Introduction to the evening news 27-11-2011

Nothing came out of left field despite the rapid pace of developments. It seems as events are taking a pre-determined course, especially those related to the Syrian crisis: Tightening the economic screws on Syria was the top event of the day. These economic measures include asset freeze, halting dealing with Syrian Central Bank, stopping investments and calling on Arab central banks to monitor transfers to Syria. 

The sanctions will go into force straight away as announced by Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani while a technical committee was tasked with setting the right time for the implementation of the clause related to the banning of Arab airlines flights from and into Syria.    

These sanctions came to no one’s surprise, and the only thing remaining is to monitor the Syrian reaction which has not been revealed yet.     

PM Najib Mikati’s trip to the Vatican did not surprise anyone as well, and neither did his position voiced on the eve of his meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. Mikati reiterated that Lebanon is part of the international community; it commits to international resolutions and cannot be selective in their application.     

As he underlined his commitment to the STL funding, Mikati said “this issue will be included in the cabinet’s agenda and I hope that each minister will assume responsibility.”     

Tripoli’s ceremony, too, came to no one’s surprise: whether in terms of number, given that the crowd exceeded that of the ceremony held a few weeks ago and attended by the president and prime minister, or whether in terms of wording, given that most of March 14 figures’ speeches measured up to the events in Syria.