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
- Juppe: The Arab initiative is dead
According to
Acharq Al-Awsat daily the French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe considers the Arab initiative on Syria as “dead”, adding that the Arab states should show some responsibly towards the Syrian people and impose more pressure on Assad’s regime to stop the violence.
“Turkey should have a bigger impact on Syria considering its political weight and the available tools in the region” Juppe was quoted as saying. “I don’t think any country is serious about a military intervention in Syria and France will resort to the United Nations’ Security Council; Eventually Assad regime will not last, but that will take a lot of time”.
Juppe revealed that European foreign ministers are looking forward to imposing more economic and monetary sanctions on Syria during their upcoming meeting, adding that France is ready to recognize the Syrian Transitional Council once it is organized and ready to present a clear political agenda.
Asked about the Lebanese political situation Juppe expressed his concerns about the possible repercussions that could affect Lebanon amid the ongoing unrest in Syria, especially on the UNIFIL contingents’ security, calling on the Lebanese government to host all Syrians fleeing their country for security reasons.
Juppe told the newspaper that the Lebanese government must, in order to save its political image and credibility on the international level, immediately fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and respect all international resolutions in order to maintain a healthy relation with France.
- Al-Daher: It is time to establish a Syrian refugee camp
According to
Acharq Al-Awsat daily Lebanon First bloc MP Khaled al-Daher said on Tuesday that Former MP Saad Hariri is personally dealing with the Syrian Refugees issue in North Lebanon after he was briefed by several Future Movement members about their tragic situation, adding that the movement members saw the establishment of a refugee camp in the north as “an urgent need”.
Al-Daher told the newspaper that after the Al-Adha holidays the movement’s political leadership will discuss this issue in depth in order to incite the government to be responsible regarding such a humanitarian cause, wondering about the indifference shown on behalf of some politicians who are watching Lebanese citizens carry out State’s tasks on their own.
- Pakradounian: Our patriotism is not for sale
Acharq Al-Awsat daily reported that Tashnag Party leader MP Hagop Pakradounian rejected all statement describing him and his party as “Syrian collaborators”, stressing on the fact that he is loyal to Lebanon and that his patriotism is not for sale.
Pakradounian added that the Tashnag party did not intervene in the clashes that occurred between Armenians and Kurds living in Bourj Hammoud.
- Halabi: 12 Syrians gone missing
Nabil Halabi, the head of the Lebanese Institute for Democracy and Human Rights told
Acharq Al-Awsat daily that since September 20 until today 12 Syrian citizens opposing Assad’s regime were reported missing on the Lebanese territory in addition to heavy activities carried out by both Hezbollah and Tashnag in cooperation with the Kurdish PKK party, in several Lebanese regions to gather information about Syrian citizens.
Halabi told
Acharq Al-Awsat daily that Hezbollah is in charge of Dahiya and Beirut area where several cases of missing people were reported. Hezbollah is finding an important support from Lebanese citizens loyal to the Party and supporters of the Assad regime in Syria, while the PKK in collaboration with the Tashnag party is carrying out similar activities in Bourj Hammoud and Nabaa area against Kurd citizens living in this entourage.
- Positive talks between Mikati and Cameron
Sources close to the British foreign ministry told
al-Hayat newspaper that the talks between Lebanese PM Najib Mikati and David Cameron were very positive and beneficial. The sources added that Cameron asked from PM Mikati to separate the Lebanese and Syrian banking sectors amid the sanctions imposed on Syria that might affect the Lebanese economy.