17/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The EU will increase pressure on Syria to allow presidential elections in Lebanon to take place in March. Were these elections not to take place, Lebanon could be plunged into a “dramatic crisis”, according to the EU high representative for the CFSP Javier Solana, speaking on Sunday 16 March in Brussels, where he was taking part in a conference on transatlantic relations. “Greater pressure has to be brought to bear on Syria to resolve the crisis in Lebanon. I think that there will be an opportunity for this at the Damascus summit,” Solana said referring to the Arab summit due to be held in the Syrian capital on 29-30 March. He also accused Damascus of using its influence in Lebanon to prevent the election of General Michel Souleimane, the chief of staff of Lebanese forces, as president. (H.B.)