Lebanon: Media Reaction - March 20, 2009

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000322 STATE FOR NEA/ELA - LAWSON, NEA/ELA - IRWIN, NEA/PPD, R, INR/R/MR, INR, NSC - SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL KMDR OPRC KPAO KISL KPAL LE SUBJECT: Lebanon: Media Reaction - March 20, 2009 Atmospherics: -------------- Outlets reported extensively on a parliamentary legislative session yesterday. Parliamentarians voted for a law to lower the voting age to eighteen. The move was commended by all outlets as an "historic" step. Major outlets speculated that the law would not have passed if it was not for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Although the draft bill was passed by parliament unanimously, amending the law could require up to four months. Citizens aged eighteen are not expected to vote before the 2010 municipal elections. Another law that failed to pass was one that called for parliamentary consensus to introduce any amendments on the issue of settling Palestinians in Lebanon. Pro-Hariri outlets accused the "Change and Reform Bloc," which is the biggest Christian parliamentary bloc, of being responsible for the failure to pass the draft. The bloc denied the allegations, insisting that parliamentarians voted for the law. The issue of settling Palestinians in Lebanon is a sensitive issue to the Christian community in particular. Selected Headlines: -------------- "The Parliament Passes the Law on Lowering the Voting Age to Eighteen and Aoun's Parliamentarians Evade an Amendment that Confirms Refusal to Settlement (of Palestinians)" Pro Hariri Ash-Sharq "The Age Eighteen with the Consensus of Ninety-Eight Parliamentarians on the Eve of the Parliamentary Battle. Berri: A Valuable Gift in March for not Bolstering the Month of Divisions." Moderate anti-Syrian An-Nahar Block Quotes: -------------- "European Satisfaction over the Lebanese Tranquility and Aspirations for an Open American Approach. The Projets for Solutions in the Region Await the Completon of the Electoral Tours in It," an editorial by Rosanna Bou Monsef in moderate anti Syrian An-Nahar: "Despite the signals that were directed by the American Administration towards the Middle East region since President Barak Obama took office in the United States...such as appointing George Mitchell...and opening the doors for dialogue with Syria...and the announcement of intentions to adopt a new approach toward Iran, diplomatic observers consider that for the course to become clear, it requires a number of elements that are not available today. There is on the one side the probability of forming the new Israeli cabinet... and on the other side it is necessary to wait for the outcome of the Lebanese parliamentary elections which, despite their internal nature, could bring a new balance to the reality of forces in the region or could confirm the already existing balance. There is also the outcome of the Iranian elections, which follow the Lebanese elections immediately. That is because the forces that will be sorted (out) by the elections and the changes in the region will have a strong impact on the nature of the American approach, and could reveal... with whom the dialogue will be opened in the next phase. In addition, Obama is still exploring his approach to the affairs of the region, and the European countries and others are making sure that his approach to the peace process will be open and built on an understanding of the nature of each crisis, and the nature of each country... in order to avoid having any initiative or approach bring opposite results, such as with many American approaches previously... The American solutions did not reflect a deep understanding of the crises and the (way) of approaching them caused disasters for the Americans and for several countries in the region and the world. The Europeans are more eager than ever...to have Europe as a partner in any approach that Washington will adopt and to avoid Washington proposing any unilateral approach, although the region awaits American action primarily..." "European Capitals Anticipate the Victory of the Opposition in the Elections by Opening Up to Them? London and Hizballah: A Look, a Smile, and a Hello...In Anticipation of the Meeting," an editorial by (pro-Hizballah) Imad Marmal in Arab nationalist As-Safir: "European politics continue to regain some of their independence and radiance in the Middle East after a long phase of American hegemony over them, which made the Europeans...turn into pawns on a chess board which used to be controlled by the mood of the former American president, George Bush... The Europeans have indeed benefited from Obama's new strategy which is based on opening up to the 'axis of evil' and having a dialogue with it... As an expansion of this course, it was clear that international and regional changes would reach Lebanon and that the European openness towards Damascus and Tehran would be completed by reaching out a hand to Hizballah...especially since Hizballah is now looked at as a major player in the region and one of the architects of the balance of powers in it. Also, it is natural for Hizballah to become one of the beneficiaries of the proceeds of the American failure in the Middle East... And, because some March 14 forces were promoting the dangers of a victory in the elections by the Hizballah-led opposition and the impact of such a victory on Lebanon's relationship with the international community, the response came from the heart of that community, meaning the Europeans, who hurried into organizing their relations with Hizballah months before the elections, which indicates that they were acting according to the principal that the opposition had serious chances of winning on June 7, and, therefore, there should be a preemptive opening of the lines (of communication) with it as of now in anticipation of all possibilities... But Hizballah, despite welcoming the flexible European language,...does not seem in a hurry to normalize its relations with the concerned capitals. There is information that no contacts or meetings occurred at any levels between Britain and Hizballah... According to information, the British Ambassador to Beirut, Francis Mary Guy, before the diplomatic window on Hizballah was opened officially, tried to arrange a meeting with any personality that the Party was prepared to delegate, suggesting that the meeting be a secret, but her request at that time was rejected completely." Sison