Press Digest for Thursday June 14, 2012

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. 

• Vatican concerned, Pope’s visit may be postponed   

Sources from a high level church confirmed that there is a possibility to postpone the Pope’s visit to Lebanon amid the turmoil prevailing over the region, especially the situation of the Syrian regime.                       

The sources told al-Joumhouria daily that the Vatican is concerned over the risk that the Syrian crisis will be imported into Lebanon, noting that the visit depends on the developments during the next two months.        

• March 14 to expose issue of Syrian violations of borders in dialogue session           

Top opposition sources told an-Nahar newspaper that their representatives in the dialogue are willing to raise the issue of the Syrian violations of the borders during the dialogue’s second session expected to be held on June 25. March 14 forces consider that the two violations are political and security messages from the Syrian regime.          

The sources added that March 14 estimated 21 Syrian violations of the eastern and northern borders since November 2011, noting that the Wednesday’s violation in the town of Arsal constitutes a critical shift in the depth of Syrian incursions. The sources pointed that the Lebanese authorities should have filed a complaint with the Security Council, or at least summoned the Syrian ambassador to Beirut and reported these violations.          

• Mansour to as-Safir: Libya to release Helen Assaf                    

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said that the Libyan authorities gave hope about the possibility of releasing the Lebanese national Helen Assaf, who was detained with the Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor by the Libyan authorities last Thursday.

Mansour told as-Safir daily that the Foreign Ministry is working hard to protect the Lebanese nationals abroad, and that the ministry is ready to receive any report or complaint over any accident committed against any Lebanese across the world.             

• Hujairi: “self-distancing government” should set its mind            

Arsal Mayor Ali Hujairi restated his confirm that what happened in Arsal on Wednesday is not an “innocent” act, noting that burning his house aims at exerting pressure on Arsal residents who support the Syrian revolution and help the refugees.        

In an interview with al-Mustaqbal newspaper, Hujairi called for deploying the Lebanese Army along the common border between Arsal and the Syrian territory, extending over 60 Kilometers. Hujairi said that the fact that the army hurried to the place of incursion and temporarily localized in the house contributed in restating calm in the town’s streets.                     

Hujairi also called on the “self-distancing government” to set its mind and make a decision to protect national sovereignty and Lebanese citizens.             

• Ziad Baroud to run for parliamentary elections in Keserwan          

Al-Akhbar daily reported that former Interior Minister Ziad Baroud declared that he will be standing for the upcoming parliamentary elections as a candidate for Keserwan, noting that he will embark on dialogue with all the parties without specifying an official position. Baroud added that he will maintain his independence which will be revealed either by running for candidacy alone, or by constituting a special case within a certain bloc, pointing that it is too soon to speak about lists.