The current Security Council President, Syria’s United Nations envoy, Mikhail Wehbe on Tuesday said his country’s Foreign Minister, Farouk al-Sharaa is scheduled to preside over a private council meeting on the Middle East in mid-June. He is to explain the Syrian vision about recent developments in the region and the "frozen" peace process, the official Kuwait News Agency KUNA reported.
"Syria is a key country in the Middle East and the Syrian role is very important”, he told a press conference and added that the, “Syrian vision is very important to be listened to carefully in such a meeting.”
When Damascus joined the council last January, it made it a rule, according to KUNA, that the UN secretariat would hold monthly private meetings, during which UN secretary-general Kofi Annan or one of his aides, would brief the council on the Middle East. The next briefing is expected to take place on June 14.
Wehbe said he told the council members earlier Tuesday, during private consultations on the work program for June and they expressed their "readiness to hear the minister carefully, referring that Syria is a very important country in the area and we have to listen to her."
He added that al-Sharaa would be "the most able person to give an account about what is going on and…Syria’s vision in the middle east", adding he would also meet with Annan and travel to the U.S. capital.
Al-Sharaa will host a luncheon for the council members and for the Secretary General on the day of the meeting. Wehbe also said his minister would preside over an open council meeting on the democratic republic of Congo on June 13, KUNA added. (Albawaba.com)
