Speculation on Lebanon Clause in Arab Summit Closing Statement
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has reportedly changed Lebanon's clause of the final statement of the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting that will be held on Sunday amid lack of consensus among the rival parties on the policy statement of Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet.
Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted a source in Cairo as saying that the version sent by Bassil was totally different from that of his predecessor ex-FM Adnan Mansour, who according to An Nahar has held onto the “army-people-resistance” equation.
Bassil's statement refers to “the right of Lebanon and the Lebanese to confront occupation,” the source said, without giving further details.
But the daily quoted Bassil as saying that the statement gives “Lebanon and the Lebanese the right in resisting occupation.”
The controversy on the word “resistance” is already delaying the approval of the policy statement. A seven-member committee tasked with drafting the blueprint is scheduled to hold its ninth meeting on Friday amid hopes that it would reach a compromise.
President Michel Suleiman and the March 14 camp are upholding the Baabda Declaration. But the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance is insisting on including in the blueprint Lebanon’s right to armed resistance against Israeli occupation.
The meeting of the Arab Foreign Ministers in Cairo on Sunday is aimed at preparing for the Kuwait summit of March 25-26 and drafting its closing statement.
Speaker Nabih Berri was quoted as saying on Friday that he was adopting a wait-and-see approach on the Lebanon clause of the statement.
“Let's see what they will say about the resistance,” he said.
“Will there be an amendment to the army-people-resistance equation that was mentioned in the two previous (Arab League) summit closing statements?” he asked.
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