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.
MP Joseph al-Maalouf said that the visit of head of Change and Reform bloc
MP Michel Aoun to Zahle is made for electoral purposes par excellence, contrary
to FPM’s claims.
Al-Maalouf told
al-Mustaqbal daily that General Aoun, who is seeking to
become the main representative of the Christians within March 8 alliance,
headed to Zahle to meet with former minister Elias Skaff, noting that this
meeting will not happen.
The head of “Loyalty to the Resistance” bloc
MP Mohammad Raad stressed that Hezbollah is getting ready for the dialogue confidently,
in order to solve differences and implement what has been agreed upon. “If the
current tension in some regions imposes certain priorities, then discussing
these priorities does not conflict with discussing the defense strategy”, Raad
told
as-Safir daily.
In this context, sources close to the “Future”
bloc confirmed to the newspaper their participation in the dialogue session on
Monday, adding that any deviation from the weapons item during Monday’s session
will confirm the ineffectiveness of the dialogue. Therefore, March 14 will have
another position towards the dialogue.
The Islamist hostages’ spokesperson Hajja
Hayat Awali told
an-Nahar daily that the statement signed by “supporters of
Imam al-Rida” distributed to Turkey and Syria threatening them regarding the
detention of the Lebanese hostages, does not reflect the attitude of the
hostages’ parents and is not related to their traditions. She noted that the
parents are committed to the instructions given by Hezbollah Secretary General
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Amal Movement, to keep calm.
Leading March 14 sources revealed to
al-Liwaa
newspaper that the discussions held recently by March 14 leaderships,
especially the lunch in Bekfayah between the head of Kataeb party Amin Gemayel
and the head of the “Future” bloc Fouad Siniora, led to new ideas which will be
presented on the dialogue table.
Member of Change and Reform bloc, MP Farid
al-Khazen declared that he is running for the upcoming parliamentary elections,
stressing that the head of Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun will also be a
candidate.
Speaking to
al-Joumhouriya daily, al-Khazen
predicted that all the other parties will be affected by their “presence”.
Al-Khazen stressed that the bloc in Keserwan
is stable, “we are the bigger bloc by number, we are as well a unified group
and our main power is that we are the biggest bloc in the region, under the
leadership of General Aoun”, he added.