Cabinet Ponders Arab Summit Participation Options

by **Admin** Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:24 pm

The Lebanese cabinet is expected to meet soon to discuss the Syrian invitation to attend the forthcoming Arab summit although an official stance is not expected before the next scheduled parliamentary session.

Meanwhile, Premier Fouad Saniora received on Monday the invitation which was handed over last week to resigned Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh by a Syrian delegation.

Al Mustaqbal and As Safir dailies said the cabinet is expected to meet on Tuesday while An Nahar newspaper reported that the government was likely to hold a meeting on Wednesday.

Ministerial sources told Future News Television that three scenarios were being considered: boycotting the summit, or sending a Maronite delegate who would give Lebanon's speech and withdraw from the summit talks, or adopt a wait and see approach pending the holding of a parliamentary session on March 25 to elect a new president.

The sources said the cabinet was likely to adopt the third option as Saniora continues to hold consultations with the majority March 14 leaders.

An Nahar quoted sources as saying the decision about Lebanon's participation will be announced only a few days before the March 29-30 summit in Damascus.

The same sources said a final decision will be made while taking into consideration two major factors: the nature and level of Arab participation in the summit and the March 14's solidarity with the decision of either boycotting or attending the conference.

The Arab summit has been mired in controversy, with some Arab states saying they will not attend if the Lebanese parliament does not elect a president by then. Some March 14 leaders are also against Lebanon's attendance while some others believe the country should be represented in the summit.