Saudi-Syrian Talks Reach Preliminary Agreement to Settle Crisis

24/12/2010 Lebanese daily As-Safir quoted a prominent figure who recently visited Damascus as saying that despite the tensions in Lebanon, the Saudi-Syrian talks have reached a preliminary agreement to settle Lebanon's political crisis.

The source that there was a huge effort spared in this context, stressing that all parties were betting on another Lebanese internal effort to reach solution.

According to As-Safir, the same figure expected that Saudi Prince Abdel Aziz bin Abdullah would soon pay a visit to Damascus to continue consultations and lay down the details of the settlement.

The daily also quoted an Arab diplomatic source as saying that the United States is insistent on using all cards available to it to pressure Syria and Iran, including employing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is why they have decided to escalate their rhetoric. This means that the fate of the Saudi-Syrian effort, no matter how much progress it achieves, remains in the hands of Saudi Arabia's ability to sell it to the US, it explained.

Meanwhile, the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt visited Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Center House. Jumblatt was accompanied by Transport and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi, Displaced People Minister Akram Shehayeb and State Minister Wael Abu Faour. The premier's advisor Nader Hariri was also present at the meeting. Talks tackled the current political developments.

One day earlier, Jumblatt has visited Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and said the indictment is politicized and could leave Lebanon at high risk. "Lebanese have the right to ask many questions about the indictment which, day after day, has proved to be a politically motivated decision somewhere, and leaves Lebanon at high risks," Jumblatt was quoted by As-Safir as saying. "We are working to ward off the repercussions of the indictment," Jumblatt told reporters following the meeting with Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Progressive Socialist Party media official Rami Rayyes stated in turn that the Saudi-Syrian initiative stands as an Arab and international umbrella for Lebanon, adding that an obstruction of the efforts will negatively affect Lebanon. He emphasized that it is difficult to predict what the initiative has in store for Lebanon, warning that the situation in Lebanon and the Arab world cannot sustain internal instability.

‘Hezbollah to Deal with Indictment as if It Was Not Issued’

24/12/2010 Agriculture Minister Hussein Hasan said on Friday that the so-called Special Tribunal for Lebanon was completely politicized, adding that any indictment that would be released by the Prosecutor against the Resistance doesn’t concern it.

"Any indictment against the Resistance does not concern it and we will deal with it as if it was never issued," Hajj Hasan said while taking part in a ceremony held by Hezbollah.

"When the Resistance calls for tackling the indictment, it is not doing so because it fears it, but because it believes that it would be good for the country as it seeks to prevent its exploitation by the United States and Israel through sectarian sedition," he stressed.

"It is therefore our duty to reveal the violations committed by this tribunal and the international investigation commission over the past few years," the Hezbollah minister stressed.

In another issue, Hajj Hasan criticized the politicians who meet to issue statements and launch stances against politicians in the other bloc, expressing hope that they could be more interested when it concerns Israeli daily violations to the Lebanese sovereignty.

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