Press Digest for Sunday September 02, 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.                 

• Sleiman assures Khamenei: Lebanon needs Hezbollah’s resistance           

A member in the Lebanese delegation to the NAM summit told An-Nahar Daily that there was a mutual understanding between President Sleiman and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on the issues they discussed during their meeting in Tehran.              

The same source added that Sleiman assured Khamenei that Lebanon needs Hezbollah’s resistance as long as Israel remains a threat to the Lebanese state. “For this reason, we are working on building a defense strategy that specifies Hezbollah’s role in defending Lebanon against any Israeli attack,” Sleiman said. He also added that the strategy aims to divide the roles and prevent chaos and immune the Resistance from any eternal or external peril.          

• Turkish detainee: my conditions aretragic            

The Turkish detainee kidnapped by the Mokdad Clan stressed that his living conditions are tragic. “I’m tired and confused, I’m trying to figure out what’s going on and I know that the Turkish government is doing its best to solve the detainees’ case,” he said. He also added that few days earlier, he read in a newspaper that a one of Lebanese detainees in Syria was released and that he’s aware that he won’t be released before Hassan Mokdad is. “My life and freedom in exchange of his”, he stated.           

In an interview with An-Nahar Daily the Turkish detainee implored once again the Turkish government to double the efforts and exert more pressure in order to solve this case. He also emphasized that he can no longer wait. “I’m in a critical condition and I’m tired”, he exclaimed.            

The hostage addressed his family as well and said: “I love you! Take care of yourselves. I hope to see you soon in Turkey.”              

• Mansour discusses Imam Sadr’s issue with several Iranianofficials

An-Nahar Daily learned that that Foreign Affairs Minister, Adnan Mansour discussed during NAM summit meetings in Tehran, Missing Imam Moussa Sadr’s case with several officials, among them Iranian officials.

Mansour headed afterwards to Mauritania.                        

• Siniora invites himself over forcoffee at Berri’s           

Sources close to Future bloc MP Fouad Siniora reported to Al Hayat Daily that the latter informed Speaker Nabih Berri about his visit “to share a cup of coffee”.               

The sources described Berri’s latest positions as bold, especially his statement concerning the military councils that was expected to be stated by Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah. The sources also added that Berri and Siniora share a mutual point of view when it comes to primary issues, such as blocking roads and kidnapping.                   

• Mikati insists on endorsing the Seriesof Ranks and Salaries law draft on Wednesday

Sources told An-Nahar Newspaper that President Michel Slieman and PM Najib Mikati discussed during their meeting the items on the Cabinet’s session agenda scheduled next Wednesday.

The sources said that Mikati insists on endorsing the Series of Ranks and Salaries law draft in Wednesday’s session and that the prime minister has secret sources that could finance the project.