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.
According to As-Safir newspaper the head of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL) Ghassan Ghosn said that the next Index Committee meeting on Friday will be decisive as it will either implement reforms to meet workers’ demands or create more tensions between the CGTL and the government if they fail to vote for any improvement.
Ghosn told the newspaper that the confederation is calling to raise the minimum salary in Lebanon to 1250000 LBP as well make an overall wage adjustment. “There is a huge gap between our demands and PM Najib Mikati’s proposals, we want our basic rights and we hope he will be responsive”.
Ghosn slammed the Minister of Finance Mohammad Safadi’s budget plan for the coming year, saying, “the additional taxes are ridiculous.” “Apparently the government is looking forward to taking more than what we [workers] are getting in terms of benefits and salaries” “It is the same policy that former PM Fouad Seniora implemented and it is a policy that we have always rejected”, Ghosn was quoted as saying.
According to Al-Akhbar newspaper a visitor close to the General Secretary of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah reported his firm stances against funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) The sources added that Nasrallah called on all political parties to protect the government, as it is the only means to defend Lebanon against the ongoing events in the region.
The newspaper added that Nasrallah did not comment on PM Najib Mikati’s last statements on funding the STL, as he ignored President Michel Sleiman, head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt and Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi’s last stances supporting Mikati’s claims.
On the other hand, sources close to Hezbollah told Al-Akhbar that the Party believes PM Mikati is able to take the burden of not funding the STL and will understand the responsibility that such stances might carry.
According to Al-Liwaa newspaper the Minister of Agriculture Nazem el-Khoury said that President Michel Sleiman’s stances on funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) are now known for everyone and it is not a secret that the President supports the STL.
El-Khoury added that any statements regarding this issue made by either PM Mikati or President Sleiman are enough to impose responsibilities on the cabinet. El-Khoury told Al-Liwaa that Lebanon should not breach international laws or resolutions nor be portrayed as outlawed and should preserve its reputation on the international political scene.
The agriculture minister added that the STL funding should be passed in the cabinet since the payments would be made through the ministry of finance, ruling out the possibility that the funding would be passed as a separate decree in the cabinet.
Asked on the tensions between Baabda and Rabieh [Sleiman-Aoun] El-Khoury pointed out that the President is keen on keeping good relation with all political leaders, adding that the president is not the source of this tension. “It was clear from the first day of Sleiman’s mandate that the president is on equal distance from everyone and contrary to Michel Aoun uses no compromises to get any political benefit”, El-Khoury was quoted as saying
U.S. diplomatic sources told Al-Liwaa newspaper that the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) General Jean Kahwaji would visit the United States on Monday where he will discuss the US support of the Lebanese Army and the progress of the armament.
According to Al-Joumhouria newspaper the member of the Future Movement Bloc MP Ammar Houri said that the Movement strongly supports the establishment of the Syrian Transitional Council pointing out that there is a difference between supporting and recognizing this council as recognition is a state decision and not a political party.
“We support the establishment of this council on a purely humanitarian basis, perhaps it will bring salvation for the Syrian people and we praise this important step that the Syrian opposition has made in this regard; we cannot passively observe this slaughter without interfering”, Houri was quoted as saying.
Houri told the newspaper that refusing the support of the Syrian Transitional Council established in Istanbul is seen as supporting the crimes against the Syrian people.