Press Digest for Tuesday September 10, 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.

• Location of Maaloula engages the town in Syria’s war-sources                                  

European diplomatic sources following up on the incidents taking place in Syria’s Maaloula told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday that efforts are being exerted to keep the city at a distance from the war taking place in Syria.                    

The newspaper stated that information from the Vatican and Western countries indicate that Maaloula has been engaged in the Syrian war seemingly since it is located at the border line between the regime and the opposition strongholds.                            

The diplomatic sources added to the newspaper that officials at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) have launched a campaign to protect the city since it is registered on the organization’s list of tentative world heritage sites, stressing that the Vatican and Western officials have contacted opposition officials asking them to spare the city the effects of Syria’s war.                  

• European contacts with Hezbollah are ongoing

A prominent source in Hezbollah told the Al-Liwaa newspaper on Tuesday that European and international contacts with Hezbollah are ongoing, adding that cooperation between the party and the UNIFIL forces remains in progress in accordance with the 1701 UN resolution.        

The source added that international envoys, who are regularly vising Hezbollah officials, are being briefed on the repercussions of the Syrian war on the work of UNIFIL forces in South Lebanon.                                 

• MP Maalouf: Lebanon’s national interests are being disrespected                    

Lebanese Forces MP Joseph Maalouf reiterated on Tuesday his party’s support to the stance of President Michel Sleiman in terms of respect for the sovereignty of all states, expressing his hope to reach a political solution for the Syrian crisis.             

On another note, Maalouf told An-Nahar newspaper that his party has various comments on the positions of caretaker Foreign Affairs’ Minister Adnan Mansour with respect to Lebanon’s foreign policy, adding that the country’s national interests are being disrespected.                   

• Kilo: SNC will hold a meeting to discuss its upcoming steps            

Prominent Syrian opposition figure Michel Kilo told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday that Washington will regret its willingness to discuss the file of the Syrian chemical weapons with Moscow, considering that this issue will have a negative effect on the Congressional hearings scheduled to discuss launching a military strike against the Syrian regime.                

Kilo added to the newspaper that the Syrian National Coalition will be holding a meeting at the soonest time possible to discuss the upcoming steps that it will be taking after Damascus expressed its willingness to put its chemical weapons under international control.