 | Just as long as it doesn't mean answering too many questions. |
On reported mediation efforts to tackle strains in the Syrian-Lebanese ties, Al-Assad indicated that some influential Lebanese figures rejected ideas, put forward by Damascus to thrash out some of the thorny issues, namely the demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian border. Al-Assad questioned the timing of raising the issue of identity of the border Shebaa farms, while they have remained under Israeli occupation. "The objective of raising the issue of the Shebaa farms now is against the Lebanese resistance and the sole benefiting party is Israel and the demarcation there now will benefit neither Lebanon nor Syria," he said.
On Iraq, the Syrian president said, "We have expressed the desire to establish a relationship based on brotherhood and coordination and expressed readiness to aid the Iraqi people." Al-Assad reiterated that Syria was being targetted by super powers as part of a larger scheme to alter conditions in the region, and re-affirmed Damascus' support for establishing a just peace in the Middle East.| Oops, Assad is catching on to Dubya's game. Getting a little hot in the kitchen there, Bashar? |
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