Press Digest for Sunday January 15, 2012

• Meeting between Berri and Davutoglu was cold        

Well-informed sources told Al-Diyar newspaper that the meeting held between Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu and House Speaker Nabih Berri was cold and formal due to the divergent positions they have on the situation in Syria.       

• Adwan: Hezbollah cannot afford to venture      

Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the latest flocking of international figures to Lebanon comes in the framework of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), international resolution 1701 and the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons that is still suspended.        

Adwan said that March 14 members are ready for dialogue to put Hezbollah’s weapons under the control of the Lebanese government and give the peace or war decision back to the Lebanese state, and only the Lebanese state. He added that the Lebanese government’s opinion on the STL’s protocol is advisory, not binding and that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is the decision–maker in this regard.         

Adwan said that Hezbollah is now exerting less pressure on PM Najib Mikati, mainly because Hezbollah is unable to control the security situation and cannot afford to venture at this point.          

• Sleiman to find Arab solutions to Syrian crisis        

Well-informed sources told Al-Hayat newspaper that Lebanese President Michel Sleiman explained to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Mon how Lebanon is dealing with the Syrian crisis on the different levels. He added that he is keen on finding internal solutions to this crisis, under the hospices and support of the Arab League. “Lebanon is dealing with the Syrian refugees according to norms and laws", he said.              

• Mikati’s visit to Paris postponed        

Al-Hayat newspaper revealed that PM Najib Mikati’s planned visit to Paris was postponed until February 12 due to his schedule that is conflicting with that of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.