- Shaaban: Russia and
Syria’s concerns identical
Syrian presidential advisor Buthaina Shaaban told “As-Safir”
newspaper that a meeting will be held between the Syrian foreign
minister Walid Moallem and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New
York to discuss Syrian-Russian coordination, on the sidelines of the
U.N. General Assembly’s meetings. “My visit to Moscow was very useful”,
she said.
“Moscow did not suggest being a mediator in the Syrian
crisis”, Shaaban said, adding that she is well aware of the depth and
dimensions of the crisis.
The presidential advisor noted that the two opposition
delegations that visited Russia submitted lists of participants,
including their confessions and the names of some tribal
representatives. Shaaban said, “In my opinion, this explains the
opposition’s orientation and complies with Israel and the U.S.’s real
intentions behind the establishment of Shiite, Sunnite, Alawite and
Kurdish states in the name of democracy to justify the Jewish state”.
Shaaban added that
Damascus sent an invitation to the Russian senate headed by the deputy Chairman of the International Relations Committee who is
expected to meet with Assad and tour the Syrian provinces.
- Bahaa Hariri: STL only shield against terrorism and crime
Bahaa Hariri, the eldest son of assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and brother of former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri told “Al-Mustaqbal” newspaper that he will be heading to New York to receive this year’s “Global Citizenship Award” granted by the “Atlantic Council” to his late father Rafik Hariri.
“Granting the award to Rafik Hariri and naming the new Middle East Center after him come as a symbol of gratitude for his political legacy which is based on democracy, development,moderation, tolerance and national unity”, Hariri said.
Hariri added that his father sacrificed his life for the Lebanese people’s dignity and democratic regime, calling on the competent authorities to uncover the truth behind his assassination and serve justice.
“I reiterate my full support of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) that is guaranteeing stability by punishing all those who are trying to annul the free and democratic peoples’ will,using terrorism and crime”, he added.
- Martin Youssef: Lebanon fails to pay 70% of STL expenses share
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) spokesman Martin Youssef told “An-Nahar” newspaper that Lebanon failed to pay 70% of its 49% share of STL expenses.
Youssef said he believed PM Najib Mikati’s promises, adding “other countries are contributing to the STL’s funding, but this does not mean we are not waiting for Lebanon’s contribution”.
“An-Nahar” reported that Lebanese officials implicitly agreed on paying Lebanon’s share of expenses in the STL’s budget, after several concerned international bodies warned them that any delay in the fulfillment of Lebanon’s commitments will expose it to the danger of sanctions that may hit its banking sector.
This clear message was not only sent to PM Najib Mikati at the International conference on Libya in Paris, but also to President Michel Sleiman, House Speaker Nabih Berri and even Hezbollah, that is now well aware of the danger of such a message, the newspaper added.
- Bassil: Majority must act accordingly
Energy Minister Gebran Bassil told “An-Nahar” newspaper that the majority that adopted the electricity bill in the Cabinet must prepare to “defend their decision because the opposition cares only about seeing this project aborted”.
The false witnesses issue is a Lebanese issue that was ignored by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)”, Bassil said, calling on the cabinet to take the initiative “as long as the judiciary is not dealing with this issue appropriately”.
Asked if the Change and Reform bloc agreed with MP Najib Mikati’s reported statements on the possible recourse to a special decree from the budget’s reserve to fund the STL, Bassil said: “We cannot act on the sidelines of the cabinet when we are calling for a consensus on other issues inside the cabinet”.