The following are summaries of today's major stories
published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for
content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views
expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.
The Kuwaiti
newspaper
As-Siyasa revealed on Friday that Aounist sources circulated
information about the secret dinner held last Tuesday between PM Najib Mikati
and General Michel Aoun, a meeting that decided to approve the wage adjustment
decision.
The sources
confirmed that Aoun pledged to halt the Aounist campaigns against Mikati and
help him pass the wage and budget issues along with an economic plan that he
will soon table. In return, Aoun expects from Mikati to help him with the
appointments issue, especially with confronting President Michel Sleiman,
removing certain senior employees and exerting pressure on other officials
working for ministries affiliated with Aoun.
Reliable
sources told the daily that it was Hezbollah who talked Aoun into meeting with
Mikati in a bid to defuse the tense situation, adding that the party reiterated
his advice for his ally since the cabinet’s survival is currently a top
priority.
Al-Akhbar
daily reported on Friday that Labor Minister Chaarbel Nahhas did not come to
his office on Thursday after it was made clear to him during the last cabinet
session that everyone has abandoned him, including the Change and Reform bloc’s
members.
The daily
added that what happened during the last cabinet session prompted the labor
minister to ponder the resignation option. However, this decision is not
definite yet for Nahhas still needs to weigh the options as he is still
questioning the reasons behind this abandon.
Al-Akhbar
added that Nahhas will seek answers within the upcoming hours and might visit
Change and Reform Bloc MP Michel Aoun to discuss the said matter.
According to
the daily, Nahhas still maintains that he will not sign the cabinet decision
regarding transportation allowance as he previously told his colleagues, allies
and rivals that he will not sign any decision that is illegal or harms the
interests of wages.
An-Nahar
daily reported on Friday that Speaker Nabih Berri called for giving priority to
the appointment of the oil’s board of director and moving quickly on
appointments.
The daily
added that the Speaker told PM Najib Mikati during their last meeting that it
is important to include the aforementioned issues to the cabinet’s agenda.
Berri denied in a statement to An-Nahar that he is behind any
hindrances in the diplomatic formations.
As-Safir
daily reported on Friday that Syrian President Bashar Assad confirmed that the
Syrian people who adheres to its unity and Arabism is capable of overcoming the
current situation and building the “dear strong Syria” despite obstacles.
During his
meeting with a delegation of “the Arab Popular Initiative for opposing the
foreign intervention in Syria and supporting dialogue and reform”, the Syrian
president confirmed that the people is aware of all conspiracies targeting
Syria’s security adding that the support of Arab people and nationalist forces
committed to their Arab identity enhances Syria’s immunity and its faith in the
future.
Kataeb Party
Leader Amine Gemayel revealed that his party drew up a draft Charter that will
be presented to Arab revolutions and Arab countries.
Gemayel told
Al-Mustaqbal daily that the dialogue’s “main course” is Hezbollah’s arms,
calling for keeping the country away from the “bloody conflict in Syria” and
supporting any liberation movement demanding democracy.
Gemayel confirmed that he did not sabotage dialogue, “it was
rather Hezbollah and Change and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun,who
obstructed dialogue since they refuse to discuss the key topic on the grounds
that “the arms are impalpable and sacred.”