Naharnet Newsdesk - Egypt, Arab League Pressure Assad to Stop Trade War Against Lebanon

			Welcome
English

Local Business

Egypt, Arab League Pressure Assad to Stop Trade War Against Lebanon

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and the Arab League are pressuring the Assad regime to call off Syria's trade war against Lebanon as authorities in Beirut struggled to promote air and sea alternatives for Lebanese products to the rest of the Arab world as long as Syria keeps its border shuttered for overland lanes.
Outgoing Lebanese Premier Najib Mikati said his caretaker government was encouraging efforts by the Lebanese business community to negotiate favorable fares with airlines operating in the Middle East to airlift Lebanon's shipments of fruits and vegetables to Iraq and the Gulf States.

Lowered sea fares are also being negotiated with Beirut port authorities and maritime firms in the region to carry Lebanese industrial produce to Arab world destinations, the business community has reported.

Mikati said from the press podium of the Baabda palace after a midmorning meeting with President Lahoud that they agreed to leave it to the new Lebanese government to resolve the political motive behind Syria's trade war.

Premier-Designate Fouad Seniora has pledged to go to Damascus once his projected government wins a vote of confidence from Parliament to try to resolve the Lebanon-Syria crisis in face-to-face talks with the Assad administration.

Media reports said in the meantime that President Mubarak has urged Assad in more than one telephone contact to call off the punitive bordering restrictions against Lebanon and re-normalize relations between Syria and Lebanon on state-to-state basis for their own common good.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa flew to Damascus Sunday and called for a Lebanon-Syria "political entente" in the wake of the termination of Syria's 19-year occupation of Lebanon in April.

"The departure of Syrian forces from Lebanon does not signal the end of Syrian-Lebanese relations. A political entente is necessary between the two countries which must take into account the importance of the common interests that tie them," Moussa said.

Beirut, 18 Jul 05, 11:13


Your Comments


You Make the News

Cast Your Comments on this Article
View & Recommend Readers' Comments

Other Headlines

U.S. Gives $40 Million to UNRWA for Palestinians

Lebanon: A Year In Review 2009

MEA to Africa!

IFC Buys 8 Percent of Byblos Bank

Last Year's Tourist Number Broke 1974 Record

Egypt's EFG Hermes Sells Bank Audi Stake

Foreign Investment in Non-Syrian, Including Lebanese, Banks Rises

Egypt's EFG Hermes Eyes Bank Audi Stake Sale

MEA Implements Improved Baggage Flow System


Other Categories

Editorials
SpecialReports
Lebanon
Middle East
The World
Interview
Away From Politics
World Business
Culture
Lebanon Sports
World Sports
Technology
Health
Fringe


Comments

Please wait while we load the comments

Click to Comment
Recommend Readers' Comments to Promote Their Views