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 asks Hariri to reinforce his relation with Deputy Walid
Jumblatt
As-Safir newspaper said on Saturday that the Lebanese President
Michel Sleiman took the initiative on Eid al-Adha Holiday and called Former PM
Saad Hariri to congratulate him.
President Sleiman addressed Hariri saying: "I don't want
political disputes to aggravate between any political party and another; this
would disrupt the country's stability."
Sleiman hoped that Hariri would reinforce his relation with Deputy Walid
Jumblatt.
In this context, the President also called Deputy Walid Jumblatt and set a meeting with him
on the 30th of November at the Baabda Palace.
Jumblatt
expressed his disappointment regarding Hariri's reaction but stressed that he
does not want to cut off communications with any internal party.
Jumblatt's stance motivated the President to call Hariri again
asking him to call Jumblatt and explain the misunderstanding.
For his turn, Head of the Future Bloc came down to the wish of
President Sleiman and called Deputy Walid Jumblatt on Thursday evening.
An-Nahar Daily
said on Saturday that despite his quick visit that will last for almost 3
hours, the French President Francois Hollande makes sure that this visit
expresses his country's concern and solidarity with Lebanon at this critical regional
and internal stage which is threatening its stability, sovereignty,
independence, and territorial integrity.
The Daily also mentioned that Hollande's visit will confirm
France's support to the constitutional institutions chaired by President
Sleiman who is considered according to Western countries as "the guardian
of national unity."
Hollande will stress while meeting with his Lebanese counterpart on
the importance of protecting national unity and promoting dialogue between all
parties.
The Lebanese government started preparation to acknowledge the
series of ranks and salaries in its next session on Wednesday the 7th of
November 2012.
In this regard, a meeting chaired by PM Najib Mikati was held at
the Grand Serail last Thursday under auspices of concerned Ministers and the Governor
of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh.
An-Nahar newspaper mentioned that the Finance Minister Mohammad
Safadi presented various new ideas and suggestions to fund the series taking
into consideration the increase on the salaries and the pensions of the
retirees.
The Governor of the Central Bank also made a briefing on the
economic situation in the country and highlighted the dangers of additional
burdens on the economy.
In this regard,
Minister Safadi will present a new report to the Cabinet in light of new data
he worked on; whereas Riad Salameh who was asked to attend the Cabinet's
meeting will present his approach regarding Safadi's report so that the right decision
would be taken.
Information
reported on Friday said that March14 forces are moving forward towards
participating in the meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committees which are studying the
electoral law.
In
this context, Future Bloc Deputies assured to
al-Akhbar newspaper that the decision
of boycotting is still in force.
They
mentioned that in next Tuesday's meeting which will be held at the Parliament the
Cabinet will be represented by the Ministry of Interior therefore the decision
of boycotting applies.
Al-Akhbar
newspaper said on Saturday that a security source informed the Daily that the
witness and informant in Former Minister Michel Samaha's case Milad Kfouri is
in Lebanon and not abroad as it has been said before, and is currently residing
in Mansourieh.
It is worth
mentioning that sources at the Directorate General of the Internal Security
Forces refused to confirm or deny his presence in Lebanon.
The sources only said
that Kfouri is in a safe place.