Press Digest for Sunday June 22, 2014

3^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.

Souaid underscores need to control Lebanese-Syrian border

March 14 general-secretariat coordinator Fares Souaid stressed on Sunday that the renewed car bomb attacks on the local scene prove that Lebanon is still under threat as long as Hezbollah is fighting in Syria and is bracing for sending additional forces to combat ISIL militants in Iraq.

In this regard, Souaid told the Kuwait-based Al-Seyassah daily that Lebanon could only be protected by controlling the Lebanese-Syrian border and deploying the Lebanese army along the border.

Kerry to meet with Hariri on Thursday

US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to meet on Thursday with Lebanon's Future Movement leader Saad Hariri in the French capital, a well-informed source told Al Hayat newspaper on Sunday.

The same source said Kerry may visit Paris after a NATO summit in Brussels in order to hold meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Joudeh and United Arab Emirates FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.

The officials are due to tackle the latest developments taking place in Iraq.

PM Salam to call for another cabinet session- sources

Sources close to Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed on Sunday that the latter will call tomorrow for another cabinet session, upon his return from Kuwait.

The sources also told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the session is likely to be held Thursday, noting that a significant progress was made over the government's work mechanism.

Maj. Gen. Ibrahim says Lebanon 'in permanent war' with terrorism

The Director General of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, told Al Hayat daily on Sunday that Lebanon is "in a permanent war" with terrorism which affects the whole region, urging all parties to be on high alert.

In the same regard, the concerned apparatuses obtained the needed telecom data in a bid to monitor movements prior to the Daher al-Baydar explosion as well as the route taken by the booby-trapped vehicle.

The newspaper added that the apparatuses are using surveillance cameras, noting that they are looking into contacts with regards to potential security breaches.