Press Digest for Monday October 21, 2013

5^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.

Siniora says Future bloc will boycott Wednesday’s legislative session

Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora stressed that the Future bloc will definitely participate in the parliamentary session scheduled to be held on Tuesday, but will not attend Wednesday’s legislative session.

In a statement to an-Nahar Daily, Siniora revealed that he will meet with Speaker Nabih Berri on the sidelines of Tuesday’s session to follow up on the main issues discussed during the meeting.

Maj. Gen. Ibrahim pledges to keep promises regarding abducted bishops

The Director General of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim expressed his relief regarding the achievements reached in the case of the Lebanese hostages in Aazaz, noting that the efforts deployed were fruitful.

Commenting on the upcoming phase that will include the two Syrian bishops Boulos Yaziji and Yuhanna Ibrahim, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim told al-Joumhouria Daily that “the negotiations are ongoing and he will keep his promises, but the issue will take time.”

Regarding the Syrian female detainees, Ibrahim said that the agreement in this matter was entirely implemented.

On the other hand, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed that the Syrian female prisoners were not released from the Syrian jails, noting that this does not mean that they are not included in the deal.

“The release of the Syrian prisoners requires logistical, administrative and legal measures,” Charbel told al-Joumhouria Daily, noting that the operation may be finalized within 24 or 48 hours.

Saspkin: Russia works on protecting Christians of the Middle East

Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Saspkin stressed that Russia is exerting efforts in order to protect the Christians of the Middle East, pointing out that stability, once reached in Syria, will positively affect Lebanon.

In a statement to as-Safir Daily, Saspkin noted that Russia is now working on ending the armed conflict in Syria by pushing for holding the Geneva II peace conference to find a solution for the crisis through negotiations and dialogue.

In this context, the Russian ambassador stressed the need to reach a political solution, explaining that Russia is providing the Syrian people with humanitarian assistance and is making the necessary contacts in order to guarantee the Christians’ security.

“The Syrian revolution was calling for reforms backed by the Russian authorities, but it quickly turned into terrorism and extremism, as well as attempts to deport and displace the Christians of the region,” he regretted.

Sabra: Syrian coalition to hold meeting Nov. 1, 2 to take final decision regarding peace talks

The head of the National Syrian Council George Sabra revealed that the Syrian coalition will hold decisive meetings in Istanbul on the 1st and 2nd of November to take a final decision on whether or not to attend the Geneva II peace talks and to discuss the outcome of the meeting scheduled to be held by The Friends of Syria in London tomorrow Tuesday 22nd of October.

In a statement to al-Mustaqbal Newspaper, Sabra stressed that forming a transitional government under the rule of President Bashar Assad and his regime will allow him to hinder the work of this government and control it, noting that this possibility is completely rejected.

However, Sabra condemned the western imbalance in dealing with the developments in Syria, noting that he had told the US ambassador to Syria Tom Ford that the United States should not have made a deal with Assad’s regime concerning Syria’s chemical arsenal, then reach an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program.

On another note, Sabra hailed Saudi Arabia’s decision to reject a seat at the United Nations Security Council due to the council’s incompetence, stressing that the Saudi stance represents the position of the Syrian people.