Saudi Arabia, Ghana strengthen agricultural ties during ministerial tour    Saudi Arabia achieves highest rating in UN's competition law systems report    AlUla partners with Riyadh Air to enhance Saudi Arabia's travel offerings    Red Sea Global celebrates graduation of first batch of International Hospitality Management students    Saudi Arabia bolsters digital government ties with the UK    Muslim World League inaugurates first Southeast Asian scholars council in Kuala Lumpur    Saudi Arabia welcomes UN General Assembly's endorsement of Palestine's full membership    Israeli occupation kills 28 Palestinians, injures 69 others in Gaza    UN agency says 150,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah    Al Hilal clinches Saudi Professional League title in a star-studded season    Saudi authorities recall contaminated mayonnaise after food poisoning incident at Riyadh restaurant    Al Ettifaq inflicts historic 5-0 defeat on Al Ittihad in Saudi Professional League    Saudi Arabia, Nigeria discuss agricultural cooperation and food security    Domestic tourism soars in China but foreigners stay away    Saudi science and engineering team heads to Los Angeles for Regeneron ISEF 2024    Israel heads to Eurovision final, despite protests    Rat remains found in bread sparks Japan recall and refunds    JAX District earns industrial heritage site designation in Saudi Arabia    Turki Alalshikh unveils exclusive watch to commemorate 'Ring of Fire' heavyweight title fight    Al Hilal on verge of Saudi League title with thrilling win over Al Ahli    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Boycotts mar Arab summit
Agencies
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 30 - 03 - 2008

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Saturday denied meddling in Lebanon as he hosted an Arab summit boycotted by half of the region's leaders, many of whom blame Damascus for the political crisis in Beirut.
“I would like to make a point with regards to Syrian interference in Lebanon. It is the contrary which is true because pressure has been exerted on Syria for over a year to interfere in Lebanon's affairs” but we have refused to do so, Assad said.
“They have their nation, their institutions, their constitution,” he said in an opening address to the leaders of Algeria, the Comoros, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Sudan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.
The Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders stayed away from the summit of the 22-member Arab League, accusing Syria of blocking the election of a new president in Lebanon.
The seat earmarked for Lebanon itself was left vacant.
Egypt sent a junior minister, while Saudi Arabia and Jordan were represented by their ambassadors to the Arab League.
In Beirut, Lebanese university students at a demonstration tore up portraits of Assad and branded him an “assassin”.
Hundreds of students took part in the protest near the downtown Beirut tomb of former slain premier Rafiq Hariri who was killed in a massive 2005 car bombing that was blamed on Syria, despite its repeated denials of involvement.
At the opening of the summit, Arab League chief Amr Moussa stressed that regional stability depended on a solution to the Lebanese crisis. “The election of a Lebanese president... and the friendship between the two neighboring and brotherly countries, Syria and Lebanon, are essential for the return to calm and stability of our region,” Moussa said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of splitting the Palestinian territories into isolated cantons to prevent the creation of a state.
“Israel is continuing its aggression, its occupation, the construction of settlements and the Judaization of Jerusalem,” Abbas told summit's opening session.
“The solution which Israel is designing consists of a group of cantons on a land separated by settlements, the separation wall and roadblocks,” he said.
“This type of solution only reinforces the occupation and colonization and is aimed at preventing the creation of a independent Palestinian state,” Abbas added. __


Clic here to read the story from its source.