Safadi Assures Public Sector, Mansour Denies Libyan Claims on al-Sadr
As the security situation in Syria remains swinging on the rhythm of Kofi Annan's plan of cease fire, new developments breach the scene of fragile calm:
Away from all calls of not interfering in Syria's internal affairs, US President Barack Obama has approved supporting the Syrian rebels.
US officials announced Friday that Obama signed off on a $12 million package last week including communications equipment and medicine for Syria's rebels.
"He plans to increase the package over time," a US official said on condition of anonymity because of "the sensitivity of the situation."
"Consistent with our longstanding efforts to support the peaceful opposition in Syria, the US is providing non-lethal material assistance to the non-violent, political opposition," the official claimed.
In parallel, the UN Security Council has scheduled a vote Saturday on a resolution authorizing the deployment of the first wave of military observers to monitor the announced cease-fire.
The draft resolution, obtained Friday night by "The Associated Press", calls on both sides to "immediately cease all armed violence in all its forms."
It also calls for "the deployment of an advance team of up to 30 unarmed military observers to initiate contacts with both sides and begin to report on implementation of a full cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties."
In Lebanon, the memory went back 37 years in time to remember the painful incidents and wounds of a disastrous civil war so that it won't be repeated.
Politicians issued various calls to learn from the past, and bolster national unity while disputes on permanent files emerged from here and there.
Suleiman to Australia, Delays Solution
According to "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper, President Michel Suleiman is scheduled to leave Lebanon Saturday on a week-long official visit to Australia.
Sources told the newspaper that "memorandums of understandings will be signed with the Australian government and Suleiman will also meet with prominent businessmen of Lebanese origin."
"These businessmen, who are a cornerstone of the Australian economy, have pledged LL40 billion for Lebanon to invest in," they revealed.
Meanwhile, Suleiman's visit is expected to delay a solution to the draft law issue legalizing the 2011 extra-budgetary spending.
Suleiman refused to sign the law spending until amendments suggested by the Finance and Budget Parliamentary Committee are first introduced to the draft i.e. a new budget is endorsed moving away the ghost of not paying to public workers next month.
However, Suleiman's sources told "an-Nahar" that "he would not concede to political pressure over the issue, arguing that Suleiman saw a number of amendments as necessary before he issued the decree."
For his part, Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi assured that "the salaries of staff and workers in the public sector will not stop next May."
In an interview with "al-Akhbar" daily, Safadi confirmed that "salaries are protected by legal and constitutional provisions as well as by the executive authorities."
Similarly, the head of the State Council Shukri Sader, told the same newspaper that "no government or side is allowed to veil payment of salaries whatever justifications are presented."
"This is a state and not a private company to declare bankruptcy," he stressed noting that "the real problem lies in the crooked basis resembled by the lack of budgets since 2005."
For his part, Chairman of the Finance Parliamentary Committee Ibrahim Kanaan, considered that "Suleiman's signing of the 8900 billion liras in accordance with article 58 of the Constitution is a national and constitutional interest."
"This would ensure the needs of the state, including public sector payments," he told "ad-Diyar" daily pointing out that " it would, according to the constitution, provide the Christian presidency with the power of arbitration between the legislative and executive branches."
Parliament Ready to Host the Fight
On another level, both the government and the parliament are preparing for the garrison fight in the parliamentary questioning sessions, especially the are to be broadcasted live on the TV.
According to the paper, "the opposition decided not to vote the confidence in the two ministers Gebran Bassil and Nicolas Sehnaoui."
""March" 14 campaign will focus sharply on the accountability of the government and the emphasis on the detailed terms and all topics that can force the government to adapt its [the opposition]calls," the paper clarified.
Mansour: Libyan Leaks Inaccurate
On another level, Foreign Minister, Adnan Mansour, denied Friday recent quoted news by a Libyan official about finding the remains of Sayyed Moussa al-Sadr.
"Such news lacks accuracy and there is no clear-cut proof over the revealed information's precision," Mansour asserted, pointing out that "he had previously agreed with the Libyan side not to let out any information to the public until investigations reach their final course."
He further expressed surprise on the news as "it hinders the course of investigations prior to their end."
"This is being tackled through diplomatic channels. To-date, we are still within the framework of ongoing investigations and exchange of information; hence, such news is viewed as lacking precision," Mansour highlighted.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
