Region | Lebanon
Egypt and Saudi Arabia for new talks to reduce tension
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are stepping up efforts to reduce the tension between Lebanon and Syria, triggered by the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said.
- AP
- Published: 23:32 May 3, 2009
Cairo: Egypt and Saudi Arabia are stepping up efforts to reduce the tension between Lebanon and Syria, triggered by the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said yesterday.
Speaking after talks with President Hosni Mubarak, Siniora said the Egyptian leader would be sending his intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, to Damascus and Beirut to mediate between the two governments.
Siniora said the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al Faisal, would embark on a similar mission.
Lebanese-Syrian relations deteriorated rapidly last year after Hariri was killed in February in a truck bombing that was widely blamed on Syria. While Syria denied involvement, the assassination led to mass demonstrations and an escalation of international pressure that forced Damascus to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, ending a 29-year military presence in the country.
Later last year, Lebanese voters ejected the pro-Syrian majority in parliament, a UN commission reported that Syrian intelligence officials were involved in Hariri's killing, and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad accused Siniora of promoting anti-Syrian plots.
Siniora, who denied Bashar's accusation, insisted yesterday that the Egyptian-Saudi initiatives must take into account "Lebanon's independence, sovereignty, freedom and stability." He meant Lebanon did not wish to see a revival of Syrian interference.
"Lebanon is part of the Arab world and is happy with every step taken by Egypt and Saudi Arabia," he said.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are expected to push a Syrian plan for a Lebanese-Syrian agreement that would eventually lead to diplomatic relations between the two countries.
When the plan, whose clauses were never officially published, was first touted earlier this month, Siniora said he opposed it because it was a Syrian proposal that Lebanon feared would allow for interference by Syrian intelligence agents.
Siniora's comments yesterday indicated he was prepared to give another chance to Arab mediation.
Bashar is seeking Arab support as he tries to fend off a request to interview him by the UN commission investigating the killing of Hariri, who was closely aligned to the Saudi leadership.
In other remarks yesterday, Siniora said Palestinian refugees in Lebanon should disarm.
"There is no such need for such weapons," Siniora said.
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