Press Digest for Sunday January 12, 2014

3^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.

Aoun rejects distribution of ministerial portfolios - Sources

Sources close to March 8 forces said that the position of the head of Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun regarding the proposed governmental formula is not yet clear, noting that Aoun has his reservations over the latest negotiations conducted in this regard.

Other sources told al-Hayat Daily that the leaked information concerning Aoun’s stance include his objection to the distribution of the ministerial portfolios between the political forces taking part in the 8-8-8 cabinet.

Al-Machnouq: March 14 forces did not yet reach agreement on their participation in cabinet

Member of the Future bloc MP Nouhad al-Machnouq said that March 14 forces have not yet reached an agreement over their participation in the new cabinet, noting that the said agreement must include the rejection of the blocking third, adoption of Baabda Declaration in the cabinet’s ministerial statement, rotation in the distribution of ministerial portfolios and the use of veto rights on the names that may not be approved by the President Michel Sleiman and the Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam.

In a statement to Acharq al-Awsat Daily, al-Machnouq said that the negotiations conducted to form the new cabinet have not yet been finalized, stressing that both parties have presented concessions in a bid to resolve this issue.

“We agreed to meet with them (March 8 forces) in a cabinet session while they waived the blocking third demand,” he added.

In this context, the MP stressed March 14’s insistence on adopting the Baabda Declaration as a base to the ministerial statement, pointing out that it is the only way to dissociate Lebanon from the regional conflicts.

Saudi-French support to LAF to kick off within one month

A French source revealed that the 3 billion dollar Saudi-French assistance expected to be sent from Saudi Arabia to the Lebanese Armed Forces through France will kick off within one month, noting that the assistance includes transportation equipment and choppers.

The source told al-Hayat Daily that the Saudi-French decision aims at supporting the Lebanese military institution, which is the only institution that represents all the Lebanese without being affiliated with one party.

In this regard, a French delegation will visit Beirut in the upcoming weeks in order to hold talks with various leaders to stress the need to reach an agreement, to discuss with the Lebanese army the means to implement the Saudi contract and to follow up on the latest developments regarding the cabinet formation.