Assad: Washington not seeking a solution in Lebanon

Source: NowLebanon.com, 17-04-2008
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said that his country knows what is happening in Lebanon and is positioning itself the same distance from all parties.
"We acted in a very responsible way when we addressed an invitation to PM Fouad Saniora to the Arab Summit in spite of all the offenses his party has directed against us," Assad said.
"We feel that the US is satisfied with the situation in Lebanon and does not want to seek a solution," he added.
Assad said that he has no permanent friction with a specific party in Lebanon, but there is temporary discord. "We do not reject the Arab initiative, but what is the use if parties who enjoy much more influence than us in Lebanon do not want it?"
"I have met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faysal in Syria and informed him of our readiness to cooperate over Lebanon, but I told him that Saudi has much more influence than Syria in Lebanon, as there are several government leaders who were sponsored by Saudi and are under its direct influence, while opposition leaders did not graduate from the Syrian presidential palace," he added.
Assad noted that any initiative from the Syrian side requires good relations with other parties influential in Lebanon, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.