Reassuring Beirut

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DURING a short stopover in Cairo, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Al-Siniora held talks with President Hosni Mubarak in an attempt to further enhance the official support that Egypt has been lending to his government and its political camp since the beginning of the internal Lebanese crisis a year ago.

Arriving in Cairo on 30 June, at the tail end of a European tour, Al-Siniora briefed Mubarak on the Lebanese perspective over the reasons behind the failure of the diplomatic mission a senior Arab delegation conducted in Lebanon in mid-June as part of an Arab endeavour to reconcile the many political and strategic differences between the Al-Siniora camp, which represents the elected majority in the Lebanese parliament, and the opposition, headed by Hizbullah. According to Al-Siniora, the Arab delegation's effort stumbled on what he called "the lack of cooperation" on the part of the opposition due to the influence of Syria and Iran.

In press statements following the two-hour meeting with Mubarak, Al-Siniora chose to avoid harsh criticism of Syria, confining himself to covert expressions of frustration over Syria's attempts to control the destiny of his country's politics. However, according to informed sources, during his talks with Mubarak, Al-Siniora asked "for more positive involvement from Damascus which is seen by the representatives of the Lebanese majority as attempting to prolong the internal political crisis.

According to the same sources, Al-Siniora demanded firmer Arab support for Lebanon's "legitimate" demand to better control its borders with Syria. A recent report by a special envoy of the UN secretary-general indicated continued smuggling of arms and militants across the borders.

Al-Siniora told reporters he expects the Arab delegation, headed by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, to continue its efforts to help Lebanon out of its current political crisis, adding that such an initiative would have to accord adequate attention to the concerns of the Lebanese government over the efficient control of borders with Syria.

Egyptian sources say Cairo reassured Beirut of its support but cautioned against an exaggerated wave of Lebanese criticism against Syria as counterproductive.