Introduction to the evening news 02-11-2012

Hollande will be in Beirut on Sunday, in an exceptional French gesture towards Lebanon in general and President Michel Sleiman in particular. However, the main event will be his visit to Saudi Arabia where he is due to meet with King Abdullah to discuss the Syrian crisis among other minor issues.      

This French interest came at a time when news about air raids in Syria became regular news with the only exceptional event being the fact that they are targeting Damascus’ suburbs which seem to fall into the hands of the opposition.         

On another note, Lebanon is the scene of an uneven race between efforts for dialogue and calls insisting on the government’s resignation as a pre-condition for any dialogue. Despite the fact that this race is one-week old now, it is still mysterious; President Sleiman’s assiduous efforts to convene a dialogue table have not matured at a time when the opposition has not decided on the next steps. We’re facing an impasse, without any possible solution looming in the horizon.        

The absence of any sort of mediation, local or foreign, leaves Lebanon trapped between paralysis and void, needing no less than a miracle.  


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