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.
Sources told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper
that the European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton will be arriving to Lebanon today (Monday) to meet with various Lebanese officials.
In this regard, the newspaper
mentioned that Ashton will hold talks with President Michel Sleiman, House
Speaker Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and PM-Designate
Tammam Salam.
The newspaper added that Ashton will
be discussing a new European aid to Lebanon and other neighboring
countries that are currently hosting the refugees.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper said on
Monday that Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam will start on Thursday
practical work to form a new cabinet.
The newspaper mentioned that
PM-Designate Salam is still waiting for the result of the appeals presented by
President Michel Sleiman and the Free Patriotic Movement regarding the
extension of the parliament’s mandate.
Al-Joumhouria added that MP Salam
met with Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil who reiterated March 8
forces’ readiness to cooperate with Salam in order to form a coherent new
cabinet.
House Speaker Nabih Berri said that he will be exerting efforts
to help Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam in the formation of the new
cabinet since this step is necessary to achieve internal
stability and ease sectarian tension.
On another note, Berri told
As-Safir newspaper that following the results of the
appeals presented by President Michel Sleiman and the Free Patriotic Movement
regarding the extension of the parliament’s mandate, he will be calling on the
sub-parliamentary committee to convene in a bid to reach common grounds
regarding the electoral law.
Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea
expressed his concern over the latest security incidents in Lebanon and the
Caretaker Government’s failure in taking measures to control the situation.
In this regard, Geagea told
Al-Akhbar
newspaper that the death of citizen Hashem Salem before the Iranian embassy in
Beirut was not mysterious since “it happened in daylight and the assailants were identified; however, not a single arrest warrant was issued”.
As for the incident that erupted on
Sunday in the outskirts of Baalbek, al-Qaa, Geagea said that the Lebanese state
and the outgoing cabinet are not taking measures to control the security
situation; thus, leading the country towards more security events.
Geagea praised the stance of
Lebanese president Michel Sleiman and called on all political factions to support
the latter in his positions.
As for Prime Minister-Designate
Tammam Salam, Geagea said that the latter does not have sufficient time to form
a new cabinet, stressing that "the parliament should bear its responsibility and
nominate another person for this task".