SYRIA: Dutch foreign minister meets with Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moualem and Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Shara

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot met with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moualem and Syrian Vice-President Farouq al-Shara in Damascus on Tuesday (December 12). Bot, who arrived in Syria on Monday (December 11), also met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. His discussions with Syrian officials will concentrate on the latest developments in the Middle East region. Syria said on Monday (December 11) that it supports an Arab League mediation to end the political crisis in Lebanon between its ally Hezbollah and the Western-backed government. The Arab League's mediation includes a proposal on a unity government, passage of a U.N.-proposed international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and early presidential and parliamentary elections. Syria said it wants nothing to do with the tribunal, partly due to the fact that it is being set up while a U.N. investigation into the assassination has not been completed. The inquiry has implicated Lebanese and Syrian security officials in the killing. Damascus denies involvement. The anti-Syrian majority in Lebanon says Damascus is bent on foiling the setting up of the tribunal and reasserting its influence over Lebanon, where it was the dominant foreign power until forced to pull out its troops last year.

ITN Source | December 12, 2006

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