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

Al-Liwaa

Cabinet faces two tough issues: Teachers’ pay scale and agreement with France

Hariri: Tribunal to put an end to theories about assassination

Cabinet faces a wide-ranging agenda with 86 items Thursday, two of which will be tough – one financial and the other judicial. Cabinet ministers are expected to give and take on these crucial issues which require courage and boldness.

On Wednesday, Education Minister Hassan Diab received from the association of full-time teachers at the Lebanese University a third modified version of the draft law on the pay scale.

The president of the Association Charbel Kfoury described the modified law as the “minimum threshold” and said it was nonnegotiable. This suggests that Cabinet will have to approve it and refer it to Parliament.

The problem, however, lies in that the ministerial committee charged with studying the pay scale has not yet approved it.

The other issue shrouded in controversy is a draft law on a judicial agreement between Lebanon and France. Central Bank of Lebanon Governor Riad Salameh objects to an article in the agreement that undermines Lebanon’s banking secrecy.

Al-Joumhouria

Future-PSP meeting: Respect to Arab peoples’ trends

March 8: U.S. cover to push Mikati into resignation won’t work

A leader in the March 8 coalition said U.S. pressure on Prime Minister Najib Mikati to pay Lebanon’s share of funds for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was aimed at providing political cover for Mikati to resign.

The leader said Mikati who would pretend he is keen not to drag Lebanon into a confrontation with the international community that would do great harm to the interests of the country's economy, and thus resign and look like he has rescued Lebanon.

Mikati would also be justifying his resignation to Hezbollah by making it look as though it is for financial reasons, the leader added.

“This will not work as we are used to U.S. threats,” the leader told Al-Joumhouria.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held a lunch in honor of March 14 figures who traveled to Riyadh to offer condolences over the death of Saudi Crown Prince Sultan.

Hariri reiterated the need for “solidarity in the face of challenges, particularly with regard to Lebanon’s obligations toward the international tribunal.”

He stressed that the STL was established “in search of truth and justice to root out political assassinations in Lebanon and end the era of forcefully imposing political decisions and the use of terrorism as a means to punish political opponents.”

In a move that translated the Progressive Socialist Party’s openness to various political parties, a Future Movement delegation visited PSP headquarters in Beirut Wednesday.

The two sides stressed on the “national, Arab fundamental principles, particularly the need for Lebanon to respect its international obligations, especially in terms of paying its share of funds for the STL.”

Al-Mustaqbal

March 14 responds to Berri: Dialogue begins by implementing national consensus

Hariri: Tribunal puts an end to political terrorism

At the time when the issue of financing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the issue of Tarshish are at the forefront, the political arena was busy with an announcement by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that seeks to resume national dialogue without disclosing whether his position was "coordinated" with his allies, particularly with Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah and MP Michel Aoun, who have closed all doors to dialogue in the past few days.

However, the significant event Wednesday was the statement made by Hariri in Riyadh in which he stressed that terrorism should not be used as means to solve political problems.

An-Nahar

Sleiman for ‘democracies without blood’

Hariri: No one above STL

A visit by a March 14 delegation made up of about 30 MPs as well as political and religious figures was an opportunity to meet Hariri at his residence in Riyadh where talks focused on the general situation in Lebanon and the region.

Al-Nahar has learned that among the issues addressed during the meeting was Hariri’s absence from Lebanon since last spring. Hariri explained that his isolation was due to “security and other considerations.”

The STL was another key issue discussed, as Hariri said his father’s assassination is the concern of everybody and not just a specific sect.

As to the Syrian uprising, Hariri outright said he supports the “revolution.”

“What is going on in Syria in terms of suppression is absolutely not acceptable,” Hariri told March 14.

In a chat with An-Nahar on the way back to Beirut from Riyadh, President Michel Sleiman discussed the situation in the Arab region: "Democracy in the Arab world is imperative, but by peaceful means without bloodshed.”

Sleiman also stressed that the United States and the West need not have “different criteria for democracy."