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.
In light of the Future Bloc’s rejection to the participation of Hezbollah in the new cabinet, and the
latter’s refusal to allow the United States the chance to
interfere in the formation of the cabinet, the governmental discussions did not
yet yield fruitful results.
In this regard,
Al-Joumhouria
newspaper said that Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam is currently working on 2
governmental approaches; a neutral cabinet called upon by March 14 forces, and
a national unity cabinet called upon by March 8 forces.
The newspaper added on Monday that
PM-Designate Salam decided not to link the formation of the cabinet to the
upcoming entitlements "since they are countless and will lead the country towards
a Sunni-Shiite strife”.
Al-Liwaa
newspaper said on Monday that the issue regarding the establishment of Syrian refugee camps is
being discussed between Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, international
committees, and Ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Countries.
Sources told
the newspaper that Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour is
preparing the dossier, noting that it will be another problem on
the Lebanese front since the Free Patriotic Movement voiced its rejection to
the establishment of these camps.
On
another note, a governmental source said that the wounded Syrians are being transported
to Lebanon via the border crossings in a legitimate manner; however, only after
pressure from international committees.
The
source added that concerned officials agreed on transporting Syrians from
al-Qusayr to Lebanon and mentioned that the number of these Syrians registered
by the Lebanese Red Cross has reached 250 persons.
An-Nahar
newspaper said that Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil will be holding
a press conference today (Monday) to discuss the issue of the transfer of the wounded Syrians from al-Qusayr to Lebanon and the hospitals’ incapacity to receive
more although the United Nations pledged support in regards to financing
the cost of their treatment.
The newspaper
added that Minister Khalil will call on Arab countries to share the task of
receiving wounded Syrian with Lebanon.
On another
note, the Mayor of Arsal called on Lebanese officials via
An-Nahar newspaper to
aid the Syrian refugees and mentioned that “around one thousand families arrived
to Arsal; increasing the number of Syrian families to five thousand; a number
that goes beyond the capacities of the municipal council and Arsal families”.
A Gulf
source told
Al-Liwaa newspaper that the Gulf Cooperation Council’s decision urging
its citizens not to travel to Lebanon is a preliminary measure amid others the GCC will be presenting.
The
source added that economic relations between Lebanon and Gulf States will
witness further deterioration should Hezbollah proceed in its intervention in the
Syrian crisis.
In
response to a question, the Gulf official said that discussing the situation of
Lebanese nationals working in Gulf States is still early and called on Lebanese
officials to act in a responsible manner.
Al-Akhbar
newspaper quoted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as saying that “Syria is on
its way to recovery from the crisis that erupted 2 years ago” adding that western
countries are presenting various offers in order to initiate reconstruction works.
According
to
Al-Akhbar newspaper, President Assad said “the World Bank, which receives its order from the United States, offered Syria a loan of
$ US 21 billion in order to fund reconstruction works.”
Assad
added that he rejected this offer and took his final decisions regarding
reconstruction deals, and mentioned that he is currently concerned about the
post-war stage and means of dealing with the widespread destruction, as well as
ways "to heal the wounds of those who lost their loved ones during the war,
and others who lost their homes, or their sources of income".
President
Assad said that he is not optimistic regarding the outcomes of the planned Geneva
2 conference since “the representatives of the 'other group' are incapable of taking decisions on behalf of the armed rebel forces, and opposition members are
continuously disagreeing.”
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