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.
Interior and Municipalities Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq explained that the issue of Roumieh prison is complicated and is affected by several factors, stressing that he will work on rehabilitating the prison and dismantling the “state” that exists within its walls.
“In my presence, I refuse to hear words about protection or cover for any group of inmates inside the jail,” he added.
In a statement to
as-Safir daily, al-Mshnouq said that, at the same time, he will deal with the oppression practiced against the prisoners on many levels, adding that “he will work on ensuring them their legitimate humanitarian rights and hastening their trials.”
Al-Joumhouria Newspaper reported that President Michel Sleiman and his accompanying delegation accepted the invitation of deputy Speaker Farid Makari to dinner in Paris, in the presence of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and a number of official figures.
According to the newspaper, a closed meeting was held on the sidelines of the dinner, between Sleiman and Hariri where they discussed the latest developments on the Lebanese scene and the outcome of the deliberations held by Hariri over the past few days in Rome, Paris and Riyadh. Discussions also included the proposals presented in the case of the ministerial statement and the campaign launched against President Sleiman.
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil stressed that he noticed that there is a complete agreement over several issues discussed during the session of the International Support Group for Lebanon held in Paris.
In a statement to
al-Hayat Daily, Bassil said that he told his French counterpart Laurent Fabius that “the Lebanese are trying to reach a clear plan for the government in order to serve the interests of the people,” adding that he asked him to disassociate Lebanon from the Ukrainian crisis.
The minister pointed out that he believes that the Lebanese parties will reach agreement over the ministerial statement, stressing that the situation in Lebanon will improve.
Member of the Future bloc MP Ammar Houry said that Prime Minister Tammam Salam is not pessimistic, but convinced of the need to draft a ministerial statement that will be presented to the Parliament in order for the cabinet to receive the confidence vote.
He stressed that drafting the ministerial statement is more than an urgent need for the Lebanese parties, especially that the country is witnessing a critical situation that requires an “authentic government” not a caretaker cabinet.
In a statement to
al-Liwaa Daily, Houry said that the debate that erupted between the president and Hezbollah did not directly affect the discussions over the ministerial statement, hoping that the drafting committee will reach an agreement before the end of the thirty-day deadline.
The MP noted that the attack launched by Hezbollah against the president may aim at preventing the presidential election from taking place, pointing out that there is no doubt that the March 8 camp’s ongoing campaign against the president is an attempt, through which Hezbollah seeks to explain that it is its choice the determine the specifications of the new president.