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.
Information
made available to
al-Joumhouria daily revealed a “serious desire” within the
cabinet to fill vacant administrative posts whose number has exceeded 40%.
However, this desire is hindered by a fundamental obstacle which lies in the
mechanism upon which appointments should be based.
The
information added that certain parties within the cabinet are trying to stall
this process until the legislative elections are held.
According
to the same information, the Higher Defense Council issue is still awaiting the
Sleiman-Aoun miracle amid the lingering disputes between Baabda and Rabieh, adding,
however, that Hezbollah has failed to coordinate views after exerting assiduous
efforts in this regard and despite its appeal to both parties to deal with the
issue with openness and flexibility.
Al-Akhbar
daily quoted Syrian President Bashar Assad as revealing that the Syrian crisis
is currently at its earliest stages and that the international stance is developing
positively.
Assad
added the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama will be compelled, by summer,
to seek a settlement as implied by the U.S. elections, which will in turn enhance
the chances of the U.S. cooperation with Moscow to reach a solution for the Syrian
crisis.
During
his meeting with Syrian opposition symbols, Assad said that he is not the head
of the Baath party but rather the president of all Syria. He added that if the
Baath party wanted to stay on the Syrian scene, it should work on the ground and
compete for ensuring its political survival.
Assad
said that the Baath party will not necessarily be represented in the new government
to be formed after elections, adding that its representation might be limited to
parliament.
Commenting
on the Syrian-Lebanese ties, Assad said Damascus will deal with the Lebanese
factions on its own terms, insinuating that these ties would consider Syria’s
interests.
The
president added that following legislative elections in Syria, Damascus will
reattach importance to the Lebanese-Syrian ties according to new criteria for seeking
working modalities in this respect.
An-Naha
r
daily quoted Speaker Nabih Berri as saying that his electoral proposal is
currently at the stage of “testing the waters” and dwelling on the views of
different parties.
Berri
also warned of the “alarming” atmospheres prevailing over the country, adding
that the current atmosphere will deal a blow to the next year elections if no
change occurs.
A senior minister close to President Michel Sleiman
told
An-Nahar daily that the facts and evidence related to the attempted assassination
of LF leader Samir Geagea and which will be revealed today after the return of
ISF Director General Ashraf Rifi from Australia, undisputedly confirm that
Geagea was truly a target of an assassination attempt.
An-Nahar daily quoted sources close to National
Struggle Front Leader MP Walid Jumblatt as confirming that the latter’s friend,
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, has set a meeting between him and
Saudi Prince Saud Al Faisal in Istanbul.
The sources added that Jumblatt pushed the prince
into reviving the Kingdom’s practical interests in Lebanon, adding that Saudi
officials put the blame on the Druze leader for “breaching the promises” after
the collapse of the Hariri cabinet.
The sources expected that everything will return to
normal between Jumblatt and Saudi officials on one hand, and former PM Saad
Hariri on the other hand, which will inevitably affects Jumblatt’s positions on
certain parties considered as his allies.