Sunday 25 July 2010

Reports Say Saudi King, Syrian President, Qatar Emir in Beirut Next Saturday


Reports Say Saudi King, Syrian President, Qatar Emir in Beirut Next Saturday

25/07/2010 Lebanese daily An Nahar reported Sunday that Arab authorities which helped clinch the Doha accord in 2008 are seeking to "guarantee an Arab umbrella for Lebanese stability" amid growing tension in Lebanon.

The newspaper said that efforts are underway for Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz, Syrian President Bashar Assad and Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to visit Beirut next Saturday.

An Nahar said that official sources confirmed that King Abdullah would travel to the Lebanese capital following a visit to Damascus on July 29. The sources, however, refused to confirm reports that the king would arrive from Damascus with Assad on the same plane.

A Lebanese ministerial source told AFP that Abdullah arrives in Beirut on July 30 following a visit to Damascus. The king will hold summit talks with President Michel Sleiman, it said.

The source added that the meeting will be culminated by a banquet at Baabda palace in which all Lebanese parties would take part.

Qatar's emir, meanwhile, will make a 3-day visit to Beirut during the same period to inspect projects carried out by Doha following the July 2006 war. The emir will also participate in Army Day on August 1.

Moreover, in an interview published on Sunday Al-Hayat newspaper quoted an anonymous source as saying that Assad’s expected visit to Lebanon might happen simultaneously with King Abdullah’s trip to Beirut.

The source said that a tripartite Lebanese-Saudi-Syrian summit will be held in case their visits coincide.

Al-Hayat reported that Abdullah will travel to Jordan and Egypt after he visits Lebanon and Syria. The daily however, did not specify the dates of the trips.

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