Press Digest for Monday July 21, 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.

Labor Minister Azzi: Hariri suggested roadmap to uphold Lebanon's stability

Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi hoped on Monday that the government's work will be revived, asking Prime Minister Tammam Salam to make all parties bear their responsibilities during Thursday's cabinet session.

In an interview with the Kuwait-based Al-Seyassah daily, Azzi said Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri has suggested a roadmap to uphold Lebanon's stability and distance the country from neighboring conflicts.

Hariri's proposal is the solution for the current situation in Lebanon, the minister said, adding that the March 14 forces are holding intensive consultations over the presidential elections.

Trilateral meeting to be held over public sector salary scale- sources

Sources with knowledge of the public sector salaries' dossier said on Monday that a trilateral meeting is expected to be held today evening between Health Minister Wael Abou Faour, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Future Movement advisor Nader Hariri.

The same sources also told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in the last few hours to confirm that the latter will exert further efforts to ease tensions between the Future bloc and the Amal Movement.

This comes after the Future bloc and the Amal Movement traded accusations on Friday over the salaries of public sector employees.

Interior Minister Mashnouq says will proceed with security plan to combat terrorism

"What has been achieved in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli shows that we are adamant on the finalization of the security plan," Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq said on Monday.

Mashnouq also told As-Safir daily that the suspected suicide belt supplier in the Raouche attack, Al-Monzer al-Hassan, is a dangerous terrorist who was the "main coordinator" between a network of terrorists.

In this regard, Mashnouq stressed that he will proceed with the security plan in a bid to address terrorism and security breaches, lauding the "responsible and balanced" stance of the Association of Muslim Scholars regarding the developments that took place in Tripoli in the last two days.

Kataeb leader Gemayel praises Hariri's initiative as 'opportune'

Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel praised on Monday Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri's initiative as "opportune" in light of the current political vacuum on the Lebanese scene.

In this regard, Gemayel told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that Hariri's initiative was based on key items, such as the need to make the presidential election issue a national priority.