Press Digest for Thursday October 10, 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.

Sleiman: We did not go to New York "to beg"

President Michel Sleiman stressed that “he did not go to New York to plead for help, but to ask the International Community to assist Lebanon in bearing the financial burden of the Syrian refugees, whose number is rapidly increasing.”

In a statement to an-Nahar Daily, Sleiman said the International Community recognized the losses that Lebanon has sustained so far in this regard, pointing out that the country can ask for international assistance anytime, since Lebanon’s situation has become documented at the United Nations.

Geagea: Lebanon will definitely take back the Shebaa farms

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed that Lebanon will definitely take back the occupied Shebaa farms, revealing that this will not happen with the help of the Resistance, "but following efforts deployed by the new Syrian regime."

“The current Syrian regime will fall sooner or later,” he told as-Safir Newspaper.

In this context, Geagea said that Lebanon and Syria will have to sign a common document confirming that the farms belong to Lebanon’s territories and submit it to the United Nations, so that the said farms will be subject to the UN resolution 425.

Geagea added that, once the said step is complete, Israel would be obliged to withdraw from the farms that are still under its occupation due to Syria’s refusal to sign the related documents.

Charbel: Tripoli security plan to soon be implemented

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed that the security apparatuses are deploying strong efforts to control the situation across the country and prevent chaos in the cities, noting that the security plan set for the northern city of Tripoli will soon be implemented under his direct supervision.

In a statement to al-Mustaqbal Daily, Charbel said that the security concerns are growing due to the increase in the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, pointing out that the concerned apparatuses have detected a number of suspected networks that entered Lebanon as refugees, but are instead planning terrorist acts in the country.

On the security plan implemented in the Beirut Southern Suburbs, Charbel refused to disclose information on the plan’s outcome, stating that a detailed statement will be issued by his media office.

Hajja Hayat says Aazaz hostages to spend al-Adha holiday in Lebanon

Hajja Hayat Awali revealed that the nine Lebanese hostages held in Syria’s Aazaz will spend the Eid al-Adha holiday with their families in Lebanon, stating that the abductors will release them soon in exchange for the release of 127 Syrian opposition members.

Hajja Hayat expressed optimism regarding "the fruitful efforts deployed by the Director General of General Security Abbas Ibrahim," refusing to speak of the possibility of the release of the two Turkish pilots.

"The families of the hostages are awaiting the upcoming developments and hoping that this tragedy will finally come to an end," Hajja Hayat told al-Liwaa Daily.