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.
Visitors of President Michel Sleiman
said yesterday that the president reproaches those who went for the adoption of
the Orthodox Gathering’s proposed electoral law as well as those who
participated in the adoption of the electoral law based on proportional
representation at the cabinet without consulting him and taking his opinion.
The visitors told
An-Nahar Daily on
Friday that President Sleiman stressed that his rejection of the Orthodox
Gathering’s law is not the result of this reproach, but is based on the “illegitimacy
of this draft law and the fact that it is contradictory to the spirit of the
Lebanese constitution.”
In this regard, the Daily mentioned
that Sleiman has explained to House Speaker Nabih Berri his stance on this
draft law during the meeting they held yesterday at the Baabda Palace. Talks
between the two statesmen revolved around the different draft laws and were followed by the official dinner banquet held by the President in honor of the
Cypriot President Demetris Christofias.
Maronite
Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Rai told
Al-Liwaa Daily on Friday that Bkerke does not
endorse an Orthodox or a Maronite electoral proposal; “it only endorses a
Lebanese proposal.”
In turn, Beirut Metropolitan Orthodox Bishop Elias Audi told the Daily that he cannot endorse any draft
election law which does not preserve the common national life of the
Lebanese.
An-Nahar Daily reported on Friday
that Lebanon has decided to ask for 180 million dollars from Arab countries
combined to help it carry the burden of the so far registered 180,000 Syrian
refugees and spend the sum on them over one year. The deal would include
granting the UNRWA 18 million dollars to cover its deficit. This would reflect
positively on thousands of people living in Lebanon’s refugee camps and on
13,000 refugees who temporarily flocked from the Yarmouk camp in Damascus
awaiting for the improvement of the security situation.
The Daily pointed out that this is
what Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour informed Arab League Secretary
General Nabil Elaraby in a letter, in addition to a memorandum explaining the situation
of Syrian refugees scattered across specific Lebanese regions. The
memorandum included the budgets needed by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry
of Social Affairs and the Higher Relief Committee, and pointed out that the
economic situation in Lebanon makes it unable to receive these large numbers of
refugees which are expected to grow so long as violence continues.
An Arab diplomatic source in Cairo told
An-Nahar that Elaraby has started to distribute the letter’s content which calls
for a ministerial meeting. In turn, the memorandum tackles the dangers
resulting from the large influx of refugees and highlights that Lebanon which
has debts worth billions of dollars, needs financial support to shelter these refugees.
Sources close to the presidential palace told
Al-Akhbar Daily on Friday that centrism will lose momentum if it were limited
to Mount Lebanon districts since it would be difficult to convince voters in
this case that it is more than just an attempt to “trick” Change and Reform
bloc leader MP Michel Aoun.
The sources hoped that PM Najib Mikati will
be able to form a centrist list, benefiting from the support of both the U.S.
and Saudi Arabia to his government to impose a status quo which would be
difficult for the Future bloc to surpass it without reaching an understanding
with Mikati.
The sources stressed that it is very probable
that Mikati heads a list including Ministers Mohammad Safadi, Nicolas Nahas and
Ahmad Karami.
As for the south and the Bekaa, the choices
are smaller than in Mount Lebanon and the north, but the offices of some
associations include long lists including the names of civil activists who want
to try their luck in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The number of these
activists is enough to create a new group which can make its voice heard in
areas dominated by Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.
Presidential sources voiced their fear
of the dangers of the Orthodox Gathering’s proposed electoral law since,
according to them, “it would undermine all the components of coexistence among
the Lebanese and deepen internal divisions.”
“We cannot accept this proposal which is
contradictory to both the Taif agreement and the spirit of the Lebanese
constitution; therefore, it poses a threat to national unity and throws the
country into the unknown," the sources told
Al-Liwaa Daily on Friday.
The sources pointed out that the President
cannot accept such a law “since it is against the constitution, the Taif
agreement and the Lebanese people’s unity.” They added that while a large
proportion of Lebanese won’t allow the adoption of this proposal, it will be
appealed if it ever obtains the parliamentary majority.