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.
Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Ali noted that the new visa measure imposed by the Lebanese authorities on the Syrian nationals seeking to cross into the Lebanese territories is rejected and cannot be implemented.
In a statement to as-Safir Daily, Ali said that this measure was taken without cooperation with the Syrian government, stressing that such a step is unacceptable within the framework of the “special Lebanese-Syrian relations.”
“The Lebanese people and the Syrian people are one in two countries,” he stated.
In this regard, the Syrian ambassador called on the Lebanese authorities to reconsider its decision, adding that Lebanon cannot defeat terrorism without cooperating with Syria.
Environment Minister Mohammad al-Mashnouq told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the objection voiced by the Kataeb party ministers over the waste management issue is unjustified.
“We were able during the cabinet session to reach solutions for several pending matters, but we were blocked by the objection of the Kataeb ministers,” the minister said, adding that this objection is baseless and incomprehensible.
Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbass commented on the discussions that took place during the cabinet session on Thursday over the file of the solid waste management in a statement to al-Joumhouria daily.
“I swore that will no longer attend a session tackling the waste management file, since I sat for five hours and I could not be convinced by the proceedings of the ongoing discussion,” he said.
On another note, Minister Derbass told Acharq al-Awsat daily that the decision to put an end to the Syrian displacement is neither provocative nor is it politically motivated.
“Every country is free to take the decisions it deems appropriate and is responsible for its borders,” he stated, explaining that the Lebanese authorities are seeking to organize Syrian displacement rather than preventing it.
Head of the Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblatt stressed that “political bids and sectarian calculations must end during cabinet sessions.”
In a statement to al-Akhbar daily, Jumblatt noted that he gave his instructions to his party’s ministers that the headline of the solid waste management plan must begin with a solution that includes decentralized, “and the rest is nothing but details.”
In this context, Jumblatt confirmed that the road to al-Naameh landfill will be closed as of January 17th.
Lebanese visitors quoted Syrian President Bashar Assad as saying that no presidential elections will be held in Lebanon in the near future, noting that the year 2015 may witness the election of a president under certain conditions.
In exclusive information made available to Al-Seyassah al-Kuwaitia daily, one of the visitors revealed that President Assad hosted a New Year ceremony at his residence in Damascus, attended by a close group of friends, including a former Lebanese senior leader and a Christian deputy.
During the meeting, Assad told his visitors that he expects the Syrian crisis to end this year, adding that the difficult stage has passed and the political solution has come near.
On the Lebanese level, Assad stressed that the presidential elections will not be held during the few upcoming months, “but may take place should the international and regional players commit to discussions with Damascus, in order to elect one of Syria’s friends, especially since the situation in Syria will see positive progress.”
In this regard, the Syrian president said that the future Lebanese president will not come from a military background [in reference to Lebanese army Chief General Jean Kahwagi], and will not be one of the consensual candidates [in reference to Jean Obeid, Riad Salameh and Robert Ghanem].