Press digest for Friday September 02, 2011

5^min

President Sleiman to chair UN Security Council meeting

According to “As-Safir” daily, President Michel Sleiman will be heading to New York at the end of September with senior diplomats to preside over the United Nation’s Security Council meeting.

As-Safir added that Sleiman will deliver a speech on this occasion, where he will stress the importance of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return of the Palestinian refugees. Sleiman will also express Lebanon’s refusal of the resettlement of the Palestinians in neighboring countries.

The President will be holding several meetings with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon as well as other Arab and foreign representatives.

I warned Geagea: Minister Charbel

"As-Safir" daily reported that the Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel said that he visited the Head of the Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea warning him to stop using the Lassa issue- the site of perennial conflict between resident Shi'ites and the local Maronite patriarch- as a political tool for bargain now that the issue is in the Government’s hands.

Charbel told “As-Safir” daily, that he asked to meet General Secretary of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and MP Walid Jumblat on his tour to meet with different political leaders. Charbel added that he will try to demonstrate to Jumblatt the positive aspects of adopting proportionality in the electoral law

On the prison issue, Charbel said that the breakout incidents in Roumieh are less likely to be repeated amid the tighter security measures taken by the concerned authorities. He called on the government to carry out an immediate implementation of the reforms in the prison to ameliorate the humanitarian situation there and to decide the fate of the detainees who, until now, have not been sentenced.

Possible compromise on electricity plan

Highly informed sources told “As-Safir” daily that a several ideas are being discussed among relevant actors on the political scene in order to find a solution to the electricity issue in Lebanon.

The sources said that it is more likely for the government to be in charge of the expenses of this plan while the Electricité Du Liban-EDL will have a central role in managing the project. The sources added that the government will open bank accounts in order to receive Arab and foreign donations to finance the project, which will be a governmental achievement and not restrained to any political party or political side.

As-Safir daily mentioned that these discussions are ongoing and the ideas mentioned have not yet been adopted by any party.

Mikati holds series of meetings in Paris

According Al-Hayat daily, PM Najib Mikati held a series of meetings in Paris before the “Friends of Libya” conference Thursday where he met the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffery Feltman and Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Charbel to appoint new ISF officials

Well placed sources told “Al-Akhbar” newspaper that decrees to appoint new officials to the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces will be released soon.

The appointed officials are Brigadier General Salah al-Jubran in the Gendarmerie Command, Brigadier General Lahoud Tannouri (unit of social services), Brigadier General Ahmad Hanina (Beirut Police), Brigadier General Roger Salem (Inspector General), Brigadier General Ibrahim Basbous (Institute of Security Forces), Brigadier General Mahmoud Ibrahim (the security of embassies), Col. Naji al-Masri (judicial police)

These appointed officials will be working alongside Joseph Hajal (General Staff), Robert Jabbour and Mohammad Qassem (central administration), as well as the General Director of the Lebanese Internal Security Ashraf Rifi.