Qatar, Oman Move to Help End Lebanon Crisis

by **Admin** Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:22 pm

Qatar and Oman have reportedly stepped in to try to make one last-ditch effort to salvage an Arab initiative aimed at ending the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon, only nine days ahead of a vote to elect a new president.

The daily An Nahar on Monday said Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Youssef Bin Alawi Bin Abdallah has informed Prime Minister Fouad Saniora of his country's desire to help achieve a breakthrough in the deadlock between the government and the Hizbullah-led opposition.

It said the Omani official had already brought up the subject at a meeting in Damascus recently, where Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told bin Abdallah that he "does not mind" demarcating the borderline between Lebanon and Syria.

Assad also reportedly informed bin Abdallah of his desire to restore diplomatic ties with Lebanon.

House Speaker Nabih Berri has postponed a parliament session to elect a new president to March 25, the 16th delay of a vote just four days ahead of an Arab summit scheduled for March 29-30 in Damascus.

Gas-rich Qatar, in turn, has also expressed its desire to launch a new bid to end the stalemate.

An Nahar said Qatar was likely to dispatch its Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah al Attiyah to Beirut soon to "study the possibility of such a move."

Meanwhile, there were signs that Saudi King Abdullah, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as well as King Abdullah II of Jordan were inclined to boycott the Damascus Summit.

The pan-Arab Al Hayat newspaper, however, said Assad has renewed a proposal calling for "implementation" of the Arab initiative "based on an agreement of a full basket that includes electing (army commander Gen. Michel) Suleiman president, formation of a national unity government whereas the cabinet, the opposition and the presidency would each get ten ministers."

Assad's proposal also calls for granting the opposition one of these two alternatives -- guarantees or veto power. The Syrian president also wants parliamentary elections to be held according to the electoral law that dates back to 1960.