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U.N. Chief is ‘Sure’ Lebanon Will Continue to Respect Commitments to STL

U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon said Friday he had no doubt that the Lebanese government would continue to respect its obligations towards the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

In an interview published in An Nahar newspaper, Ban said: “I am very glad that the Lebanese government decided to transfer the 49 percent of funds to the STL.”

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Report: Miqati, Nasrallah Discussed STL Last Month

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held a meeting with Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during the holidays, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.

The meeting, according to the daily, tackled the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri and the latest developments.

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Wage Hike Dispute Spirals out of Control as Parties Cling to their Stances

The cabinet will meet on Monday with the wage hike issue on its agenda following the price index committee’s failure to reach consensus over the salary increase for Lebanon’s employees, according to newspapers published on Friday.

The price index committee in its second consecutive meetings on Thursday failed to resolve the dispute between the Labor Minister, the Economic Committees, the General Labor Confederation and the Syndicate Coordination Committee over the wage hike.

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British Diplomat Reportedly Appointed as Special Coordinator but Ban Says Consultations Ongoing

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has appointed a British diplomat as special coordinator for Lebanon to replace Michael Williams, a diplomatic source said.

The source told al-Mustaqbal daily published Friday that Ban appointed Derek Plumbly to replace Williams whose mandate ended in October.

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Al-Rahi Meets Bkirki-Hizbullah Dialogue Committee

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Thursday met with the committee tasked with following up on the dialogue between Bkirki and Hizbullah.

The committee comprises Bkirki representatives Bishop Samir Mazloum and Hareth Shehab and Hizbullah envoys Ghaleb Abu Zainab and Mustafa al-Hajj Ali. The meeting was also attended by lawyer Walid Ghayyad, the director of Bkirki’s press office.

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Price Index Committee Fails to Resolve Wage Hike Dispute as Nahhas Set to Propose his Plan at Cabinet

The price index committee meeting failed on Thursday to reach an agreement over the wage hike.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas announced that he will propose his plan in cabinet “because the government is responsible for implementing the law. Anything other than that does not concern us.”

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Eichhorst Meets Miqati: We Hope Lebanon Will Continue Supporting Int’l Resolutions, STL

European Union ambassadors to Lebanon praised on Thursday the government’s choice of stability, independence, and sovereignty, encouraging the country’s leaders to maintain this path.

Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst said: “We express our trust that Lebanon will continue to honor its international obligations in 2012 as derived from U.N. Security Council resolutions, including with respect to the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon and continued cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.”

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Mansour: Libya Promised to Speed up Probe into Fate of Moussa al-Sadr

Libya is probing the mysterious disappearance of revered Lebanese Shiite Imam Moussa al-Sadr who went missing in Tripoli 33 years ago, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour told reporters on Thursday.

"The investigation is on... there is a commission of inquiry chaired by the Libyan attorney general" which is probing the case, Mansour said after meeting Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the head of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC).

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Drug Smuggling Attempt Thwarted at Airport

Customs officers thwarted on Thursday a drugs smuggling attempt from Brazil at the Rafik Hariri International Airport, reported the National News Agency.

The officers found the 2.130 kg of pure cocaine hidden in a double-bottomed suitcase.

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Miqati Hails ISF, Says Political Stability Achieved through Dialogue

Prime Minister Najib Miqati hailed on Thursday the Internal Security Forces on their efforts to preserve the national security.

“The security forces and army played a major role in maintaining stability amid the storms in the region,” Miqati said at a meeting at the Grand Serail with heads of security agencies.

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