President Assad: Saudi-Syrian Efforts Reached Semi-Final Stage

Local Editor

Al-Akhbar Lebanese daily mentioned that Syrian President Bashar Assad revealed that talks between Damascus and Riyadh have drawn back after Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz traveled to the US for treatment.

The daily referred that Assad believed that MP Saad Hariri's refusal of the indictment is a defeat for a new May 17 agreement in Lebanon.

In this context, Al-Akhbar newspaper pointed out that President Assad implied the expected indictment is similar to a new May 17 agreement in Lebanon.

The Syrian President removed doubts about the Syrian-Saudi efforts, after these efforts were seen to be developing, and approaching a final conciliation.

May 17 agreement was signed in 1983 between then Lebanese government and the "Israeli" government, as a failing attempt to create peace between both sides after the "Israeli" 1982 occupation of Lebanon.

In the same context, As-Safir newspaper referred that Assad sources said that the Saudi-Syrian efforts have reached a semi-final stage.

Sources also added that President Assad told the Saudi part of the efforts, that if they seek Lebanon to remain strong, then the indictment should be refused, and its issuance should be prevented.

Same sources mentioned to As-Safir that President Bashar Assad confirmed the US has tried all means to convince Saudi King to drawback from his initiative, in cooperation with Syria.

The newspaper stated that the Syrian President avoided talking to the Saudi King, during phone calls, about the initiative to solve the Lebanese crisis, out of fear of any US phone tapping.

The sources added that President Assad spoke to the Saudi King Abdullah with codes, whenever there was a political suggestion to be proposed.

As-Safir further pointed out that President Bashar Assad previously announced, during preparations for the trilateral summit, that he will not come to Beirut with King Abdullah, unless the request to postpone the indictment's issuance is approved.

On the level of latest updates concerning the Saudi-Syrian efforts, the daily added that a phone call occurred last night, Monday, between Syrian President and the Saudi King.

In this context, sources said that PM Saad Hariri's visit to New York comes as a result of the latest talks between the Saudi and Syrian officials, adding that this visit refers to some development has occurred in the bilateral efforts.