Press Digest for Monday January 16, 2012

5^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.

Azzi: Hezbollah began establishing relations with Muslim Brotherhood

Deputy Head of the Kataeb party Sejaan Azzi said that the remarks addressed by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah to the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon are only natural, since the international organization and legitimacy contradict with the actions of Hezbollah.

Azzi told Al Mustaqbal daily that Hezbollah’s primary concern is to maintain relations with all regional powers, adding that the party is in distress on all geographic, security and military levels.

Azzi disclosed information saying that Hezbollah has begun establishing relations with the Muslim Brotherhoos in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and all Arab countries where the brotherhood has arrived to power.

Speaking on Ban’s visit to Lebanon, Azzi said that the timing chosen for the visit intends to testify that the U.N. truly wishes to shield Lebanon from the repercussions of the Arab turmoil. “Ban failed to mention that half a million Palestinians are living in Lebanon and neglected the need to find a solution [to this issue]”, Azzi said.

Davutoglu: No signs of optimism in the region

Sources that kept up with the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Al-Joumhouria daily that Davutoglu raised the issue of fundamentalism, especially in light of the growing fundamentalism wave in the region.

The sources added that Davutoglu urged the Lebanese not to fear this wave, underscoring the need to take precautionary measures to prevent things from taking a turn for the worst. Davutoglu emphasized how important it is for all political parties to stay on good terms. Davutoglu stressed the need for a constructive dialogue between the majority and the opposition to discuss political issues, adding that all gaps that could lead to security problems should be filled.

According to the sources, Davutoglu said that there are no signs of optimism in the region, calling on the Lebanese not to feel pessimistic and maintain stability and calm. Davutoglu stressed that Lebanon’s democratic system will shield it from all negative events.

As-Safir: Achrafieh building fell to the ground like a house of card

A relative of Jack Jaara, who was in the building that collapse in Achrafieh on Sunday night and whose fate is still unknown, told As-Safir daily that the 50 year-old building fell to the ground like a house of card. The mother and father of Jack Jaara survived the collapse.

Davutoglu: Syrian crisis close to internationalization

Al-Hayat daily reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Lebanese officials with whom he met that the Syrian crisis is close to becoming an international crisis. Davutoglu added that the internationalization of the Syrian crisis is knocking on the door because the U.N. Security Council can no longer stand idle. The daily quoted Davutoglu as saying that Turkey considers that the Syrian regime has fallen.

Al-Joumhouria: Nahhas clinging to the rejection of Baabda agreement

Ministerial sources told Al-Joumhouria daily that the wage adjustment issue will not be tabled during Monday’s cabinet session, adding that Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas will attempt to raise this issue that is not included in the agenda. The sources stressed that Nahhas considers that this issue can no longer be adjourned especially in light of the failure of the negotiations between the index committee and the Labor Minister on the one hand and the economic committees and the GLC on the other.

Al-Joumhouria reported that Nahhas will display all negotiations’ steps and the reasons behind the failure to reach an agreement. According to the daily, Nahhas is clinging to the rejection of the Baabda agreement, since it is an economic paper that does not include any legal component that would make it eligible to become a decree.