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.
As-Safir Daily reported that the Deputy
Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Bureau of Near East Affairs Lawrence Silverman and US Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Energy
Diplomacy Amos Hochstein stressed Lebanon’s right to full economic
borders, as well as to the disputed region with Israel.
In turn, Lebanese
officials exposed the latest stages reached in the preparations to kick off the
exploration operations, while the US officials presented a full technical description
in this regard.
In this context, Energy
Minister Gebran Bassil told the newspaper that Lebanon is receiving “renewed US
support and encouragement to carry on with its plans pertaining to oil
exploration,” noting that the meeting held with the American delegation was
positive. He said that the US officials expressed their support and praised the
professional and transparent work performed by the Ministry which complies with
higher global standards.
On the other hand,
al-Joumhouria Daily reported that the
Lebanese authorities informed the US delegation that it is not willing to build
camps for the Syrian refugees, for fear that their refuge will turn to long-term
residency.
On the electoral debate, the Daily noted that the US
delegation stressed the importance of respecting the constitutional deadlines
and holding the parliamentary elections on time.
Prime Minister Najib
Mikati stressed the need to reach a new electoral law, noting that the
mechanism of the 60s law is an administrative one which cannot be side-swept. “I am one of the most affected by this law,” he said.
In a statement to
As-Safir
Daily, Mikati stressed that he refuses the Orthodox draft law, pointing out
that it legitimizes federalism and undermines the Taif Agreement.
“Why not turn the equation
upside down, so that the Muslims elect the Christian deputies and the
Christians elect the Muslim deputies, according to the current confessional
distribution,” Mikati added.
On the other hand, Mikati
confirmed that the cabinet will remain, as it protected Lebanon over two years
during the most difficult and dangerous situations.
Sources told
An-Nahar Daily that pro-Damascus parties are
intending to visit the Syrian capital to meet with the President Bashar Assad,
within a “solidarity campaign”.
In this context, well-informed sources told the newspaper
that contacts have been made to bridge the governmental gap and divisions that
emerged lately, and to restore agreement in order to activate the governmental
activities.
Syrian opposition sources revealed that hundreds of pro-Tehran
Iraqi militia members crossed into Syria through the Lebanese territories to
support the regime of the Syrian president Bashar Assad, stressing that around
500 members of Hezbollah brigades arrived in Beirut airport coming from
al-Basra and Baghdad, and later transported to Syria.
The sources told
al-Mustaqbal Daily that the militia members
were transported by land to Syria, and they represent a “first batch” of the
thousands of fighters belonging to Hezbollah who will be joining them. However,
the opposition sources added that the Syrian rebels and the Free Syrian Army
will carry on with their fight against the 'invaders' from the Iranian
Revolutionary guards, the Lebanese party and other Iraqi militias.