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.
Former Syrian vice president Abdel Halim Khaddam told
Al Seyaasah al Kuwaiti newspaper that Syrian President Bashar Assad will not stay in power for long. “Bashar Assad has two choices before him: either to escape or to face the same end as slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, meaning to be dragged in the streets by the rebels”, Khaddam said.
Khaddam stressed that the majority of the Alawites are in favor of overthrowing Assad’s regime; however they are reluctant to join the revolution fearing revenge. “Late president Hafez Assad was wiser than his son Bashar”, Khaddam said.
Khaddam slammed the harsh Syrian criticism to the Arab League’s Secretary General Nabil el-Araby. “Let us keep in mind that el-Araby is only the League’s Secretary General. Therefore he does not have the final word and he is only entrusted with the task of announcing the final decision taken unanimously by the members”, Khaddam said.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told
Acharq al Awsat daily that Lebanese authorities are taking all security measures needed to protect Arab and foreign embassies that may be at risk. “Based on orders given by the ruling power, Lebanese security forces are intensifying their security measures to protect both Arab and non-Arab embassies that are directly affected by the regional situation”, Charbel added.
Charbel denied withholding information about an embassy being the target of a possible attack. The newspaper quoted the interior minister as saying: “Prior to the regional turmoil, we protected all embassies within our means, but following all the regional developments we stepped up security efforts to shield them.We have paid particular attention to those vulnerable to the regional events.” Charbel refused to name the embassies, he settled for “they are well known and there is no use in naming them”.
Asked to assess the situation in Lebanon in light of the turmoil sweeping the region and the repercussions of the Syrian tumult on Lebanon, Charbel stressed that politicians should shield the country from external conflicts.
“They should agree upon the standards that strengthens the security situation because political stability will in turn benefit the national economy, social conditions and tourist influx”, Charbel said.
Acharq al Awsat newspaper had received a statement from the “Syrian Free Party”, saying that the party received information from Syrian security forces that the Syrian Air Intelligence is planning an assault against the Qatari embassy to Beirut and intend to kidnap Qatari citizens living in Lebanon.
Al-Akhdar Al-Ibrahimi told
As-Safir daily that the Arab Spring must entail an organic re-assessment of the Lebanese situation, adding that 20 years down the line and the Lebanese have yet to found an equation better that the Taif agreement.
“Although the Taif agreement was very bad, it was the only equation that could end the fighting between the Lebanese”, Al-Ibrahimi said, adding that since then, Lebanon has reached a stand-still. The newspaper quoted Al-Ibrahimi as saying: “The Taif agreement succeeded in putting an end to the fighting.” Al-Ibrahimi added that Lebanon’s troubles are not over yet because of some external as well as internal reasons.
“The issue of Hezbollah’s weapons is not in any way related to the Taif agreement”, Al-Ibrahimi said.
“To those who support the Taif agreement, I say that the same agreement does not allow two armies in one country. The winds of change are blowing in Lebanon’s direction. The leaf of the past will be turned and the domestic situation in Lebanon must be re-evaluated in light of the regional circumstances”, Al-Ibrahimi said.
Al-Liwaa daily quoted sources close to PM Najib mikati as saying that funds will be earmarked for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), stressing that PM Mikati will not resign. “A decision to fund the STL negates rumors about the Premier’s resignation”, the sources said.
The sources stressed that this position is conveyed by PM Mikati to Arab and foreign ambassadors and consuls to Lebanon. On another note
, An-Nahar daily reported that PM Najib Mikati will visit the Vatican to meet Pope Benedict XVI on November 28.
Did former PM Saad Hariri give the green light for his supporters to jump start popular movements to overthrow PM Najib Mikati’s cabinet? Will he return to Lebanon to lead these movements or will he drive them from his residence abroad? Are his twitter remarks regarding a plan to topple the current cabinet regardless of the rise or fall of the Syrian regime true?
As-Safir daily reported that the General Secretariat of the Future Movement started to logistically gear up for a popular central festival on the occasion of Independence Day on Sunday November 27 in Rashid Karami International Fair in Tripoli. The festival will be similar to the one held last year on March 18 in Lebanon’s second capital in which caretaker PM Saad Hariri participated.
The newspaper added that the Secretariat distributed a memorandum for all the movement’s departments located in the North. The memorandum gives clear instruction to mobilize all resources that will ensure a broad popular participation in the festival. Sources told the daily that the former premier is counting on this festival to send more than one message to all concerned parties.
A senior Future Movement official told As-Safir that it is unlikely that Saad Hariri will return soon to Lebanon and that for the time being providing services is not in the cards. The official added that only time will reveal “what is on Sheikh Saad’s mind”, confirming that Hariri will be a key speaker in the Independence festival through a giant screen that will broadcast his speech from his Saudi residence.
“The festival will also include speeches by MPs Fouad Siniora and Samir el Jisir and a representative from March 14 General Secretariat”, the official said.
Ministerial sources told
Al-Hayat daily that President Michel Sleiman is insisting on finalizing the new electoral draft law and working hard to ensure that the cabinet will pass it.
“Sleiman is trying to promote the new draft amongst the National Struggle Front ministers, who are the only ones opposing proportional representation”, the sources said.
The sources added that Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour seized Wednesday’s cabinet session to voice fears regarding rushing into the adoption of an electoral draft law. The sources quoted Abou Faour as saying that it is important to thoroughly examine the electoral draft law before adopting it.
“We wish to avoid the creation of another controversial issue amongst the Lebanese, especially that the dispute over this matter is not technical”, Abou Faour said.