Press Digest for Saturday October 05, 2013

4^min

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.

Jumblatt calls for abiding by recommendations of oil sector management committee

The head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt called for taking into considerations the recommendations of the management committee of the oil sector, denying reports stating that he has been preventing the cabinet from holding a special session aiming at discussing the oil issue.

In a statement to as-Safir Newspaper, Jumblatt stressed that the delay in forming a new cabinet will lead to several crises on the economic and social levels, which will deprive Lebanon of major progress in the oil and gas sector.

“If the oil issue requires holding a special cabinet session, I will not stand in the way,” Jumblatt said.

Kabbara: Measures implemented in Tripoli are 'good' as a first step

MP Mohammad Kabbar said that the measures implemented in the northern city of Tripoli are “good as a first step”, noting that the most important thing is to establish an “operation room” for all the security apparatuses taking part in this plan.

“The operation room, if establishes, will guarantee full cooperation and coordination between the security apparatuses, allowing them to face any complications or violations,” Kabbara explained in a statement to as-Safir Daily.

Andersen: Hezbollah’s issue does not obstruct international assistance

The vice President of the World Bank in the Middle East and North Africa Inger Andersen confirmed the international commitment to supporting Lebanon, stressing the need to implement such a commitment so that Lebanon could prevent economic, financial and social crises.

In a statement to an-Nahar Daily, Andersen noted that the meetings she held with Lebanese officials in Beirut had positive outcome regarding the steps that must be followed in order to guarantee the arrival of assistance to the country.

However, she added that she will be following up on the progress of the plan with the Lebanese delegation that will take part in the annual meetings of the World Bank in Washington.

On another note, Andersen pointed out that the donors and the International Committee are calling for the formation of a new cabinet in Lebanon, ruling out that the issue of Hezbollah may obstruct the international aid.

Contacts held between Baabda and Riyadh under US supervision

Sources told al-Joumhouria Newspaper that phone calls have been conducted between Baabda and Riyadh that coincide with contacts between Riyadh and Teheran, aiming that planning for two summits, one Saudi-Iranian and another Saudi-Lebanese.

The sources added that the United States and France are overseeing the said contacts in order to maintain Lebanon’s stability, which is among the priorities of the International Community. The same sources pointed out that the formation of a new government in Lebanon will not only facilitate the arrival of financial assistance to deal with the humanitarian crisis of the Syrian refugees, but will also facilitate the arrival of military assistance for the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces.