Press Digest for Saturday August 03, 2013

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.

• Soueid: Yarzeh rockets aim at tampering Lebanon’s stability               

March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator former MP Fares Soueid said "the speech delivered by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman on the National Army Day was not up to the expectations of the other party" adding that the rocket attack on Lebanon’s Yarzeh region aims at tampering the country’s stability.
                    
Soueid told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the military institution and security apparatuses should inform the public on who was behind the aforementioned rocket attacks, stressing that “targeting the presidential palace is targeting the Lebanese state and the foundations of its legitimacy”.             

• Karameh rules out link between Yarzeh attack and Sleiman’s speech                            

Caretaker Minister Ahmad Karameh ruled out on Saturday any link between the Yarzeh rocket attacks and the speech delivered by President Michel Sleiman on the occasion of the National Army Day, describing President Sleiman’s speech as national and non-biased.            

Karameh expressed via al-Joumhouria newspaper his support to the Lebanese Armed Forces’ Commander, General Jean Kahwagi, praising his national stances and positions.                

On another note, Minister Karameh said its “shameful that officials did not yet agree on a governmental formula” and called for holding national dialogue sessions in order to seek means for resolving Lebanon’s current crisis.              

• Fatfat: President Sleiman reiterated his adherenceto the Baabda declaration            

Future Bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat said on Saturday that President Michel Sleiman reiterated in his speech on Army Day his support to Lebanon’s stability and his adherence to the Baabda Declaration.                     

Fatfat told An-Nahar newspaper that “some parties feel offended when discussing with them Lebanon’s sovereignty and security,” condemning the Yarzeh incident and considering it a “terrorist attack”.            

• MP Salam expresses hope that officials agree on governmental formula    

Visitors of Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam told An-Nahar newspaper that the latter expressed his hope that officials agree on a governmental formula at the soonest time possible, adding that “a centrist, non-political cabinet may be Lebanon’s way out of its current crisis.”              

Officials following up on the governmental file told An-Nahar that President Michel Sleiman’s speech on the National Army day is considered a starting point for effective work that will commence after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.