Date: Nov 16, 2011
Source: The Daily Star
Lebanon's Arabic press digest - Nov.16, 2011

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Wednesday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.


Al-Joumhouria
Hariri meets Saudi Crown Prince as Jumblatt continues to send political ‘messages’


The Syria crisis seemed to have reached a point of no return, with mounting international pressure on the Syrian regime, narrowing of the economic sanctions on Damascus, and Arabs joining voices with the international community in their calls for Bashar Assad to step down. Even Turkey took a harsher tone toward Assad, coupled with threats by Ankara to stop providing Syria with electricity and halt oil exploration activity.
All eyes will be turned to Rabat Wednesday where an Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting to discuss the unrest in Syria will take place.


Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri discussed developments in the region and the Arab world with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz.
The two also discussed issues of common interest between the two countries.


In parallel, Hezbollah said “targeting Syria is a prelude to an aggression on the region.”
“The day will not come when Lebanon will be used to punish Syria politically or economically. Neither will Lebanon become a path to foreign military intervention,” Hezbollah said.
Simultaneously, head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun said Arab countries that have chosen to boycott Syria “have chosen the path of failure.”


Al-Liwaa
Government overcomes ‘Mansour’ mistake ... Berri set for faceoff in Parliament today
Aoun, after Berri, urges King Abdullah to intervene ... Future [Movement] delegation visits Jumblatt


According to a ministerial source, Prime Minister Najib Mikati took advantage of the pleasant atmosphere that prevailed in Cabinet Tuesday after Lebanon beat South Korea 2-1 to announce that Lebanon’s position on Syria was conveyed by Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour at the Arab League as a result of contacts that were conducted in “times of grave emergencies.”


Also Tuesday, the first public meeting took place between a delegation from former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Future Movement and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, who is preparing a comeback for the Democratic Gathering in Mukhtara soon.
The meeting was attended by Jumblatt and members of the new Leadership Council as well as Future Movement MPs Ahmad Fatfat, Hadi Hobeish and Ziad Qaderi. The meeting was shrouded in secrecy.


An-Nahar
Mikati to Saudi Arabia: Mansour violated my instructions


The government escaped the repercussions of Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour’s position at the Arab League in Cairo, thanks to the support provided by President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.


Diplomatic sources told An-Nahar, however, that remarks made by Mikati during recent talks in Beirut with Arab and foreign ambassadors were different from comments he made during a recent telephone call with Saudi Prince Abdel-Aziz bin Abdullah. Mikati reportedly told Abdullah that Mansour had been tasked to adopt an identical stance as that of Saudi Arabia, but Mansour “violated my instructions.”