Syrian-Saudi Summit on Lebanon, Region Likely on Monday
A Syrian-Saudi summit is expected to take place in Damascus on Monday, Egypt”s official Middle East News Agency (MENA) said.
It quoted an Arab diplomatic source in Damascus as saying that Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz will visit Damascus next Monday for talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad that would tackle inter-Arab relations as well as regional issues, particularly Lebanon.
MENA said the summit – which is expected to focus on Lebanon in the wake of efforts to form a government of national unity – would bridge the gap in Syrian-Saudi relations which deteriorated since the Feb. 14, 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.
Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, however, was skeptical about the Syrian-Saudi summit, saying it is still unconfirmed.
It quoted Arab diplomatic sources as saying that the convening of the summit is dependent on outcome of talks to be held in Damascus Friday between Syrian officials and Saudi envoys Prince Abdul Aziz and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja.
The sources said the Saudi side expects to come back with a clear response from Syria to a number of specified questions.
Meanwhile, Al-Akhbar daily quoted a diplomatic source as saying that no specific date has been set for the summit.