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.
- Syria keeping its chemical weapons
stockpile
Al-Liwaa Daily quoted several research and
intelligence reports, including the one issued by the “James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation studies” as saying that Syria is keeping its chemical weapons stockpile, as President Bashar Assad has not yet decided to transfer it or
transfer a part of it to Hezbollah. In turn, Hezbollah’s Secretary General
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has not yet approved receiving those weapons. According
to U.S. intelligence sources, this stockpile is currently kept at the al-Safira
base, northwest of Damascus.
The Daily added that, according to a research
report entitled “Dealing with Syrian Chemical Weapons: Military Options”,
Washington and its allies must adopt a policy of deterrence, assistance and
containment, and they should get rid of Syria’s chemical weapons to prevent
their use or diversion, given the complexities of military action amid the
status quo.
- Sleiman banned from entering Mecca
Al-Akhbar Daily reported on Monday that President Michel
Sleiman will not participate in the extraordinary Islamic Solidarity Conference called for by the Saudi authorities
in mid-August, due to the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering
the city of Mecca where the conference will be held.
Accordingly, Prime Minister Najib Mikati
will be representing Lebanon at the conference.
- Irreconcilable differences between Sleiman and Hezbollah?
Al-Hayat Daily quoted Lebanese political sources as saying
that they are closely following up on the current relations between President
Michel Sleiman and Hezbollah in light of their differences on several issues, mainly
the Syrian crisis, the defense strategy and the way the President handled the
telecom data issue.
The sources pointed out that despite its keenness to keep the
long history of good relations with the president, Hezbollah was not satisfied
with the way the president dealt with the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on
Lebanon. The sources added that Hezbollah was annoyed by the agenda set by
Sleiman, more particularly by his call to resume the national dialogue to tackle
the issue of weapons.
According to the same sources, Sleiman’s quest to ease
tensions through dialogue should trigger Hezbollah's finding of an acceptable formula to settle this issue.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati told
As-Safir Daily on Monday that there is a 90% chance the cabinet will approve the electoral law today; “otherwise, it will require no more than one additional session”.
Mikati told the Daily that the government is working, contrary to the “biased campaigns that are trying to make it look ineffective”. He said that the fierce attacks against his government would make people think it is not doing its job, “but with a little scrutiny, they can see that it made, and is still making many achievements”.
On the 14 deported Syrians, Mikati asked those who objected to this decision: “Do you want the country to dive into chaos?” The Premiere added that those who were deported pose a threat to the Lebanese citizens’ daily lives due to their criminal records.