1.   Sugar growers supported the proposal even though they have argued that a lower lake could make droughts more frequent.

2.   Lake made no statement.

3.   Lake made his comments amid signs from the Syrian press that Damascus would boycott the gathering.

4.   Lake made the calls in the run-up to congressional confirmation hearings next month.

5.   Lake made the remarks at a meeting here with Japanese Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda, Kyodo said.