( dpa )- The anti-Syrian Lebanese March 14 coalition, which supports the Western-backed government, Thursday branded the forthcoming Damascus-hosted Arab summit a failure and called on Syria to recognize Lebanon's independence and sovereignty.
"Any restoration of (Lebanon-Syria) relations should take into consideration Lebanon's interests," said a memorandum from March 14 Forces addressed to Arab leaders due to meet in Damascus Saturday.
The memorandum read by former MP Faris Soeid said March 14 backed the government's decision to boycott the Arab summit which would prove "the least unsuccessful of all summits".
Responding to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem's view that Lebanon had lost a golden chance by boycotting the Damascus summit, Soeid said that Syria "is the one wasting opportunities."
Soeid reiterated accusations that Syria was behind the series of assassinations in Lebanon and said Damascus and its allies were also trying to "derail" Lebanon's economy.