Saudi Arabia Receives Invitation to the Damascus Summit

Source: Nowlebanon, March 10, 2008
A Syrian delegation on Sunday delivered an invitation to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Arab Summit in Damascus at the end of the month, the official SPA news agency reported.
The invitation, which was delivered to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, had been slow to come amid strained ties between Riyadh and Damascus over the deep political crisis in Lebanon.
The invitation was delivered by State Minister for Syrian Red Crescent Affairs Bashar Al-Shaar and the director of the office of Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Al-Sabbagh.
The level of the kingdom's representation at the March 29-30 summit has yet to be decided, a Saudi official told AFP, requesting anonymity.
Saudi Arabia, a major backer of Lebanon's cabinet, had been seeking assurances from Syria, a key supporter of the Lebanese opposition, that Lebanon would be invited to this month's summit, sources, who asked not to be identified, said.
Arab diplomatic sources said Saudi Arabia had been hesitant about arranging an appointment for the Syrian delegation to deliver the invitation.