Press Digest for Tuesday March 26, 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. 

• Jumblatt will not accept a one-sided cabinet with March 14 forces                   

Well-informed ministerial sources said that it is too soon to discuss the form of the next cabinet, since each party is still in the phase of preparing for negotiations, noting that Mikati’s return to the prime ministry is difficult due to many obstacles, mainly Hezbollah’s veto set up against him following what the party called as a “big blow from Mikati.”          

The sources told Acharq al-Awsat Daily that the centrists are seeking to turn the resignation into a major political solution in the country, ruling out the possibility that the head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt would accept to be a part of a one-sided cabinet with March 14. However, the sources pointed out that removing Hezbollah from power amid the current stage may deeply endanger the country.                  

On the other hand, the sources noted that Jumblatt seeks a government capable of rebuilding Lebanon and achieving a political settlement based on the Baabda Declaration.                

• Berri calls for a national unity cabinet

Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri called for forming a cabinet of national unity with the main leaders, noting that this cabinet will allow all parties “to sit on one table and deal with the situation amid the regional crisis at hand.”                  

Berri told al-Hayat Newspaper that the deputies must reach an agreement before engaging into parliamentary consultations, stressing the need to hold dialogue sessions to agree on a number of major pending issues, in order to facilitate the formation of the cabinet.

“I think that the dialogue committee should convene at least for one hour, in order to find solutions for some matters, not to discuss the regular agenda,” Berri added, stressing that dialogue can ease the security tension prevailing over the country.                          

• March 14 prepares its position from the government, may embrace Mikati                 

Al-Hayat Daily reported that March 14 leaders kicked off their primary consultations in an attempt to develop the major political headlines, prior to an expanded meeting when the leader of the Kataeb party Amin Gemayel returns from a visit to the United States.                          

In this context, March 14 sources revealed that the opposition decided to deal positively with the outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati, stressing the need to embrace him, especially following his resignation.