Press Digest for Thursday March 29, 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.             

• Jumblatt: I would rather end my life opposing the Syrian regime

The head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt told As-Safir newspaper that he decided to officially announce his rivalry with the Syrian regime at any cost despite the continuity or the fall of this regime, adding that the grace period in the past two years will not be repeated.

“I would rather end my life in the ranks opposing Bashar Assad; I think that these stances express my true political convictions and beliefs thus I might loose on the political level”, Jumblatt was quoted as saying.

“We cooperate with Hezbollah on a daily basis especially with Wafiq Safa; we are over 2008 incidents, both parties refuse any religious and sectarian clash”.  

• Aridi: We object electricity deal

According to An-Nahar newspaper the ministers of the National Struggle Front have objected the electricity generating ships deal during the cabinet’s last session.

“We objected the entire talks regarding the electricity issue and not just the deal itself; we call on the government to restart the bids as the numbers and the duration of the approved bid are not clear”, Minister of Works Ghazi Aridi was quoted as saying.

Minister of Energy Gebran Bassil praised the achievements of the current government on different scales, adding that what the government has done in the electricity issue is a gain to all Lebanese citizens.        

• Mikati: We made it

PM Najib Mikati told As-Safir newspaper that the cabinet session on Wednesday was a fruitful and a positive one, adding that the decisions taken were vital to the citizens’ daily living regarding the electricity approved plan, the administrative appointment and the public transport plan.

Asked about details regarding the electricity deal he said “we tried to find an appropriate deal to provide the required amount of electricity at the lowest cost possible and it worked”.    

• Baragwanath to visit Beirut next week

According to As-Safir the General Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Judge David Baragwanath will arrive in Beirut at the end of this week accompanied by Judge Ralf Riashi to meet with several Lebanese figures, the Minister of Justice and the Lebanese General Prosecutor.

Baragwanath will also hold a conference at the Sagesse University next Monday where he will speak on the benefits on an international judiciary system.