Press Digest for Friday December 12, 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.

LF MP Zahra says there are obstacles to Aoun-Geagea meeting

Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said impediments are preventing LF leader Samir Geagea from meeting with Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun “who refuses to suggest another candidate for the presidential elections”.

In an interview with the Kuwait-based Al-Seyassah daily, MP Zahra said “things are still complicated as Aoun rejects any consensus candidate for the presidential elections and as he is still backed by Hezbollah”.

“The party obstructing the presidential entitlement remains adamant on its conditions that are hurdling the elections at the expense of the constitutional institutions’ role,” he added.

MP Aoun says Change and Reform bloc will do its utmost to settle presidential file

Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun said his bloc will not spare any effort to break the deadlock over the presidential elections, noting that dialogue amongst the Christian community is one of the ways leading to a settlement.

“Any meeting that may be held [between the Lebanese Forces and the Change and Reform bloc] requires favorable circumstances,” MP Aoun said, in an interview with Al-Joumhouria daily.

“Any suggestion that may be presented by the LF party shall reveal the means to involve Christians in the process of selecting their head of state,” he added.

PSP leader Jumblatt reiterates call for unconditional swap deal to release Arsal captives

National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt reiterated on Friday his call for an unconditional swap deal to secure the release of the kidnapped Lebanese troops.

“I confirm Speaker Nabih Berri’s statements in favor of a swap deal even though he doesn’t want it to be in absolute terms,” MP Jumblatt told As-Safir newspaper.

“If a super power like the United States takes the initiative to swap one soldier with five senior Taliban commanders, we may- as small countries- make such a sacrifice so that our soldiers can come back to us,” Jumblatt said.

Negotiations over Arsal captives stalled pending pledge to halt executions -sources

Sources close to the Association of Muslim Scholars on Friday denied claims that offers and counter-offers are being presented by the state and the kidnappers of the Lebanese troops.

“The negotiation process is stalled at the time being as the state has informed the association that negotiations with the abductors would only resume after a formal pledge by the kidnappers to halt executions,” the sources told As-Safir daily.

The same sources added that they are currently holding contacts urging the issuance of the mentioned pledge.