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.
The longstanding EDL contract
workers and collectors issue has finally concluded, with an agreement satisfactory
to all parties, in what many described as a “happy ending”.
As-Safir Lebanese
Daily reported the finale of this issue came vise-a-vise intense efforts
exerted between Berri and Hezbollah in the past few days, in coordination with
MP Sleiman Franjieh. These efforts were ensued
by a meeting headed by Hezbollah Official Wahid Saffa and Minister of Energy
Gebran Bassil, followed by talks between Saffa and Health Minister Ali Hassan
Khalil on Thursday.
In this context, Bassil announced
that the meeting between himself and Saffa bore positive results, adding that
the EDL contract workers file has come to an end with an overall agreement beneficial
to both the country’s institutions and the parties involved.
The EDL protestors were expected to
end their 93 day sit-in Thursday, with statements declared by their
representatives of their satisfaction with the agreement, however adding that
the workers will deal with implementing the articles of the above mentioned agreement
after receiving their salaries, as a show of goodwill.
The Daily quoted
the President of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers, Ghasssan Ghosn,
as saying that the lifting of the sit-in will not come to light unless the
final points are agreed upon. These points include the logistics of
implementing the agreements.
An-Nahar Lebanese Daily confirmed
that the deportation of the 14 Syrian nationals has backfired against the
efforts exerted to release the 11 pilgrims detained in Syria. Sources cited
that Lebanese authorities received a call Thursday stating that negotiations
regarding the Lebanese detainees have come to an end.
According to information provided
via the paper, the talks had been progressing, adding that mediators had good
relations with high end officials from the Syrian opposition.
A security source confirmed through
As-Safir
Lebanese Daily that no activists were among the 14 Syrian nationals deported
yesterday, adding that the campaign targeting the General Security is far from
valid.
The source
added that the deported nationals were only delivered to Syrian authorities
based on judicial accounts and not on their political affiliations.
An-Nahar Lebanese Daily stated that
head of the Future Bloc, MP Fouad Siniora, will be meeting UN Special
Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly and European Union Ambassador to Lebanon
Angelina Eichhorst along with other
representatives of the March 14 movement. The meeting comes in light of the
deportation of the 14 Syrian nationals. The Daily expects for the meeting to
yield similar statements to that of PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt, with a series
of questions targeting Lebanese authorities to ensue.
Al-Akhbar Lebanese Daily reported
that Shiekh of the Bilal Bin Rabbah Mosque, Ahmad Assir, ended his sit-in with
a an interview to both an international channel and radio.
Sources revealed through the paper,
that one of the motives to end Assir’s sit-in was a promise to grant him both a
radio and TV channel especially tailored especially for him. The sources added
that Assir purchased a venue for broadcasting in a location facing the Bilal
Bin Rabbah Mosque in Sidon, alongside media equipment provided by the Future
Bloc.
The article colcluded that Assir will start rallying as of
Friday to garner more supporters; starting with Tareek Jdeedeh.