March 18, 2010 - Naharnet - Moussa Hopes Lebanon Would Receive Libya Summit Invitation, Says Sadr Issue Not on Agenda

Arab League chief Amr Moussa was on Thursday still hopeful that Lebanon would receive an invitation through the proper diplomatic channels to attend the Arab summit in Libya. During a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami, Moussa said: "Yesterday, we discussed with Speaker Nabih Berri about hope and he is the leader of Amal (hope) movement.""Yes, there is still hope," he said in response to a question. The Arab League chief denied that he had delivered Lebanon the invitation to attend the summit. Asked if he believed Libyan leader Moammer Qadhafi would expel the Lebanese community if Beirut decides to boycott the summit, Moussa said: "The issue will be discussed by the Lebanese cabinet. I don't want to interfere in it. However, I hope that all Arab countries participate in the summit."
He denied that the issue of Imam Moussa al-Sadr's disappearance was on the summit's agenda. Al-Shami explained to reporters that a draft resolution issued by Arab foreign ministers ahead of the summit includes an article that calls for "solidarity with the Lebanese Republic." The article includes two clauses. The first is on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the second backs efforts to find out the truth about Sadr's disappearance."This is an article in a resolution. It is not an article on the agenda" of the summit, Moussa stressed. He also said Sadr's issue wouldn't be discussed if Lebanon decided not to attend the summit.The two men also discussed the issue of Palestinian refugees, U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and Israeli evasiveness not to implement it, al-Shami told reporters.