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.
Russian Foreign Ministry
sources stressed that the European Union did not cut off the indirect means of
communication with Hezbollah, since it has left the door open for discussions
with the political wing, noting that the European states acknowledge the
important role of the Shiite party on the Lebanese political scene as well as
on the Arab and regional level.
The sources added that ending the relations with such
an important party will definitely harm the European interests, pointing out
that the main reason according to which the decision to blacklist the military
wing of Hezbollah was taken is the latter’s involvement in the explosion that
targeted the Bulgarian bus in Burgas, killing Israeli tourists.
However, the
source did not mention the party’s military intervention in the Syrian conflict,
given that all the European states denounced this action.
The same sources told
al-Joumhouria Daily that the diplomatic movement of the EU’s ambassador to
Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst proves the EU’s keenness
on preserving the best political relations, especially that the Lebanese
authorities mainly the Presidency of the Republic, have called on the EU not to
blacklist the military wing of the party, stressing that the pressure exerted
by the United States led the union to adopt the said decision.
Well-informed sources
told
al-Akhbar Newspaper that the decision to openly extend the mandate of the
Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Kahwagi until a new commander is appointed
was cancelled.
In this context,
ministerial sources said that caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati rejected
the formula that suggested keeping Kahwagi in office “until the appointment of
a new commander” and proposed a 6-month extension that can be renewed if
required, while discussions are underway in order to reach a compromise by
which Kahwagi’s term will be extended for one year.
Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that there is no new developments
regarding the formation of a new government, reiterating his support for the
formation of a cabinet of national unity which, once formed, will serve as a
dialogue table.
Berri also reiterated his call on former Prime Minister Saad Hariri to
return to Beirut, praising his stance toward the Lebanese army.
“Every time I present an initiative, they question it, and since
some parties do not trust my initiatives, I decided to stand idly by and
observe,” Berri told
al-Joumhouria Daily.
Answering a question on March 14’s condition to form a cabinet before
kicking off dialogue sessions, Berri said that President Michel Sleiman is the
one who called for dialogue, and March 14’s position hinders his
call.
This as he added that forming a neutral cabinet of technocrats
abolishes the Taef Agreement, since such a cabinet violates its principle based
on a collective executive authority represented by the council of ministers.
On the parliamentary session, Berri stressed that today’s [Monday]
session is expected to be held as scheduled without any change in its agenda,
noting that in case quorum fails to be reached, the session will be delayed “over and
over again.”
MP Ahmad Fatfat stressed that Hezbollah has turned from a
resistance into a local and regional militia and has to bear the responsibilities
of the European Union’s decision that will have dire political and economic
effects on Lebanon.
In a statement to
al-Liwaa Daily, Fatfat said that the Shiite
party will not accept the formation of any cabinet unless it is the one
dominating, adding that the interests of the Lebanese people and the country’s
stability and security are not among the party’s main concerns.
On another note, Fatfat pointed out that former Prime Minister
Saad Hariri is following up on the Lebanese affairs, denying reports stating
that Hariri will return to Lebanon to participate in the national dialogue session.
“Hariri’s return is not related to the dialogue table, but depends
on the security situation and his personal position,” Fatfat told the
newspaper.