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.
Information Minister Razi Jreije stated on Thursday that the first dialogue session between the Future Movement and Hezbollah was successful and necessary to ease the tension between the Shiite and Sunnis in Lebanon.
Jreije told the Kuwaiti newspaper As-Seyassah that the meeting was beyond formalities and tackled conflicting matters that may not be resolved in a couple of sessions.
Al-Akhbar newspaper stated on Thursday that the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah met on the 15th of December with Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and tackled with him the developments in the region.
“We are fighting a battle against terrorism in order to defend Syria and its choices, and we are as well fighting a battle of the first presidency,” Nasrallah told Bogdanov.
In this regard, the newspaper quoted Nasrallah as saying that there is no solution for the situation in Lebanon before electing a new president.
Deputy Samir Jesr stated on Thursday that a positive atmosphere prevailed over the first dialogue session between the Future Movement and Hezbollah.
In this regard, MP Jesr told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai that the said dialogue session was general and did not tackle specific issues.
He also stated that the first item scheduled on the agenda of the next session is means for easing sectarian tension among Lebanese factions.
Head of the Kataeb Party Amine Gemayel stated on Thursday that he is not worried about the future of Lebanon seemingly since the country had previously witnessed tougher situations.
Gemayel told the Kuwaiti newspaper As-Seyassah that the Lebanon is witnessing difficult circumstances, stressing that foreign initiatives will not be successful if they not garner the support of the Lebanese people.