Syrian official statement on the expected Arab summit

A Syrian Foreign Ministry Spokesman announced on Monday the following: Syria has supported the demand of Iraq to postpone the Arab summit due to the preoccupation of Iraq with providing information and cooperation to the UN inspectors during this period.

The spokesman added that since the only topic on the agenda of the summit is the Iraqi issue, how could such a summit convene in the absence of Iraq, particularly that the Iraqi demand aims at cooperating and making the inspectors' mission a success.

The spokesman pointed out that Iraq is also asking to postpone the summit until after March 14th so that the inspectors report will be heard first, and will be useful, particularly that no final decision has been taken with regard to the venue of the summit, if it is to be held at Sharm esh Sheikh or at the headquarters of the Arab League, and invitations have not been extended yet.