Press Digest for Friday April 13, 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.     

• Charbel: They do not know who Marwan Charbel is

According to As-Safir newspaper Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel called on politicians to unite on any given electoral law in order to reduce tension in the country which affects the security and stability level.

Charbel revealed that there is little time to decide which electoral law will be adapted adding that if a law is voted it will need at least 6 months to be implemented. “They are trying to gain time in order to impose on me a political agenda as they think I will be worried about breaking the deadlines; whoever is trying to impose anything on me does not know who Marwan Charbel is”.  

• Aoun refuses to reveal the identity of his successor

The head of the Change and Reform Bloc MP Michel Aoun told Al-Akhbar newspaper that the resigned minister Charbel Nahas is a friend despite the opposing political views, adding that the cooperation between Nahas and the Free Patriotic Movement ended on good terms. Asked on the issue related to Fayez Karam’s release Aoun said “The Judges have spoken, Karam spent almost two years in prison”.

Aoun refused in his interview to Al-Akhbar to reveal the identity of the person who might succeed him to preside over the Free Patriotic Movement, revealing that an election will be held on specified rules and regulations to elect a new president.

• Iran will not budge on nuclear program

Diplomatic sources in Beirut told As-Safir newspaper that the resumption of dialogue between Iran and the G6 (5+1) countries in Istanbul regarding Iran’s nuclear file on Saturday constitutes a triumph to Tehran and an indirect western recognition of the its failure towards that issue.

The sources added that the fact that the resumption of the dialogue coincide with the implementation of Annan’s peace plan in Syria is of great significance.

The sources revealed that the western sanctions were supposed to demoralize the Iranians and weaken their government and economy but instead turned out to be beneficial for Iran as oil prices rose more than 20$ per barrel, adding that Iran will not budge on its nuclear program.