Turkey, France Move to Settle Dispute with Syria over Warrants
The issue of Syrian warrants demanding that a number of Lebanese officials as well as journalists appear in a Damascus court to be questioned over a lawsuit filed Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed has generated concern internationally.
Pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat said Monday that Turkey and France have moved to settle the dispute.
It said Turkey”s role focused on finding out the impact of Syria”s decision on Prime Minister Saad Hariri”s expected visit to Damascus.
Accordign to the paper, Turkey moved toward the Syrian leadership on ground that the decision taken by the Syrian judiciary "does not serve clearing the atmosphere in preparation for Hariri”s Damascus visit which is aimed at opening a new page between Hariri and Syrian president Bashar Assad."
Al-Hayat said Paris, too, had a role in similar contacts, in addition to President Michel Suleiman and other Lebanese officials with close ties to Syria.
The Lebanese officials were summoned last Monday to appear before a Syrian court for a lawsuit filed against them by Sayyed accusing them of slander, depriving him of his freedom and falsifying witnesses in the assassination case of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.