Press Digest for Sunday March 25, 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.     

• Aridi: The situation became unbearable

Minister of Works Ghazi Aridi told An-Nahar newspaper that the growing political clash regarding the electricity file in Lebanon is shameful. “We will all pay a high price especially that summer season is close”, Aridi told the newspaper.

“Everyone is saying that you don’t need more than 2$ Billion to establish proper electricity power plants to provide a 24hours electricity generation, as our annual deficit is close that than number; all Lebanese rely on generators and illegal electricity providers’.  

“The situation became unbearable”.  

• Third spiritual summit in Bkerke next week

According to An-Nahar representative from the Muslim and Christian religions will meet in Bkerke next week to discuss all pending issues in the country.

The spiritual summit will also mark the 1st anniversary of the Maronite Patriarch’s election. Sources close to Bkerke told the newspaper that the attendees will discuss all political issues in the region as well as Patriarch Rai’s last visit to Egypt and Cyprus.  

• El-Arabi: Holding the Arab summit in Baghdad is an achievement

The head of the Arab League Nabil el Arabi told Al-Hayat newspaper that the fact that the upcoming Arab League summit will be held in Baghdad is a true achievement, adding that the internal Iraqi political situation is not on the Arab League’s agenda.

“We will discuss closely the current event in Syria, the Palestinian question, Somalia’s problem, the aids promised to Yemen as well as the establishment of a free nuclear zone in the Middle East”, El Arabi was quoted as saying.