According to an [1] 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.