ARAB AFFAIRS - July 9 - Moussa Cites 'Signs Of Progress' In Mediation Effort.

Arab League chief AMoussa says after a meeting with Syrian Pres Bashar Assad that efforts to broker a resolution to Lebanon's longstanding political crisis had "gained momentum". "There are signs of progress on the reconciliation efforts in Lebanon", Moussa told reporters at a news conference in Damascus after the meeting. Moussa visited Damascus after meeting with Saudi King Abdullah at the Red Sea port of Jeddah as part of bid to break the political and institutional crisis that has gripped Lebanon since late last year. "There is agreement between Syria and Saudi Arabia over the importance of moving forward", he said. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Syria on Monday "expressed support" for Moussa's mission in Lebanon, which "aims at achieving accordance among Lebanese parties in order to form a national unity government there". Moussa described his meetings with Assad, Vice President Farouk Sharaa and FM Walid Moalem as "of the outmost importance". The Arab League chief had undertaken similar trips to Saudi Arabia and Syria to address other major points of conflict in Lebanon, such as the formation under the auspices of the UN of an international court to try suspects in the killing of former PM Rafik Hariri and others. "I'm working to resolve the crisis in Lebanon", said Moussa. "We must continue efforts. I don't fear failure. I'm convinced that Arab problems must be solved by the Arabs". An Arab League mission headed by Moussa held four days of meetings in Beirut last month, in the second such outing devoted to resolving the political deadlock. Both missions ended without the League's having made any progress in getting Lebanon's feuding political factions closer to the negotiating table. Moussa described the current situation in Lebanon as "dangerous" and said the crisis called for "solidarity, coordination and dialogue". Arab League diplomatic efforts came ahead of a meeting scheduled for later this month in France to be joined by leaders of the various Lebanese factions as part of the French initiative to help rebuild trust between the country's main political camps. The Lebanese political crisis, particularly the upcoming presidential election, will be the focus of the Lebanese inter-party dialogue to be hosted by Paris from July 14-16. Contrary to earlier reports, Moussa hinted that he would visit Lebanon again, without specifying a date for his return. When asked about whether the Arab League favors one side more than the other in the Lebanese political sphere, Moussa said: The Arab League does not represent one Lebanese side, nor does it represent one county or one political view". The political crisis in Lebanon came to the fore when six opposition ministers resigned from PM Fouad Siniora's government last November.