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 Najib Mikati told
al-Hayat daily that “Syria’s allies in
the cabinet” cannot compel the Lebanese banking sector to accept the violation
of sanctions imposed on Syria; “it is not in this sector’s interest to violate
them”, he said.
“It is my
responsibility to preserve domestic stability and maintain Lebanon’s relations
with all countries except Israel”.
In his statement to
al-Hayat, Mikati, who was aboard the
private jet heading to Paris where he is about to start his official visit
today, denied being a retreat. “We are not going back to the cabinet unless we
put an end to these violations”, he said.
The prime minister stressed that implementing the cabinet
decisions is fundamental; “he who does not like this shall resign”.
Mikati added that the French president and French government
are aware of the Lebanese geopolitical conditions, and know that Lebanon cannot
be used as a route for conspiracy or dispute with any Arab country.
Mikati reiterated that he will be visiting former PM Saad
Hariri in Paris to wish him a quick recovery; “it is a duty visit”, he said.
- What exactly happened between Sleiman and Aoun in St Maroun
Day’s celebration mass?
Al-Hayat newspaper reported that
the governmental crisis that includes the dispute between Change and Reform
bloc leader MP Michel Aoun and President Michel Sleiman on administrative
appointments was reflected in St Maroun Day’s celebration mass celebrated by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai in
Beirut on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, a protocol error happened during
the ceremony; while the protocol stipulates that the President of the Republic
should be the last one to enter the church, after the rest of the officials and
audience, General Michel Aoun delayed his entry until after President Sleiman’s
entrance.
In addition to this, while some attendees applauded the
president, the entrance of Aoun, whose supporters were abundantly present in
the Church, created a storm of applause; Aoun saluted them while heading to his
seat.
Free Syrian Army
commander Colonel Riad al-Assaad told
Acharq al-Awsat newspaper that
some Iranians are detained with the Free Syrian Army and are under investigation,
adding that some Iranians were released a few days ago for humanitarian
reasons. “But there are still five military and security experts who were
leading military operations in Syria, one of which is an officer”, he said.
Assaad denied that these
Iranian detainees were transferred to northern Lebanon, as announced by Iranian
officials a few days ago. “They are in a safe place inside Syria”, he said.
“We have solid information
that there are officers, Iranians and Hezbollah members who are leading filed
operations and training snipers in Syria; all the Syrian people know that”.
Assaad harshly criticized
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his support to President Bashar
Assad. He accused him of covering the killings of the unarmed Syrian people.
“Where are the resistance
and opposition claimed by the Syrian regime when the Golan’s front has been
living in peace and welfare for about 40 years now?
Al-Hayat newspaper quoted a U.S. official as saying that the
failure of diplomatic options in Syria and failure to reach a peaceful solution
will make it imperative to search for other options.
The official stressed that arming the Syrian opposition is
not on the table right now, adding that the Syrian regime’s recourse to the
security solution exacerbates its crisis instead of solving it.
In this regard,
al-Hayat said that among the options that
are being examined, the establishment of humanitarian corridors and buffer
zones to protect Syrian civilians, as suggested by France three months ago.