Press Digest for Wednesday February 1, 2012

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.       

• Possible meeting between Hairi, Mikati    

Al-Joumhouria daily revealed on Wednesday behind-the-scenes contacts aiming at arranging a meeting between PM Najib Mikati and former PM Saad Hariri, adding that these contacts aim at promting Mikati to visit Hariri to check on his health.       

In this context, it was reported that Head of the Future Bloc Fouad Siniora is exerting assiduous efforts to make this meeting possible.  
    

• Raad says his bloc favors proportional representation, Orthodox proposal creates sectarianism     

Sources participating in the meeting between the Bkerke Committee and Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad described the meeting as “significant”, adding that the meeting discussed the electoral law in general as well as the concerns and fears of Christians in the upcoming phase.      

The sources told An-Nahar that Raad has discussed in return the concerns of his bloc, adding that the Orthodox proposal creates sectarian extremism.         

The sources quoted Raad as saying that his bloc favors proportional representation with a reconsideration of the electoral districts.    

• LF, Kataeb comfortable with Raad’s proposals     

The Bkerke follow-up committee resumed meeting with officials to discuss the tabled electoral draft law, mainly the Orthodox proposal. The committee also met with Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad.       

Sources from the committee confirmed to Al-Akhbar that, in his speech, Raad conveyed the Lebanese people’s concerns, adding that “all the fragments of the Lebanese society share concerns that should be dissipated.”   

The sources added that one of the meeting’s participant said that Raad’s position is close to that of President Michel Sleiman with regards to the Orthodox proposal and fears that it will create sectarianism.     

Sources added that the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb’s representatives were comfortable with Raad’s statements.       

It was also agreed to hold another meeting that discusses further details and it was reported that the committee will soon meet with Future Bloc Head Fouad Siniora and National Struggle Front Leader MP Walid Jumblatt to brief them on the proposal adopted by the Bkerke meeting, provided that it will later meet with Speaker Nabih Berri to decide on a mechanism to follow up on the issue of the electoral law.      

• FPM activists seek to replace MP Edgard Maalouf with Charbel Nahhas      

Al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday that FPM activists from el-Metn are eagerly promoting the idea that Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas runs for the Catholic seat in north Metn, a position occupied for the second round by MP Edgard Maalouf.