EGYPT

EGYPT
Al-Ahram, Cairo, Oct. 1: The international investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri has entered its final phase. Within a matter of weeks the findings of the enquiry will be made public. It is not a question of whether or not senior Syrian officials will be implicated in the bombing of Al-Hariri's motorcade in Beirut. It is no secret that they will be. Nor is it a question of who and when: the names of at least some of those involved have been bandied around the international press and a tentative date has been set for the enquiry to disclose its findings.
Resulting chaos
The question today is what Arab countries -- and for that matter Turkey and Iran -- can do to help Syria contain the fallout from the mess in which it has landed itself. Should Syria come under the kind of pressure that causes its regime to implode then the entire region will face the prospect of being swept up in the resulting chaos. Arab governments understand -- or should -- that with ongoing violence in Iraq and the Palestinian territories, not to mention Sudan, and potentially explosive points of tension in Turkey, Iran and elsewhere, the region cannot afford any more unrest.
It is up to the Arabs, Iran and Turkey to tell the U.S. and Israel that they are not willing to condone any attempt to impose harsh sanctions against Syria, let alone tolerate another bout of military adventurism in the region.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph, Belfast: If the speculation is accurate, it looks as if Northern Ireland will follow the Republic by imposing a total ban on smoking in pubs, clubs and restaurants, in response to public demand. There would be widespread disappointment if the announcement fell short of an outright prohibition in enclosed public premises.
The choice was whether or not to confine the ban to places where food was being served, but Health Minister Shaun Woodward would be advised to listen to the voice of the people, as well as health experts and many trade unions. In a consultation exercise earlier this year, 91percent out of 71,000 respondents wanted a comprehensive ban and, if anything, opinion is hardening in its favour.
Tourism
People have seen the results of the ban in the Republic, where fears of widespread breaches of the law or boycotts have not been realised. Pubs are more attractive to the non-smoking majority, tourism has barely been affected and staff have welcomed a much healthier working environment.
All governments want to promote better health, if only to cut down on illness and premature death, and curbs on smoking are some of the most effective remedies. High taxes have helped, although they increase the supply of smuggled cigarettes, but the Republic has shown the world that a ban on smoking can not only be acceptable, but popular.
Statistics show that the numbers of smokers in the Republic is falling, from one in three adults in 1998 to one in four today. While a fifth of 15-18-year-olds are smokers, many will give up -- as Mr Woodward has -- because of the trouble of finding somewhere to indulge their habit. ...
In a province which already has more than its share of health problems, the logic of reducing risks to a minimum is irrefutable. Smoke, if you will, but do it at home, outside preferably, remembering the effect on others.