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.
National Struggle Front Leader MP Walid Jumblatt confirmed to
As-Safir daily that Speaker Nabih Berri is exerting assiduous efforts to
fortify the ministerial situation and to settle the dispute over the STL
funding.
The daily quoted Jumblatt on Wednesday as saying that,
“during this delicate phase, reconciling between internal parties should be a
priority in order to preserve Lebanon’s stability in the face of the possible
repercussions of the regional events, especially in Syria.”
Jumblatt confirmed that the current cabinet is key to
stability since its alternative is a wide-open power vacuum.
An-Nahar daily reported on Wednesday that concerns over the
cabinet’s fate, which were frequently voiced in the past few days, dissipated
on Tuesday after the possibility of postponing the Wednesday cabinet session emerged.
The postponement decision came with a promise to untangle the knot
of the STL funding and to find a solution for the unmet demands of Change
and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun.
The daily learned from senior sources that PM Najib Mikati
has sensed a glimpse of “flexibility” in Aoun’s positions on the issue whereas
his demands are still not satisfied. However, he distributed last night an annex to
the cabinet agenda that includes an integrated project for Labor Minister
Charbel Nahhas on the wages adjustment and social benefits, which Aoun’s
sources considered as the first step towards meeting Aoun’s demands, “not
enough” however. The sources explained that it was necessary to postpone the
session to avoid the boycott of Aoun’s ministers and in order to resume
deliberations.
Well-informed sources told
As-Safir daily that the recent
intensive contacts achieved a breakthrough in this regard without reaching a
“happy ending” yet. The sources added that the solution might be ready on
Wednesday and presented before or during the cabinet session provided that
decisive steps would be taken in this respect.
FPM senior sources told
As-Safir that Change and Reform bloc’s
ministers will boycott the Wednesday session, adding that they are not planning
to return to cabinet without a clear vision in this regard.
The sources added that the current crisis might ease or
worsen depending on the possibility of developing the preliminary positive
signs.
As-Safir daily quoted Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday as
saying that his meeting with PM Najib Mikati on Tuesday was “positive” and he expects
to reach a formula that would settle the issue of the STL funding, ensure the
cabinet’s survival and boost its productivity.
However, Berri refused to go into the details of the formula.
Al-Mustaqbal daily quoted Kataeb MP Nadim Bashir Gemayel on
Wednesday as commenting on the clash that erupted between his companions and
two unknown persons near the Mar Meter Church in Ashrafiyeh.
Gemayel explained that, as he left the church where he was
paying condolences, he was surprised by two persons in front of the church,
standing and behaving in a suspicious manner.
He added that his companions approached them, asking about
the reason they were present in that place. When his companions asked them to
introduce themselves, they refused and one of them responded “it is none of
your business, I am from Dahyieh.”
Gemayel added that the verbal altercation soon turned into a
fistfight. The ISF later intervened, arrested the two men and drove them to the
Ashrafiyeh police station where they are now under investigation.
Gemayel confirmed that he is waiting for the investigations’
outcomes to determine the intentions of these men.
Al-Liwaa daily quoted Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas on
Wednesday as saying that “the issue of the STL funding is neither a surprise
nor of higher importance than several issues including the budget, the
termination of certain unneeded employees or the approval of the comprehensive
health cover.”
The labor minister stressed that “it is unacceptable not to
discuss these issues under the pretext of funding the Tribunal.”
Nahhas also slammed the fact that the cabinet’s fate is being
tied to the funding-related clause, and stressed, however, that he does not
oppose discussing the relevant clause since it is part of the 2011 budget.