Al-Baath (Syria): President Assad Is Undisputed Star … Syria Achieves Striking Return to International Community – Syrian President Bashar Assad's visit to France and his participation in summits there received widespread political importance, in which politicians said that Assad succeeded in becoming the main player in the Mediterranean Union meeting. French media described the Syrian president as the undisputed star of the events in Paris.

Al-Khaleej (United Arab Emirates): Assad Ignores Olmert – Syria's Assad yesterday completely ignored Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert when he arrived at the Paris summit attended by 43 leaders, which was expected to witness the first friendly encounter between the Syrian and Israeli leaders. Assad turned his head in the other direction when Olmert entered the conference hall, as the Syrian president made it clear it was too early for a handshake, an exchange or even a glance toward the Israeli prime minister.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): Talks Between Assad, Olmert Through Erdogan – The Paris Mediterranean Union summit's surprise regarding the indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations was an Israeli announcement that Olmert held indirect discussions with the Syrian president through Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Israeli sources said that Olmert delivered a message to Assad via Erdogan, which the Syrians denied, as Israeli diplomats said they were still involved in indirect dialogue, but on a high level.

An-Nahar (Lebanon): Suleiman Meets Assad Again; Muallem in Beirut Soon – Lebanese President Michel Suleiman held a second meeting with Assad in Paris to discuss establishing diplomatic relations and the issue of missing Lebanese in Syria. It was agreed that Foreign Minister Walid Muallem would soon visit Beirut to formally invite Suleiman to Damascus. Assad said he agreed with Suleiman to closely coordinate on the indirect negotiations with Israel, stressing that Lebanon would have an important role in the peace process.

Al-Sabah (Iraq): Security Measures Precede Expected Military Operation in Diyala – The countdown has begun for a military operation in Diyala after security reinforcements arrived on the outskirts of the province. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced two weeks ago that Diyala will be the next stop to impose the rule of law, after Basra, Nineveh and Maysan.