Russia, China Veto New UNSC on Syria, March 14 Foil Dialogue, Waves of Syrian Refugees Continue
As always, the Lebanese military institution proved to be neutral and only concerned with the national interests, and this time imposed its stance inside the security equation.
Meanwhile, the March 14 forces hindered the dialogue which was supposed to carry on next Tuesday. However, March 14 decided not to take part in the dialogue, at the time when Lebanon is in desperate need for its parties to convene in light of the blundering security and livelihood circumstances, especially with the increase of Syrian refugees to Lebanon.
The said files made the headlines of the Lebanese major newspapers in their Friday edition.
Qahwaji: Army Will no Longer Remain Silent against Any Attack
Lebanese Army Commander General, Jean Qahwaji, confirmed that "the crises witnessed in the Arab region, especially in Syria, in addition to the adversities witnessed by Lebanon, require from the Army exceptional efforts to overcome this delicate stage with the least damages possible."
He indicated that the army is among the most concerned [parties] to stop the reflection of the aforementioned crises on the security level of the internal arena.
During his meeting with the Army Command and top officers on Thursday, General Qahwaji stressed being alert and ready, whether in defending the southern borders from any "Israeli" aggression, after the threats launched recently by the enemy leaders against Lebanon, or in maintaining the civil peace march, and monitoring the Lebanese border in the North and Bekaa, in a way that guarantees protecting the people, and foils all attempts of smuggling and sneaking in both directions.
He affirmed the importance of direct confrontation against any assault targeting the Army.
"The political contradictions witnessed in the internal arena, and the criticism [...] issued against the army will not affect the unity of the institution or the morale of its troops," Qahwaji asserted.
"The army has long maintained silence out of its keenness to prevent the institution from being dragged into pointless debates. However, due to the incitement against officers and soldiers, the army will no longer remain silent against any attack, for unfortunately, some sides have interpreted the army's silence as weakness," General Qahwaji iterated.
Moreover, Lebanese Army Commander General affirmed that the army is too busy focusing on greater issues than to get embroiled in internal disputes, especially in light of the dangerous regional developments and amid fears of an "Israeli" assault against Lebanon.
March 14 Boycotts Dialogue
Also in Lebanon, but in another stream, the March 14 forces have announced their boycott of the national dialogue as of next Tuesday, therefore having the Lebanese people lose the supposed image that might had facilitated their tough days, as-Safir daily reported.
Al-Akhbar daily reported, according to one of March 14's officials, that the decision to boycott the dialogue is supported by Saudi Arabia. The daily went on to say that during the past days and weeks, the Saudi authorities were informed of the Lebanese situation, especially after the alleged attempt to assassinate MP Boutros Hareb, in addition to the latest Hizbullah stances on the defense strategy.
The sources added to the daily that Riyadh thanked March 14 for responding to its call for dialogue in the past two times.
On another hand, high-ranking March 14 sources stated in an interview with an-Nahar daily, that after the broad meeting at the Center House in downtown Beirut Thursday, the March 14 personnel believed that assassination attempts can't be dealt with as if nothing happened.
"We are now before a new stage and stances," the source stated, adding that the decision to boycott the next national dialogue session was adopted in consensus, and it would not be retreated unless the requested requirements are met.
The said step was supported by Head of National Struggle Front, MP Walid Jumblatt, who backed the opposition's point of view; i.e. that the government kept the telecoms data away from the security apparatuses, as-Safir daily reported.
Regarding the Phalange party's boycott of the dialogue, sources indicated that the circumstances that made the Phalange Party take part in the dialogue before no longer exist. The source elaborated that new assassination attempts occurred, and Hizbullah has presented new representations on its weaponry that should be explained.
Also, the source said that if any of the requested requirements were met before Tuesday's scheduled session, especially regarding the telecoms data, then they will all take part in the dialogue.
Upcoming Gov't Crisis: Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Meanwhile, the new wave of Syrian refugees to Lebanon was unexpectedly huge. According to sources following up the issue of Syrian refugees, the statistics estimated that within the past 24 hours, [Wednesday to Thursday], more than 20 thousand Syrians entered the Lebanese territories via the Masnaa area.
On this level, sources close to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati indicated to al-Jomhouriyah daily, that the next crisis would be directly related to the civilian Syrian refugees, whose number increased in the past few hours.
For his part, Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs, Wael Abou Faour, clarified to an-Nahar daily that the immigration statistics are measured by the High Refugee Commission, the side which also helps them. Also, Abou Faour indicated that PM Mikati gave directions to the High Relief Committee to directly take action.
Double Veto Foils New Conspiring Scheme against Syria
On the Syrian level, al-Akhbar daily underscored the "New Double Veto [that] Topple[d] the Western Project."
"The third double veto was not surprising in the UN Security Council. The Western group knew that any resolution presented under the Chapter 7 [of the UN Charter] will be opposed by Russia and China," the daily indicated.
The daily further elaborated that Russia and China used on Thursday their veto right against a Western-backed UNSC resolution threatening the Syrian authorities with new sanctions. The vetoed resolution received 11 votes in favor, while South Africa and Pakistan abstained from voting.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
