Introduction to the evening news 29-09-2011

Lebanon has been granted a grace period before all divisive issues be tabled in the right moment. The cabinet session to be held next week will not include a discussion of the STL or administrative appointment issues.

While waiting for the return of PM Najib Mikati from abroad by the end of the week, Patriarch Rai’s recent moves, which have taken center stage in the Christian political scene, are still being scrutinized closely. While LBC sources confirmed that the Vatican had no influence over Rai’s statements, a point echoed by the Holy See to the French ambassador, Bishop Boulos Saade has revealed to LBC parts of Yesterday’s deliberations of the Maronite bishops council. On the other hand, MP Boutros Harb and Dr. Fares Soueid commented on yesterday’s visit of the Syrian envoy to Bkerke.

Syrian events are still on the front page. Today, Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have sent a violent message, a second of its kind, to U.S. ambassador Robert Ford, when they hurled rocks and tomatoes at him upon his arrival at the office of Hassan Abdul-Azim, a member of the opposition. Accordingly, Ford was trapped for more than two hours in the office until the arrival of security forces.   

Moreover, the reasons behind the Syrian-Turkey estrangement, which is expected to escalate within the upcoming days, were partially unfolded. According to Syrian officials and Western diplomats, Turkey offered, if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ensured between a quarter and a third of ministers in his government were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, to make a commitment to use all its influence to end the rebellion. However, Assad turned down the offer, accepting the return of the Muslim Brotherhood as individuals only, but not as a party.

Furthermore, Ankara has started to exert pressure on the Syrian opposition to close ranks as the Syrian National Council, which was established in Turkey late August, will hold meetings on Saturday and Sunday in Istanbul in a bid to gather the Muslim Brotherhood, opposition and centrist figures as well as Kurdish members to discuss a minimum program amid the divisive issues between them.

According to Diplomatic sources in Damascus, the growing role of the National Council might be the fruit of an agreement between the U.S, Turkey and Muslim Brotherhood aiming at including to the council the three major movements: Nationalist, Liberal and Islamic.  

On the Iraqi scene, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki announced that by the end of this year, no foreign soldier will remain in Iraq, adding that changing the Syrian regime is in no one’s interest.