Mouallem and Mottaki Discuss Lebanon Dossier

Source: Nowlebanon, 9-03-2008
Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had talks with his Syrian counterpart Walid Mouallem in the Syrian capital's airport on Saturday, the official SANA news agency reported.
The two officials mainly discussed "the situation in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories," the agency said.
The Iranian minister was transiting through the Syrian capital, SANA repoted.
The talks come against a backdrop of open political blows between the Syria-Iran alliance and the United States and 'Israel'.
Regional allies Syria and Iran earlier this week voiced their determination to bolster their economic and political ties to overcome their common foes, pointing to 'Israel' and the US.
Last week US president George W. Bush openly blamed Syria for Lebanon's political crisis, which has fuelled fears of a civil war.
With the impending presidential elections tentatively scheduled for March 11 after 15 postponements, Lebanese and Arab political leaders strive to find a solution to the hanging crisis, yet many see no end in sight.
Beirut has also been the scene of street clashes between supporters of the rival factions, raising tensions and prompting several Gulf nations and Western states to advise their citizens against traveling to Lebanon.
Amid expanding US embargos on Syria, Lebanon was caught in a battle of battleships when Washington decided to deploy the USS Cole guided-missile destroyer to the waters off Lebanon.
Some Lebanese opposition members said the warship was another means of pressuring Syria, while the Syrian FM said the Cole threatened the stability of Lebanon.
The Cole was replaced by the USS Ross and USS Philippine Sea last week.
Syria will host the Arab League Summit at the end of this month. Saudi Arabia and Lebanon are the last two countries who have yet to receive an official invitation to the summit, set to be held March 29-30.
Reports that a Syrian delegation arrived to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to invite the Kingdom to the Summit put an end to speculations on whether Syria-Saudi tensions, fueled by differing standpoints on the crisis in Lebanon, escalated to the point of boycotting the summit.
Lebanese Premier Fouad Siniora said on Friday he would be "unashamed" to represent Lebanon at the Summit if officially invited, but opposition leader Sleiman Frangieh said the opposition was willing to elect a president immediately if the 1960 electoral law was employed in the next parliamentary elections.