DAILY SCOPE: Berri, Bassil Discuss Oil Exploration, Dialogue...Terrorist Groups Restrained by Lebanese Army

Local Editor

LEBANESE DAILIES:

AS-SAFIR:

Qahwaji to As-Safir: We Are Racing with Terrorism...

Syrian Army Reinforces Situation, Tightly Closes "al-Ramousa Gap"

AN-NAHAR:

Washington Sells Saudi Arabia Arms Worth 1.15 Billion Dollars, Coalition Resumes its Raids on Yemen

AL-AKHBAR:

Berri-Bassil: Strategic Coordination on Presidential Impasse, Cabinet, Parliament and House of Senate

Private Hospitals Blackmails Citizens: No Money...No Treatment

AL-LIWAA:

Agreement to Find "Democratic Solution" for Syria... US Upset with Turkish "Aggressive" Rhetoric

AD-DIYAR:

St. Petersburg: Syria Waits for Turkey's U-Turn

Lebanese newspapers on Wednesday were preoccupied in discussing St. Petersburg and the meeting that brought the Turkish and Russian Presidents together, the first time the pair have met since they fell out over the Russian fighter jet downed by the Turkish air force last November.

On the domestic level, the Lebanese dailies discussed the military and security status of the country, with focus on the military US aid the Lebanese army had received on Tuesday as well as the security situation in the Palestinian camp of Ain al-Helwe.

AS-SAFIR: Berri-Bassil Meet on Oil Exploration, Dialogue Table

Head of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri told As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday that during the meeting he held with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, the two focused on "the oil exploration file in addition to what can be done in the coming dialogue session to be held on September 5."

He smiled and went on to say "We did not discuss the presidential matter."

Bassil for his part told the newspaper that "his meeting with Berri was good and comfortable," clarifying that the two are on the same page in terms of certain files while other pending files remain the subject of discussion.

Media reports said that it was the second meeting between Berri and Bassil, the president of the Free Patriotic Movement, in recent months. The meetings appear aimed at restarting the stalled oil and gas issue. Berri has repeatedly urged the government to move quickly to pass two decrees needed for the licensing round for oil and gas companies and to delineate the offshore blocks.

AN-NAHAR: US Aid Delivered to Lebanese Army

An-Nahar newspaper quoted ministerial sources on Wednesday as saying that the Defense Minister Samir Moqbel assured that the Lebanese army has received a huge delivery of US military aid that is worth 50 million dollars which includes 50 Humvee armored vehicles, 40 howitzer canons, 50 MK-19 launchers, a thousand tons of ammunition and heavy weapons.

According to the paper, the US ambassador to Lebanon who delivered the package Elizabeth Richard, said that the US is adherent to provide support to the Lebanese army, as the army continues to confront the challenges and dangers of terrorism and extremism.

AL-BINAA: Takfiri Groups Cannot Use Camp as Platform for Terrorist Acts

Well-informed sources told al-Binaa newspaper that the Takfiri groups cannot win in the Palestinian camp of Ain al-Helwe and have the upper hand, or use the camp as a platform to carry out its operations. The sources assured that the Lebanese army and intelligence branch have set up a network of relations inside and around the camp, which allows it to be a major player in the case.

Media reports reiterated that the Lebanese army has been at the highest levels of alert and readiness to confront any terrorist attacks and to prevent instability in the country, stressing that "at the time the Lebanese army stays alert at the borders, it is also keeping an eye on Ain al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp to monitor any attempts of carrying out terrorist attacks by Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] or al-Nusra front groups."

Source: al-Ahed News