Five or seven months of political bickering, harsh campaigns, and unabated boycott between Lebanon’s president and speaker is said to be at an end thanks to the visit of Syrian vice president Abdel Halim Khaddam and foreign minister Farouk Sharaa. The visit originally was one of the stations of Syrian officials Arab tour. It aimed to brief Lebanon’s officials on the outcome of the Syrian officials Arab tour. The tour aimed to counter the Turkish Israeli alliance, see to an Arab economical cartel, and avert convening of a M.E. economical conference in Doha -Qatar. The local aspect of the visit was a preoccupation of the Lebanese since their two top officials at last hopefully conciled at a dinner at Baabda palace which topped the day long visit. Photos show the Lebanese president, prime minister, speaker, and the close ministers of interior, foreign affairs, and agriculture sitting altogether joyfully with the Syrian guests. President Hrawi and speaker Berri said to have met in private before the dinner and exchanged frank remarks. Prime minister Hariri refused overnight to give the visit the aspect of conciliation, saying it was in the framework of the Arab tour which is relevant to regional developments. News reports said the local aspect could have overshadowed the regional aspect of the visit and what’s between Hrawi and Berri is far beyond words of courtesy and protocol, however, its up to the coming days to clear how much the conciliation ground is solid.
Mr. Abdel Halim Khaddam, responding to reporters, said the problem with Turkey should not be treated in severing diplomatic relations, but “we should seek channels of dialogue with Turkey to persuade it that real and serious relation is with the Arab side not the Israeli one”. He denied any political backgrounds of the trade delegations movements between Syria and Iraq saying “it is aimed to lessen the suffering of the Iraqi people”. The Syrian vice president said the Arab response to the delegation’s concepts was very positive, and said he can say that the Arab joint action now is at a good and comfortable stage. On Doha economical conference, he said holding such summit contradicts with year ago Cairo Arab summit resolutions. He said an Arab summit is under discussion, but as for the economical cartel, Syria and Egypt agreed to submit a joint paper which will be placed over the Damascus Declaration foreign minister’s meeting which will be held 25th June. “If the paper is endorsed it will be placed over other Arab countries, and an objective logical course of events might lead to an Arab economical summit”, Khaddam said. He said the Turkish campaigns from one time to another are a result of its internal situation. He said the Turkish government is one side and other authorities in Turkey are on the other side. Khaddam said Turkey has nothing to prove or confirm any assistance goes from Syria to the Kurdish PKK. he questioned what is Syria’s interest of any state of worry for the Turks in Turkey. He said it is impossible that Syria encourages any action against any country, Arab or else.
Mr. Khaddam response to a question on Syrian Christian dialogue was given local significance in Beirut. He said “Syria wish to have good relations with all civic and religious authorities in Lebanon”, and “some people come and go conveying good words and listen to good words too”, but the question is what’s on the dialogue takes place. He said any issue that relates to Lebanon or Syria is between the two countries not between civic and religious authorities. He said Syria deals with the Lebanese state, which Syria considers it has made enormous achievements and returned Lebanon back to security and stability, also returned the smile to the Lebanese
