Press Digest for Sunday April 15, 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.

Assad: The month of June will bring political changes to Lebanon

According to Al Seyassah al Kuwaiti daily, March 8 figures quoted President Bashar Assad as saying that the month of June will bring with it an important political change that will alter the Syrian and Lebanese scene.

Assad told his visitors that he is optimistic and believes that the regime will overcome the current crisis, adding that May 7 parliamentary elections will be successful and will be followed by the creation of a government that will include opposing figures. Assad stressed that, as of June, the government will start working on the re-establishment of stability in Syria.

Assad said that many lessons were drawn from last year’s experience, adding that he saw where the allegiance of some senior Syrian officials truly lies. Assad confirmed that he will be making some major changes in security and military ranks.

Speaking on Lebanon, he said: “Lebanon will witness a similar political shift, since the Syrian leadership wishes to settle situations in both countries simultaneously”. The Syrian president added that in the upcoming period he will deal with officials and leaderships differently.

Berri’s criticism stems from Syrian dismay

A well-informed source told Al-Hayat daily that one of the signs that shows that the Syrian regime is not satisfied with the current government is the criticism of Speaker Nabih Berri who is accusing the cabinet of being unproductive. The sources added that when the cabinet showed tardiness in the establishment of a committee in charge of regulating the oil sector and rectify border delineation with Cypriot, Berri then said that he will no longer fend for the government. He later on convened a question answers session to discuss the government’s policy. Last Wednesday, the speaker criticized the cabinet for “ruminating projects”, blaming it of “clinging to centralism” although he defended the disassociation policy.

The sources said that although Berri is keen on legalizing every step of the oil drilling process, his criticism of centralism falls in the framework of the Syrian dismay over the cabinet’s impartiality towards the Syrian crisis.

Hariri: Attempt to assassinate Geagea will not go unnoticed

Former PM Saad Hariri told Al-Mustaqbal daily that the attempt to assassinate Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has put Lebanon on a new course, adding that the attempt is related to the upcoming parliamentary elections. Hariri stressed that those behind the attempt aimed at eliminating an entire political party from these elections, thus dealing a blow to March 14 forces.

The former Premier added that the attempt on Geagea’s life and the bid to cover-up for those who are behind it by hiding necessary information from investigators will not go unnoticed.

“March 14 plans to follow up on this matter until the end”, Hariri said, “We have access to all legitimate means, including resorting to demonstrations and sit-ins as long as this government is insisting to be part of the cover-up”.

Speaking on the electoral law, Hariri said that March 14 will soon announce a unified stance regarding the electoral law. He stressed that in light of the presence of weapons there will be no talks on proportional representation.

Turning to Syria, Hariri said: “We are truly betting on the victory of the Syrian people, this is nothing to be ashamed of. What is shameful, however, is to bet on the defeat of the Syrians and the endurance of the regime only to secure hegemony over Lebanon”.