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.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said proposed
initiatives do not facilitate the work of Prime Minister-Designate Tammam
Salam, adding that national dialogue is the only common item between all Lebanese
parties; however, practical steps haven't been taken yet.
Mikati told
Al-Liwaa newspaper that the main problem
regarding the formation of the cabinet is that each of March 8 and March 14 is
bidding on the Syrian developments in favor of its interests.
A Lebanese official source said Saturday that world powers
divided over the Syrian crisis, Russia, China, the United States, and France,
have agreed to hold a special meeting on Lebanon at the United Nations to
emphasize the importance of some key issues.
In this regard, the source said that the aforementioned four
countries will discuss means of supporting Lebanon’s stability and distancing
it from regional crises, ways to support the country’s economy and its
constitutional institutions, means of protecting the Lebanese army and
pressures exerted to face the increasing influx of Syrian refugees.
The source told
As-Safir newspaper that the meeting will not
only aim at discussing the file of the refugees, but also at tackling various
challenges facing Lebanon at this critical stage, adding that it will
be a message to Lebanese and regional powers that permanent states at the
UN-Security Council are working to distance Lebanon from conflicts and clashes,
and are exerting efforts to strengthen the Lebanese institutions, economy, and
army.
Change and
Reform Bloc MP Simon Abi Ramia said Saturday that the Baabda declaration arranges
various responsibilities on Lebanese factions such as protecting the borders
and maintaining internal stability, adding that security forces should carry
out their duties responsibly.
Abi Ramia
told
An-Nahar newspaper that the presidential statement regarding the Baabda
declaration was issued to clarify various issues, mainly related to the matter
of the Resistance, adding that "Future Bloc officials discuss the declaration considering
that it overshadows the phenomenon of the resistance, at a time when the declaration
does not tackle the issue of the Resistance nor the defense strategy."
Diplomatic
sources told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that US Secretary of State
John Kerry contacted Lebanese President Michel Sleiman a few days ago asking
him to sign the international petition, supporting a military strike against Syria.
In this
regard, sources told the newspaper that President Sleiman rejected the demand
of Kerry, reminding him that the Lebanese government is adherent to the
dissociation policy and to the Baabda declaration that is supported by
Washington.