DAILY SCOPE: Hariri in Moscow for Trade, ISP Domino Stones Falling

Local Editor

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Syrian Army Promises Truce Violators to Open "doors of hell"
"Nile Sat" Boycotts Lebanon

AN-NAHAR:

Washington Reassures Al-Assad Must Leave, Opposition Drops Syrian Fighter above Aleppo

AL-AKHBAR:

"Al-Akhbar" in Aleppo... Zenobia despite Everything
Ankara, Riayadh Foil Ceasefire in Aleppo, Washington Tries to Contain Situation

AL-BINAA:

Aleppo: Al-Nusra Take off Mask of Truce, Army Ready for Decisive Battle

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Berri: Who Brought in the Equipment, and Who Covered Up for It?
Billions to Turkey, Catastrophe to Lebanon and Jordan

The file of the illegal internet service providers [ISP] and the smuggling of huge-sized equipment to Lebanon remain to be of the major topics discussed by Lebanese newspapers. Dailies issued on Wednesday followed up on the investigations carried out on the matter. This comes in the context of Lebanese top officials' insistence to follow up on the case until the last moment, to uncover the perpetrators who have put Lebanon's security in jeopardy.

Also, newspapers continued its follow up on other domestic and regional files including the visit of Hariri to Moscow, where doubts surround the real reason behind his visit, in addition to other issues such as the legislative sessions, the presidential impasse and the Syrian file.

As-Safir: Hariri's Visit to Moscow Related to Personal Reasons, Trade

Even though March 14 sources are trying to give Hariri's visit to Russia more than it deserves, political sources assure that it his visit is to save him from the critical economic situation he is stuck in.

AS-SAFIR's Nabil Haissam wrote on Wednesday that some March 14 officials are trying to put Head of the Future Party Saad Hariri's visit to Moscow in the spotlight, in an attempt to present it as an "exceptional" event in the course of the current events taking place in Lebanon.

This role, according to the writer is being presented as "a role that has a Saudi dimension, where Hariri is being depicted as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Russia."

Also, sides in the March 14 are indicting that the visit comes in the context of important strategic relations with Russia, pointing out that even if Russia represents the staunch defender of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad today, yet it will be subject to the will of the March 14 camp at the end of the day.

This is not exactly the case, Haissam assured as he quoted political sources. The source said that Moscow and Riyadh do not need new tunnels that can connect the two sides and allow for talks, assuring that Hariri's visit to Moscow seems to be for personal purposes only.

His visit, according to the source comes in the context of business work and trade especially since the Hariri family's relationship with Russia is only based on trade since the time of late assassinated PM Rafiq Hariri.

AS-SAFIR: Domino Stones Falling; More Names Revealed on Internet Scandal
The domino stones of the illegal internet scandal have been falling consecutively as more names of people involved in the scandal have been uncovered, said As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday, pointing out that numerous suspects have been taken into custody for investigations.

According to sources, illegal internet devices were confiscated in Sanine area; these were set up by the suspect "Reno S." and belonged to another suspect known as "Tawfiq H.".

Earlier on Tuesday, MP Hassan Fadlallah said after a meeting held by the Parliament's Media and Telecommunications Committee that "The judiciary is re-examining the case regarding the Zaarour network based on a new report that was handed to the committee."

Four internet networks in the Dinnieh highlands in north Lebanon, and Oyoun al-Siman, Faqra and Zaarour in Mount Lebanon were found to be unlicensed and illegal, he had said last week. Fadlallah had pointed out earlier also that some 80 army bases and stations were using the illegal internet networks, not to mention some governmental departments.

Fadlallah, who chairs the committee, said investigations into the case of illegal ISPs will continue until all perpetrators are brought to justice. "We will confront any attempt to provide a political cover up for perpetrators," he underscored.

AN-NAHAR: Berri to Follow up on ISP Scandal Until the End

Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri warned that some Lebanese officials are trying to wrap up the internet scandal and put it away from the spotlight, reported An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday.

"This file cannot be absorbed and I will follow up on it all the way until the end," Berri said, adding "I reiterated my stance on the case to the telecoms minister Boutros Harb, who totally agrees with me on this."

Berri paused at a serious question on "how did such heavy equipment enter Lebanon without being monitored or detected."

"Investigations are still underway to uncover the perpetrators involved in this Internet scandal," Harb said on Tuesday in the joint news conference with MP Hasan Fadlallah following a meeting of the Telecom parliamentary committee.

Harb revealed on March 16, 2016, that a number of unlicensed Internet service providers have been buying bandwidth from Turkey and Cyprus and illicitly selling it to the Lebanese market at costs lower than government rates.

AL-BINAA: Expert Assures Lebanon Should Set Up Protection System to Prevent Breach

Well-informed sources following up on the internet scandal told al-Binaa newspaper that the "atmosphere during the telecoms committee meeting was positive," stressing that all the conferees assured the importance of pursuing investigations and holding the involved people accountable of their actions, because what happened is not a simple breach of law but is a scandal that threatens the country's sovereignty and security."

The sources also assured that the committee is following up on the case, noting that numerous people involved in the scandal are currently under investigation.

On this note, Military Expert Dr. Mohammad Atwi told the al-Binaa that "the violation of the legal internet network in Lebanon will happen again if the telecoms ministry does not set up a network protection system, and it might reoccur if the Lebanese officials do not prove to be serious in revealing the identity of the perpetrators involved in this security scandal."

Atwi assured that Lebanon can set up a protection system that can impede any external or foreign breach, attempt of espionage or tapping, or attempt to hack or violate the legal network.

Source: al-Ahed news