DAILY SCOPE: Political Tension Dominates...Berri Stresses on Dialogue

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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

AS-SAFIR

"Hizbullah" Embarrassed... "Mustaqbal" Attached to Cabinet... Berri "Only Dialogue"

AN-NAHAR

Enough Is Enough ... First Gap in Wall of Disruption

AL-AKHBAR

Did Hochstein Suggest ‘Shared Projects' between Lebanon and "Israel"?

Lebanese newspapers on Friday tackled several domestic and regional topics, focusing on the Lebanese arena in light of the ongoing crisis in the cabinet. Lebanese officials including the head of Parliament stressed the importance of dialogue and finding a solution to the presidential impasse. Other topics of regional importance were discussed as well.

Berri Reassures Importance of Dialogue --- AL-AKHBAR

House Speaker Nabih Berri has seemingly stressed that he rejects aggravating his relations with head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun, yet elaborated that he cannot stand idle to attempts to paralyze state institutions.

Berri told Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement officials that he "does not want to cut ties with him [Aoun] or aggravate them. But that we are at a dangerous stage and we cannot stand idle to paralysis," al-Akhbar daily reported Friday.

Tension caused by FPM leader Aoun is due to his placing conditions on the discussion of the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials. Meanwhile, the cabinet that convened on Thursday following a three-week suspension failed to discuss the issue.

Berri's remarks came during a new round of dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal officials, whom he hosted at his residence in Ain el-Tineh on Thursday.

According to the paper, Berri, in a banquet he threw to honor the two parties stressed the importance of dialogue to confront strife. The paper further quoted a statement issued that read "Those gathered reiterated their commitment to this path and stressed the importance of state decision-making to consolidate security and stability."

Country Run by Mafias: Aoun --- AS-SAFIR

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun vowed not to become part of the political wrangling in Lebanon, saying that a "mafia is ruling the country" in remarks published in As-Safir daily on Friday.

"I am fed up," Aoun said in an interview with the Lebanese daily.

The FPM chief said he doesn't want the situation in Lebanon to deteriorate, one day after he threatened to take "explosive" measures against the Cabinet for passing a "non-consensual" agenda item.

He told the daily that he called for the election of a new head of state in two rounds, which is "the best democratic practice in the world, and according to the National Pact, sects are entitled to name the candidates for state posts."

Aoun had proposed in May four options to solve the presidential crisis, one of them being the election of a president directly by the people in two rounds of voting, first by Christians, and then by all Lebanese citizens.

On another note, Aoun touched on the issue of extremism, pointing out that ‘ISIL' is a US-made body that will come to an end as soon as US aims are fulfilled. He assured that the region is heading towards a major geopolitical change, which has two aims: controlling the gas and the pipelines and dividing influence and hegemony. He further told the newspaper that one of the solutions suggested by the big powers of hegemonic powers is to divide the countries of the region.

Turkey Ups Readiness for Intervention in Syria? --- AL-AKHBAR

Security sources in Turkey told al-Akhbar newspaper that Turkey has sent new troops and arms to its borders with Syria especially in light of the harsh battles taking place in the North of Aleppo.

Security sources in Ankara said that the Turkish army has upped its measures and sent Special Forces as well as army personnel during the past few days as clashes in the area increased.

Meanwhile, Syria's main Kurdish party warned Turkey on Wednesday that any military intervention would threaten international peace and said the country's main Kurdish militia is ready to face any "aggression."

Ankara has been among the major sponsors of the militant groups that have been operating in Syria over the past four years.

Source: al-Ahed News, Edited by website team