Syria-Saudi Rapprochement Positively reflects on Lebanon Deliberations

The Syrian-Saudi meeting has had its positive impact on the government formation discussions and is in the spot light in all media outlets today on Friday.

The ‘nonclassical' deliberations- as Al Akhbar Lebanese newspaper says- continue for the second consecutive day with an openly made emphasis by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on forming a national unity government on one part and discussing a government of poles behind closed doors on the other.

The Al-Akhbar daily said that Hariri was trying to establish a political rapprochement with his opponents to clear the path for a new government to come to light. In addition it said that work was in progress.
"Hariri seemed understanding to the 15-10-5 formula as some sources following up deliberations said that the PM-designate did not rule out a government of poles."

Deliberations are so far going smooth and this has been reflected by a meeting between Hariri and a delegation representing MP General Michel Aoun's Change and Reform parliamentary bloc on Thursday.

"The meeting was an attempt by both sides to build mutual confidence and achieve a political rapprochement before engaging in naming ministers," Al-Akhbar said.

The meeting between King Abdullah and Syria's Bachar Assad in Saudi Arabia will be followed by another such meeting in the Syrian capital and will result in a more positive atmosphere on the road to forming the government in Lebanon.

Now according to Assafir newspaper, an Arab diplomatic source in Jeddah said that the Saudi King has accepted a renewed invitation by Assad to visit Damascus. The source expected King Abdullah to make the visit within the coming few days.

The two Arab leaders met in Jeddah after the opening of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The meeting was also attended by Assad's "friend" Prince Abdel Aziz bin Abdullah who is also the King's consultant.

Assafir quoted another member of a delegation that attended the opening ceremony as saying that King Abdullah and President Assad have undertaken a review of the Riyadh-Damascus relationship over the past five years and the various "misunderstandings" that have occurred and agreed to maintain an open dialogue at all levels.

According to the newspaper, King Abdullah and President Assad tackled regional issues including Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. It added that the Saudi King has decided to send out his Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja "being the Minister of the Lebanese dossier," to Beirut to inform all parties on the outcome of the summit and encourage them to engage in every possible effort that would consolidate their national unity and stability in Lebanon.

For his part, the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt described the process of deliberations and the overall regional situation as "a major event" but called for taking things easy.

"There is no doubt that the meeting between King Abdullah and President Assad is a major political event that would restore contact between the two countries, although it has never been broken, Jumblatt said."