Press Digest for Tuesday March 20, 2012

4^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.

Fatfat: Aoun reached new lows of depravity and is starting to hallucinate

Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat told Al-Mustaqbal daily that the Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun has reached new lows of depravity. Fatfat reminded Aoun that “had it not been for the martyrdom of former PM Rafic Hariri he would have not returned to Lebanon”.

Fatfat’s remarks are in response to statements made during the commemoration of March 14 1989 by the FPM leader. Aoun said the decision to recover Lebanon’s sovereignty at the end of 2003, rather than the events of March 14 2005, has led Lebanon to be freed from the Syrians.

Fatfat stressed that Aoun is hallucinating for saying that the Lebanese have corrupted the Syrians. “Aoun is playing the role of a Syrian agent by attempting to push the Lebanese to forget what the harm done by the [Syrian] regime against them”, Fatfat added.

Bassil: Honestly, I did not understand what Mikati wants

Energy Minister Gebran Bassil told An-Nahar daily that PM Najib Mikati neither ruled out the idea of boats that would provide electricity nor forwarded a new draft. Bassil stressed that the premier said that the boats draft is unexpendable and there will be no going back on it.

“Honestly I did not understand what the Prime Minister wants”, Bassil said. Bassil assured that there is no need to conduct a new study regarding the cost of the project, adding that all needed studies were carried out before and “the cost isn’t all that high”.

“We will either produce electricity or the state’s power generation engines will stop functioning and it would be as if we said we do not wish to produce electricity”, Bassil said.

Aridi will not disregard “moral and financial anarchy” of bus drivers

Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridid confirmed to As-Safir daily that a driver was beaten and threatened in Wadi al-Zina, adding that another similar case was reported in Ain al-Mrayseh. Aridi added that he is following up on the “moral and financial anarchy” of certain bus drivers.

The local newspaper learned that the Minsitry of Public Affairs proposed to increase the public transportation fee by 250 LBP, raising cab fare to 2,250 LBPs and bus fare to 1,250 LBP. As-Safir reported that the raise was stipulated after looking into 10 essential factors including the prices of oil and diesel oil tanks.

The US Congress celebrates March 14

Al-Akhbar daily reported the U.S. Congress held last Monday a ceremony to commemorate the 7th anniversary of March 14. According to the newspaper, the celebration was attended by Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffery Feltman as well as a number of Congressmen from both the Republican and Democrat parties.