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.
Exclusive sources told
Al Joumhouria Daily on Wednesday that
Arab ambassadors informed PM Najib Mikati many times, before, during and following
his visit to France, that it was mandatory to accelerate the project of
governmental change, adding that the “peaceful and calm opposition movement”
undertaken by March 14 should not give him false hope that the issue of the demand for the cabinet's resignation is over.
“The faster the governmental change takes place, the safer
the security situation is, which paves the way for a new electoral law upon
which the upcoming elections may be held,” the ambassadors said.
In this regard, the sources considered that some
international parties have noticed a steep decline in the process of change although Mikati had promised them to push through with the change prior to him leaving for
France. “We are still waiting for him to deliver his promises,” they said.
Presidential sources told
As-Safir Daily on Wednesday that
President Michel Sleiman is intending on postponing tomorrow’s dialogue session
to a later date, adding “it has not yet been decided whether the date will be
set before Christmas and New Year’s or if it will be postponed until the beginning
of the new year in order for initiatives and contacts to mature.”
The sources warned of the dangers of the boycott approach on
the economic, political and security levels, adding “everything is negotiable
at the dialogue table; there are no taboos.”
House Speaker Nabih Berri told
As-Safir Daily on Wednesday
that both the President and the Parliament have the right to use their
prerogatives, adding “the parliament is the master of itself; eventually, it is the entity that decides whether to extend its mandate or not.” Berri called for looking
into previous experiences in this regard.
He said that instead of delving into such possibilities, utmost
efforts must be exerted to hold parliamentary elections on time, based on a new
electoral law agreed upon by the Lebanese. “We are running out of time and if
discussions over a new electoral law do not kick off before the beginning of
the new year, agreeing on a new law will be difficult.”
“Since March 14 and MP Walid Jumblatt form a parliamentary
majority which endorses the 1960s electoral law, why are they boycotting?”
Berri called on all those who are rushing governmental change
to participate in the national dialogue.
Al Akhbar Daily reported on Wednesday that political leaders
are expected to contact Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Rai in search for
the truth behind his determination to hold parliamentary elections “even if
they were based on the 1960s law.” The leaders want to know if world capitals
have a role in the stance Rai announced following his return from Rome where he
was appointed Cardinal.
In this regard, visitors of Change and Reform bloc leader MP
Michel Aoun quoted him as saying that he will not accept to keep the majority
of Christian MPs “under the mercy of the Muslim vote”. Aoun reportedly
announced that his bloc refuses to participate in parliamentary elections based
on the 1960s electoral law.
Leading sources in the Hamas Movement told
Al Akhbar Daily on
Wednesday that the participation of MP Antoine Zahra in the March 14 delegation
to Gaza was not planned. “His name was added during the last minute instead of
former MP Fares Souaid.”
The sources stressed that they are against his participation
in the delegation due to the Lebanese Forces’ practices against Palestinians in
refugee camps during the Lebanese civil war. However, they pointed out that
they cannot prevent anyone from showing solidarity with Gaza.