Arab Summit Enrages Lebanon
Lebanese official might not be attending the Arab League Summit on March 29-30 in Damascus due to Lebanon’s political vacuum and a long-standing row with Syria. The Kuwaiti News Agency reports that according to Lebanese Communication Minister Marwan Hamada, the decision to attend the summit was not made because they have not received any invitation. Lebanon is the only Arab country that was not given a formal invitation from Syria.
Because of this, Lebanese Member of Parliament Walid Jumblatt called for an Arab boycott of the summit. According to Jumblaett, “Participating in the summit is a reward for the crime of the Assad regime.” However, Hamada notes that there is no formal way to accept the invitation while the Lebanese Cabinet assumes presidential duties. Lebanon has had no president since Emile Lahoud’s term ended in November 2007.