal, said As-Safir newspaper on Thursday.

According to the paper, the more the security apparatuses dive in depth in the "internet illegal grotto", the more threads to the scandal are revealed, which prove that some official sides were either lenient and careless towards the matter or were in fact involved in the scandal.

"Despite the high threat of the financial, security and technical dimensions of the scandal, yet scarier are the very slow pace of investigations and the hesitant attitude of security and judicial apparatuses; which raises questions on whether they are being subject to political pressure by different sides in the country," added the paper.

The "internet scandal" includes a huge number of minor and major companies that have overpassed laws and regulations and justified taking internet provided by Cyprus and Turkey, saying that the demand for internet services has been increasing in light of scarcity of state services.

The scandal was revealed two weeks ago, when Telecoms Minister Boutros Harb said the government confiscated communications devices that had been installed in various mountainous areas across Lebanon and used in unauthorized Internet networks.

According to Harb, "Installations, equipment, technical systems, IT and technical equipment, satellite dishes, wireless communication systems, power plants, international tracking systems, converting alternative energy systems, batteries, generators, and metal towers that were installed in different locations in the Lebanese mountains and high-altitude areas were uncovered and confiscated."

AL-JOMHOURIA: Hariri Carries Russian Message to Saudi Arabia on Presidential Deadlock

Amid the political chaos and presidential void in Lebanon, Russia has promised head of the Future Party Saad Hariri following his visit to Moscow that it will help resolve the deadlock, reported al-Jomhouria on Thursday.

Diplomatic sources told the paper that Hariri had asked Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for his country's assistance on the presidential impasse, taking into consideration Russia's influence in the region.

Lavrov considered the presidential elections as an internal matter, but said that Russia is willing to help resolve the crisis and vowed to make efforts to push towards the election of a president in the country.

Lavrov had reiterated that the Lebanese people must solve their problems on their own, while respecting Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and away from any external influence.

Lavrov and the US Secretary of State John Kerry have agreed to make diplomatic contacts with Riyadh, Tehran, the Vatican and Paris to put an end to the ongoing delay in the presidential elections in Lebanon and find a solution to the reasons hampering the process.

Hariri's visit comes as part of the Russian-US agreement to contact heads of prominent parliamentarian blocs in the country.

AN-NAHAR: Salam to Meet King Salman for First Time after Tension between Lebanon, Saudi Arabia

An-Nahar newspaper on Thursday said that the Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam is expected to meet Saudi King Salman for the first time after the tensions between the two countries.

According to the newspaper, the meeting will take place at the Islamic Summit Conference designated to take place in Istanbul in April. Sources told the paper this will be a good chance for the two sides to discuss the deteriorating relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. The 13th session of the conference will take place between 10-15 April.

On another note, the newspaper reported that British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who arrived Wednesday evening in Beirut for a one-day visit will be discussing major topics related to supporting Lebanon on the military and security levels, as well as combatting terrorism and the issue of the Syrian refugees.

According to Lebanon's state-run news agency, "Hammond who was accompanied by a delegation arrived from London aboard a private jet for a visit that will end on Thursday evening and is scheduled to meet with a number of Lebanese officials."

AL-BINAA: Hammond to Discuss Several Topics Including Syrian Refugees, Terrorism

Well-informed sources told al-Binaa newspaper on Thursday that "the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will discuss the issue of the Syrian refugees in his meetings with Lebanese officials as well as the situation in the Middle East especially following the liberation of Syria's Palmyra."

This, according to sources, will push Western countries to move towards the region to come see the facts on the ground especially that Lebanon is not far from the turmoil happening in the region.

The newspaper also quoted sources as saying that "the issues related to terrorism as well as the situation in Syria and along the Lebanese-Syrian borders are on the agenda to be discussed during the meetings."

Source: al-Ahed News