Press Digest for Tuesday February 21, 2012

5^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.

An-Nahar: Nahhas will sign transportation fees decree

An-Nahar daily reported that certain information that came during the night are saying that Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas will sign the transportation fees decree on Tuesday, since the decree will be submitted to the Shura Council after Nahhas was opposed to it.

According to the local daily, this decision has been made following thorough consultations, adding that Speaker Nabih Berri was informed at night that Nahhas might have already signed the decree and conveyed this news to PM Najib Mikati.

During Monday’s meeting in Baabda palace, President Michel Sleiman and PM Mikati both reiterated the need for the labor minister to sign the decree “before anything else”, the newspaper reported.

Well-informed sources said that contacts have borne positive fruits, adding that as soon as Nahhas signs the decree the cabinet will convene for a session.

Al Akhbar: Trust between Aoun and Berri reaches unprecedented levels

Sources close to Speaker Nabih Berri told Al Akhbar daily that during the upcoming period Berri will take it upon himself to fortify the position of the Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun.

“Berri will lend Aoun a helping hand in his ministerial demands, especially those regarding the appointments issue”, the sources said.

According to the same sources, the trust between Berri and Aoun has reached “unprecedented levels” following the last meeting between the two statesmen.

Beirut Municipality deems Boustros Palace a rundown building

An-Nahar daily reported that the architectural inspection conducted by the municipality of Beirut on Boustros Palace, headquarters of the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, showed that it is not fit for habitation. According to the daily, the inspection showed that internal as well as external walls are filled with cracks due to water leakage.

The shabby state of the building is also due to damages sustained during the Lebanese war, the newspaper reported, adding that once, during the tenure of President Amin Gemayel, a missile hit the wall of the Directorate of Arab Affairs on the second floor.

The newspaper stressed that the report gave the concerned officials a precise deadline during which the Palace must be evacuated in order to carry out the needed maintenance works.

According to An-Nahar, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour will brief both President Michel Sleiman and PM Najib Mikati on the municipality’s report and the need to evacuate Boustros Palace as soon as possible.

Can the next indicted in Hariri assassination be a well-known politician?

Al-Liwaa daily quoted an international judicial source as saying that the STL Prosecutor Judge Daniel Bellemare will renew the indictment in the assassination of former PM Rafic Hariri before the end of his mission on March 12.

The same source said that new names will be added to the renewed indictment without revealing any of the names. Well-informed diplomatic sources said that the fifth person indicted is likely to be a well-known politician rather than a member of a party or a secret service apparatus.

Al-Joumhouria: March 14 holds meeting away from media glare

Al-Joumhouria daily reported that March 14 forces held a meeting away from media glare in Center House [Hariri’s residence] as part of their periodic meetings. The meeting displayed hot-button issues and topics of the hour.

The participants also assessed the ceremony held on February 14, the speeches delivered and the reactions in order to determine the path that March 14 will take on the 7th anniversary of the independence revolution.