Saudi Arabia, Egypt mediate between Syria and Jordan

The Lebanese al-Kifah al-Arabi daily issued today reported that well-informed diplomatic sources in Cairo unveiled that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are currently maintaining mediation between Jordan and Syria.

The mediation is intended to convene a meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers to be followed by a summit between the two countries, in case of success.

The sources elaborated that Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and his Saudi counterpart Saud al-Faisal are the mediators. The former is expected during the first half of this month to shuttle between Amman and Damascus and the latter will follow later.

The sources added that invitations will be extended to Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and his Jordanian counterpart Jawad al-Anani to meet in Cairo or in Riyadh.

The sources continued that in case the meeting proves fruitful President Mubarak will maintain a direct mediation between President Hafez al-Assad and King Hussein. Then a meeting between the two leaders would be expected during August in Cairo.

The sources expected Mubarak to meet with President al-Assad in Cairo or Alexandria and then head to Amman for the same purpose.