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.
Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who visited on
Tuesday MP Sleiman Frangieh, denied having made the visit to Bnachii as an
envoy of Speaker Nabih Berri, noting that his move came upon an invitation he
received from Frangieh a month ago.
In this context, Hassan Khalil told
al-Joumhouria daily that
the meeting stressed the need to hold the parliamentary elections on time, and to
continue deploying efforts in order to reach an agreement over a new electoral
law, as well as the importance of forming a new cabinet capable of facing the
challenges imposed by the current situation.
While the minister revealed that there were some differences
between both parties regarding a number of items, he stressed that they will
keep cooperating with and supporting the PM-Designate in his mission.
Sources from the March 8 alliance reported to
al-Akhbar
Newspaper that the abstention of al-Marada movement’s representative from
attending the meeting held on Tuesday between a delegation from March 8 and
Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam in Msaytbeh is linked to the discontent of
MP Sleiman Frangieh from the performance of his allies.
The sources added that Frangieh is not satisfied with “the
way his allies are dealing with him,” noting that discussions between both
parties have weakened.
The Russian ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zaspikin
said that the “major 'sin' committed by the Western states is when they declared
that the Syrian regime lacks legitimacy,” noting that the opposition cannot
become legitimate without elections and without a decision made by the Syrian
people.
In a statement to
al-Akhbar Daily, Zaspikin pointed out that Russia
will stand by any decision made by the Syrian people, stressing that the
political solution is the only way out of the crisis.
“Whoever says that sending weapons to the opposition forces
is not a support for terrorism is being illogical, because the arms will sooner
or later arrive to the hands of insurgents, even if there were militants who
have different ideologies,” he said, reiterating the call to hold an extended
conference under the title “Geneva 2” to follow up on the decisions of “Geneva
1”.
On the other hand, the ambassador rejected comparing the new
Russian role in Lebanon to the American role, stressing that the Russian deputy
Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov is holding meetings with all the Lebanese politicians
without discrimination and that Russia supports the Baabda Declaration and the
dissociation policy adopted by the Lebanese government.
Commenting on Hezbollah’s role in Syria, Zaspikin said the Syrian regime is the sole entity that can decide who is violating its sovereignty and
whether or not Hezbollah has been helping it.
Well-informed diplomatic sources told
al-Joumhouria Daily
that the meeting held between Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was "friendly and honest",
noting that Bogdanov discussed with Geagea the Russian stance in regards to the
Syrian crisis.
For his part, Geagea briefed the Russian diplomat on his
standpoint regarding the situation in Syria, stressing the need to put an end
to the crisis and to lay the foundations of democracy.
"The revolution was peaceful during the first six months
of the Syrian conflict but then became 'militarized' after the regime was
adamant on the security and the military settlement, which worsened the
situation," Geagea added.
On another note, Bogdanov pointed out that the best way to
currently settle the file of Syrian refugees is to establish refugee camps under
the auspices of the UN Security Council in well-specified areas in Syria and
along the borders with Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan.
"The establishment of buffer zones has already paid off
in many countries in light of similar conflicts," Bogdanov said.
Sources told
an-Nahar Newspaper that the Prime
Minister-Designate Tammam Salam held a meeting with a delegation of the March 8
coalition in Msaytbeh whereby they tackled the formation of the government.
In this regard, the delegation stressed that the political
parties should be represented in the government according to their parliamentary
representation, which means that the March 8 coalition will not accept less
than 48 percent of the seats.
Sources close to Salam reported that the PM-Designate will
reach a 'political balance' in the government in light of different
standpoints, adding that he will take into consideration all the parties'
demands as much as possible.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati told
al-Hayat Daily
that it is impossible to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections on their due
date, the 20th of June, for technical reasons, pointing out that "each
political party wants the government to serve its own interests".
Asked about "members of Hezbollah being killed in
Syria", Mikati called on all the Lebanese people to abide by the policy of
dissociation, noting that when he was a Prime Minister, the said policy was
effective, except for minor violations but "no one dared to announce the
breaches, unlike the current situation".