The Syrian foreign minister arrived in Taif, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday fueling diplomatic speculation about Syria’s refusal to take part in the forthcoming Arab summit on Lebanon.
The surprise visit, reported by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, came four days after Saudi head of state King Fahd delivered a message putting more pressure on Syrian President Hafez al Assad to take part in the September Fez summit conference on the Lebanese crisis.
The agency said the Syrian minister, Abdul Halim Khaddam, was greeted by his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al Faisal, but gave no further details.
Arab diplomats said Syria so far had rejected several calls by moderate Arab countries to attend the summit because of reports the conference might renew discussions of a controversial Saudi peace plan conceding Israel’s right to exist.
Reports from the Tunis-based 22-nation Arab League said foreign ministers from at least 16 Arab countries will meet Aug. 26 or 27 in Mohammedia, north of Casablanca to prepare for the summit, which is due to take place Sept. 6.
