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.
Future bloc MP Mohammad al-Hajjar told
al-Liwaa Daily that the statement issued by the bloc does not mean that the doors to solutions are closed, but it includes a sign that indicates that the current dilemma has gone far beyond governmental shares and numbers for one party and another.
In this context, al-Hajjar called for dissociating Lebanon from the Syrian crisis and withdrawing Hezbollah fighters from Syria, stressing that the “blocking third is completely rejected, since it acts like a time bomb inside the cabinet, the dangers of which cannot be underestimated.”
This as he reiterated that the Future bloc will always remain open for all the suggestions in order to lead the country out of “this dark tunnel,” noting that the bloc’s statement is not a position against the efforts exerted to reach a settlement, but it only states its point of view regarding the crisis’ solution.
Kataeb bloc MP Elie Marouni stressed that his party is seeking a cabinet that includes all the political parties, noting that in case an agreement was reached over a neutral cabinet, they will not constitute an obstacle.
In statement to
an-Nahar Daily, Marouni stressed the importance of forming a cabinet after all this time, pointing out that they seek to facilitate the mission of President Michel Sleiman and the Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam.
In this context, the MP said that the ministerial statement to be issued by the new cabinet must be similar to the Baabda Declaration, which reflects their positions.
For his part, Lebanese Forces MP Elie Keyrouz stressed that they are against the formation of a cabinet based on the 8-8-8 formula, pointing out that they insist on a neutral cabinet, which is the only solution for the country’s current crisis.
In turn, MP Dori Chamoun called for a government of technocrats who are not politically affiliated and are capable of managing the affairs of the people and the country.
Well-informed sources told
Acharq al-Awsat Newspaper that contacts are ongoing in order to put the final touches on the new cabinet, noting that the discussions held in this regard on Wednesday witnessed remarkable progress.
In this context, the media envoy of the Progressive Socialist Party Rami Rayes told the daily that the doors for contacts are still open with President Michel Sleiman, the Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam, Speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah, the Future movement and all other parties, stressing that the discussions are ongoing in order to consider all the proposals before forming the government.
Rayes noted that the current situation is very critical with the presidential elections drawing near.
“We are insisting on reaching a cabinet that satisfies all the parties,”Rayes added.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that “the Geneva 2 peace conference is useless without the participation of Iran and the Syrian opposition and without reaching an agreement over humanitarian corridors to deliver assistance to the Syrian people.”
In a statement to
as-Safir Daily, Steinmeier noted that ending the war and delivering aid are two main conditions that will convince the Syrians of the need to hold and support the peace conference.