Egyptian source: Mubarak is not content with Syria’s role in Lebanon
A well-informed Egyptian official told Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak informed Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, who is in Cairo on a visit, that he thinks the Syrians are playing a negative, obstructionist role in Lebanon.
“Egypt is not content with this role or with the alliance between Syria and Iran,” Mubarak said.
The source said that Mubarak’s insistence that Lebanon is the starting point to restore Syrian-Egyptian relations reflects increasing Egyptian concern over Lebanon, which has become an Arab, and particularly Egyptian, priority.
“Egypt expects Syria to continue its obstructive role in Lebanon after the Arab Summit,” the source said.
“The Syrian leadership has a tradition of obstinacy until the last moment, and it always bets its opposition will give up under pressure,” he added.
The sources confirmed Egypt’s firmness regarding Lebanon and said that Cairo will not stop its support for the country.
“As long as the Syrians are not facilitating any solution, I call on the Lebanese majority to resist. Arab states supporting the majority must also resist and deal with the coming phase as if a solution if far from reach,” the source added.
Commenting on Syrian claims that the Damascus Summit was successful, the source remarked that it was a failure, given that the summit did not address its main issue: the situation in Lebanon.
The source also said the demonstrations held in front of the Egyptian embassies in Damascus and Teheran motivated Egypt to reconsider its Syria policy. “We know who was behind these demonstrations.”
He added that Egypt’s stance was also influenced by the events in the Gaza Strip, which he claims are being conducted by some Palestinian factions in cooperation with the Syrian leadership.
“Yet the main reason is the situation in Lebanon and the attempted obstruction, which is very obvious. The situation is not acceptable and cannot be treated lightly,” the source concluded.