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.
Sources close to former PM Saad Hariri told
An-Nahar newspaper that
March 14 forces are preparing for a formal event in remembrance of the
assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005, adding that the
forces are still debating where the event would take place.
The newspaper added that March 14 coalition is trying to avoid a
popular event in order to reduce the current political tension in the country
amid the ongoing events in Syria.
The sources added that Hariri’s presence is a must for the success of
the event especially after Tripoli’s popular event’s failure.
The head of the Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea told
As-Safir
newspaper that the Syrian problem is will face more complications and obstacles
in the coming months, adding that the fall of the Syrian President Bashar Assad
is just a matter of time.
“Assad’s regime is weak and will eventually fall; the president lost
internal and external legitimacy”, Geagea told the As-Safir reporter in an
interview after his last visit to Erbil in North Iraq.
Regarding Hezbollah’s arms he said “I call on Hezbollah to take a courageous
stance that might not be easy; they should forget about the national dialogue
and invite all parties in Lebanon on a round table in order to reach a certain
consensus and solve all pending issues as well as their arms”.
Geagea added that no party in Lebanon can be in power alone and that
this country needs the Shiite sect as well as all other sects for a proper
living.
Governmental sources told
Al-Liwaa newspaper that the administrative
appointment file should be discussed as soon as possible since the wage
adjustment issue has been solved.
The sources added that it is not acceptable anymore that the
administrative appointments remain a political card in the hand of the
political parties to bargain on other files and political gains.
Al-Liwaa reported that some key positions are at the core of the
appointments problem, adding that most of the political powers are willing to
postpone discussing them if they will be a source of political unrest in the
country.
The sources mentioned that President Michel Sleiman is keen on solving
that issue as soon as possible in order to empower governmental work and the
public sector.
Sources close to the minister of Labor Charbel Nahas told
Al-Akhbar daily
that the minister is considering a series of steps to be taken as a response to
the way the wage adjustment issue has been dealt with in the last cabinet
meeting.
The sources revealed that the minister is considering resigning from the
current government to express his discontent but such a step should be
discussed with the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun.
Sources close to PM Najib Mikati told
al-Joumhouria newspaper that Mikati’s
visit to Paris was not restrained to fixed dates and thus rescheduling the
visit is not related to any political issue, adding that Mikati will most
probably visit France during the last week of January.
The sources revealed that even the current scheduled visit might be
postponed until the first week of February as most of French diplomats and
officials are currently on duty and that all arrangement are being done with
the French PM Denis Pieton to ensure the success of this visit.