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.
Al-Mustaqbal daily quoted wikileaks
cable number 3772 issued by the U.S. Embassy to Beirut on December 6, 2006 as saying that the Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun is “the last person in Lebanon who wants to see Hezbollah’s militia keep its arms.” The cable added that Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kenaan explained to U.S. officials the nature of the relation between the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Hezbollah.
Kenaan said that Aoun, as the former commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), wants more than anyone else to see the LAF extend its “constitutional primacy as the nation’s sole protector and guarantor of sovereignty” During a meeting with a senior official in the U.S. Embassy to Beirut on December 6, 2006 in Rabieh, Kenaan said that by establishing an alliance with Hezbollah, the FPM will get a chance to improve its behavior.
Kenaan noted that he had previously advised Aoun to test Hezbollah’s “Lebanese-ness and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s political independence from Syria. According to the cable, Kenaan added that Aoun feels that French and U.S. officials have misinterpreted him. Kenaan stressed that Aoun does not to be remembered as the man as the man who undermined Lebanese sovereignty, this is why he wants to achieve a settlement that pleases every political party.
Kenaan also expressed Aoun’s willingness to give the Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea and National Struggle Front leader Walid Jumblatt their fair share if he becomes president. Kenaan added that Speaker Nabih Berri, whom he described as “selfish”, will not be put out of the equation in future elections.
The cable did not fail to mention that Kenaan admitted that the FPM made some mistakes by saying that the sit-in in Riad El Solh square is no longer useful and is creating “a flammable situation.”
Zahle MPs bloc MP Issam Arraji told Acharq al Awsat daily that the period during which Syria prohibits imports of Lebanese products may be a long one. Arraji said that he is worried about the negative repercussions that this may have on the Bekaa region since it is heavily dependent on agricultural exports.
“The losses may exceed $400 million if the decision is enforced”, Arraji said. The MP also called on the current cabinet, which is regarded as an ally of the Syrian regime, to urge Damascus to go back on its “unjust” decision.
An-Nahar daily said some officials are leaning towards reconsidering the security measures taken a few days ago in the surroundings of the ESCWA headquarters downtown Beirut.
The daily added that a meeting between the Lebanese security officials in charge of protecting the UN building and the international parties concerned with maintaining security will be held today. The meeting will be dedicated to look into the possibility of adjusting the security measures in a way that will secure the building and the staff while limiting the impact on traffic flow as much as possible.
As-Safir daily is still publishing unknown stories about the 2006 war as told by Speaker Nabih Berri and Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil. The daily said that August 1, 2006 marked a new beginning in the 2006 war, since Israeli troops failed to make any breakthroughs despite a wider front and more troops.
The newspaper added that at 10:30 a.m. on the first of August, Hajj Hassan conveyed a message to Berri from Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah that rocket fire lessened during the last few hours to ease people’s fears, adding that the escalation in Israeli shelling would be matched the following day. Hajj Hassan quoted Nasrallah as saying that the situation was under control and communications would not be severed.
National Liberal Party (NLP) leader MP Dori Chamoun told Al-Liwaa daily that he was not convinced by the clarifications provided by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, describing Rai’s remarks on Hezbollah’s weapons and the Syrian regime as a “deadly sin”. Chamoun added that he boycotted the Christian meeting held in Bkerke because he does not think that the issue of the electoral law concerns the patriarch, adding that he is against the patriarch’s interference in political affairs.
Chamoun added that Rai is no longer abiding by Lebanese principles by saying: “Anyone who has become a custodian of the Syrian regime is still alive, whereas half of those who stood in the face of Damascus are resting peacefully in their graves. Sadly, Rai is complying with the Syrian regime’s will.” Chamoun added that the Syrian delegation’s visit to the patriarch came after Rai granted them a present “they had never dreamt of before”.
“Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun is not open to change nor reform”, the daily quoted Chamoun as saying, “Aoun is a main contributor to Lebanon’s ruin”.
Chamoun stressed that Hezbollah is buying lands from Christians to pave the way for a demographic shift that will turn Lebanon into a Shiite-dominated country, adding that Hezbollah is planning to tie the Shiite nations together.
“I do not mean to say that members of Hezbollah are bad, in fact Agriculture Minister [Hussein El Hajj Hassan] is doing a good job”, Chamoun said.