DAMASCUS, Syria, March 1 (UPI) -- Arab parliamentarians said Monday they oppose attempts to impose democracy from outside, in veiled reference to a U.S. project for a "Greater Middle East."
But Syria and its ally and protege, Lebanon, rejected outright the U.S. initiative for introducing democracy in the Middle East at a meeting of the Arab Parliamentary Union Council held in Damascus.
"The U.S. initiative for introducing democracy in Arab countries consecrates the policy of interference in Arab affairs in the ugliest manner," Syrian parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Abrash told the meeting.
"We announce our rejection of such initiatives under any heading, and we affirm that reforming Arab regimes and achieving economic, political and social development is the affair of Arab peoples who aspire for improving their conditions and modernizing their institutions according to their capabilities and in a way that ensures their stability and progress," al-Abrash said.
Lebanese speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, on his part, said the U.S. initiative is "aimed at eliminating Arab and Islamic political orders in the name of democracy."
