The Daily Star - Lebanon's Arabic press digest - Aug. 9, 2011 - August 09, 2011

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Tuesday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
An-Nahar: Government defends its position, pursues arms smuggling
Just like a fever strongly escalated as a result of Arab positions, particularly the Gulf, on bloody developments in Syria, a tense situation prevailed in Lebanon Monday for fear that Syrian unrest could have implications for the internal conflict based on the continuous repercussions over Lebanon’s stance on the presidential Security Council statement on Syria.
As Prime Minister Najib Mikati defended Lebanon’s position [which dissociated itself from the Council statement], former Prime Minister Saad Hariri praised Saudi Arabia King Abdullah’s stance on the unrest, stressing his support for the Syrian people in the face of a “security solution.”
Meanwhile, Cabinet plunged into a debate Monday over Lebanon’s position on the Syrian crisis with Mikati explaining the merits of this stance in the Security Council where Lebanon has “distanced itself” from the presidential statement.
Ministerial sources told An-Nahar that arms smuggling to Syria was a topic discussed at length during Monday’s Cabinet meeting where ministers denounced this issue and warned of its implications on the Lebanese situation. Several Cabinet ministers directed accusations against two [political] sides without naming them.
Cabinet agreed to entrust security and judicial services to launch a fact-finding investigation into the allegations and “hold those involved responsible,” according to the sources.
Separately, sources close to the Future Movement denied knowledge of a possible meeting between Hariri and MP Walid Jumblatt. However, according to some information, Jumblatt is likely to visit Saudi Arabia and meet Hariri.
As-Safir: Mikati committed to government “neutrality” …. Hariri attacks it
The Syrian crisis in its regional and international dimensions dominated the Lebanese arena which in the last few hours was packed with opposing stances regarding what is happening in Syria, reflecting the wide internal divide which has began expanding in light of foreign developments.
The crisis seems to have turned into a controversial Lebanese issue par excellence perhaps in light of what we are witnessing in terms of demonstrations and sit-ins that are moving from one area to another and vary between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.
The most recent sit-in was carried out Monday evening at Martyrs Square by a group of intellectuals and activists as well as some figures from the March 14 coalition amid reports about the likelihood of reviving such activity in that square.
Amid it all, Mikati stressed during Cabinet’s Monday meeting that Lebanon’s position in the Security Council has “neutralized” Lebanon against conflicts and satisfied all parties.
In a significant move, Speaker Nabih Berri launched a vehement attack on March 14 forces without naming them during an iftar Monday evening in which he accused the opposition of being “advocates of the appeasement of the enemy, merciful and humble with the West and rough with the nearest countries [Syria].”
“They [March 14] believed that Lebanon’s position in the Security Council is a disgrace when all they did for us was replace the laurel wreath with shameful wreath in the Security Council,” Berri said.
Al-Mustaqbal: Lebanon cannot dissociate itself from the “open massacres” in the closest sisterly country to it [Syria]
Hariri: Saudi Arabia will not leave Syria and its people [swinging] in the wind
The flaming situation in Syria reflected strongly on the Lebanese scene with a “government” position clearly ambiguous and an opposing point of view of bias toward the Syrian people, expressed by former PM Saad Hariri, who pointed out that Arab positions [on the Syrian unrest] are “a chain of solidarity with the Syrian people and their legitimate right to freedom, reform and change.”
Meanwhile, Cabinet will meet Thursday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda under President Michel Sleiman to discuss an ordinary agenda to be followed by an annual Iftar hosted by Sleiman in honor of political, religious, social and official figures.
Al-Akhbar: “Arms smuggling” … an extraordinary issue on Cabinet table
“Arms smuggling” into Syria was an extraordinary issue discussed during Cabinet’s ordinary meeting Monday at a time when Speaker Nabih Berri launched an attack focused on the opposition, calling them “advocates of the appeasement of the enemy while lying in the wait for the brother [Syria].”
Meanwhile, the opposition, particularly the Future Movement and its leader [Hariri] took strength from a position made by Saudi Arabia King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to continue its attack on the Syrian regime.
The harshest remarks came from Berri who addressing March 14 without naming them said: “Ask your masters in the Security Council this time about Lebanon’s position and you will definitely take back your accusations. This propaganda by attacking the government one time and another time attacking the noble position or the head of the government without any justification … the message has come across. The truth is you have lost your temper.”
In softer words, Mikati defended Lebanon’s position in the Security Council and said the reason Lebanon decided to dissociate itself from the Council statement was “because we believe that the approach adopted by the Security Council is not a solution to what is happening in Syria.”
Significantly was the issue of “arms smuggling” into Syria which was discussed outside of the scope of Cabinet’s agenda after ministers Mohammad Fneish and Ali Hasan Khalil highlighted the risks this issue poses.