Press Digest for Wednesday May 30, 2012

                                   
Sports and Youth Minister Faisal Karami said that no matter how much [they] try to wash the blood off the hands of Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea, the latter remains a murderer in the eyes of the law and the judiciary.             

In a talk with As-Safir Daily published on Wednesday Karami added that Tripoli in its majority remains faithful to the memory of slain premiere martyr Rachid Karami stressing on remaining steadfast on the line and heritage of the latter no matter how challenging.               

• Aridi: Tying the governments resignation to dialogue is un-objective  

Minister of Work and Transport Ghazi Aridi said that all sides particularly March 14th,  must join in the country’s national dialogue called upon by President Michel Sleiman, especially since the main topic of discussion on the agenda will be arms outside the authority of the state. In a talk with Al-Mustaqbal Daily Wednesday, Aridi stressed that it was unfair to tie the current government’s resignation as a precondition for dialogue by some groups.                

• Negotiations and efforts regarding Lebanese detainees halted two days ago   

Turkish sources confirmed in a talk with Al-Liwaa Daily that all calls and efforts pertaining to the release of the Lebanese detainees stopped two days ago due to the abductors high demands, adding that other mediators have now joined in the efforts. The source added that this case is being foreseen by Turkish security and intelligence and not through diplomatic means. On another hand a high end Lebanese source said that Lebanon has been notified by Turkish authorities that efforts are continuous, albeit past efforts have yielded no results.           

• Sleiman on a gulf tour

In an article published on Al-Jamhouriyya Daily Wednesday Lebanese President Michel Sleiman announced that he would be touring the gulf region by the end of the week. The visit comes within the framework of the release efforts of the detainees as well as setting Gulf tourists at ease in regards to spending their summer vacations in Lebanon. Kuwait will be the first leg of the president’s tour with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain on the list.               

• Baabda, unnotified of possible Annan visit to Lebanon   

Sources from Baabda confirmed to Al-Liwaa daily Wednesday that it has not been notified of UN envoy’s visit to Syria as per standard diplomatic mean, adding that Al-Manar Tv confirmed in its evening news on Monday that Annan notified its Damascus correspondent that he would be visiting Lebanon soon.