Press Digest for Saturday December 17, 2011

6^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: I will not boycott anyone, doors of Baabda Palace wide open to all

Visitors of President Michel Sleiman quoted him as saying that the president will not take part in any confessional or sectarian strife. The visitors told As-Safir daily that Sleiman will not tolerate that state institutions be reduced to presidential or sectarian posts, adding that what is required is to keep the national interest at heart.

“This will be done by engaging in a national dialogue devoid of any preconditions and with an agenda that will tackle all the fears [of every party]”, the daily reported.

As-Safir daily quoted Sleiman as saying that he will not “boycott” any party and that “the doors of Baabda Palace will remain open to all”. Sleiman stressed that, during the few upcoming days, he will meet with several political figures and the meetings will bear their desired fruits.

“The meetings will dissipate all fears and answer pending questions”, Sleiman said.

An-Nahar: France “serious” about reducing UNIFIL peacekeepers

An-Nahar daily reported that Lebanese official and security sources were told by French officials that France is “serious about reducing 30 to 35% the number of French UNIFIL peacekeepers”. The sources added that the LAF will fill the vacancy that will be the result of such a decision.

The newspaper stressed that the French military leaderships were clear when they told a Lebanese security official, during his trip to Paris, that France will not appoint a new army general to replace the current UNIFIL commander Spanish General Alberto Asarta.

The daily added that the Lebanese concerned official and military departments were informed that an Italian General will fill in Asarta’s position.

A Lebanese security official told An-Nahar that it is unlikely that explosive devices will target UNIFIL patrols in the near future. The official added that “Islamic fundamentalists breached by the Mossad are accused to be behind the blast targeting the French UNIFIL patrol”. The official said that the purpose behind Tyre blast was to push Paris to pull its troops and shake the situation in the south.

Mahfouz to An-Nahar: We will not settle for less than promised by cabinet

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas told An-Nahar daily that the cabinet will seize its next session to discuss raising the minimum wage, or else it would be a missed opportunity for the Lebanese. Nahhas said that the cabinet will not issue any decision if it is not based on a proposal put forth by the concerned minister.

Nahhas stressed that his proposal, which was not discussed by the cabinet, is the only draft based on constitutional pillars, saying: “My proposal should be reviewed, otherwise let everyone bear their responsibilities.”

The Head of the private schools’ teachers’ union Nehmet Mahfouz said that. Following the Shura council’s decision, the cabinet should look into the legal aspects and amend the rejected proportions. “We will not settle for less than what we were promised in the first decision issued by the cabinet”, Mahfouz said.

The Shura Council announced on Friday the approval of the wages decree provided that the proportional raise on the pay scale be amended.

Chamoun: I did not participate in Bkerke meeting to avoid sitting near Aoun

The Head of the National Liberal Party MP Dori Chamoun told Al Mustaqbal daily that he refused to participate in Friday’s Maronite meeting in Bkerke, because he “is neither convinced by sitting down on the same table as MP Michel Aoun nor by his alliances.”

Chamoun added that the head of the Change and Reform bloc is convinced that weapons should remain in the hands of Hezbollah.

“Aoun does not care about his allies, all he cares about is the presidential seat”, Chamoun said.

Chamoun criticized those who believe that the proportional representation system is the best solution, saying: “They are reading whole books about this system, meanwhile forgetting or maybe ignoring that such plans have lost their momentum and became useless”.

Al-Hayat: Syria leaning towards signing Arab League protocol

Al-Hayat daily reported that the Arab ministerial committee in charge of following up with the developments in Syria will hold a meeting on Saturday in Doha. The daily added that this meeting was scheduled following the decision to postpone the Arab Foreign Ministers’ meeting, supposed to be held today in Cairo.

Al-Hayat quoted well-informed Arab and Gulf sources as saying that the response received by the Arab League’s Secretary General Nabil Arabi from the Syrian government was very positive. The sources stressed that Syria is leaning towards signing the Arab League protocol which should solve the crisis.