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.
Head of the Change and Reform Bloc, MP Michel
Aoun, confirmed his confidence in the Syrian president’s endurance, yet stated
that the current regime can no longer survive.
In an interview with
As-Safir Daily, the FPM
leader said that he does not fear the negative repercussions that may come from
Syria onto Lebanon – but instead fears what may follow the downfall of
President Assad [should it happen]. The fall of the Syrian president as per
Aoun, may lead to full scale civil warfare in Lebanon.
In regards to the Northern Lebanese front,
also known as the “isolated zone”, Aoun said that the area will not survive seemingly
since the Syrian forces are regaining control of Homs and Al-Qaysar.
Aoun stressed his confidence in the LAF,
stating that the military institution is capable of facing and surviving the
difficult situations at hand – especially with the backing it has received from
the most recent national talks. Aoun added that the LAF awaits the implementation
of the support that the government voiced.
The former LAF general went on to reassure
that the incidents in the north will not spread throughout Lebanon, pointing to
the positive attributions that the agreement between his bloc and Hezbollah
have achieved. He added that the memorandum of understanding between the two
parties prevents the groups [of conflict] from reaching Beirut, Saida, or the
Bekaa.
Aoun went on to say, that Christians within
the March 14 movement failed to achieve those connections.
Regarding the county’s elections, Aoun expressed
his wishes for a new law that would rid Lebanon of its sectarian “plague” –
pointing that the proportional representation law is the best way to achieve
that.
Sources
close to Lebanese president Michel Sleiman stated that the president is working
on implementing the decisions that were taken at the national talks that took
place on the June 11 – especially when it comes to controlling the border with
Syria. In a talk with
An-Nahar Daily, the sources said: “if we were to relay the
decisions taken at the talks to the Security Council and the Arab League,
better to implement them first”.
- Sleiman to Detainees’
Families: Free Syrian not responsible for abduction
According to the minutes documenting the meeting that took place between
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and the families of the 11 Lebanese
detainees, the families stated that the political turn the negotiation took
reflected negatively on the process. Mediators in the negotiations include Qatar,
Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. For his part, the president expressed relief from
reassurances granted to him by various Arab and Turkish heads of state. Sleiman
confirmed Turkey’s commitment to the negotiations, and reservations should many
sides interfere on the line.
The minutes published by
An-Nahar
described the disappointment expressed by the families in reaction to Turkey’s
denial of the responsibility of the Free Syrian Army, with one family member
standing up and asking: “how is possible that a military base be erected in the
midst of an area controlled by the Free Syrian Army, with the latter denying
knowledge of the identity of that military base?”
The Lebanese Daily
Al-Liwaa stated that the Lebanese Forces
are closer to participating in the upcoming national talks as opposed to boycotting
it as they had done in the June 11 dialogue.
According to political sources close to the Lebanese Forces,
the reasons are as follows:
First: The Lebanese Forces will be meeting with Lebanese President Michel
Sleiman in the coming days, and should it hear “words of comfort” stating that
the issue of the arms would be discussed in the upcoming talks, then that would
be a motivational factor to join in.
Second: The Lebanese Forces stated that there is an
imbalance of views on the table of dialogue with the absence of Former PM Saad
Hariri, and Samir Geagea – and so, sees some sort of compensation should Geagea
agree to join in.
Since the countries
upcoming talks are scheduled for the 25th of June the Lebanese
Forces sees that it has apt time for discussing its options and strategies.
- Army Chief of Staff
visits Washington, away from the spotligt
As-Safir Lebanese Daily exposed
information that the Army Chief of Staff Walid Salman had visited Washington at
the start of this week, away from any media exposure. Salman had met two officials
from the Department of Defense and Department of State among various US
military officials. The visit comes in light of continued US assistance to the
LAF.
The newspaper
pointed out that Salman’s visit came at the invitation of U.S. military
personnel, in light of mutual visits and regular consultations between the
parties. The visit comes after the appointment of Salman in his post last July
and serves as an introductory trip for the two sides.
The paper confirmed that the file of U.S. military aid to the Lebanese army
began moving in Washington after gaining the signature of Defense Minister Leon
Panetta on the decision to resume pace naturally at the recommendation of the
American military command. The aid is expected to include "lethal
weapons", with talks between the two parties focusing on the nature of
these weapons. The paper added that it is unlikely that the weapons will be at
the level Washington provides to its allies in the region.