Bush: freedom in the Middle East is evident; G-8 summit supports a settlement including Syria and Lebanon

The G-8 summit concluded yesterday its meetings in the US by announcement by the US President George W. Bush that freedom in the Middle East is an evident mater in " our age."

Bush stressed that the response of the group on Iraq was " very encouraging," though he admitted that his atempt that NATO would send additional forces to Iraq " is an unrealisic hope," especially as he had failed in a bilateral meeting he had held with his French peer Jacque Chirac in changing his conservative position which considered that " it will be inappropriate to hoist NATO flag in Iraq."

Meantime, Bush urged during his meeting with the Iraqi President Ghazi Elyawer to convince Syria to be "more responsible " over controlling is border with Iraq, and for Iran to behave in a way that shows it is responsible in Lebanon.

It was remarkable that the text of the statement issued on Wednesday on the reforms in the Arab world which was under the title " a partnership for progress and joint future in the vast Orient area and north Africa " tackled with Lebanon and Syria, in particular. It said: we renew confirmation that reaching a comprehensive and permanent settlement for the Arab- Israeli conflict including Syria and Lebanon should abide by UN security council resolutions concerned including UN resolution 425 which calls for " honoring the safety of the Lebanese territories and its political independence within its internationally recognized borders."

In a press conference he held yesterday in conclusion of the summit, Bush said that the dessimination of freedom in various parts of the Middle East is the evident matter in our age. He indicated that there is a consensus in the region on the need to make a change. He also explained he was not shocked by a decision from countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Morocco in not responding with his call and participation in the summit in protest of the reform initiative.

However a diplomat from one of the G-8 states said "The Greater Middle East is just an illusion imposed by Bush and is only a cover for a military presence in order to ensure oil supplies." He added that " the Americans attacked Iraq because they have fears over Saudi Arabia."