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.
Al-Joumhouria Newspaper reported that the Turkish authorities
informed the Lebanese government that any negligence in dealing with the case
of the kidnapping of the Turkish pilots will lead the Turkish government to
take firm measures regarding the flights to and from Lebanon and against the Lebanese
commercial presence in Turkey.
For its part, the Lebanese government has taken into
consideration the Turkish stance; especially that Turkey took such measures against
Israel following the raid on the Mavi Marmara
in 2010.
In this context,
well-informed sources told the Daily that talks were held on Monday night
between senior officials from Ankara and Beirut concerning
the security situation, where the Turkish officials informed the Lebanese government
that the dissociation policy will not last should the Turkish pilots fail to be
freed as soon as possible.
Sources close to the Prime
Minister-Designate Tammam Salam told
as-Safir Daily that it has become mandatory to save the
country from the cycle of disruption that has been prevailing for at least 4 months.
The sources said that Salam
may visit Beiteddine as soon as he returns to Beirut, noting that President
Michel Sleiman is expected to go on a trip outside the country next week.
The leader of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea expressed relief
over the shift in position of the head of the National Struggle Front MP
Walid Jumblatt, noting that the latter is following the steps of President
Michel Sleiman.
However, Geagea accused the head of the Change and Reform
bloc MP Michel Aoun of practicing political terrorism against the Prime
Minister-Designate Tammam Salam, by saying that “the neutral cabinet is a risk
that will lead the country toward devastation.”
In a statement to
as-Safir Newspaper, Geagea stressed that a
neutral cabinet of technocrats who are neither affiliated with March 8, nor
with March 14, is the only real and safe move to take during this critical
situation. “Salam cannot be terrorized, he will not resign and at the end he
will form the cabinet,” he added.
On another note, Geagea said that he does not agree with
former Prime Minister Saad Hariri when he said in his latest speech that he
supports holding dialogue sessions after the formation of a neutral cabinet,
pointing out that he has not yet decided whether or not to participate in the
national talks.
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel rejected the
threat launched by the spokeswoman of the relatives of the Lebanese hostages in
Aazaz Hajja Hayat Awali when she said that the relatives will not hesitate to kidnap every Turkish
national in Lebanon, noting that “such a threat is not acceptable and they will be held
accountable.”
In a statement to
an-Nahar Daily, Charbel stressed that all
the necessary measures were taken in order to protect the Turkish nationals
wherever they were on the Lebanese territories. “The relatives are insisting on the release of Mohammad Saleh, but the authorities cannot release him before the
interrogations are finalized,” he added.