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.
Future Movement former MP Mustafa Allouch
stressed that the Lebanese parties still have different standpoints in regards
to the formation of a new government, adding that a ‘unity’ government cannot
be formed unless they find a solution to the issue of “illegitimate arms” and
clarify the policy of dissociation, adopted by the caretaker government,
regarding the Syrian crisis.
MP Allouch revealed to the Kuwait-based
Al-Seyassah Daily that it is impossible to hold the upcoming parliamentary
elections on their due date in light of the dire situation the country is
facing.
When asked about the Grand Mufti Mohammad
Rachid Qabbani who holds Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Future bloc
leader Fouad Siniora responsible for his safety, MP Allouch said that “no one
cares about the Grand Mufti”.
As-Safir Newspaper reported that a debate
flared between Speaker Nabih Berri and Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel
Aoun, which prompted Hezbollah to intervene in order to settle the problem.
In the details, MP Aoun was adamant on inserting
only one item to the agenda of the upcoming parliamentary session, which is the Orthodox
Gathering’s law proposal. However, Speaker Berri said that the aforementioned
law will be inserted to the agenda but it will not be the sole item.
“In addition to the Orthodox Gathering’s law
proposal, there will be a draft law, submitted by March 14 coalition, related
to raising the retirement age of the security apparatuses’ leaders,” Berri
added.
Sources close to the Free Patriotic Movement
said that the latter is keen on having a good relationship with Speaker Berri but extending
the mandate of the security apparatuses’ leaders is “an illegitimate and
unconstitutional act”.
Al-Joumhourya Daily reported that the US
Secretary of State John Kerry held a meeting in Paris with the French President
Francois Hollande whereby he shed light on the Lebanese issues, mainly
Hezbollah, and stressed that his country will exert tireless efforts to put
Hezbollah on the terrorist list as the movement was accused of carrying out a
bomb attack on a bus in Burgas.
In this context, both officials tackled the
strategic coordination in terms of key issues, such as the military
intervention in Mali, the Syrian crisis, the Negotiations with Iran over its
nuclear program and the need to sow the seeds of stability in Afghanistan.
The March 14 coalition top representatives
held on Wednesday a consultative meeting in Beirut’s Beit al-Wassat whereby
they considered the coalition as “the sole reliable source” in light of the
incidents that are taking a toll on the country.
Same sources told
al-Joumhourya Daily that
the meeting was held in a bid to find a common ground at all levels, after the
coordination has recently reached a dead-end due to the discrepancies over a
new electoral law, and added that March 14 coalition has agreed on a road map in
order to save Lebanon.
In this regard, the officials stressed as
well the need to agree on a new electoral law, to form a government that honors
the policy of dissociation, and to solely discuss the presence of arms in the
dialogue.