Introduction to the evening news 18-02-2012

Every time diplomatic efforts, military actions and political trials fail in Syria all doors become open to new developments and threats.  

At the peak of the diplomatic war between Syria and the Western world the Chinese envoy heading a Chinese diplomatic delegation visited Damascus on Saturday, few days after the Russian delegation’s visit.  

The Chinese delegation told Syrian President Bashar Assad that China will hold to the dual veto power shared with Russia at the United Nations Security Council.  

For the first time the Syrian President revealed that external forces are trying to divide Syria.  

When the Russian fleet left Tartous, two Iranian battleships crossed Hormuz strait heading to the Mediterranean Sea to address a political message to all Iran enemies saying that the Islamic Nation’s power is growing.  

The Israeli government expressed its discontent with Iran’s actions and revealed that 2 Israeli battleships are now in the Israeli territorial waters to protect the coast.  

On the other hand the US administration revealed that spy drones and intelligence services are currently working on the Syrian scene to follow up closely on the Syrian military activities carried out against army defectors and to track down all delicate military actions.  

US officials added that the spying movements do not constitute a step towards a new war in the region on Syria.  

It seems like the Syrian file is taking a bigger dimension.

The Shiite ruled Iraqi government revealed that Sunni officials are funding the Syrian opposition and providing them with weapons especially in the regions close to the Syrian border.  

Consequently, Iraq has decided to tighten security measures along its border with Syria which goes up to 600km to prevent all smuggling actions.

On the local scene its looks like the Berri-Aoun meeting on Friday will not have its direct effect on the political scene soon as the main problem remains with PM Najib Mikati halting all governmental sessions.  

The Head of Finance and Budget parliamentary Committee MP Ibrahim Kenaan submitted a draft decree on transportation fees on behalf of the Change and Reform bloc to the Parliament’s General Secretariat.

Kenaan said that the draft was included in the agenda of Wednesday’s parliamentary session to be discussed and jointed with Nabil De Frieg’s draft decree if accepted. President Michel Sleiman and PM Najib Mikati both insisted that the first step should be taken by the Minister of Labors Charbel Nahas who should sign the transportation decree to solve the current crisis.  

Mikati added that all discussions should be regulated on a consensus basis especially regarding constitutional matters before going into details.