What P.M. Seniora Will Say This Evening

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:

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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.