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.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil El-Arabi told Kuwaiti daily
Al-Anbaa daily that Arab Foreign Ministers will meet in the upcoming days to discuss Syria’s response to the Arab protocol. El-Arabi added that until now none of the Arab ministers have agreed on the Syrian conditions, stressing that he will not discuss the consultations taking place with Arab ministers since the matter will be fully tackled during the ministerial meeting.
Speaking on the Iraqi mediation between Syria and the Arab League announced during his visit to Baghdad, El-Arabi said that Iraq failed to accomplish its task. The newspaper quoted El-Arabi as saying that heads of states and governments are exerting great efforts to put this crisis to rest.
El-Arabi noted that in case Syria agrees to sign the protocol in the upcoming 24 hours, Arab observers will head to Syria and ensure that the Syrian people are protected.
The governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Riad Salameh told
As-Safir daily that the raise in wages will lead to a 2% inflation. Speaking on the repercussions of the decision issued by the cabinet to adjust wages, Salameh stressed that the statistics directorate of the Central Bank of Lebanon studies the effect of such a decision.
Salameh said that, according to the study, inflation will increase by 2% and next year inflation rates will range between 7 to 8%.
“If the Central Bank of Lebanon succeeds in managing liquidity and if the prices of goods decrease in the international market, inflation rates will drop, even if by one percentage”, Salameh said. Salameh confirmed the Central Bank’s readiness to manage well the liquidity so that inflation does not exceed the foreseen rates.
State Minister Ahmad Karami ruled out the possibility that the issue of appointments will be discussed during the cabinet session that will be held this week. Karami told
Al-Mustaqbal daily that the appointment mechanism set by Saad Hariri’s government will be adopted, warning against resorting to quotas.
The local daily quoted Karami as saying that rumors spreading on the possibility that the Shura Council will appeal the decision issued by the cabinet on wages are premature since nothing really happened. Karami wondered: “How can we explain that although Hezbollah’s ministers voted in favor of the wage draft law, the party is mobilizing its educational cadres to participate in the strike? Is the party tergiversating?"
Karami stressed that PM Najib Mikati will visit France on time, adding that the visit is part of the openness policy since Lebanon’s best interest lies in being open to Europeans and Americans.
The Head of the General Labor Confederation Ghassan Ghosn said that the GLC’s executive council will adopt during Monday’s meeting the decision to organize a strike which will take place between Christmas and the New Year. Ghosn told
An-Nahar daily that there is not a big difference between the raise passed by the cabinet and that demanded by the GLC. Ghosn stressed that this wage raise will not burden the private sector and will immensely benefit workers, adding that the GLC will not accept to go back on its demands.
The Syndical Coordination Committee will meet with the PM Najib Mikati’s advisor for administrative affairs on Monday. This meeting will follow the failed meeting held PM Najib Mikati that could not achieve decisive results in this regard. The committee confirms that it is clinging to the decision to strike and protest on Thursday, while information was inconsistent regarding the outcome of Sunday’s meeting.
Sources close to the committee told An-Nahar that Mikati seemed open to discuss the demands and promised to develop the wage raise draft, adjust wages, apply the cumulative pay increase and submit the draft to the cabinet.
Mikati circles said that the Premier did not bring anything new and explained to the committee the circumstances that led to the decision of adjusting wages. The circles added that Mikati said that “he will see what can be done within the boundaries set by the comprehensive draft law put forth by Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas”.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told
Al-Mustaqbal daily that the electoral law was divided into five parts and each one will be discussed separately. Charbel said that the parts are as follows: the concept of proportional system, the number of constituencies, the independent committee in charge of organizing elections, the preferential vote, the participation of women and voting of Lebanese natives living abroad.
Charbel noted that Monday’s cabinet session will resume discussions of the proportional representation principle and the number of constituencies.