Press digest for Tuesday February 07, 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.   

• Mikati: I will not let anyone down

PM Najib Mikati told An-Nahar newspaper that he discussed all pending issues related to the government with Speaker Nabih Berri during their last meeting on Monday, adding that some political groups are benefiting from placing obstacles and preventing governmental progress.

“I am responsible before God and my people for the success of this government and I will not anyone down”, Mikati told Berri. “I am on good terms with everyone even General Michel Aoun and Minister Gebran Bassil”.  

• Nasrallah’s speech will focus on Syria

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will deliver a speech on the occasion of the birthday of Prophet Mohammad where he is expected to address his supporters on the latest political issues in Lebanon and Syria.  

• Lavrov in Damascus today

According to Al-Watan Syrian newspaper Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accompanied by the head of the Russian Secret Services will visit Damascus on Tuesday based on Russian President Dimitri Medvedev’s demands to convey a message to his Syrian counterpart President Bashar Assad.

The meeting will take place at the Presidential Palace with no media coverage. Sources close to the Syrian regime revealed that Lavrov will not meet with any Syrian official and will leave Syria after his meeting with President Assad.

The newspaper revealed that Syrian activists will be gathered at Damascus International Airport to express their support to the Russian decision at the United Nations Security Council.                 

• Asmaa Assad supports the President’s reforms
  

British Times’ Magazine issued today its exclusive interview with President Bashar Assad’s wife Asmaa Assad who expressed to the reporters, in her first public speech since the start of the Syrian turmoil, her support to her husband and to a democratic political life and the implementation of reforms under President Assad’s rule.  

The First Lady confirmed that President Assad does not belong to a Syrian group or religion but to Syrian and all the citizens.  

The magazine revealed that Assad’s wife has always focused on charity work and NGO’s to foster democratic life in the country as well as other developmental and agricultural issues, adding that she is currently working on spreading dialogue in the society and helping the families affected by the current unrest.        

• Hariri will address a televised speech
  

Al-Akhbar newspaper revealed that former PM Saad Hariri has been busy in the past days focusing on the latest events in Syria and the Arab Spring wave as well as the internal changes in the Future Movement.  

The newspaper added that after long hours of discussions with his political team, Hariri accepted to address his supporters during February 14 ceremony in a televised speech.