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.
Deputy
Boutros Harb said to
As-Siyasa newspaper that the opposition is supporting
President Sleiman's stances and stressed that getting back to dialogue is related to
its viability and conditions that make it successful.
Harb pointed out that after its failure, the cabinet must resign.
Deputy
Harb said that Mikati's Cabinet is one of the worst governments in the history of Lebanon and
is leading the country towards tragedy especially with the decline that
the country witnessed on various levels.
Head of the Change and Reform Bloc MP Michel Aoun
said that the cabinet will stay until further notice because pushing the
country into a political void is not allowed.
Talking to
As-Safir newspaper Aoun said that
March14 forces exceeded reason and logic in their demands pointing out that he is no
longer influenced neither by their random accusations nor by their
speeches.
Aoun said that he now has a dossier
related to the other party's perpetration and he will be opening this file
soon.
"They have been accused for a
long time; we present facts and
documents while they only have rumors and lies," Aoun said.
Regarding
LF Chief Samir Geagea's claims that Aoun's popularity declined among Christians,
Aoun said sarcastically: "For this reason I went to Canada."
"If my popularity dropped, I should be of no concern to them
and their campaigns against me are useless," he concluded.
Speaker Nabih Berri said on Tuesday to
Al-Akhbar Daily that the only goal behind the French President Francois
Hollande's visit to Lebanon is to support the national dialogue.
Berri mentioned that various countries are
supporting dialogue for being the only productive solution.
As for Hollande's visit which was limited to a
meeting with President Sleiman, Berri said: "the Lebanese are to decide
whether it affects the image of the unity of rule and not the French."
"March14 forces are refusing dialogue
with the Cabinet, the Parliament, and even the President," Berri concluded.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon
Riad Salameh said that the financial and banking situations are stable and
Lebanon was able, through contacts and external conferences, to change the
image of its performance pointing out that the monetary situation is good, but
the economic situation is on the decline due to the fall of most of its indicators.
Talking to
As-Safir Daily, Salameh said that
the decline in tourism, trade, and the inactivity in various
sectors especially in investments and exports is due to the deteriorating
political and security situation in the country.
The French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent
Fabius praised the efforts of President Sleiman for national dialogue pointing
out that France is currently facilitating the means for national talks between
all parties.
Fabius said to
Al-Hayat newspaper that France
is ready for any action that helps Lebanon as long as Lebanese parties ask
for it.
He mentioned that the coming months will
witness various diplomatic movements in France at the level of the Lebanese
situation, the Syrian file, Iran, and the peace process in the Middle East.
"Hezbollah is represented in the cabinet,
but is blamed for some actions," he said.
"An Iranian made spy drone was sent by
Hezbollah and violated the Israeli airspace; this does not facilitate dialogue
with Hezbollah," Fabius concluded.