Syrian foreign minister: Wev want a stable Lebanon
Photo: AFP
Syria: Israel does not want peace
As Damascus readies for Arab summit commencing this weekend, Syrian foreign minister says Israel 'does not yet harbor the political will to truly make peace’
Syrian
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said Thursday, in the run-up to the Arab summit opening in Damascus on Saturday, that it is possible that Arab countries would reassess their peace initiative with Israel during
the summit, “provided Israel proves it is willing to make peace in the Mideast.” This is unequivocally not the case according to Moualem.
Speaking at an Arab foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit, al-Moualem stated that “Arab countries are all for a just an all-encompassing peace in the Middle East, however Israel, with American support and backing, does not yet harbor the political will to sign such a peace accord…. Arab countries must therefore examine other options as highlighted at an earlier Cairo summit.”
Lebanese Crisis
Lebanon postpones presidential elections for 17th time, continuing long-standing political crisis in country. Arab divisions debate upcoming summit in Damascus
The Arab peace initiative was initially drafted by Saudi Arabia, and was first adopted in the 2000 Arab summit in Beirut. It was given official sanction in last year’s Arab summit in Riyadh. At the heart of this initiative is the normalization of relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors in exchange for an Israeli return to 1967 borders and the formation of a Palestinians state with Jerusalem as its capital. The right of return for Palestinian refugees is also part of this imitative.
The Arab foreign ministers also discussed the ongoing crisis ion Lebanon, which has been leaderless for some four months. The effort has to come from all Arab parties with friendships and influence in Lebanon. I point especially to Saudi Arabia which wields a big influence on the (ruling) majority," Moualem said.
Al-Moualem in Damascus. (Photo: AFP)
The Syrian foreign minister also noted that “Syria wants a stable, sovereign Lebanon. Anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken. We are the first to be hurt from a worsening situation in Lebanon and we will be the first to benefit from stability," Moualem said.
Lebanon announced this week that it will not take part in the Arab summit in Damascus in order to protest what it deems excessive Syrian meddling in it sovereign affairs leading up to the ensuing political instability in the country.
“Our absence from the summit illustrates our country finds itself in an abnormal situation,” said Mohamad Chatah, Senior Advisor to Lebanese Prime Minster Fuad Siniora. “We want to protest the marked instability in our country and the fact that to date we still have not been able to elect a president.”
Reuters contributed to this article
