Introduction to the evening news 04-01-2012

We can say that Wednesday’s cabinet session was only a “rehearsal” for the next session that will be presided over by the president. In fact, hot-button issues, such as wage adjustment, were not included in the agenda and it is not possible to discuss any item not mentioned in the agenda, in the absence of the president.

The fact that the wage issue was not mentioned in Wednesday’s session does not necessarily mean that it will be in the next session, if an agreement is not reach especially following the most recent three setbacks.

The questions here are: What if the settlement reached between the economic committees and the GLC is tabled once again? What if the FPM ministers reject it once again? What if FPM ministers gain the support of the ministers of Hezbollah, Amal movement, PSP, Mara and Tashnag? Will the wage adjustment issue come to a stalemate? What will be the appropriate exit?

On the Syrian front, everyone is waiting impatiently for Sunday, the day when Arab Foreign Ministers will meet in Cairo. They will meet to discuss the report while the gap between the supporters and detractors of the mission is further widening. Today, Damascus retaliated to Washington’s remarks that it is worried about the way that Syria is treating the monitors by considering such statements an attempt to internationalize the Syrian crisis.