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.
Sources told
al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday that a meeting is set to be held tomorrow in Bkerke between President Michel Sleiman and Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai.
President Sleiman will brief Cardinal Rai on the latest developments about his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as the obstacles preventing the formation of a new government.
In turn, Rai is expected to discuss the outcome of his visit to the Vatican and its position, urging the Lebanese to perform their duties and to elect a new President.
Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said on Thursday that Hezbollah has thought, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s government, that it has the authority to allow the return of some people to Lebanon, he said in reference to Hariri.
“Hezbollah was surprised to see former PM Hariri in a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and President Michel Sleiman,” MP Zahra told
al-Joumhouria newspaper.
“It is normal that Sleiman tackles with Hariri the cabinet formation process but Hezbollah has taken a preemptive step aiming to thwart any serious effort to form a new cabinet by lashing out at Sleiman’s visit and raising questions about his meeting with Hariri,” he added.
Sources close to President Michel Sleiman did not show optimism regarding the cabinet formation process which has been stalled for 8 months, adding however, that the problem could be immediately settled should the Lebanese parties reach an agreement.
Separately, the same sources confirmed to
Asharq al-Awsat daily that Sleiman’s visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, has yielded successful results, and denied claims that both officials had tackled the cabinet formation process “which is the mission of Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam”.
Sources close to Salam also reported he did not hold contacts with Sleiman since the latter had returned from Saudi Arabia, adding that a meeting is set to be held between both officials during the next few hours.
Change and Reform bloc member MP Alain Aoun said on Thursday, that the political and security tensions taking place in Lebanon and which result mainly from the Syrian war, do not prevent Lebanon from holding contacts with Saudi Arabia.
“President Michel Sleiman’s visit to Saudi Arabia was normal as Lebanon is in need of clarifications over the latest developments, mainly after decisions were taken between Tehran and Washington,” MP Aoun noted.
He told the Kuwait-based
Al Anbaa daily that “Hezbollah is wise enough to realize that any boycott with Saudi Arabia is out of the question” and that Sleiman’s visit to Riyadh is not directed against the group.