Press Digest for Wednesday June 04, 2014

4^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.

Speaker Berri accuses some Lebanese leaders of obstructing the work of the legislative authority

Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday that hindering the legislation during the presidential vacuum poses a serious threat on Lebanon's entity.

Berri warned that some Lebanese leaders "exceeded the red lines" by obstructing the work of the legislative authority.

Minister Rifi calls on lawmakers hindering the cabinet's work to assume their "national responsibilities"

Minister of Justice Achraf Rifi told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that the disputes in the cabinet sessions are revolving around whether decrees need the signatures of all ministers or only two thirds of them.

Rifi called on the ministers hindering the work of the cabinet to assume their national responsibilities in this regard.

US Secretary of State Kerry to discuss ways of confronting terrorism, gas drilling during his visit-sources

Sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that the visit of the US Secretary of State John Kerry aims at reiterating the US support to the Lebanese state, mainly in the Syrian refugees crisis.

The same sources added that Kerry will tackle with the Lebanese officials ways of confronting terrorism, as well as the gas drilling in Lebanon.

According to the daily, the US Secretary of State will not discuss with the Lebanese leaders the presidential elections, adding that Kerry will only reiterate the US keenness on the election of a new president as soon as possible.

Deputy Speaker Makkari : Christian MPs must bear the responsibility of presidential vacuum

Deputy Speaker Farid Makkari told Acharq al-Awsat newspaper on Wednesday that the Christian lawmakers must bear the responsibility of the presidential vacuum, mainly Change and Reform bloc MPs.

He also noted that the candidacies of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea or any figure from the March 14 allianceare "rejected by the other rival side."

On another note, Makkari dubbed the Syrian presidential elections as "a farce."

Contacts ongoing between FPM and Future movements over presidential and parliamentary elections-sources

Sources told al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday that contacts are still ongoing between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Future Movement over the presidential and parliamentary elections.

The same sources added that a meeting was held between Minister of Foreign Affairs Gebran Bassil and the head of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's office Nader Hariri to continue the discussions between the two parties.

According to the daily, some members of the Future movement voiced discontent over the latest rapprochement between the two sides.