London, Asharq Al-Awsat- Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallukh has stated to Asharq Al-Awsat during his presence in Canada among the delegation accompanying [Lebanese] President Michel Suleiman that “there is no specific initiative concerning Syrian-Saudi relations” but referred to Lebanon’s willingness “to do everything that is necessary” to clear these relations.

He stressed that he discussed the issue of “clearing Arab-Arab relations” with the Syrian leadership and the Syrian side was open-minded about the issue, adding that the “efforts are focused on clearing these relations.” He said “there is not an Arab country which does not desire to establish ideal Arab relations” and added that the Lebanese side informed “those concerned” of President Suleiman’s willingness “to undertake any steps or endeavors that help clear these relations.”

In reply to a question about the impact of an improvement in relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria on the Lebanese situation from the premise of the “s.s.” equation advocated by Chamber of Deputies Speaker Nabih Birri, to whom Sallukh is very close, he answered “it will help us much” and stressed that “every Arab rapprochement has a positive impact on Lebanon and all Arab reconciliations which might happen also have a positive impact on it.” But he refused to say “there is a specific initiative about this” and said: “We hope and wish and work for the Arabs to have a unified stand.”