LOC23:27
20:27 GMT
DAMASCUS, March 28 (KUNA) -- Syrian foreign minister Waleed Al-Muallem
regretted Friday that France joined those opposing the Arab summit, due to
start in Damascus tomorrow.
Muallem, speaking to reporters on the eve of the summit, commented on
French President Nicolas Sarkozy's statement in which he backed countries
boycotting the Damascus summit by saying "we regret seeing President Sarkozy
joining those opposing the Arab summit in Damascus and is directly
interferring in the Arab affairs."
Sarkozy is "classifying the Arab world like the US is doing," said Muallem.
"We don't ask who are the European leaders attending the European summits,
and we don't interfere in Europe's affairs ... President Sarkozy's remarks do
not only concern Syria but all the Arabs because this is their summit," added
the Syrian foreign minister.
Sarkozy had backed Egypt and Saudi Arabia for lowering their representation
to the summit. (end)
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