Report: Tripartite meeting for Syrian, Egyptian, Saudi FMs in Damascus

A high-ranking Syrian source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that preparations are underway to convene a tripartite meeting including Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in Damascus, but the Syrian official did not set a final date for such a meeting, saying that such a meeting will be set through diplomatic channels.

In a telephone statement to the Saudi daily Okaz issued on Friday, the Syrian sources said that the date proposed for the tripartite meeting is May 1 due to preoccupations of the foreign ministers of Egypt and Saudi Arabia in internal and external activities.

The Syrian source added that the aim is to coordinate stances towards recent developments of the peace process, especially on the Syrian- Israeli track, and to take a united position regarding the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon.

The source asserted that the Arab states know well Israel's non-seriousness in the peace process and that Israel is trying to give the impression that it is serious in implementing the unilateral withdrawal from south Lebanon, saying that such a withdrawal, will not serve peace unless it is to the internationally-recognized borders.