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.
An-Nahar newspaper quoted on Tuesday Bkerke sources as saying that any constitutional reform before the election of a new president will be rejected, stressing that the presidential entitlement is the only priority at the current time.
In this regard, the newspaper said that Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai will issue a stance to clarify his position regarding the initiative of Change and Reform Bloc leader MP Michel Aoun that calls
for allowing the Lebanese people to decide on the presidential election over two rounds.
Meanwhile, cabinet sources reported to the newspaper that the initiative of MP Aoun aims at delaying the presidential elections.
Deputy House Speaker Farid Makary stated on Tuesday that the initiative of Change and Reform Bloc leader MP Michel Aoun may not be applied, pointing out that allowing the Lebanese people to decide on the presidential election requires amending the prerogatives of the president.
Makari told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the initiative was launched at the wrong time seemingly since amending the constitution and the prerogatives of the president may not be achieved at a time when Lebanon is witnessing internal divisions, and facing regional conflicts.
Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi stated on Tuesday that amending the constitution may not occur before electing a president, stressing that attempts to hinder the presidential entitlement are leading Lebanon to the abyss.
Minister Azzi told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the Kataeb party was the first to call for filling constitutional gaps; however, emphasized that reforming the system may never be achieved in light of presidential vacuum.
The Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon considered that the presence of illegal arms in Lebanon, mainly the weapons of Hezbollah, is hindering the state’s ability to impose its authority on all Lebanese territories, and is posing a threat to the country’s sovereignty and stability.
An-Nahar newspaper said that in his report on the 1701 resolution, UN’s Ban called for holding national dialogue sessions and for adhering to the Baabda Declaration, urging all Lebanese factions to implement decisions issued in previous dialogue sessions.
When discussing the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, Ban denounced the continuous breaches at the Lebanese-Syrian borders, stressing that the lack of progress in determining the Lebanese-Syrian borders and demarcating them does not justify the Syrian breaches to Lebanon’s sovereignty.
In the same regard, Ban hailed the cooperation between security forces and the Lebanese cabinet, emphasizing that it aims at strengthening Lebanon’s stability.
According to
An-Nahar newspaper, the UN Secretary General also discussed the acts of terrorism that targeted Lebanese security forces and civilians.
Praising the efforts of Lebanese officials who managed to form a national unity cabinet as well as the decisions of Prime Minister Tammam Salam, UN’s Ban expressed his regret that Lebanese parliamentarians failed to elect a new president on due date.
In this regard, he stated that vacuum at the presidential level will have various impacts on Lebanon’s security and stability.