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 told
As-Safir daily on Thursday that the formation of a new
government is an urgent need at the time being, noting that other outstanding issues,
including the hydrocarbons dossier, would be easily settled afterwards.
Mikati also pointed revealed the
reasons behind the failure to hold an extraordinary session in light of the
caretaker government in order to pass two decrees required to proceed with oil
and gas exploration projects, adding that they remain unsettled.
"Some Lebanese parties
have remarks that should be heeded to since it is a vital issue that requires unanimous
consent," Mikati said.
Sources told
An-Nahar
newspaper that all components of the March 14 coalition convened late on
Wednesday with talks featuring high on dialogue initiatives, outcomes of
meetings between the March 14 coalition and the delegation of Speaker Nabih
Berri as well as repercussions of self-imposed security in Lebanon.
The attendees also discussed
the situation of Christians in the Middle East, the Syrian crisis and the
chemical weapons file, the Baabda Declaration and the conference to be held in New York
on the 25th of September which is allocated to help Lebanon cope with the
rising influx of Syrian refugees.
Several meetings were held
yesterday at the Baabda Palace and the Grand Serail in order to finalize the
file to be submitted by President Michel Sleiman at the conference which is
expected to be held in New York on the 25th of September on the sidelines of
the UN General Assembly meeting.
Talks featured high on a
report issued by the World Bank upon the request of the Lebanese government.
The report provides a "comprehensive and detailed assessment" of the
Syrian crisis' repercussions on Lebanon since the onset of the conflict.
This
as
An-Nahar daily obtained a summary of the 164-page report which sheds light
on huge losses sustained by the Lebanese economic sector due to the Syrian
crisis and the rising influx of Syrian refugees.
The
report estimates the losses shouldered by Lebanon between 2011 and 2014 at
approximately 7.5 billion dollars.
A high-ranking French source
told
Al-Hayat newspaper on Thursday that the meeting to be held in New York on
the 25th of September, upon the request of UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon, will lead to
the formation of a committee to aid in providing Lebanon and the
Lebanese Armed Forces with assistance as well as managing the file of the Syrian
refugees.
"The plan for providing
Lebanon with assistance in a bid to cope with the soaring number of Syrian
refugees is complicated due to the lack of camps and 'effective' registration
of refugees," the same source reported.