Press Digest for Friday November 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.

Speaker Berri says no preconditions for dialogue between Hezbollah, Future Movement

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Friday that he will continue to hold contacts in order to pave the way for dialogue between the Future Movement and Hezbollah.

"No preconditions are set for dialogue," Berri told Al-Joumhouria daily, noting that there was an agreement on the concept of holding it.

Speaker Berri added it was not necessary for him or National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt to attend dialogue sessions since "the dialogue aims to broker an agreement between the Future Movement and Hezbollah".

Minister Hakim: We will not backtrack on decisions over food safety

Economy and Trade Minister Alain Hakim said the meeting that was held on the food safety issue highlighted the importance of solidarity within the government and cooperation between the relevant ministries.

"We will not backtrack on the decisions that have been taken," Hakim said in an interview with Al-Liwaa newspaper, noting that a meeting is set to be held by the food safety committee on Monday in a bid to follow up on this file.

"Speaker Nabih Berri's call on the joint parliamentary sessions to convene in order to discuss the food safety law Tuesday is a good step forward," the minister added.

Lebanon's constitutional council to discuss Parliament extension appeal

Lebanon's constitutional council is set to convene for the second time on Friday under the chairmanship of its head Issam Sleiman so as to look into the appeal that was submitted by the Free Patriotic Movement against the extension of the Parliament's mandate.

This comes as a report was prepared by the council's rapporteur with regard to the said appeal.

"The report needs several sessions to be examined," a member of the council told Al-Joumhouria daily, adding that the preliminary session and the first reading of the report will take place today.

PSP leader Jumblatt says has full confidence in Speaker Berri

National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt has denied having knowledge of new developments regarding the presidential file, saying he has full confidence in Speaker Nabih Berri "who is adamant on protecting the country and reviving the work of the state institutions".

"Speaker Berri and me are keen to hold the presidential elections and elect a new head of state the soonest possible," MP Jumblatt said in an interview with As-Safir newspaper on Friday.