Press Digest for Monday November 24, 2014

3^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.

PM Salam: Berri is urging political leaders to hold dialogue

Prime Minister Tammam Salam told As-Safir newspaper on Monday that Speaker Nabih Berri is attempting to forge common grounds among Lebanese political leaders.

Salam also noted that Berri is trying to hold separate dialogue between Hezbollah and the Future Movement, as well as between the Future Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement and also between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces party.

He also considered that Berri is carrying out his parliamentary duties as a Speaker and the leader of a parliamentary bloc.

"I head no parliamentary bloc nor a party, therefore my only role is within the government,” Salam noted.

Speaker Berri: No preconditions for dialogue between Hezbollah and Future Movement

Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir newspaper on Monday that Hezbollah and the Future Movement will hold dialogue in the near future, adding that the percentage of the dialogue's success is over 51 %.

Berri stressed that both parties must start talks without any preconditions, noting that the two sides have the freedom to discuss any controversial issues.

He also noted that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the latest Saudi stance over Hezbollah will not have direct repercussions on the efforts deployed by both parties to reach common grounds over pending issues.

On another note, Berri concluded by saying that there are positive local, regional and international signs regarding the presidential elections.

Minister Abou Faour says samples taken from Sabra region are "appalling"

Minister of Health Wael Abou Faour told al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Monday that the samples taken from the Sabra region in Beirut are "appalling."

Abou Faour also noted he is still awaiting the laboratory results of another 1,000 samples.

He concluded by stressing that he will continue the food safety campaign "until the end."

Kurdistan Minister says International community did not send heavy and sophisticated weapons to Peshmerga forces

Minister of Education in Kurdistan Pichtwane Sadek Abdallah told An-Nahar newspaper on Monday that the Peshmerga forces are capable of defending Kurdistan.

He also noted the Kurdistan region did not receive any heavy or sophisticated aced weapons from the international community.

The minister concluded by saying that the Peshmerga forces are adamant on fighting the Islamic State with the available weapons, urging the International community to send developed arms in the near future.