According to an Alhayat leak, P.M Seniora will, in his major evening address to the Arab summit, state the two big reasons why Lebanon is not attending in addition to a list of “unresolved issues” with the Syrians. The leak also contains a test balloon for the Arabs.
On why Lebanon will not attend (my translation):
The first reason is essential and in principle: Lebanon would not like to set a precedent in which the Lebanese President does not attend such an important meeting. The second is that Lebanon prefers not to go to Damascus to attend such a summit because Syria is not a neutral party, but to the contrary a major hindrance to the election of a Lebanese President.
Mr. Seniora will also list the unresolved issues Lebanon has with Syria:
• Comprehensive border demarcation that includes the Shebaa farms “so that Lebanon could have all the means to liberate them”
• Establishing diplomatic representation between the two countries.
• Stopping its meddling in Lebanese internal politics and preventing the election of a President.
• Secure the mutual borders by preventing weapons leaking to Palestinians and their allies.
• Unveil the truth about the Lebanese citizens in Syrian jails.
Mr. Seniora’s sources also released a testing balloon for Arab opinion:
In a nutshell: Let’s have another Arab summit after this one, but let’s have it in a different place. Say…Cairo. There we can feel free to discuss the Lebanese-Syrian matter in a more neutral setting.
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The beirut spring is a blog that is interested in Lebanese society and its politics. It started in February 2005 after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
March 28th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
because cairo is neutral?
March 28th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
To Hell with Seniora,
All these questions should have been on the agenda of the League and the UN 2 years ago.
Lebanon should threathen and leave the Arab League for lack of significant support, Don’t tell me Saudi, Egyptian support blah blah. What must Syria do to be kicked out of the frigging League?
Instead, we had to wait 2 days before the summit to get FINALLY the right answer from Saniora (for ONCE).
Lodge complaint after complaint to the UN and the League. Where are Syrian recognition of Leb and the embassy??
March 28th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
It’s nice that someone is finally listing the “issues” black on white, loud and clear.
Of course this should have been done over 2 years ago, instead of all that pussyfutting and walking on glass that Saniora and his team seem to have perfected.
I don’t expect much will come of this “speech” though. Business as usual. People will ooh and ahh. The Syrians will continue disrupting Lebanon. The Arab League will not really do anything different. And there will be much talk of “initiatives” and “consensus”.
Been there. Done that.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
killo ta2 7anak wo 7akiiii ya maaaan.