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.
An-Nahar
daily quoted National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt on Wednesday as
saying that he is keen on finding an exit to the financial issue with no
recourse to voting.
“The 8.9 trillion LBP and $11 billion issue
should be closed,” he added as he voiced support for the solution put forth by
Speaker Nabih Berri.
Commenting
on his meeting with Salafi Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, Jumblatt said that he had
confirmed to al-Assir that “it is in no one’s interest to have the Syrian
tension spread into Lebanon; the main battle is in Homs, not in Bab el-Tebbaneh
or Bal Mohsen.”
“It
is sinful to engage in armed clashes in Tripoli for any conflict between the
Alawites and Sunnis in this city might drag the Shiia into it.”
- Audit
Bureau report revealed: no mechanism
adopted in red diesel oil subsidy
As-Safir
daily published on Wednesday a copy of the Public Prosecution’s report
regarding the issue of illegal selling of subsidized red diesel oil as prepared
by the Audit Bureau.
According to
the report, the oil refineries administration sold the subsidized red diesel
oil in Tripoli and al-Zahrani to be delivered to companies during the
month-long subsidy period, from December 19 until January 18.
The report
added that a sum of 22.5 billion LBP was granted by the Lebanese government to
the ministry of energy and relevant oil refineries, for that purpose, of which
only 19, 511, 940, 000 LBP were spent. Accordingly, 2, 988, 060, 000 LBP were
not used.
The report
confirmed that the red diesel oil was not available in Lebanese markets as
required, adding that the oil was not even available for the citizens who were
supposed to benefit from it, which suggests that some companies had stored the
red diesel oil rather than delivering it to gas stations.
According to
the report, the ministry of energy highlighted the importance of adopting
alternative mechanisms for the direct subvention of red diesel oil given the
threats that could rise accordingly. The report added that the energy of
ministry had put forth some alternative proposals regarding the direct
subvention, referring to a letter of Minister Gebran Bassil in this regard.
The report
also revealed that, apparently, the Consumer Protection Department did not
order the inspection of the quantity of red diesel oil in the companies’
reservoirs during the subsidy period.
A
politician, whose identity was not disclosed, told
An-Nahar daily that what is
happening on the Masnaa-Shtoura is alarming, adding that there are certain
facilities in the region granted to kidnappers.
The
politician said that these facilities are likely granted by personnel, whether
from the Syrian side where there are two Customs and General Security
checkpoints or from the Lebanese side where there are also two similar
checkpoints.
The
politician confirmed that there must be a sort of coordination between the
kidnapers and certain personnel who likely operate in one of the checkpoints
since only security personnel can distinguish a wealthy passerby.
As he
highlighted the importance of deploying army troops along the aforementioned
road, the politician explained that the majority of these operations are
carried out by a well-known gang. The politician added that the security
apparatuses are chasing after the gang’s members whose names are revealed.
An-Nahar
learned on Wednesday from well-informed sources that U.N. Chief Ban-Ki Moon
will reveal today the new STL Public Prosecutor for the STL who will be the
Canadian Norman Farrell. The U.N. chief will also appoint a Ugandan judge to
replace former Italian Judge Antonio Cassese.
Al-Akhbar
daily reported on Wednesday that National Struggle Front leader MP Walid
Jumblatt does not spare in his meetings his criticism of the Arab states as he
accused them of being “impotent and coward which obstructs any move towards the
Syrian people. “
The daily
added that, the opposition party could not understand, until today, how
Jumblatt could beat them in the hostility towards the Syria regime. As for
Jumblatt who described Syrian President Bashar Assad as “megalomaniac”,
considers the current March 14 leaders, except for former PM Saad Hariri, as
“completely insane.”