| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| No Direct Talks with Israel Without US Presence- Syrian Official |
| 2008-06-21 |
| A Syrian source acquainted with the progress of the indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations has stated their move to the direct stage remains dependent on Washington joining the negotiating table, something it has refrained from doing. The source said that raising the issue of returning the Lebanese Shebaa Farms and Israel's simultaneous call on Lebanon to enter into direct peace negotiations are merely double standard dealings from the premise of "inciting the parties' hostility against each other," adding that any settlement of the Shebaa Farms status should be completed within the framework of the Madrid peace principles; that is, land in exchange for peace. "I solve the Israeli's problem with Lebanon and demarcate the borders in return for what?" the source asked. The Syrian source said "it is too early" for any meeting between Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and Israeli officials and explained that if it did happen, Syria would be regarded as having recognized the State of Israel. The source also discussed attempts by international parties "to dip their hands in the cooking pot," while Syria categorically refuses to steer away from Turkish mediation or bring in other parties to the process. The source added that the process has entered a "tug-of-war" stage and would take a long time to complete, indicating that the parties are still preparing to discuss details, a stage that cannot be reached outside the framework of direct negotiations. During a telephone call with Asharq Al-Awsat in London, the source explained that the "basic impression [in Syria] is that any direct negotiations will not take place until after there is a clear resolution of the land in return for peace issue and Israel's commitment and clear stand on the mechanisms. As President Al-Assad had already said, moving to the complete and open process with the Israelis should happen only when the Americans join the process." In response to a question about the US role in the indirect negotiations, the source said: "there is no American clarity or endeavor up to this moment" and called US Secretary of Stare Condoleezza Rice's statements about returning Shebaa Farms a "voluntary service on her part." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Somebody's been picking up ideas from their new buddies on the Yellow Sea. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2008-06-21 18:02 |
| #1 Guess there's no direct talks then. Too bad--for Pencilneck and his posse. |
| Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 2008-06-21 11:26 |