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.
Well-informed diplomatic sources told
An-Nahar daily that the
representatives of the four European members of the Security Council have been
holding, for the past 2 months, regular meetings with their counterparts in the
Arab Group of the International Organization.
The sources added that those meetings aim at reaching a
European-Arab draft resolution to deal with the deteriorating situation in
Syria through the U.N. Security Council.
The sources added that all parties are cooperating to prompt
the Security Council to adopt an appropriate position on the Syrian events,
especially in the event that Russia fails to meet the growing international
demands in this regard.
In addition, high-ranking western sources in the U.N.
revealed that the western countries will circulate a draft resolution if Russia
balked at submitting an amended draft resolution in line with the
recommendations of other member states.
Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas told
An-Nahar daily that the
agreement reached between the economic bodies and the GLC does not necessarily
serve the interests of workers and is not above the law.
The daily learned that, during the Price Index Committee
meeting, Nahhas told the participants, particularly the representatives of the
economic bodies and GLC, that a delegation from Rabiyeh is visiting Ain
al-Tineh to open the door again, via a political tunnel, for a new solution for
the row over an optimal wage hike formula.
Participants described the Index Committee meeting as “a deaf
talk” that was saved at the last minute by setting a new meeting on Thursday at
2:00 p.m.
According to Information made available to
An-Nahar, the
reason behind the dispute between the economic bodies, the GLC, Nahhas and the
Trade Union Coordinating Body is that the first party is clung to a 675,000 LBP
minimum wage while Nahhas is requesting 800,000 LBP that includes the
transportation allowance.
In turn, the head of private schools teachers syndicate in
Lebanon Nehmat Mahfouz confirmed that the union adheres to the percent increase
on salaries’ brackets and the reference of the transportation allowance to the
parliament.
Mahfouz added that he will not participate in today’s meeting
if no decisive developments, in terms of political contacts, take place.
An-Nahar daily reported on Thursday that Hezbollah Secretary
General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will deliver a religious speech on Friday at
6:00 p.m. at Sayyed al-Shohada complex, knowing that he will be delivering a
political speech on Saturday.
Future Movement MP Amamr Houri likened the appearance of
Syrian President Bashar Assad at the Amawiyin Square to the live appearance of
Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah among his audience.
In a statement to
Al-Mustaqbal daily, Houri attributed the
no-show of Change and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun after his bloc’s weekly
meeting to his state of depression and despair due to several relapses suffered
by his movement and ministers.
Sources close to PM Najib Mikati confirmed to
As-Safir that
the prime minister is maintaining contacts with President Michel Sleiman and
Speaker Nabih Berri to reach a unified position on the STL protocol issue and
other topics of discussion with U.N. Chief Ban Ki-Moon including the
international resolutions issued in the past few years and the adherence to the
UNIFIL’s work and the issue of land and maritime border.
The sources added that, after his Friday’s meeting with the
U.N. chief, Mikati will publically voice his explicit and clear position on all
the aforementioned issues though he has repeatedly stated before that Lebanon
will not evade his international commitments.
In this context, a March 8 minister stated that views should
be coordinated in advance between Sleiman, Mikati and Berri on the STL protocol
issue to avoid taking a unilateral decision in this regard.
Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul told
Achraq al-Awsat daily
that the last communication thread with Syrian President Bashar Assad has been
cut off.
“What Assad said in his speech could have been credible 6
months or a year ago, but what he is doing now is too little and too late,” he
added.
Gul denied that his country gave up on the Syrians, stressing
that Turkey endorses the rightful demands of the Syrian people.
Gul said “no dialogue with Assad”, adding that Turkey does
not dictate to anyone.
The Turkish president voiced concerns over the presence of
those seeking to wage a civil war in Iraq and Syria, he however reiterated his
faith in the capabilities of national forces and politicians in both countries
to overcome and avert the crisis.