Press Digest for Tuesday October 01, 2013

       

• LAF Commander calls for firmness in dealing with security breaches           

As-Safir newspaper reported on Tuesday that the meeting held yesterday between the Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Kahwagi and a delegation from Hezbollah tackled the security situation in the eastern city of Baalbek.            

The delegation praised the efforts exerted by the Lebanese army in Baalbek and voiced its support to the measures undertaken by the military institution to maintain security in the city.             
Sources also told the newspaper that Kahwagi took firm stances in regards to Baalbek's incidents and stressed the LAF will take "concrete actions" in order to thwart any security breaches.              

• Sleiman, Salam agree on a one-week deadline to hold further consultations -sources              

Al-Joumhouria daily reported that the meeting held yesterday between President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam in Baabda was "frank" with both officials stressing the need the take decisive stances regarding the cabinet formation process.            
Sources also reported that President Sleiman and PM-Designate Salam have agreed on a one-week deadline to hold further consultations on the formation of a new government.                
In this regard, well-informed sources told the daily that talks featured high on the obstacles hurdling the said process as well as the reasons behind the deferral of President Sleiman's visit to Saudi Arabia.               

• PM-Designate Salam says efforts are still being exerted to form new cabinet             

Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam told Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday that no progress has been achieved regarding the cabinet formation process, noting that obstacles are still hurdling the issue.           

In a question directed at Salam over the 6-9-9 governmental formula, he said no one had discussed it with him.             

"I am still exerting tireless efforts to form a new cabinet and everyone knows the parties hurdling the process," Salam said.              

• Speaker Berri to brief President Sleiman on parliamentary committee's consultations             

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that Speaker Nabih Berri will hold a meeting with President Michel Sleiman during the next few hours in order to brief him on the outcome of consultations held by the designated parliamentary committee.              

Speaker Berri has tasked the aforementioned committee with holding contacts with all the Lebanese political parties in a bid to explain his dialogue initiative.