In comments aired Monday, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said that the forthcoming Arab summit scheduled to take place in Beirut would be the "last chance for establishing peace" in the Middle East region.
In the course of an interview with the Omani News Agency, Lahoud said the Beirut summit "would affirm the Arabs' strategic option of peace ... and that Israel's logic of force proved to be futile regardless how much blood is spilled and how much destruction if inflicted."
Lebanon is attaching profound interest in the upcoming summit, Lahoud expressed, adding that the Lebanese urge for inter-Arab conciliation and consolidation of the Arab ranks.
Moreover, he called for putting aside inter-Arab differences and abiding by the genuine cause, "which is our existence and our rights and aspirations to a peaceful future on our territories."
The Lebanese President welcomed the participation of Libya and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in the summit, expected to be hosted by Beirut on March 27th.
Maher
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said that Arab countries were ready to adopt the recently floated Saudi peace initiative, during the upcoming Arab Summit scheduled for next week, even if Israel would not allow Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to attend, it was reported Monday. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
