Lebanese President Michel Aoun confirmed Monday that the Arab Economic Summit would be held on time next January 19, referring to the absence of any reason or justification for its postponement.
"The Arab Economic Summit will take place on time and the fact that the current government is a caretaker government will not be a reason for its postponement," Aoun said.
The President’s assertions come as his son-in-law caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil leads an initiative to allow the invitation of the Syrian regime to Beirut and therefore, transform the Arab Economic Summit into a “place for reconciling with Damascus,” sources close to Bassil’s moves told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Bassil’s initiative aims to propose a tripartite Lebanese-Iraqi-Jordanian proposition, backed by Egypt, during the upcoming assembly of the Arab League’s permanent members expected next Wednesday in Cairo,” the sources said.
They did not rule out the possibility that the Foreign Minister’s initiative could be supported during the AL’s meeting.
Bassil and Hezbollah support inviting the Syrian regime to Beirut, while Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri opposes such move, causing controversy in the Lebanese political sphere.
Sources assert that Lebanon “hosts the Economic Summit” and does not invite for it, and therefore sending an invitation to the Syrian regime is in the hands of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers.
The Arab League has postponed a meeting that was due to take place Sunday to discuss a number of issues including ways to restore normal relations with Syria.
On Monday, Aoun received an official invitation from his Tunisian counterpart, Qaed Baji Essebsi, to attend the Arab Summit to be held in March in Tunisia.
The personal representative of Tunisian President, Al-Azhar Al-Karawi Al-Shabbi, handed the invitation letter to Aoun during a visit to Baabda palace.
"Lebanon will attend the Arab Summit in Tunis to emphasize the importance of Arab solidarity," Aoun said.
Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 in response to the Syrian government's violent attacks on protests.
