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.
Official sources reported to Al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Saturday that General Security Chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim is relieved regarding developments pertaining to the release of abducted soldiers.
The sources added that Ibrahim’s visit to Ankara, where he met head of the Qatari intelligence, is part of an agreement reached in Doha aimed at proceeding with negotiations in a bid to release the troops.
The sources also noted that Qatari officials trust Major General Ibrahim and consider that he is capable of resolving this matter since he has previous successful experiences.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper stated on Saturday that House Speaker Nabih Berri and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri tackled the developments reached in dialogue sessions between the Future Movement and Hezbollah.
The newspaper added that officials discussed in their meeting means of maintaining stability in Lebanon and well as ways to resolve the governmental deadlock.
Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi stated on Saturday that the meeting held at the residence of former President Michel Sleiman is “a new political beginning aimed at reinforcing dialogue in Lebanon.”
Minister Azzi told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that officials discussed during the meeting the constitutional deadlock due to void at the presidential level, stressing that only the election of a president will restore work of all institutions.
A European ambassador reported to Al-Akhbar newspaper that Europe’s position regarding Hezbollah and its participation in the Syrian crisis did not change yet, stressing that this matter is increasing sectarian tension in Lebanon.
However, the ambassador noted that various countries are currently understanding Hezbollah intervention in Syria, stating that “Hezbollah is putting Lebanon at the forefront when fighting in Syrian and Iraq, but after the emergence of the Islamic State we started understanding its motives.”
“We understand the motives, but we are not partners.”