The
following are summaries of today's
major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press
digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight
into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.
Al-Akhbar daily quoted well-informed sources as saying that Hezbollah will not tolerate the renewal of the STL protocol, since the party’s credibility with its supporters is at stake.
According to the sources, Hezbollah will not handle this issue in a calm manner even if it might create a problem within the government, adding that the party might ask the cabinet to use the term “distance itself” from this issue. The sources added that such a step would mean that the cabinet will not have an opinion on the renewal of the protocol.
The daily cited the sources as saying that should the UN Secretary General bring up the subject; the cabinet has to disregard it. The newspaper stressed that this solution seems to be very convenient for PM Mikati who would like to avoid a new governmental crisis.
The newspaper added that some fear that the Premier will once again make public vows, like he did on STL funding and embarrassed his allies when he forced them to choose between his resignation or funding the U.N.-backed Tribunal.
Al Akhbar daily reported that a meeting between PM Najib Mikati and Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah took place during the holidays. According to the daily, Sayyed Nasrallah was not smiling when he hosted Mikati who paid him a visit a short while after Hezbollah’s ministers voted in favor of the wage adjustment draft put forth by Mikati, meaning the vote that caused the new crisis. This vote also hampered the political process and coordination between Hezbollah and its allies.
Al Akhbar reported that Nasrallah, not only refrained from smiling, but also began to reproach his guest saying “you have betrayed us”. The daily adds that Hezbollah’s Secretary General stressed that the issue of funding the STL is behind them and ahead lays the issue of renewing the STL protocol. Nasrallah reiterated the idea that the tribunal is politicized and serves U.S. and Israeli interests.
The daily noted that Sayyed Nasrallah considered that Hezbollah was not comfortable with the STL being funded from outside the cabinet, adding that the whole charade that was orchestrated to cover the STL’s expenses from extra-budgetary funds did not cancel out this sense of embarrassment.
Al Akhbar said that the two men discussed a number of issues and Nasrallah stressed that the party and its allies are insisting on raising once again the issue of false witnesses now more than ever. The daily added that Nasrallah stressed the need for the cabinet to take practical measures to compensate for the damages incurred by the officers.
Hezbollah’s Secretary General reported that the party will support its allies, especially the Change and Reform bloc, when dealing with the problems of the Lebanese, adding that attention will be drawn to the budget. Nasrallah was interested in briefing his guest on the party’s priorities for the upcoming phase, since the latest events prompt Hezbollah to deal with the cabinet in a different way.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told An-Nahar daily that the international organization is keen of Lebanon’s stability and prosperity, urging Israel to immediately end its violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and respect resolution 1701. Ban said that the resolution created a new strategic environment that should be put to good use in order to reach a permanent cease-fire instead of settling for ending the ongoing attacks.
Ban encouraged Syria to cooperate in the demarcation of borders with Lebanon, which will promote Lebanon’s capacity to control its borders by virtue of resolution 1680, in reference to Damascus’ complaints that weapons are being smuggled to Syria via Lebanon. Ban urged Lebanon to take necessary measures to protect its land from terrorism, praising the work of the LAF and security apparatuses.
U.N. Secretary General refused to accept the logic of the resistance that justifies having weapons by a potential Israeli aggression, stressing that no state can function properly if it does not monopolize the legitimate use of weapons.
Ban expected the resumption of dialogue session led by President Michel Sleiman in order to reach a national defense strategy and take practical steps that will demilitarize militias by virtue of resolution 1559. Ban said that he understands very well that such a process cannot happen overnight.
Ban added that he will soon issue a decision to extend the mandate of the STL by virtue of the agreement signed between Lebanon and the United Nations. The decision is taken after thorough consultations with the UN Security Council and the Lebanese government. Ban added that he will appoint a new prosecutor for the STL in March.
Ban noted that Lebanese officials are doing the best they can to curb the repercussions of the Syrian crisis and its impact on Lebanon. Ban held Syrian President Bashar Assad responsible for protecting the lives of Syrian citizens and maintaining their human rights, reminding that Assad had promised him to end the bloodshed and so far he has yet to live up to his promise.
A Lebanese Maronite source told
Al Seyassah al Kuwaiti daily that officials from both France and the Vatican are warning that the idea of creating a Alawite state in north Syria might have negatively developed. The source added that those adhering to this ideology are mulling over replacing Syria with Lebanon to install their statelet.
The source quoted Vatican officials as saying that they expect that the 90% of Syrian Alawites will move to Lebanon since Lebanon is the weakest link in other countries in the region.