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
Al-Joumhouria
daily revealed that, on the occasion of the finalization of the Waad project to
reconstruct the Dahiyeh, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will neither
touch on the recent positions put forth by MP Walid Jumblatt nor on the May 7
events.
The
daily explained that Nasrallah’s Friday speech will rather focus on the
importance of implementing the Waad project, translating into action his
promise to rebuild the party’s headquarters “better than it was before.”
According
to the daily, the party leader will draw a comparison between the recent visit
of U.S. official Jeffrey Feltman and that of Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza
Rahimi. He is also expected to call on officials to shoulder their
responsibilities and to seize what the party describes as “golden opportunity” manifested
in Iran’s assistance to Lebanon.
Nasrallah
is also expected to tackle the Syrian issue in light of recent regional
developments as he will have another appearance on May 25 to commemorate the "Liberation
& Resistance Day”.
The
cabinet is set to convene on Wednesday afternoon at the Baabda palace under the
chairmanship of President Michel Sleiman.
The
cabinet’s agenda includes the expenditure issue along with a project to install
a new bridge for Jal el-Dib.
In
this context,
An-Nahar daily reported that there is a tendency for the prime
minister to skip the items related to the 8.9 trillion LBP draft law and the 4.9
trillion LBP Treasury loan and to press ahead with discussions of other issues.
The daily learnt that PM Najib Mikati has prepared
a new relevant proposal that he tried to promote all Tuesday long among different
parties, ahead of its submission to the cabinet to see the ministerial reaction
it will draw.
Al-Mustaqbal daily quoted well-informed political
sources as saying that the cabinet, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, is still
set to be held on time, adding that the expenditure issue will be discussed
during the session.
The sources reported that contacts will be
intensified during the upcoming few hours to reach agreement on a particular
point or proposal.
According to the sources, the failure to agree on
the expenditure issue will not call a halt to the session and that discussions
might be resumed during another session on the grounds that the issue should
not be left suspended and a solution must be found in this regard.
As-Safir daily learnt that Speaker Nabih Berri informed
PM Najib Mikati during their recent meeting of his discontent with the government’s
overall performance, considering that the cabinet “has not yet leveraged the momentum
it gained after winning a renewed vote of confidence at the parliament.”
Berri told Mikati that he can no longer shoulder the ministers’
burden and that that they should bear responsibility, warning that “If
you fail to do so, I will stop intervening as of today; I will play my role as
head of the legislative body, nothing more or less.”
Commenting on the expenditure issue, Berri
confirmed that he is against any patched-up formula or one that implies the continuation
of legal violations “inherited from others.”
The speaker added that he is ready to put forth
ideas to settle the issue provided that the settlement comes in the context of
a “comprehensive correction of the ministerial performance at all levels.”
As-Safir daily quoted well-informed sources as
confirming that, during the recent meeting between MP Walid Jumblatt and U.S.
official Jeffrey Feltman, it was agreed that “proportional representation will
not pass”, adding that the current conflict between the March 14 components
does not guarantee an easy win at elections.
The sources added that Jumblatt confirmed his
siding with the March 14 camp in the 2013 legislative elections.
While Feltman stressed the importance that March 14
camp wins elections in order to put a brake on the continued Iranian infiltration
into Lebanon’s different corners, Jumblatt refrained from siding with his old
allies.