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.
According to
An-Nahar newspaper, the Brazilian Vice President Michel Tamer said that his country is closely following the events in Syria and rejects all aspects of violence from both the Army and the protestors, adding that Brazil supports the reform programs.
Tamer stressed the importance that the Syrian people decides their own fate without any foreign intervention. “Brazil will not change its stance on Iran at the United Nations and we will keep our doors open for all changes”, Tamer was quoted as saying.
“Globalization played an important role in the Arab Spring; the implementation of democracy became a must in the Arab world as it will carry stability and growth to all people”. Tamer expected that the Brazilian president will accept President Michel Sleiman’s invitation to visit Beirut, and revealed that he conveyed a message for Sleiman to visit Brazil again.
Tamer denied the existence of Lebanese cells in Latin America funding Hezbollah as it was reported by several newspaper, adding that Brazil does not have any concrete evidence on that issue.
Sources revealed to
Al-Akhbar daily that the American Intelligence is facing a serious crisis since last spring when several recruited agents failed to achieve their tasks and revealed their implication with the CIA not only in Lebanon but in Syria and Iran as well.
The sources added that it is true that CIA cells operation in different countries are not related but revealed that these cells are interrelated with common technological and operational grounds and are in constant cooperation with the Israeli Mossad agents in the region to gather information on the growing armament of the resistance groups in Lebanon and Palestine (Hezbollah and Hamas).
Al-Akhbar mentioned the vital role of Syria and Iran in the armament process, adding that the CIA’s work in the previous period focused on the following key points:
-To provide protection to all agents recruited either by fleeing them outside Iran, Syria and Lebanon or by taking additional precautions to prevent their exposure.
-The exemption of all former US intelligence officers working in the region to assign in safer positions outside the Middle East.
-The formation of a cell in charge of investigating the possible reasons of the failure of the CIA in the region as well as tracking down the resistance leaders and officials.
-To review all data gathered on critical issues and to review that the recruited agents are not double agents working for other intelligence groups.
According to
As-Safir newspaper, the minister of Foreign Affairs Adnan Mansour will participate in the Arab ministerial meeting that will be held in Cairo this week to discuss Syria’s response on the Arab Protocol presented by the Arab League regarding the Arab Monitors visiting Syria.
Mansour told the newspaper that if the Arab Ministers decide to refer the Syrian issue to the United Nations in a way to “punish” Syria, Lebanon will definitely vote against such a decision as it is considered a foreign interference in Syria’s affairs.
- Gul: Only the Syrians can solve the crisis
According to
the Guardian British newspaper Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that the Syrian President Bashar Assad is currently facing a crisis, adding that only the Syrian people can change the regime and the status quo in their country despite all talks of foreign interventions.
Gul revealed that since Assad refused to implement the Arab initiative to end the crisis in Syria it has been impossible to find any other outcome even through international discussions.
Gul mentioned that Turkey does not believe that any foreign intervention will solve the ongoing crisis in Syria and called on Assad to leave power to prevent a civil war in the country.
Sources close to PM Najib Mikati told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that discussions are being held on a daily basis between all ruling political figures especially between Hezbollah, Amal and the Free Patriotic Movement leadership to find a possible solution on the STL funding.
The newspaper added that President Michel Sleiman, PM Najib Mikati and the head of the National Struggle Front Walid Jumblatt participated in the meetings. The sources ruled out any possibility to reach an agreement regarding the STL funding, adding that all parties are still holding their own point of view regarding this issue until the next cabinet meeting on the 30th of November.