DAILY SCOPE: Europe, US Eye Lebanese Oil Riches, to Preserve ’Israeli’ Interests

Local Editor

LEBANESE NEWSPAPERS:

AS-SAFIR:

Renewed Western Concern with Lebanese Gas!

AN-NAHAR:

France, Zarif Paving Way for "Lebanese Initiative"

AL-AKHBAR:

Berri Concerned with "Nasty" Move of Selling Public Beach

AL-BINAA:

Turkish-"Israeli"- Agreement to Be Announced, Occupation Intelligence Chief Worried about Daesh

Lebanese newspapers dealt with different topics on Thursday, most important of which is the oil reservoirs that witness American and European attention. Some papers also touched on the presidential vacuum and said that France, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are preparing for an initiative on the matter.

The dailies as well tackled the file of the military state institution and its crisis, and touched on the other regional and domestic topics.

AS-SAFIR: US, Europe Eying Lebanon's Oil Riches, Preserve "Israeli" Interests

The US and Europe are keen on finding an appropriate atmosphere to start exploring and investing the maritime oil riches in Lebanon and Occupied Palestine, and that is not for the sake of Lebanon but rather due to their interest in preserving ‘Israeli' oil security, said As-Safir on Thursday.

According to the newspaper, experts assured that the European companies are bothered by Lebanon's procrastination and wasting of time, yet these are still interested in oil and gas explorations in Lebanese waters. This is basically due to the European need for oil, with a rise in its oil consumption in the year 2020 to 22 thousand billion square feet of oil. The experts stressed that Europe is trying to having various providers so that it would free itself to a certain extent from its lively need to Moscow in this sector.

The European Union had issued a decree which stipulates that Europe should decrease its dependence on Russian gas.

As for the United States, its main concern is to support "Israel" and protect its oil, especially as the oil revenues of the American company Nobel - in addition to other small companies- from investments in the "Israeli" fields has reached around 18 billion dollars.

In terms of Lebanon, the sources told the newspaper that the real launching of the "oil dream" will not take place before a president is elected.

AL-AKHBAR: Lebanese Army on Alert, No Real Threat to Embassies

A high-ranking military source told al-Akhbar newspaper that the Lebanese army is in a state of ongoing alert, since it serves as an emergency alarm for the terrorist attacks especially at the eastern borders of Lebanon.

The source stressed "We do not live in fear and panic, but we are careful and cautious. Security cannot be a definite issue, but having all Lebanon under the monitoring of the army can safeguard it," adding "the position of the army on the terrorist groups and attacks has not changed, especially since its attacks on the group belonging to the Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] Emir in Arsal and Qalamoun known as "Abu al-Fawz" who was killed while his security advisor was arrested."

On the concerns of some embassies in Lebanon and their fear from terrorist attacks, the source stated that there are doubts that embassies or UN offices will be attacked in Lebanon.

The source saw that Lebanon of course is not detached from the region and its events especially in Syria and Iraq, even though Lebanon is trying not to be an official side in this war, adding that the events in Syria seem to be an undeclared World War III especially due to the many countries involved in it.

AN-NAHAR: Zarif Supports Initiative to Facilitate Presidential Elections in Lebanon

For its part, An-Nahar newspaper said that a French-Iranian agreement has been made on starting an initiative to facilitate the constitutional crisis Lebanon is witnessing.

According to An-Nahar, the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saw that the "solution is in the hands of the Lebanese people which should be respected."

"We and France will work together to facilitate reaching a solution to the crisis, but it is up to the Lebanese people to work together and reach a solution; no one can impose solutions from abroad and all we can do is facilitate reaching a solution," An-Nahar reported him as saying.

Announcing readiness for cooperation with France in connection with the regional problems, he said, "We believe problem with Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain and Yemen should be solved by people of the region and the country."

Zarif had met with French President Francois Hollande and his counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Paris on Wednesday. Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.

Source: al-Ahed News