Press Digest for Saturday March 16, 2013

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.

• Cabinet will not refer the pay scale before the UCC ends its strike              

An-Nahar newspaper said on Saturday that the ministerial committee discussed all the proposals that will be presented to the cabinet during its session on the 21st of March in regards to the series of ranks and salaries.                              

Ministerial sources told An-Nahar newspaper that the cabinet will not refer the series of ranks and salaries to the parliament before the Union Coordinating Committee ends it strike.                     

• Minister Mansour: Security forces should control the borders                  

Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour called for rectifying the tension on the Lebanese Northeastern borders warning that some want to engage Lebanon in chaos.                     

Mansour told As-Safir newspaper that the security forces should control the borders in order to maintain Lebanon’s security and stability.          

• Ambassador Ali: We are being attacked; this matter is unacceptable             

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Ali said that the Lebanese state should bear its responsibility on the borders with Syria.                           

Ambassador Ali told As-Safir newspaper that Syria doesn’t have the intention to worsen its relations with Lebanon, but officials cannot give up on Syria’s security and sovereignty.                        

“We are being attacked, and we will not accept this matter anymore,” Ambassador Ali said.            

• US exerts efforts to hold Lebanese election on the 1960’s law

US sources said that the US and European Union’s administrations, mainly France and Britain don’t want to change the 1960’s electoral law.                   

The sources told As-Safir newspaper that there’s no time to adopt a new electoral law seeming since the electoral day has been set and added that Washington is exerting pressure to hold the elections on due time despite the results.            

The sources added that Saudi and Qatari officials are on the same track with the US in regards to the Lebanese elections.           

• MP Salam calls on Grand Mufti Qabbani to maintain his position            

Deputy Tammam Salam called on Grand Mufti Mohhamad Rachid Qabbani to maintain his position, communicate with former Prime Ministers, and to stop monopolizing the decision-making process.                          

MP Salam told An-Nahar newspaper that he expects the coming stage will have more judicial measures in regards to the file of the Higher Islamic Council. 
                   
Salam denied the fact that the absence of Former PM Saad Hariri from the Lebanese scene caused this issue adding that Hariri’s political stances are still the same.