Al-Shara in Beirut today; US pressure on the summit
Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/22/2002

The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al- Shara will visit Beirut today to hold talks with high ranking Lebanese officials in the framework of coordination between the two states on the wake of the Arab summit.

Al-Shara will be meeting with each of the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud, the prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri and the foreign minister Mahmoud Hammoud.

Today afternoon, the secretary general of the Arab League Amre Mousa will arrive in Beirut and he will take part in the meeting of the Arab economy ministers to be held tomorrow. Moussa will start preparations for the summit with the Lebanese officials. These preparations will include the summit's agenda and the final statement draft.

It was learnt in this regard that the final statement draft was discussed between Moussa and the Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal. Lebanon was persistent to have a role in this statement on the ground that it is the host country. On this ground, this issue will be among the tasks of Moussa during his stay in Beirut which will continue until after the Arab summit.

Well-informed sources told the Lebanese daily Assafir issued today that Washington is making intensive contacts with several Arab leaders to urge them to attend the summit and not to "leave the place for Syria and Lebanon," and this is in order to keep the "ceiling" (results) of the summit low to the level accepted by the US.

Previous Stories:
  Miro and one third of the Syrian government is in Beirut today   (3/16/2002)
  Al-Assad confers with former Lebanese presidents, two sons   (3/14/2002)
  Al-Assad confers with Lebanese parliament member   (3/13/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search