Press Digest for Saturday March 08, 2014

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.

• Policy statement drafting committee might hold last session on Tuesday - Sources

Ministerial sources told As-Safir newspaper that the committee tasked with drafting the cabinet policy statement discussed on Friday general topics, pointing out that none of the ministers had a new proposal.       

The sources told the newspaper on Saturday that the upcoming session on Tuesday might be the last, stating that the committee will either agree on the policy statement, or the draft statement will be referred to the cabinet to be discussed.                        

• Efforts did not ease tension between Hezbollah and Sleiman

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Saturday that the relation between Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and Hezbollah is still the same, and the efforts exerted by Minister Abed al-Motaleb al-Hannawi to enhance the relation between the 2 sides did not yield fruitful results.     

The newspaper stated that Minister al-Hannawi clarified the stance of President Sleiman and heard the position of Hezbollah, but was not able to ease the tension between them, pointing out that the situation between them might remain the same for the upcoming period.             

• March 8 forces are waiting for Hariri’s initiative - sources

Sources reported to Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that March 8 forces are waiting for the initiative of Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in order to speed up the process of drafting the policy statement.         

The sources pointed out that committee tasked with drafting the statement may reach consensus next week, and a full formula might be agreed upon.

As for referring the draft to the cabinet, the sources said that any cabinet session before issuing the policy statement is useless.

• Hariri calls on March 14 forces to wait for the appropriate moment

Sources reported to As-Safir newspaper that the stances of the Kataeb party, the Christians of March 14, and some officials in the Future Movement regarding the cabinet policy statement, have become clear; however, former prime Minister Saad Hariri did not reveal his position yet, calling on those close to him to wait for the appropriate moment.         

Sources stated to the newspaper that Hariri’s stance may be linked to the regional developments, pointing out that he is waiting for the arrival of an Iranian envoy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.