U.S. Urges Arabs to Mull Attending Syria Summit

by **Admin** Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:57 am

The United States called Thursday on Arab states to think carefully about attending an upcoming Arab League summit in Syria, the same day the Assad regime delivered an invitation to Lebanon.

"We're certainly never going to try to dictate who should attend one of these meetings," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

"In contemplating whether or not they attend a meeting in Syria, it certainly bears keeping in mind what Syria's role (has been) to this point in not allowing a Lebanese electoral process to move forward," he said.

"But certainly the plight of the Lebanese people is one that might be foremost in the minds of those Arab leaders as they consider whether or not to attend the summit," he added.

When asked if he thought Arab states have done enough to support Lebanon, McCormack said: "They've done quite a bit on behalf of the Lebanese people and on behalf of Lebanon."

Syria on Thursday officially invited Lebanon to the March 29-30 summit, a move seen as a bid to ease tensions with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, which had hinted it might boycott the gathering should Beirut be excluded.

The invitation, which was addressed to Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, was delivered to resigned Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh. There were doubts on whether the premier would accept.

"I would note that the invitation is addressed to Prime Minister Saniora, who is, in fact, acting president," McCormack said. "Why, you might ask, is he acting president? That is because there has not been a presidential election in Lebanon."

"There's a lot of talk about forces on the outside that are in some way impeding that election from going forward," McCormack said.

"Many have referred to Syria as one of the culprits for that election not moving forward," he added.