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.
PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt told
As Safir Daily that “the postponement of the parliamentary elections is unlikely to happen unless a security event, aiming at leading the country into the abyss, occurs.”
Jumblatt addressed both March 8 and March 14 and said: “If you think that the elections will allow a party to gain upper hand over the other, you are wrong. The political balance will not change.”
Jumblatt also revealed that he will soon visit Paris to meet with French President Francois Hollande who supports his moderate position.
When asked about the initiative he has taken, Jumblatt stressed that he is trying to anticipate the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, confessing that he hasn’t succeeded yet in solving the conflict over forming a new cabinet or not.
Arab Democratic Party Secretary General Rifaat Eid said in an interview with
Al Joumhouria Newspaper that “the solution to the conflict in Tripoli cannot be solved to the detriment of Jabal Mohsen.”
Eid addressed the Lebanese officials and asked: “Since you are aware that there is a serious problem in Tripoli, why don’t you call for a dialogue to solve it?”
Eid then added that “Jabal Mohsen had to respond to Bab el-Tebanneh fires when the Lebanese officials did not take the warnings into consideration and did not interfere to stop the fight.”
He also urged Bab el-Tebbaneh’s residents "to get revenge from those who killed their relatives in Tal Kalakh." “Why do we always have to pay the price of others’ conflicts?” he added.
When asked about the possibility of reconciliation, Eid stressed that the Alawites have several conditions, including having a minister, a deputy and an ambassador to represent them.
“Why do they make us feel as if we’re not Lebanese? From now on, the solution to Tripoli’s conflict is related to meeting these conditions,” Eid stated.
Energy Minister Gebran Bassil said in an interview with
Al Akhbar Daily that 5 geological reservoirs containing a large amount of gas were found in maritime zones in Tripoli and Akkar, stressing that the good news concerning oil and gas sectors will soon be revealed.
Bassil added that Lebanon is currently preparing for the exploration and production levels, including the preparation of the infrastructure and conducting exploitation operations.
The minister revealed that the reservoirs in the North are at a depth of 1235 m in the sea, emphasizing that it is not difficult to extract the gas at this depth and that Lebanon will be able to export oil and gas even after covering its local needs.
According to Bassil, Lebanon is ready to launch bidding for investors starting 2013 and that drilling can start in 18 months.
March 14 sources reported to
Al Akhbar Daily that Former PM Saad Hariri received badly Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel’s criticism to Future MP Okab Sakr, stressing that Hariri reproached as well all those who criticized Sakr before and after the speech he delivered in Turkey, among them MP Ahmad Fatfat.
According to the sources, Gemayel had better discussed his position with his allies in March 14 before rushing and announcing it.