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.
Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated his insistence on including the Lebanese people’s right in resisting occupation in the ministerial statement, he said in response to several attempts by members of the ministerial statement drafting committee to adopt the expression “to face the Israeli attacks,” instead of “resistance.”
“I will not give up, nor will I bargain on the word ‘resistance’ in the ministerial statement,” he stressed.
In a statement to as-Safir newspaper, Berri warned against further stalling during the committee’s meetings, pointing out that he can call on the parliament to convene and elect a president, should wasting time continue concerning the minor items of the ministerial statement.
On another note, Berri said that the formation of the cabinet was supposed to facilitate the presidential elections process, calling on the four main Christian leaders (Amine Gemayel, Michel Aoun, Sleiman Frangieh and Samir Geagea) to reach agreement over a new president.
Sources close to the meeting held between President Michel Sleiman and former minister Mohammad Fneish told al-Joumhouria Daily that Fneish explained Hezbollah’s stance over the Baabda Declaration and discussed the developments regarding the Israeli raids that targeted the party’s bases in the Bekaa earlier this week.
The sources revealed that Sleiman sent a message to Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah with Fneish, whereby he said that the Baabda Declaration is no longer “an ordinary Lebanese document,” but a commitment for Lebanon after it was documented at the United Nations and the Arab League and international resolutions were based on it.
Diplomatic sources told al-Akhbar Daily that sources from the United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon (UNIFIL) handed over a letter to the Lebanese government form the Israeli forces.
In the letter, Israel said that “if Hezbollah implements any attack from Lebanon as retaliation to the Janta raids, the Israeli government will hold the Lebanese government responsible for the move.”
Member of the ministerial statement drafting committee, Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi stressed that the Kataeb party will have a firm position in case of any intentional procrastination to delay the drafting of the statement.
“Today’s meeting must be decisive, seven meetings should be enough to issue a one-page statement,” he said.
In a statement to al-Joumhouria Daily, Azzi said that the committee’s parties gave their final positions regarding the concessions and settlements, noting that the final formula should be reached soon, to present it to the Parliament that will grant the cabinet the confidence vote.
“When the confidence is granted, the president and a number ministers will be able to attend the conference of the International Support Group in Paris on March 5th, backed by a strong cabinet and a ministerial statement that includes the national principles,” he said.