* Syria adamant about Golan Heights The Syrian President has said Damascus will remain adamant about its political stance as long as Israel continues to be an occupier.

* Peres and Abbas: We are closer than ever to peace Israeli President Shimon Peres appeared side by side to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday at the Ambrosetti Forum, an annual gathering of global political and business leaders in an Italian lakeside resort.

* EU Foreign Ministers Discuss International Monitors for Georgia European Union foreign ministers begin a two day meeting Friday in the southern French city of Avignon that is expected to discuss sending international observers to monitor a cease-fire in Georgia.

* South Korea wants North to keep nuclear plant shut South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy on Friday pressed North Korea to halt plans to rebuild a mothballed nuclear plant that makes arms-grade plutonium and instead return to the bargaining table to discuss disarmament.

* Pakistan set for presidential poll Pakistani legislators are preparing to vote for a new president to replace Pervez Musharraf.

* Lebanese ruling majority accuses Syria of interfering in Lebanon Lebanese ruling majority accused Syrian President Bashar Assad of interfering in Lebanese internal affairs and not recognizing Lebanon’s sovereignty.

* U.S. warship in Russian-patrolled Georgian port The flagship of the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet dropped anchor off Georgia’s Black Sea port of Poti on Friday, where Russian troops have been patrolling since last month’s war with Georgia.

* Nasrallah: We won’t disarm even if Shaba returned Hizbullah’s goal is freeing the Shaba farms and the northern Ghajar village, but even once these lands are liberated, the organization will not disarm, as its weapons will be used to defend Lebanon from Israel, the guerrilla group’s leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, stated in a televised speech on Thursday.

* Efforts to Rebuild Biblical Tomb Desecrated Samaria Regional Council head Gershon Mesika is spearheading a political and financial effort to rebuild the tomb of the biblical figure Joseph, located in Shechem, 30 miles north of Jerusalem. The tomb was desecrated and pillaged by Arabs in October 2000, and remains in an area under control of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

* Yushchenko remains steadfast with NATO Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko says a collapse of Kiev’s pro-Western coalition won’t prevent Ukraine from seeking to join NATO and the European Union.