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.
Speaker Nabih Berri told
As-Safir daily that there is no need to rush into a decision regarding the issue of funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
The local daily quoted Berri as saying, “Amongst the solutions tabled is for all parties to take their time to thoroughly study the appropriate solution without being pressured to abide by any given deadline.”
Berri added that not even Saad Hariri’s government committed to a deadline to fund the STL. “In my opinion, we have until next March, rather than the end of this month as some would like to think, to make a final decision [on funding the STL]. We only received a letter from the UN asking Lebanon to make its remarks regarding the increase in its share due to the euro rate rise,” Berri said.
An-Nahar daily reported that the cabinet will look into a 79-item agenda and will examine the electoral draft law on Tuesday in Baabda Palace.
Sources told the newspaper that Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour intends to raise an issue not included in the agenda and related to the appointment of second-rate diplomats as ambassadors, attributing this call to the need to fill vacancies and redeploy ambassadors.
The daily learned that 22 second-rate advisors were chosen as 1st rate diplomats ranked as ambassadors.
As-Safir daily reported that smuggling weapons from Lebanon to Syria is still ongoing and smugglers are being arrested by the dozen every day.
The newspaper revealed that the security forces arrested on Monday a suspect with initials M. C. M. while he was attempting to flee the country. As-Safir learned that the arrested person is a member of a network that is allegedly smuggling weapons into Syria and the accomplice of a suspect with initials A.A. who was arrested on Sunday.
The newspaper added that one of the members of the network that was held in custody was caught with “an order” of weapons to be delivered to Syria. As-Safir reported that the order was made by Syrian opposition figures living in one of the Gulf countries and included TNT, rocket-propelled grenades and M-16 rifles.
The Russian Embassy in Lebanon denied information spread by
An-Nahar daily regarding the Russian stance as to funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and the resignation of PM Najib Mikati if the cabinet fails to approve a decision in this direction, adding that all of these matters are purely domestic.
An-Nahar also reported that the embassy underscored the need to find a solution to this issue and stressed that it will not take part in the rumors pertaining to the repercussions that will negatively impact Lebanon if the cabinet decides not to opt for funding the Hague-based tribunal.
Well-informed sources told
Acharq al Awsat daily that the Syrian delegation presented a worksheet in response to the Arab plan of action that urged Syrian authorities to engage in dialogue with the opposition and withdraw its troops.
The sources added that the paper submitted by the Syrian delegation called for ending the slander campaign waged by the press against Syria, curbing smuggling weapons across the borders and lifting sanctions unfairly imposed against Syria. In exchange, the Syrian authorities will match these demands with the promise of radical and fast reforms.
The daily reported that the Arab League will convene for a session on Wednesday in Cairo to discuss the Syrian turmoil and Damascus’ response to the Arab plan of action.
Diplomatic sources told the newspaper that the Syrian delegation left Doha asking for a 30-hour deadline, which expires on Wednesday, to issue an official respond.
The sources added that Syrian authorities approved of the items included in the Arab plan of action barring the clause that stipulates that the dialogue with the opposition should be held in the Arab League headquarters, insisting on holding it in Syria.