Lebanon… Region’s Main Concern: Summits, Groups, Meetings…Where is Lebanon's President in all this?

Lebanon… Region’s Main Concern: Summits, Groups, Meetings…

17/01/2011 Less than one week following the collapse of the Lebanese government headed by Saad Hariri due to the resignation of more than one third of its members, the Lebanese situation seems to be the main concern of the world’s regional powers.

Following the American obstruction of the Syrian-Saudi effort to resolve the current crisis in the country despite the sincere goodwill of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, regional powers didn’t give up and refused to abandon Lebanon, surrendering therefore to Western pressure, mainly American and Israeli obstruction schemes.


The Lebanese cause was able to join the leaders of Syria, Turkey and Qatar in the Syrian capital Damascus where a significant crisis took place with the aim of discussing the situation in Lebanon and ways to defuse tensions in the country. The summit, which precedes a visit by the Iranian FM to Turkey expected on Monday, comes one day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for an international “contact group” over Lebanon.


REGIONAL LEADERS COMMITTED TO SYRIAN-SAUDI INITIATIVE…

A summit meeting joined on Monday Turkey's Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, with the Lebanese cause at the top of the agenda.


According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the three leaders met in Damascus and discussed Lebanon’s political crisis. They focused on the fallout from the United Nations-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which is expected on Monday to issue unfair indictments over the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri, the news agency pointed out.
They "expressed their commitment to a solution to the Lebanese crisis based on Syrian-Saudi good offices so as to achieve understanding between the Lebanese and avoid a deterioration of the situation," SANA said.


The news agency said the leaders also welcomed the postponement of talks on appointing a new prime minister in Lebanon as a means "to allow political efforts underway to help the Lebanese find a solution."


IRAN COORDINATES WITH TURKEY…

Later on during the day, the Lebanese cause is expected to be raised during the visit to be made by Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to Turkey.


Iranian news agencies ISNA and Fars said Salehi was to hold talks with Turkish officials on latest political developments in Lebanon after last week's collapse of its government.


The visit follows a telephone call from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday in which the Iranian leader called for a quick solution to Lebanon's political crisis.


ISNA also said that Salehi would travel on to Senegal on Tuesday.


FRANCE CALLS FOR CONTACT GROUP; TURKEY AGREES

Meanwhile, the Turkish premier said he has agreed to take part in the international "contact group" proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to help Lebanon resolve its political impasse.


Speaking to reporters in Istanbul before travelling to Damascus, Erdogan said no date had yet been proposed for a meeting of the group. "I received an invitation from French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday and I asked my office to reply favorably," he told journalists in Istanbul.

Sarkozy's office said in a statement Sunday a meeting would be held "as soon as possible". Sarkozy has been discussing the crisis with key figures recently including the head of the caretaker government in Lebanon Saad Hariri, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, the presidents of Syria and Turkey, the emir of Qatar and US President Barack Obama, the French president's office said.

Where is Lebanon's President in all this?

"... The three leaders meeting in Damascus "affirmed their care to find a solution to this crisis based on the ... Syrian-Saudi efforts to achieve harmony between the Lebanese," an official Syrian statement said after Monday's talks, referring to earlier failed efforts by Saudi Arabia and Syria to forge a deal. Erdogan also said Iran's foreign minister would visit Turkey on Monday after the Turkish prime minister discussed the issue at the weekend with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Nasrallah said on Sunday that Hezbollah would fight efforts to tarnish its image. "We will not allow our reputation and our honor to be touched." He said leaders from several countries had intervened to demand Hariri be picked again to form the next government, but defended the decision to bring down the last one..."

"Albert, ..look how pretty their new pants are ... they are 'theater ushers'... hahahaha"

Posted by G, Z, or B at 8:10 PM

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian