Press Digest for Tuesday February 28, 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.           

• Abou Faour: There is 6916 Syrian refugee in Lebanon

According to An-Nahar newspaper the Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abou Faour met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugee, and Migration Affairs Kelly Clements to discuss the issue of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

“It was a positive meeting to foster cooperation between the ministry of social affairs and the Migration Affairs”, Abou Faour was quoted as saying.

“We are not looking forward to establish Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon like in Turkey, we will rely on the northern families hosting these refugees and we will try to help these families as much as we can”, Clements revealed after the meeting.

Abou Faour told the newspaper that there currently 6916 Syrian refugee in Akkar hosted by local families, Lebanese government and several NGOs.

“Nearly 200 refugees enter Lebanon weekly hosted by local NGOs who are receiving foreign funds and donations”, Abou Faour said.  

• William Hague: We are cooperating with the Syrian oppositon

British Foreign Minister William Hague told As-Safir newspaper that the Arab League proposed a peacekeeping Arab Forces to be sent to Syria, adding that the situation should be calmer in order to protect these forces.

“Currently the situation is bad, President Assad forces must stop carrying out military operations against civilians”, Hague told the newspaper.

Asked about the stances of Saudi Foreign Minister at the “Friends of Syria” conference held in Tunis Hague said “The EU has the chance to impose a weapon embargo on Syria and it is clear that we will not go further than this, we are cooperating with the Syrian opposition as the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people”.        

• Mikati: President Sleiman is more than a partner  

PM Najib Mikati told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the Lebanese wasted several opportunities to end their political division, adding that currently there is a greater need for more cooperation on crucial matters.  

“I will not place Lebanon in the wrong political equations thus our stance to distance ourselves from our current environment”, Mikati told the newspaper.  

“I have been asked to fulfill internal and external political agendas and I refused as I am in power only to serve Lebanon and my people”.  

Asked about his relationship with President Michel Sleiman PM Mikati said “He is more than a partner he is a brother accomplishing all his duties towards this country”.  

“The head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun is a very respectful person and after the last cabinet crisis I respect him even more. He has great values.”    

• Fneish: Administrative appointments on a meritocracy basis

Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mohammad Fneish told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the administrative appointment plan is a good start in order to finalize this issue but not enough, adding that all parties should come together and cooperate to facilitate people’s daily living.    

“Since we started discussing the administrative appointment issue I said that we do not need more than a political consensus and cooperation to finalize it in less than a week”, Fneish was quoted as saying.  

“We should select people on the meritocracy in order to fill the vacant positions with the right persons”.