Press Digest for Wednesday June 27, 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.                                   

• Mikati says ministerial affairs on the right track, praises security plan      

PM Najib Mikati told As-Safir daily that the ministerial affairs are “on the right track”, adding “if we keep up the positivity while dealing [with ministerial issues], we can expect further productivity”.    

Mikati expected that an agreement will be reached on the issue of power-generating vessels during the Wednesday cabinet session following the discussion of certain points with Energy Minister Gebran Bassil.   

The prime minister also expected that the session will approve some appointments.      

Commenting on the security plan drawn up by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Mikati hoped that it will mark a “foundational beginning” of the strengthening of the security situation in the long term.         
                                               

• Security plan comes into effect today, Charbel confirms no one enjoys immunity      

The security plan will come into effect on Wednesday amid the hopes of Lebanese people that this plan will manage to curb the growing chaos in the country.     

In this context, Charbel told As-Safir that the military and security forces are now ready for the “Zero Hour”, confirming that no defaulter enjoys immunity.          

• Bassil’s jet experiences malfunctions but resumes flight      

Al-Akhbar daily reported that, when Energy Minister Gebran Bassil returned from Brazil in order to participate in an oil & gas conference in Cyprus, he was compelled to travel onboard a small single-engine jet since no plane was available at that time.    

As the jet took off from Cyprus, it experienced serious technical malfunctions. However, the jet resumed its flight so that Bassil could catch up with the Change and Reform bloc meeting.                                 

• Geagea to Hariri: When LF engages in battle, the entire opposition wins      

As-Safir daily reported that the Future Movement is in the process of drawing up a road map ahead of the legislative elections as part of its continuing efforts to overthrow the government.    

In this context, sources revealed to the daily that, Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, addressed a clear message to former PM Saad Hariri, highlighting the importance of drawing lessons from the last elections.     

Geagea stressed that, whenever the Lebanese Forces played an effective role in the “battle”, the entire March 14 camp would win; and when elections involved compromises, the results did not measure up to the camp’s expectations.