Region | Syria
Syria: Time not right for embassy in Beirut
Syria, facing serious accusations of interference and facilitating insurgency from its three Arab neighbours, said yesterday it was too early to establish diplomatic ties with Lebanon.
- By Duraid Al Baik, Foreign Editor
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
Dubai: Syria, facing serious accusations of interference and facilitating insurgency from its three Arab neighbours, said yesterday it was too early to establish diplomatic ties with Lebanon.
The UN Security Council last month requested Syria to establish normal diplomatic ties with Lebanon and called for the demarcation of borders between the neighbours.
Syria's problems, however, are not limited to only Lebanon. Last week, Iraq postponed a scheduled official visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Mua'alem during which he was planning to announce the appointment of first Syrian Ambassador to Iraq after the collapse of Saddam Hussain regime. Jordan also said it had sent specific questions concerning its security to Syria and was waiting for answers.
In Cairo, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who said he was leading an initiative to mend Syria's relations with Jordan, yesterday met visiting Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, but no communiqué was issued after the meeting. Al Mua'alem, who was accompanying Bashar in his brief visit to Cairo, told reporters that any step towards initiating diplomatic ties with Lebanon needs "the appropriate moment".
The minister said the assertion by Lebanese Cabinet members that Damascus was behind former prime minister Rafik Hariri's assassination was what was holding Syria back from establishing ties.
"The main point of disagreement is with some members of the Lebanese Government who have pre-empted the results of the investigation," he said.
Jordan has signalled it is ready to scale down tensions with Syria after it deported ex-MP and opposition leader Ma'moun Al Homsi on Wednesday upon a request from Damascus.
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