Press Digest for Sunday May 11, 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.

• Minister Derbass: Building refugee camps requires a political decision

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbass stated on Sunday that the Lebanese cabinet will start implementing various measures in order to reduce the burden of the Syrian refuges on Lebanon.

Derbass told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that a committee tasked with studying the dossier of the refugees will convene on Thursday, pointing out that it will issue various decisions pertaining to the refugees in the country.

The minister added that he will suggest various proposals regarding the influx of refugees into Lebanon, stressing that he had previously issued a decision that prevents the construction of refugee camps without previous permissions.

In this regard, Minister Derbass emphasized that building refugee camps in Lebanon requires a political decision, noting that Lebanese factions agreed on the necessity of building these camps in safe Syrian regions or along the borders.

• MP Majdalani: Geagea is still the candidate of March 14 forces

Future Bloc MP Atef Majdalani stated on Sunday that Lebanese political decisions and choices are still the same, pointing out that the candidate of March 14 forces is Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea.

Majdalani told Asharq Al-Awsat Daily that March 14 forces are still waiting for March 8 forces to announce their candidate and head to the parliament to democratically elect a new president.

Majdalani pointed out that discussions between the Future Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement aim at avoiding vacuum at the presidential level as well as the necessity of ensuring quorum to elect a president.

• Patriarch Rai is exerting efforts to prevent presidential void – Bkerke spokesperson

The spokesperson of the Maronite Patriarchate, Walid Ghayyad said on Sunday that the Patriarchate is exerting its utmost efforts to elect a new president on due time, pointing out that Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai is putting forth his efforts in order to prevent void at the presidential level.

Ghayyad told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Patriarch Rai is working to maintain Bkreke’s role, expressing his optimism regarding the latest steps taken by political factions which may lead to the election of a new president.

Ghayyad also denied that Patriarch Rai called for extending President Michel Sleiman’s mandate and said: “Patriarch Rai did not discuss extending the president’s mandate, and Sleiman had previously said that he is not seeking the extension of his term.”