Iran envoy meets Rai, praises Syria over decision to allow in observers

Daily Star (Lebanon) ^ | Tuesday, December 20, 2011 | unattributed

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Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Rukn Abadi, following talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, praised Tuesday Syria's recent decision to allow in Arab monitors into the country.

Speaking to reporters at Bkirki, the seat of the influential Maronite patriarchate, Rukn Abadi described as "very positive" Syria's approval of the Arab League plan.

In a news conference Monday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said that Damascus had signed a protocol to allow in observers after the organization agreed to 70 percent of the changes proposed by Syrian government.

Hours after Damascus' approval of the protocol, Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby said an advanced team led by a top Arab League official would head to Syria in two or three days to prepare for the arrival of monitors, which would include journalists and security officials.

In a report last week, the U.N. said over 5,000 people had been killed as a result of the crackdown by Damascus. Syrian authorities blame the unrest in the country on a conspiracy aimed at toppling the Syrian leadership.

On the meeting with the Maronite patriarch, Rukn Abadi said he and Rai discussed both regional and global developments as well as bilateral relations between Iran and Lebanon.

"We focused in particular on the U.S.-backed Zionist project at [both] the regional and international levels and the achievements obtained day after day by protectors of rights and truth in the world," Rukn Abadi said.

He said talks also focused on a Muslim-Christian dialogue scheduled for Jan. 17, 2012, which will be attended by delegations from the Middle East and North Africa, the Iranian envoy said.

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Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, right, meets with Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Rukn Abadi, in Bkirki, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. (Elie Mansour/The Daily Star)

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Turkey will act.