Press Digest for Wednesday August 27, 2014

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.

• Patriarch Rai to discuss crimes against Christians in the Middle East

Al-Joumhouria newspaper stated that the meeting to be chaired by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai today (Wednesday) at 3 pm in the presence of patriarchs who visited Iraq and the ambassadors of the United Nations Security Council’s five permanent members will focus on 2 crimes against Christians in the Middle East.

The newspaper noted that the first crime is committed against Christians in Iraq, adding that the second is constitutional and manifested in void on the Lebanese presidential level.

The newspaper added that Patriarch Rai will call on permanent states at the Security Council to bear their responsibilities in a bid to protect Christians in the region.

• Bishop Aoun says Bkerke summit aims at supporting Christians in Iraq and Syria

Jbeil Bishop Michel Aoun stated on Wednesday that the Bkerke summit which will be chaired by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai aims at proceeding with the work of patriarchates in order to aid Christians of Iraq and Syria who were subject to the worst kinds of displacement.

Bishop Aoun told Al-Joumhouria newspaper “today’s meeting in Bkerke is important since it will be held in the presence of ambassadors of the United Nations Security Council’s five permanent members,” pointing out that Patriarch Rai will ask them to implement the necessary measures to protect Christians.

• Cabinet may task Maj. Gen. Ibrahim with following up on dossier of kidnapped soldiers - Sources

Sources reported on Wednesday that the Lebanese  cabinet may task General Security Chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim with following up on the issue of soldiers who were kidnapped during clashes in Arsal.

In this regard, the sources noted that the cabinet may discuss the said issue during its session scheduled for Thursday, adding that officials may ask Major General Ibrahim to hold talks with officials in regional countries such as Turkey, Qatar, and Syria to free the soldiers.

The sources also noted that Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq may communicate with Major General Ibrahim to start his negotiations at the soonest possible since "the side kidnapping the soldiers is the same one that had previously abducted the nuns of Maaloula."

• MP Fatfat says MP Aoun dragging Lebanon to the abyss

Future Bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat stated on Wednesday that Change and Reform Bloc leader MP Michel Aoun is dragging Lebanon to the abyss, considering that the latter’s initiative which stipulates the amendment of the constitution to hold presidential elections on two rounds poses a great threat to Lebanon.

Fatfat told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anbaa that MP Aoun’s electoral initiatives aim at dividing the country and are considered as road-maps towards a civil war in Lebanon.