Introduction to the evening news 19-02-2012

Would “dinner diplomacy” manage to resolve what talks and deliberations failed to address?    

Information made available to LBCI revealed that PM Najib Mikati and General Michel Aoun will meet on Tuesday at the dinner table, at the invitation of an FPM minister.    

According to the same information, the dinner will coincide with Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ signature on the transportation decree, a move that would “defuse the mine” preventing the prime minister from calling on the cabinet to convene next Wednesday.    

Amid this positive atmosphere, the scenario behind Nahhas’ signature has not been yet revealed.    

The expected dinner comes a week after the Ain al-Tineh lunch between Speaker Berri and General Aoun and a few weeks after Minister Bassil brought together Mikati and Aoun at the dinner table. While the last dinner failed to bear its desired fruits, will the Tuesday dinner be more productive?    

As for the Syrian issue, escalation knocked on Damascus’ doors despite the regime’s unprecedented attempts to downplay the impact of demonstrations and protests especially after Damascus witnessed partial closure of stores as part of the public strike and civil obedience.