Washington: Syria and Lebanon not invited to summit because they do not contribute to peace
Syria-USA, Politics, 5/30/2003

The US administration said yesterday that an invitation was not extended to Syria and Lebanon to take part in Sharm Esh Sheikh Summit under the chairmanship of the US President George W. Bush next week, because they have not contributed in "reviving the peace process" and because the objective of the summit is to discuss the Palestinian- Israeli file.

Meantime, the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher said that not inviting the two countries does not mean forgetting other occupied Arab lands, on which he said any Arab side can defend at any meeting.

Replying to a question on the participation of Syria and Lebanon in the summit Boucher said "I do not want to predict about the participation. The participants are committed sides and they availed the opportunity to contribute in an important way to reviving the peace process." He added that members of the Arab League who will be attending shouldered such an important responsibility. The aim is to bring several countries which will contribute to the peace process which will also help in the Palestinian- Israeli side in this operation. He continued that the US is still committed to a just and comprehensive peace to include Syria and Lebanon. But this meeting ( Sharm esh Sheikh Summit) in particular is not about this point.

Meantime, President Bush said that his administration used "tough language" with Syria because it seemed that the Baathists ( the Iraqis) were trying to escape to Syria. saying normally "we did not want this to happen. The Syrian government vowed this not to happen." But he described the recent visit held by US Secretary Of State to Damascus as "good." In a statement to the "al-Arabeyah" satellite station on the wake of the Sharm Esh Sheikh and al-Aqaba summit, Bush said he will hold the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers responsible for not "implementing their obligations " to the Roadmap. He added that Sharon realizes that because "I had frank talks with him."

However, Bush alleviated the possibilities of having differences with Sharon saying there will be no need to hold Sharon accountable because he had approved this visit. Bush added he will be meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, to whom he said he will confirm "security is fundamental to achieve what do we want. A viable Palestinian state."

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad's interview with New York Times, the Washington Post   (5/13/2003)
  Smaha: Syria, Lebanon are stabilizing factor in the ME   (5/12/2003)
  To eliminate American pretexts against Syria, Palestinian groups propose closing offices   (5/8/2003)
  On Powell's visit to Syria, Lebanon   (5/5/2003)

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