Ad-Diyar: Electricity plan, financing the tribunal are two obstacles facing the government

Following the cracks that appeared in the government as a result of discussion over the electricity draft law, another crack appeared when Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he would finance the international tribunal. It was a shock for some of Mikati' allies who felt he had taken a personal decision which upset Hezbollah. While [Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel] Aoun asked Mikati to refer to the government based on the constitution before making such a statement, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, is attempting to settle things before they escalate.

Mikati's allies believe that his statements placed Hezbollah, Aoun and Berri in confrontation with the international community forfeiting the one-party government consensus since they [the March 8 alliance] all reject the financing of the tribunal.

A Cabinet meeting will take place Monday headed by Mikati to discuss the electricity bill and prepare for the parliamentary session on Sept.7.

An-Nahar:  Signs of division in the government over financing the tribunal

The focus today is on whether the government is able to commit to its obligations including United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and the financing of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and how the government would deal with the Syrian situation throughout Lebanon's presidency over the Security Council this month.

Sources close to Mikati said that the prime minister met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Qatari Prince Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa and foreign ministers from the U.S., France, and Turkey during his visit to Paris as part of the "Friends of Libya" conference. The meetings focused on Lebanon's position regarding events in Syria. Mikati also made assurances that he would not place Lebanon in confrontation with the international community.

Meanwhile, March 14 sources said that the issue of financing the tribunal has been seen as a ticking bomb for the past six years. They also predicted that the Syrian government will pressure Lebanon to stand against economic sanctions against Syria and the latter would try to get around sanctions by using Lebanon's liberal economic system.

As-Safir: Mikati refuses to be part of a debate over the tribunal

Following the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the government faces two critical matters this upcoming week: one is the electricity plan when the Cabinet meets Monday to draw up a plan for the draft law before it is presented to the Parliament on Sept. 7. The other issue includes two interconnected matters: procedures undertaken regarding the security situation in the country and the issue of running Internal Security Forces.

Meanwhile, Mikati's visit to Paris included various meetings with foreign ministers and assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern and North African affairs Jeffrey Feltman. During the meetings, Mikati said that Lebanon wants to isolate itself from interfering in Syria and be disassociated from any decision that might have negative impact on the domestic level. He added that Lebanon would not, however, stand in the way of the international community.

Mikati's comments, however, regarding his will to finance the tribunal sparked great debate among both the March 14 and the March 8 camps, with the former doubting his intention to continue the funding.

Al-Hayat: No immunity for any businessman inside or outside of Syria

Al-Hayat quoted a U.S. official in Paris as saying: "Any businessman inside or outside of Syria is not immune from sanctions if they assisted the Syrian regime in escaping accountability and sanctions."

The official added: "Lebanon's banking system responded quickly with the Lebanese Canadian Bank issue which proves that the banking sector recognizes the effect of allowing Syria to use Lebanon’s financial institutions to escape international sanctions."

The official also said that the Syrian president would have to think twice before he sets Lebanon alight, adding that Hezbollah's continued political and tactical support for Syria deepens the Shiite-Sunni division in the region.