Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi stressed on Wednesday that his candidate for the head of the Higher Judicial Council is not one of the two names that created controversy among President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

“I will not reveal the name of my candidate unless the issue is tackled at the cabinet,” Qortbawi told As Safir newspaper.

Pope Benedict XVI will visit Lebanon from September 14 to 16, the Vatican announced on Sunday.

The trip will mark the second to the region for Benedict, who visited Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories in 2009.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Sunday the need to distance Lebanon from regional axes.

He said during Easter sermon: “We are cooperating with President Michel Suleiman to ensure Lebanon’s neutrality so that it remains an oasis of peace, justice, and dialogue between cultures.”

President Michel Suleiman credited on Sunday the Taif Accord for establishing the current political balance in Lebanon.

He said before reporters: “We live in a democratic country and we hope that we will not return to the 1960 parliamentary electoral law.”

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held talks with his Italian counterpart Mario Monti who arrived in Beirut on a one-day visit on Saturday during which he will also meet with UNIFIL’s Italian contingent.

“We appreciate Italy’s continuous support for Lebanon in the international community and stability in the South,” Miqati said during a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart.

Austria’s President Heinz Fischer will travel to Lebanon end of April, the first visit of an Austrian head of state to Lebanon, European diplomatic sources said.

The sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper published Saturday that Norway’s ambassador to Beirut has informed Lebanese political parties that Fischer was willing to meet with different Lebanese factions during his visit on April 26-27.

President Michel Suleiman credited on Friday Italy for being among the major contributing countries in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, reported Italy’s AKI news agency.

He told the news agency that he hopes that collaboration between Lebanon and Italy would be bolstered in the future.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called on Good Friday for an end to violence and urged politicians to steer clear of corruption and the use of power for personal gains.

In his Easter message, al-Rahi rejected theft of public money and bribery.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat denied on Friday that he informed Prime Minister Najib Miqati or any official that his National Struggle Front ministers would withdraw from the cabinet if it adopted an electoral law based on proportional representation.

“No one proposed the proportional representation except for (Interior Minister) Marwan Charbel… No one tackled the issue with us,” Jumblat told al-Akhbar newspaper.

President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Sir Judge David Baragwanath has announced that Prosecutor Norman Farrell will visit Lebanon soon.

While Baragwanath refused to discuss the details of his talks with President Michel Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati, he said his visit to Beirut was aimed at informing them about the latest developments linked to the court.